To: Don Green who wrote (51497 ) 2/9/2026 7:00:06 PM From: Les H 1 RecommendationRecommended By
Read Replies (1) | Respond to If you remember the 80's, Reagan was told the same thing and they stated that the real reason was to force the Soviet Union into an arms race that would bring about their collapse. My recollection was that the CIA had come out with an assessment in 1978 that by the mid-eighties the Russians would have a dramatic fall in the production of oil. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the US restricted the sale of advanced oil drilling equipment to the USSR as well.From Wikipedia: The Soviet Union was a major player in global oil production, peaking in the 1980s with significant contributions to its economy and energy exports. The Soviet Union was the world's largest producer of oil during its existence, particularly in the 1980s. In 1980, the Soviet Union produced approximately 12 million barrels per day , making it a key player in the global oil market. This production was crucial for the Soviet economy, providing significant revenue and energy resources for both domestic use and export. +1 Oil production was a cornerstone of the Soviet economy, contributing to its energy independence and economic growth. The Soviet leadership relied heavily on oil revenues to fund various state initiatives and maintain economic stability. By the 1970s, high oil prices, especially during the 1973 oil crisis, allowed the Soviet Union to engage more actively in foreign trade, particularly with Western Europe and Japan, exchanging oil for technology and goods. +1 However, the late 1980s saw a decline in oil production, which was exacerbated by economic stagnation and inefficiencies within the planned economy. From 1988 to 1992, Soviet oil output dropped by 30% , coinciding with the political and economic turmoil leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The decline in oil production was a significant factor in the overall economic crisis that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet system. +1
