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August 25, 2006

Russia: Oil Slick of Contradictions

 

 

It would appear to be now official: Russia has become the world’s leading oil exporter, nudging out Saudi Arabia for the nod. As the slick new leader, the country stands to gain huge profits, especially while Mideast tensions are high and hurricane season threatens offshore drilling and refineries particularly in the Caribbean, and while a hungry China and India drive up demand.

 

Somehow though we are still expected to believe that Yukos was on the verge of collapse before it was nationalized by Vladimir Putin’s government and its CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky (who just happened to be Putin’s main political opposition in Russia) was put away on dubious charges and forced to relinquish the company. Simply amazing, it seems, and one really has to wonder who buys this even in Russia. In fact, it seems more people are suspicious in Russia than anywhere else. After all, why else take over a company, sack its CEO, and silence the media?

 

Still, Russian leaders are celebrating their newfound riches, but as in times past, it is but a hollow shell of what could be. Indeed, much of Russia’s riches have historically been unexplored, squandered, and unrealized because of leadership not unlike the Putin government today which punishes private incentive, is incorrigibly bureaucratic, and still fears honesty and reform almost as much as its Soviet predecessors; nay, also possesses about as much disconnect from the public and reality as had the tsars. Until things change, it’s likely that only a small amount of the country’s potential wealth in oil, gold, and grain will ever be realized.

 

Of course if the Putin government wanted to change things, I suppose it would be possible, but difficult. So many with keen insight have likely been scared off by Putin’s velvet terror, it might take awhile before the grapes will give any wine. I suppose however that since Putin has all but eliminated criticism or inquiry in the press and other places, maybe Putin the ex-KGB spook should consider reinstating “PROGRESS” operations around Russia so he won’t be shocked when his ignorance of the Russian people and its still decaying infrastructure comes back to bite him. It is likely no longer just the pensioners in the streets chanting “Putin Padovis” who adhere to such sentiments in Russia.

 

 

Posted by Martin at August 25, 2006 02:25 AM

Comments

great work..I linked to this post :)

Posted by: Angel at August 30, 2006 01:32 PM

It seems Russia has gone backwards and I heard on Fox this morning that they (Putin's government) no longer consider themselves friends of the United States, nor do they strive to BE friends with the US. Could be trouble in the future.

Posted by: Debbie at August 31, 2006 12:41 PM

So true, but "could be"? Just watch and see. Unless we deter by calling things what they really are in our foreign policy, we're in for some rude awakenings.

It's a sad thing though since most Russians view us as a friend, but once again it's their crooked, undemocratic leaders (many lifelong communists from the old guard who wouldn't know a thing about free markets or the greatness that comes of popular rule) who seem to desire the path of enmity. We can only hope the Bush administration makes a decision not to continue playing the Carter card with countries such as Russia, Syria, Iran, and China (not to mention our neighbors to our south). As you rightly pointed out on your blog today (http://righttruth.typepad.com/right_truth/2006/08/one_problem_in_.html), "we are failing to call a spade ... a spade". Some realpolitik sobriety would be advantageous at this point.

Posted by: Martin at August 31, 2006 04:14 PM