I know it will not happen, but indulge me anyways

I know it will not happen, but indulge me anyways.

What would be the downside of simply having the federal us government seize all Saudi assets within us control?

All stocks, all bonds, all bank accounts, and all ownership in any us company now belong to the united states?

This would prevent the stock market losses of any sanctions against the Saudis if they try to sell off the 6-8% of us public stocks.

One downside is that it would make other sovereign nations feel vulnerable that we could do that to them - right?

So, we could message that it only happens to cases of extreme crimes against humanity and human rights abuses?

At any rate, how much would the world pull back? Everyone is greedy and will always want to sell into the largest market in the world.

Of course Saudi Arabia would then see us as an arch enemy and run into the arms of China. And we would lose that swing oil production.

But we need to get out of the oil consumption business, yesterday.

At the same time the president declares a national war on fossil fuel consumption, passes a carbon tax, and 10x our investment in solar, wind, storage, and carbon capture.

Another downside I see is that a threatened SA then increases their wars against Iran (and Israel)? But then war is America's business and I would imagine we would be more than happy to sell more weapons and push the proxy fights around.

So I do not see war in the middle east as a deal breaker - after all - that has been our bread and butter for 75 years.

What else could go wrong?

The people of Saudi Arabia would be further isolated, and without the oil revenues and assets the subsidies and bread and circus programs would falter - like Venezuela. We would have another failed state.

But I argue, Saudi Arabia is bound to be a failed state, the oil revenues will cease, if not 2020, then in 2040. And with all of their investments being merely renting of capital - unlike Israel's true investment in its people - Saudi Arabia is fated to be a failed state.

So, what is the downside to simply taking all their stuff?

Wouldn't even a treasonous, organized crime puppet of a POTUS like to steal billions of dollars? Why cannot we get him to steal billions from the Saudis instead of Americans?

(Yes this is a magical parallel universe fantasy.)

Originally posted on Facebook on October 19, 2018.