By Jay Holmes
In short, what happens if you sell your soul to the devil, and the devil is deposed? European businessmen, the United Kingdom, and Italy are in exactly that quandary.
European businessmen and the UK government, under Labor Party’s Gordon Brown, did a deal with Gadhafi. It went like this. Gadhafi promised British Petroleum (“BP”) that it would continue to let it pump more oil, around $900 million worth, out of Libyan oil fields. Gadhafi also promised BP and the UK government that he would give UK companies preferential treatment when international sanctions were lifted. In return, the United Kingdom would send home Abdel Al-Megrahi, the man convicted of the bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.
In August 2009, Scotland did release Al-Megrahi, supposedly on humanitarian grounds. Al-Megrahi supposedly had prostate cancer and was going to die within three months. He left the United Kingdom on a hospital bed and was miraculously healed during his flight to Libya, regaining his ability to walk. He is still alive today.
BP and the United Kingdom have yet to fully collect on their bargain, and you can bet some of them are biting their nails to see their back room deal in such peril of falling through now that Gadhafi is on the brink of being deposed.
The other European country currently gnashing its nails is Italy. While Holmes would dearly love to never, ever drive in Rome or Milan again, lots of folks in Rome and Milan feel differently about that, and they want their oil.
Since WWII, Italy has gotten approximately 70% of its petroleum products from Libya. Also, a natural gas line, the Greenstream Pipeline, completed in October 2004, runs straight from Wafa, Libya, to Gela, Sicily. Italy’s energy company, ENI, says Italians only get 10% of their gas from this line, but some sources believe Italy’s current dependence on Greenstream may be as high as 20%. On February 22, 2011, the Greenstream Pipeline was temporarily suspended.
From the Libyan perspective, Italy is the biggest importer of Libyan gas, taking 38% of the Libyan gas pie. Germany is also a big player, getting a 19% slice. In fact, Gadhafi’s current worries could be the one thing that finally gets Berlusconi in bed with Angela Merkel, something he has craved for years.
As an aside, this does explain a lot about Berlusconi’s infamous sex life. Having spent more than one unpleasant night in bed with Gadhafi, we can understand his urgent need sleep with beautiful young women to erase that traumatic, prison-like memory. But be sure he’s not holding one of his famous bunga bunga parties over this Libyan situation.
So again, here’s our question for you. What becomes of souls traded to the devil when the devil joins the unemployment line? Anyone have any experience with corporate soul purchases?
All the best to all of you for valuing your souls.
For starters, I’ll hunt the devil down and make them pay. 🙂 They also need to strike another bargain with another devil and learn from their mistakes.
Hi Marilag. It’s pretty complex over there. Thanks for stopping by.
And then Al Pacino screams “Stasera il butano Silvio dorme con i pesci!”
“They also need to strike another bargain with another devil.” Yes that’s frequently true. So then, my fellow, cheerful, fun loving pacifist, which devil and what bargain? There are many devils and seemingly infinite bargains. Sorting those out is what DC beltway insiders call “foreign policy”.
My biggest question about Silvio Berlusconi is why I haven’t seen him portrayed in more comedy skits. Some folks in Corleone, Sicily might be wondering if their friendship with him is a blessing that has turned into a curse.
He is certainly a writer’s dream come true. The book that self-writes. I heard a rumor that mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano has already requested Silvio as a cell mate. Maybe that’s just a cover and he wants his old pal to sleep with the fishes, perhaps in the Gulf of Sidra. Of course, I should admit that I heard that rumor from a sarcastic little bastard that lives in my brain.
A staff of 300 writers could not work fast enough to produce the dark comedy that is unfolding in the Mediterranean these weeks. Laugh while you can. If you are in Libya, laughing might not be easy. If Libya is the only place you have to live, and they won’t let you cross into Tunisia tonight, laughing might be nearly impossible.
I have nothing of value to add here because I’m gettin educated. I never looked into why Megrahi was released, but I do remember that miracle recovery and love the line about Obamacare. Amazing how deals like this can be struck and then left hanging when, oh I don’t know, the British govt. falls and Gordon & wifey saunter off. But tx for the info. I have a feeling this may make it into my 20th century world class next time I teach it.
Thanks for stopping by, Clay. I value all of your comments. Stay tuned as events unfold.
I never heard that Al-Megrahi was still ALIVE!!! I’m actually stunned and a little bewildered! Give me a moment to compose myself.
Ok, all better now. I heard about it when the deal went down, but I just assumed he did what he was supposed to and died a few months after that. I don’t know what is more amazing…the fact that the UK was so duped or that since then everyone has been SILENT!
Hi Aaron. It’s enough to make a person cynical, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by. We appreciate your comment.
pursuant to Isaiah satan’s been unemployed for years….but then again “unemployed winner” @charliesheen has only been unemployed what? 7 or 8 weeks, and look how much trouble he’s caused. ferrets faithfully served in the military up to and including world war one. when we were cast out, set aside. ( like lucifer ) … now we have to go around acting like spoiled pampered playboys and mostly nap and dance. not a bad gig if you can get it. instead of referring to ourselves as “unemployed” we prefer the term: “consultants”. it’s a touchy subject. and we still need that war memorial on a wash dc plaza.
reference: Isaiah 14:11-15 for lucifer, not sheen or ferrets
~ wiggle wiggle~
Sarcastic Sam http://twitter.com/Samuel_Clemons
It’s true, I think, that the ferret contribution to war efforts of the past is completely
unrecognizableunrecognized. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. The next time I go to DC, I’ll personally go to the plaza andabandoncarefully position a stuffed ferret with an accurate detailing of outstanding bravery and service on the part of ferret soldiers. Perhaps that will do until Congress decides to give ferrets the attention they deserve. Thanks for your comment, and thanks for stopping by. 🙂The rich and powerful devil-dealers always hurt the poor and weak to get what they want. My prayers are with the Libyans, who must face the harsh reality that we can watch from afar.
Thanks so much for this post, it helped me understand things a lot better!
Most welcome, Ellie. Thank you for mentioning what matters most in all of this–the people who suffer when brokers break their world apart. Thanks for stopping by.