[rmlew]

There is a major flaw here, the Turkic republics have every reason to distrust if not hate Iran Russian and China. Each has or is oppressing Turks.

A tolerant Iran would have a lot of sway, especially in the southern areas. However, the current Islamist Republic opresed Azeris and Tadjiks, angering their bretheren across the borders. Islamist Iran is fundamentally different tha Hephtalite, Sefavid, or Pahlavi periods.

The last 500 hundred years dictates strife between Russia and the Turks. They did not just regain independence from Russian rule to give it up. At any rate, Russian power is declining and russian population declines. They can't even keep the chinese out of teh Amur valley.

Chinese colonization of East Turkestan/Xinjian and destruction of local culture is not endearing.
A strong china could eventually become a hegemon, but only if China had overwhelming power.

There is a fourth option: Turkey. While Turkey has no common land border its cultural links, especially to the Turkmen and Kazakh are overwhelming. Turkey provides a brindge to the West and to independence.

As Americans, we get a way to block Chinese expansion, pressure Iran, and new sources of energy.

We either help Turkey unify the area of see a series of failed states dominated by communists and Islamists.

[APBaer]

Silly WOGS, need a whiff of the old grapeshot. I'll be on to them presently, just as soon as the dust up in the Crimea is over.