Top > Business > 2006 > January > 2006-01-22

Politcal Influence on Rising Oil Prices

If you live anywhere in the western world and have to gas up your car to go anywhere, then you have certainly noticed the major increases in gas prices. It seems that politics are the greatest influence behind the rising gas prices. But it is not just the consumer that is suffering, both big and small businesses everywhere are feeling the effects of these astronomical prices. Energy Companies and investors are turning to the Com Links team for Geo Political Intelligence to warn of breaking political, business and investment risks. As relations between the United States and Oil producing countries become strained and unstable they need to plug into the ?Back Channel Whispers? inside the Beltway and ensure better warning of upcoming political intentions and decisions. Thousands of lives and billions of dollars ride on this often unreported political process, and its consequences.

Energy is seen as the most critical area, and least understood sector of political intelligence, especially as hostility to the United States, and widespread political unrest is threatening many of the major oil and gas producing areas. The simplistic view is that the US should not deal with these countries, or listen to these political groups, but to follow that course would starve the United States of Oil and Gas. Oil companies have to work with, or around these political entities, and protect their personnel and investments. Suppliers need to monitor the process and identify opportunities. Above all they need to know the intentions of politicians in Washington as regards sanctions, tariffs, legislation and military intentions.

Besides providing the ?Before it?s News? service to energy companies, suppliers, developers and investors the team are hitting the road advising and helping companies develop their own internal competitive and political intelligence operations. They are briefing key executives and providing companies with an insight into the volatile geopolitical world, an insight devoid of political and lobbyists spin. Without the clear insight into the hidden political process in Washington, as well as into the thoughts and intentions of leaders, and political groups in capitals around the world executive decisions are made in a vacuum.