kingfisher, The attacks of September 11th have set off a string of just unbelievably extraordinary geopolitical events all around the world. Yesterday for e.g, Turkey's Parliament voted to extend equal rights to all women. For years the question has been - Will Turkey associate primarily with the Arabic or European world? Well pressured by the events of September 11th, Turkey responds quite emphatically by yesterday's vote "We are Europeans"!
Next yesterday for the first time since the October 1917 Revolution the lower Parliament in Russia- voted to restore trial by jury! Yeow!
What the heck is going on here? Well if you look, what you see (IMO) is a developing geopolitical disaster for the Arabic world.
First look at the USA. The USA through its military campaign now has access to multiple countries in a part of the world where US presence was never before seen- Khazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Karalkapakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan- all on the flank of the Middle East.
Like Russia these are areas with large oil & gas deposits, and delinked from the agenda of the Arabic Middle East. (They are Asians.) What you are seeing in Russia for e.g is more of the same geopolitical maneuvering (as other countries) to take advantage of the New Order rising from the ashes of the WTC.
Do not be shocked if NATO welcomes Russia into the fold. It would be a wise move IMO on NATO's part. And as such, Russia's new friends will be in NATO and not in the Middle East. And with Russia's traditional links to SW Asian Republics,look for them to follow Russia's lead too.
What that means is a loss of political (and economic) power by OPEC. That is what you are seeing played out right now in the world oil markets I believe.... |
