Ronnie RayGun's <politically manipulated< the world oil market by having a secret deal with the swing producer, SA, to pump oil like mad to drive down world oil prices. Prices plumetted. The USSR was deprived of huge cash inflows that had been coming in from it's oil.  Within 5 years they, the USSR and it's empire, started to collapse.  The SA"s got the high tech fighter planes, communication, promises of defense if the kingdom was challenged.  They called that chip in after the invasion of kuwait by So-Damn-Insane of Iraq.<p> Of course SA seems to be producing all out so this particular scenario is unlikely.  Are there other scenarios?  Likely.