Well, I have not been particularly closely following US/Europe's relationships with Russia or China, but both making trading arrangements not settled in US dollars makes me think the days of the dollar as the world's reserve currency are numbered, which would have very dramatically negative effects on at least the US economy, don't know about the EU. Even if I am wrong on specifics, the main point I was making is that the West's/"World Culture's" control of energy and resources is far from absolute, and there are several places making noises about how maybe there's a different way. But, I suppose we'll see how things go.

And thanks much, I will try not to disappoint!