Posted on 12/25/2006 8:26:26 AM PST by nctexan
Russia's use of energy supplies as a political weapon should be a wake-up call to Britain and the West to deal urgently with the threat, senior Conservatives said last night.
Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, stepped up Tory calls for a Nato-style "energy pact" after Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled energy giant, forced the pro-Western former Soviet republic of Georgia to accept a doubling of gas prices.
"While the West has been focused on the Middle East, we have seen the resurgence of Russian nationalism and a willingness to use natural resources as a political weapon," he said. "Given the nature of Russia's political leadership, this is hardly surprising. Following events in Ukraine, and now Georgia, it is high time for a wake-up call to western politicians. We have been warned."
Georgia declared the price increase "unacceptable" and "politically motivated" but was forced to accept when Russia threatened to cut off supplies. Last night the president of Azerbaijan, another former Soviet republic that is being asked to pay twice the price for its gas, accused the Russian company of "ugly" behaviour and said his country would not be bullied into accepting. President Ilham Aliev said that if Moscow insisted on doubling the price of gas to $230 (£117) per thousand cubic metres, Azerbaijan would be forced to "change the balance of power" and rely on its own oil reserves instead. That might mean restricting Azerbaijan's oil exports, which pass through Russia, in order to fuel domestic power stations, he said.
Although Azerbaijan produces only half the natural gas it needs, Mr Aliev told a Russian radio station, it would not give in to Moscow. "To take advantage of this deficiency is ugly," he said.
In the first sign of a regional backlash, he attacked Russia's use of energy as a tool of foreign policy, although he was careful not to name or criticise President Vladimir Putin personally. The price of oil and gas should "be a commercial matter", immune from attempts to "politicise it", Mr Aliev said.
Which definition suits your use of the word?
<<< You know, why not tax carbon emissions? >>>
Yet more taxes? I think not!
Uhh. Not quite. The Left wing of the GOP ALLIED with the Rats , the idiot RINO's in the Senate blocked all hope of actually doing anything about our energy needs.
I wonder if things would have turned out a little different if we had developed some energy resources and passed vouchers this past go 'round?
Remember when the US used the Olympic games as a "political weapon"?
The Russian people themselves seem to prefer this setup as opposed to the corrupt organized criminals known as 'oligarchs' who washed an estimated $300 billion in oil profits out of the country during the incompetent Yeltsin administration, and who can blame them? Putin is now saying to Russia's former Republics that if they dance to Western interests at the expense of Russian ones, they will no longer receive preferential pricing on Russian energy. Why shouldn't Putin do what is the best interest of his people?
1. You definitely use not the dictionary I've posted a link to. Which one?
2. Those characteristics may be necessary but they're not enough for a country to be fascist. A fascict country must implement a racist policy.
3. There're no authoritarianism in Russia - since the government doesn't exercise complete control over individual lives;
No militarism either, since little money are spent on the military;
And no nationalism and that's not good since nationalism is a good thing; But there are some nationalist NGOs.
No corporatism, Russian government's structure isn't like of a corporation.
A perfect fit for RasPutins New Russia.
Using invectives is a sign that the speaker ran out of logical arguments.
Or had joined Hitler against the USSR in 1941.
Nope: I dont go along with that.
Hitler needed killing, but so did Stalin.
But why does the sequence make difference? By joining Hitler the USA coule have killed Stalin and later Hitler by turning on Hilter after that.
I'm no expert in WWII history and, moreover, have no intention to become one, but the USSR engaged 80% of the Hitler's land divisions. This fact worth considering.
You think state-run monopolies are capitalist? Where did you learn that? When governments control the economy, it's called socialism, not capitalism.
Antagonizing Russia's neighbors and making an enemy of the USA are in Russia's best interests? No, they're not. Putin is robbing the Russian people blind just like his comrade Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Only naive fools believe the Russian people will enjoy the profits of Putin's energy grab. Only his crooked siloviki chekists will and the oligarchs he's in cahoots with, like Roman Abramovich. Putin made this oligarch billions richer instead of sending him to prison. He only got rid of a few oligarchs on the behalf of their competition. He's a gangster thug.
1.Wikepedia. You are not the authority on definitions of English.
2. No it doesn't. It's a way of organizing the relationship between the government and business.
3. Russia is well on the way to authrotarionism under RasPutin. Totalitarian governments control all the details, authoritarian governments just control the big picture.
4. Funny, just read all about the modernization of the Russian nuclear strike forces, new missiles bombers etc. Lots of sales shady customers like Iran and Syria to help build up the defence industry.
5. Hah Ha. Putin nationalizes industry after industry and puts his cronies on the boards, but no corporatism.
RasPutin is a perfect description of the current ruler of russia.
Specializing in straw arguments is a sign of FR's rabid Putinistas. So who are you the reincarnation of?
There is more to the oil patch than ANWR and the Deepwater G.O.M., but to hear the media spew, you'd never know it.
We are going to need a wee bit of transport and refining infrastructure, however, and we'd better start putting that together soon.
Besides, Russia is just showing its dark Soviet roots when it siezes oil production--and oil companies.
As for gas prices, they were up, and the rates were not. It's always tough to be a buyer in a seller's market.
Do you have a problem with Gazprom receiving market price for their products, or do you think they are obligated to maintain their subsidized lower prices to their former Republics? Which policy is more within the spirit of capitalism? Yes, I'm aware that the Russian government now has a controlling interest in Gazprom, but after them being raped by the oligarchs, I can't say that I'm surprised by this development. The Russian people seem quite happy with Putin and his policies, and as far as I am concerned they are entitled to run their country as they see fit. It is not only naive but downright stupid to expect them to acquiece to Western interests in this matter after them having witnessed much of their oil wealth being siphoned off during the Yeltsin era to a handfull of organized criminals that cozied up to the West who indirectly supported this plunder.
Why? The local pipelines are already at capacity with the stuff.
Just build another pipeline, they'll sell us more.
For God's sake, leave them there!
They have never done the domestic oil patch any favors, and I'd rather they were out cold, thank you!
We can find what America needs a lot easier without their 'help'.
Free enterprise is not in "western" interests, it's in everyone's interests, including Russians. State-run centrally controlled command economy doesn't work and Russians should have learned that. As far as "the west" supporting the plunder of Russia, that was the Clinton administration. The American people rejected Clinton's party and put Bush into power, so we are not the same people who plundered Russia. Only the stupid and anti-American make no distinction between Clinton and Bush. Putin on the other hand was Yeltsin's chosen successor. Putin continues Yeltsin's looting of Russia. Only suckers believe he is really against the oligarchs. Just ask Mikhail Fridman, or Roman Abramovich.
if they come to hit em again I say-
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