FW: Pipeline follow up

[Karen Watters Cole]

Here’s more on the subject from mainstream Newhouse News Service on the jockeying for power around Afghanistan in terms of strategic alliances and natural resources in the Great Game, the name given to Russia and Britain’s 19th century imperial struggle:   ASIAN POWERS PROD FOR TOEHOLDS AROUND U.S. FOOTPRINT IN CONTINENT'S CORE @ http://www.newhouse.com/archive/story1b082702.html   Excerpt:  “For China, Sept. 11 represented a setback after several years of quiet gains in Central Asia. With the arrival of U.S. troops, Beijing gained an ally in the battle against Uighur separatists, but also lost ground in its efforts to establish an oil and gas pipeline from the 'Stans eastward to China's coast. The U.S. government prefers an alternative route through Georgia and Turkey to the west. And Iran wants desperately to direct the region's oil and gas riches south through their territory to the Arabian Sea. (Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Khatami made a swing through Central Asia in the spring to advance his country's interests.) Also worrying for China is the possibility of being encircled by U.S. forces. The United States already has bases in Japan and South Korea and a presence in the Philippines, as well as strong ties with Taiwan, India and Australia. A permanent foothold in Central Asia would tighten the noose around the Asian giant. "China is going to watch what is going on in Central Asia very closely, and make sure that what develops there does not threaten them," said Andrew Hess, professor of diplomacy at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. "They would not see much benefit in the development of pro-Western democracy or a permanent U.S. presence on their western border.   Even more than China, however, Russia is wary of an extended U.S. presence. For the last century, Central Asia was solidly in the Soviet sphere of influence, and hard-liners in the Kremlin see the arrival of U.S. troops as an encroachment in their backyard. Russian President Vladimir Putin, as a result, has been under pressure to limit their presence.”   Busy.busy.busy. And now since the dockworkers talks have failed and they can strike, don’t you know the POTUS would really rather make fundraising speeches than deal with this! - Karen