Quite aside from the oil, Donuel, Turkmenistan (directly north of Aghanistan and bordering on the Caspian Sea) is atop the world's 3rd largest reserves of natural gas. That's probably more important than the oil, and it also requires a pipeline, same as the oil does.

The world's largest reserves of natural gas are under Russia, and the second largest reserves are under Iran. Then there's Turkmenistan at number 3. Very vital stuff for both the Americans and Russians to have their eyes on.

I read that stuff today in a darned good article in the (Toronto) Globe and Mail.

Ebbie - Yes, you may be quite right in what you say in your last post about politics being the art of the possible. Besides, anyone who tried to do what Kucinich wanted to if he was elected president would not simply survive his first term in office, in my opinion...assuming he ever got nominated and elected in the first place...which he wouldn't. So, yes, politics IS the art of the possible...in more ways than one. That's why I expect Obama to basically continue on the same general imperial course as his predessors have...but with a somewhat different overall style. He's far more articulate and reasonable than most of them. I fear that this may end up with Americans saddling him with the label of "wimp", as they did with Jimmy Carter.

It's what he would genuinely wish to do if he could do it that really intrigues me. We may never find out what that might have been, but it's hard to say at this point. He will be constrained, as you say, by "the art of the possible".