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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FaultLine who wrote (6176)	10/19/2001 3:14:43 AM
From: Mac Con Ulaidh	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

There has been talk of "moderate" Talibans being in the new coalition, but did anyone notice during the press conference with Manapour yesterday when Rumsfield was asked if Taliban would be in place in the new Afganistan and he said, "That is not going to happen". That was all. All the other questions, he was very talkative. On that one, he only used one sentence. Maybe there is room for "moderates" ? But that isn't what I got from his words. Do you think Pakistan will be cut out of their demands?

To: FaultLine who wrote (6176)	10/19/2001 3:33:37 AM
From: D. Long	Respond to of 281500

Bingo. Derek

To: FaultLine who wrote (6176)	10/19/2001 4:05:05 AM
From: Michael Watkins	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

You betchya. Oil and other resources are one of the biggest components of Russia's ticket to ride. Increased stability will bring willing investors. There are a number of comments on reform within this recent DOE report on Russia. eia.doe.gov Russia is important to world energy markets because it holds the world's largest natural gas reserves, the second largest coal reserves, and the eighth largest oil reserves. Russia is also the world's largest exporter of natural gas, second largest oil exporter, and second largest energy consumer. ... Because energy accounts for 40% of Russia's exports and 13% of GDP, Russia's economy is extremely sensitive to global energy price fluctuations. Analysts are worried that the drop in world oil prices in 2001 could be harmful to Russia's economy. Inflation in May 2001 was running at 25% year-on-year, and Russia's GDP, while still predicted to grow in 2001, is now predicted to slow to a 4.7% increase. President Putin's economic adviser Andrei Illarionov publicly lambasted the government for squandering Russia's massive oil windfall, saying it could have managed the oil dividend far better. Sources say that Illarionov made the comments because he is concerned that structural reforms have ground to a halt in the euphoria of the oil revenues. And Bush was clear yesterday "we must reduce our dependence on Middle East oil". Based on the other news coming out of US / Russia relations, I think we can presume that the word "must" should actually be the present tense "we have". I think we can look forward to investment news from oil companies well positioned to work in Russia. The pressure on the Saudis and others is stepping up! Hey, maybe having an oil savvy President is not such a bad thing after all... ;)