I'm now thinking that really this is about keeping the Shia's...

I'm now thinking that really this is about keeping the Shia's and Sunni's fighting each other. The countries suffering the most are not the ones most likely to be behind it. The US has overtaken Russia and the Saudis for oil production, thus are the biggest contributors to the current supply glut. Now the US wants to export oil, which will only bring the price down further given WTI is easier to process. The US backing Iran fits with the idea that in order to control the middle east you must ensure that the Sunni's (Saudis and others) and the Shia's (Iran and others) are fighting each other, and not banding together. The Saudis got too strong, and had too much influence in the region, and moreover the Wahabism emanating from Saudi Arabia is the ideology that a lot of the terrorist groups espouse. So the fact that the US is now backing Iran, a direct consequence of which is an increase global oil supply, is more evidence that this is actually what is happening i.e. that the US wants to cripple the Saudis and hurt Russia's bottom line. The US knows that with SA being a one trick pony, destroying the oil price long enough will bring them to heel. Then of course there is the gas pipeline to Europe, and I think this is the prize, Russia wants it to go from I think Iran (so the US offered Iran a carrot to stymie Russia) through Syria, and the US wants it to run from Qatar through Syria, hence Syria is very important, and not just because of what is happening with IS. The Russians want it one way, the US the other. The Russians want to keep Assad in power whereas this won't help the US. So the US hurting Russia's oil interest also plays in to their hands. Either it will be another major war in the middle east, or the US will win before it starts via some aggressive economics, the problem with the US plan is that Putin don't care, he will ride the oil price down to nothing in the short term to get what he wants. When will the people wake up and wrest control, the delusion of representative government is exactly that, otherwise you'd be able to vote for anybody, and not just the candidates that the major parties prop up in front of us. Ha sorry if I'm rambling, I'm sure it all makes sense to me!