Michael Fitzsimmons

Geopolitical Energy: Centered on the Caspian Sea (Part 2 of 2)

Brahm: thank you. i didn't mean to insinuate that all the iraqi oil contracts would go to western oil companies. that said, i'd be shocked if the majority don't. i might disagree with you that with US troops there securing the oil resources that the policy won't be skewed a bit, but time will tell. that said, regardless of who gets the contracts, increasing iraqi oil production to the world markets benefits the US more than anyone else (since we suck up 25% of world oil production and love our SUV's, well, at least some do).
totally agree with you on europe. in fact, i have to give n. sarkozy of france some credit when he (the first european leader) finally called BS on bush's agenda of deploying the "defensive missile shield" in europe which antagonized russia so badly (supposedly they are too protect europe from iraqi WMDs.....errrr...sorry :) .....iranian nuke missiles). narkozy said it won't happen, and besides it doesn't work. this is a big indication when the acting head of the EU says something that blunt to the US president...and you know germany supports that position as well.

the proclaimer: thanks. wrt gold, it cannot be manipulated if i own it and it is buried in my backyard. name me another financial asset like that? that's why gold is, well, gold. oil will someday be much more valuable, but who can store it securely (other than the SPR)? i keep waiting for you to start your new business on your proclamation...let me know when i can purchase a unit...

issac the great: yeah, it's a good book. i have probably spent a good hour or two just looking at the maps on the inside front and back covers. fascinating area of the world, and so many complicated players. i will check out charles K., whom i have never heard of before. wrt israel, my opinion is that US/Israeli policy is almost guaranteeing the destruction of israel. just look at what has happened since rabin was assassinated. would any objective person believe israel is more secure today than if they had followed rabin's path? sad. very sad. so, israel levels the west bank on bush year 1, and they level the gaza strip on bush year 8. wonderful way to make peace huh? it's a failed strategy imho.

nerfer: thanks for the compliments. wrt taliban, if your theory is correct, then how do you explain the courtship of the taliban leaders in houston by Unocal and other US big oil? the friendship of the taliban at that level was for one purpose and one purpose only: gaining a secured pathway for the central asian pipeline. you should read the book - perhaps it might sway your opinion. i do agree with you that the taliban was always scum...but the US has a long undistinguised record of supporting scum (taliban, sadam hussein, noriega, i could go on and on). and for those who said i never criticize clinton, it was during clinton's roost in the 90's that we supported the taliban, even after russia bailed.