U.S. Hawk Wants Russia Out of G-8; Richard Perle has called for Russia to be expelled...

Moscow Times ^ | 10-30-03

[Sam's Army]

"Perle also criticized the campaign in Chechnya..."

I wish the article were a bit more clear on this point. Is it criticism of the policy being too weak, or too strong?

[Bon mots]

Russia should not be in the G-8 at all. But not because of how it treats businessmen. It should not be in because the G-8 is a group of the world's richest countries, which Russia is not.

Russia's GDP per capita is lower than Mexico's - even on a PPP basis, the overall Russian economy is no larger than that of say Brazil. So why didn't Mexico or Brazil get into the G-8? Because they don't have nukes?

If it's an economic entity, then economic criteria should be used to qualify entry... not the possession of nukes. Otherwise the G-8 is a group of 7 rich nations, and one cry-baby nation that was given admission to calm it's temper after losing face on the global stage.

Looks to me like it's an economic organization and a palliative for ruffled feathered nuclear-armed former superpowers.

[JohnGalt]

Those are good points in so far as there is probably no reason whatsoever to even have a 'G-8', but my interest is following this slimy Perle character; he says the darnedest things.

[JohnGalt]

Too hard, I am sure. The CIA was messing around in Chechnya, Albania and of course Kosovo with elements of AQ and radical Islam in the 1990s, and at the end of the day, it was about oil politics.

Hmmm.

From 1/13/04

The last months have seen neocons, worst of all being Richard Perle, protest the growing power of Russian president Vladimir Putin. He sparked their ire by cracking down on the country’s oligarchs, especially Yukos boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The real outrage for the neocons was how this act sidelined a deal between Exxon-Mobil and Yukos, a deal which would have enormously enriched a professed political enemy of Putin while putting a large chunk of Russia’s energy supply under the control of an American company.

Yet it’s not just Exxon. Neocons fear that Russian oil might be diverted into pipeline projects to not only Japan but- most fearsome of all- China.

[Sam's Army]

"Neocons fear that Russian oil might be diverted into pipeline projects to not only Japan but- most fearsome of all- China."

Wonder how realistic that scenario is? Have the Russians really cozied up to China that much since the border skirmishes of the past (1960's I want to say?)

Buddy of mine was in Kazakhstan in the mid 1990's working with an oil company. He said he saw regular reports of tensions between those 2 countries along with footage of Kazakh troops moving to the shared border. Of course, nothing came of it.

[JohnGalt]

Found this on Pravada from 2002: Russia-China oil pipeline to be put into operation in 2005

Also: from 9/23/03 in China Daily Russia to live up to China oil pipeline deal

[Sam's Army]

Thanks.