Who Really Won The Oil Price War?

This depends upon whether one looks short, or long term. Short term it is indeed a tie. Long term it is a route. 
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​More after the break.

U.S. Seeks to Use Business to Lock In Iran Deal

This is the right thing to do. We need to rebuild trade relations with Iran as soon as possible.
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More below.

U.S. Officials Fear Saudi Collapse If New Prince Fails

The House of Saud reigns based on an agreement between the Saud, and the Wahhabi clerics. The Wahhabi beliefs are the genesis for ISIS. 

More below the fold.

Bahraini court suspends the main political opposition party - FT.com

Bahrain like all of the Sunni gulf states needs a revolution. Could I point to the most important document in modern political history? The Declaration of Independence. Simply follow the form, and then steel yourselves for the fight. The US Constitution with Amendments from prior to 1900 is also brilliant, but it will need a few alterations. Be very careful with post 1900 Amendments.

Please advise if you would like input. Enjoy your republic!

Senate approves Sept. 11 legislation despite Saudi threats

. . . oh, God, please let them execute on this amount of stupid. 

​More after the break.

With Iran-Backed Conversions, Shiites Gain Ground in Africa

. . . as it spreads, we will need to remain aloof, yet ready to help the Shiite maneuver the battle towards the full, unfettered reformation of both Sunni, and Shiite factions of Islam. The goal is ultimately a renaissance, and enlightenment of Islam, of the type Protestantism brought to Christianity. 

Saudi Shift Brings Uncertainty on Oil

. . . they will lose their shirts on these trades, there is no support for the price of oil, demand is weak, supply strong, and no evidence anything will change that for a long time.

"'In the Southern Persian Gulf, oil is becoming a political commodity, more than an economic commodity,” he said, though he lamented that shift. “OPEC is in a difficult situation.”

In his first remarks as minister, Mr. Falih on Sunday said in a news release that the country would “remain committed to maintaining our role in international energy markets and strengthening our position as the world’s most reliable supplier of energy.'"

Right, like we have been saying, oil is a political tool being used by both Iran, and the House of Saud in the existential war between the Shia, and the Sunni. Saudi cannot stop or slow production to support price unless it can verify Iran and the Shia oil producers will as well. This is desperation selling to keep the price low, and limit Iran's income, while making desperate changes to the Saudi economy in an attempt to create gold from straw. 

Good luck on that.

The oil traders are as yet unwilling to believe that the House of Saud is actually willing to let the price tank. And so they continue to bid up the price on any minor problem, or supply bauble. But the metrics do not support pricing in this range without the House of Saud restricting the supply. Something the House of Saud has specifically said it will not do. 

Someone is going to get burned. Heh!

“OPEC is Dead”

. . . the House of Saud must pump oil, or it will die. Of course, OPEC is dead.

"Times have changed, though, and the country’s new man-behind-the-throne—the 31 year old deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman—has little interest in ceding Saudi market share in pursuit of higher prices while the rest of OPEC gets a free ride."

Exactly. The House of Saud cannot afford to build Iran's coffers by cutting revenue. With Iran sans sanctions, The House of Saud is in dire straits for Iran already has an integrated economy, while Saud has an economy limited to oil alone. If allowed, Iran will use its oil revenue to build its integrated economy. This is the reason we are only now seeing the House of Saud pay attention to its non-oil economy, intent on selling off a portion of ARAMCO to fund a $2 trillion attempt to see if it can get the Arabs to actually go to work. Good luck with that. The reason they did not do it before? They do not think it is possible; they are desperate!

The Islamic Reformation is coming, Iran will anchor the Shia, The House of Saud will Anchor the Sunni, the outcome should be the sublimation of Salafism/Wahhabism into a reformed Islam more in tune with the Enlightened West. And optimistically, this will trigger an Islamic Enlightenment. 

To do this the House of Saud, and its alliance with Wahhabism must fall. It's Game of Thrones with consequences!

 Saudis threaten to sell $750 billion US assets if Congress passes bill that would let 9/11 victims sue Saudi Arabia

Cut the House of Saud loose, and let them swing. They are the enemy within Islam, and the real sponsors of Islamic fundamentalism/terrorism.

Let the victims of 9/1 sue the House of Saud directly, nay, build a superhighway to help the victims sue the House of Saud.

Only Obama can screw this up, and with his track record, I suspect that there is a better than 50/50 chance he will.

The House of Saud needs the security of US assets more than the US needs their money. We will be fine regardless of what Saud does. They, however, are in a world of hurt, fighting a losing battle with Iran, and faced with an economy nearly completely dependent upon oil, which is ready to plumb new lows.

Now that we have the threat in hand, we should summarily cut off any further military assistance, and access to any further military hardware, including supplies for repairs, and any US training. On the State Department side we should highly limit and any further visas both in duration (no more than 2 weeks) and in number (a few hundred per year max). The House of Saud is a cancerous evil, and massive human rights violator, we need to deal with them seriously. 

The hegemon must address threats quickly, and forcefully.

Erdogan urges Muslims to overcome splits, fight terror

. . . however, siding with the House of Saud is a mistake.

Does Erdogan think he is fooling anyone? Besides fooling Obama, that is!