Of course the real message to our "ARAB friends" is that the US will only take so much crap and give out so much $$ no matter how many bones you throw us.....when we finally make up our minds that you are screwing us, you are toast.
Im sure some of our Arab allies dont want to be reminded of this.
Hey Saudi Arabia! You guys paying attention!??!?
The Euro money houses....Insurance/Re-Insurance..banking with connections to IMF/World bank...Shipping..on and on ,
are pleased as punch with the fiscal return and futures .as the oil/gas makes its way to the Orient....the world synergy play of out time.
Here..the U.S. has quietly set up shop in so many **Stans,with thier transpipelines connected to the Caspian....the Huge Turkish terminals etc.
Not a peep from Europe..except a few murmurs from Russia.
The consortiums involved with the Islamic nations have to grease palms...give sparkly trinkets etc.
It is working....the front monies do not compare to the end net return.
Iraq is still in transition..its gonna be years to get oil flowing properly.
The U.S. Admin would like to have a few military bases in Iraq...out there in the desert.
U.S. oil firms...BP and Dutch Royal Shell,
waiting for Iraq to settle out into something.
Sistani can give the U.S. the stability in the south for the oil concerns.....problem is..will iran leave things be?
Sunni's in their extortion machinations have to get something....they have Kofi Annan and Brahimi schemeing 24 on their behalf.
Islam is well versed in extortion....add to that ..Russia,China and Frances advising/tampering.
Saudi'd would love Iraq to devolve into some scalable civil unrest...anything to keep Iraqs oil production potentials down.
Recently...Khazakstan started to balk at the pre arranged deal they had...Secretary Rumsfeld paid a visit..read them the riot act.
Caspian oil/gas is to critical in the Orient money play.
Jealous Saudi's on the periphery,
Jealous Iran,
France...getting some from Total Fina's holdings in Caspain..but wanting more.
The U.S. is doing way to much for the world on this one...other nations are hardly getting out of their chairs.....making huge coin.