Question:

If the Saudi's actually get a barrel of oil down to $100 (even if just by jawboning), and reduce the price of gas by 25% (say, US$3.20 a gallon), wouldn't that increase the use of oil/gas and make it necessary for them and others to eventually pump even more oil over the 10-12 million bpd? Are the Saudi's smart enough to realize this (yes, of course), and if so, what possible pressures are being put on them, or are they putting on themselves, so that they feel led to promise increasing output?

Logically, it doesn't make sense, so there has to be some kind of tangential reasoning going on here. You can only delay the inevitable, unless of course they really do believe there is plenty of oil out there (wherever there is).

Perhaps the Suadis are acutely aware that all around them is an American military force, controlled by a country that does not want to hear that tribute from a troublesome client state is no longer as easy to dig up as it used to be.

The whole exercise this weekend by the Saudis has a whiff of panic about it, attempting to soothe disgruntled customers and divert attention from themselves. It think we will see plenty more of these hurriedly arranged meetings this year and bit by bit MSM might just start to ask better questions each time the meetings fail to deliver anything.