Those African countries don't have oil, and they are not located in a vitally central strategic location with oil all around it, and direct routes to the Caspian oil region (up for grabs since the Soviet Union broke up).

Bingo!

It is indeed empire-building, masquerading as liberation.

But I like the way this alien thread is going! Daylia proposes a World without balls. Interesting concept. Hockey would assume the premier sports position in such a World, and Canada would become the most influential country on the globe! This would be a dramatic change, and is worth considering...although it's lonely at the top!

As for the aliens, my understanding is that they come from a whole bunch of different planets, which complicates the discussion considerably. It's sort of like the U.N., only much more democratic in nature (no Security Council).

Where balls fit into that, however, I don't know...

- LH