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11/03/2002
"IT is funny how often we work ourselves up over a particular issue, only to discover something more important is going on behind our backs."
"Almost unnoticed, the dynamics of the world energy market have changed dramatically since the terrorist attacks on America . . . Russia has suddenly emerged as the new oil superpower. . . . A pointless trade war over steel is possible. But more likely is an oil war in which the main players, battling it out for supremacy, will be Russia, Saudi Arabia and the West."
"Russia is expected to knock Saudi Arabia off the number one spot this year, producing between 8.5 million and nine million barrels of crude a day. As a reward for this, and the use of military bases in central Asia, Washington has turned a blind eye to the butchery in Chechnya. . . . the latest figures show that in February Russian production was actually up 20 per cent. . . . Mr Putin, who has manoeuvred himself into a commanding position. He is popular in Russia. Its backward economy is booming. He has reformed the tax code . . . begun land reform. . . . paid back some government debt."
"One reason the Pentagon wants to go for Saddam Hussein is to reduce America's dependence on the Saudis by putting Iraq's oil reserves into friendlier hands. But they cannot move without Mr Putin's say so." ... [more]
4:12:58 PM Google It! 
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