THREE CHEERS FOR RUSSIA'S SECHIN BUT...

Quoting, paraphrasing an old, popular, American TV show, "The Honeymooners," as Jackie Gleason says to his TV wife Alice,
"how sweet it is..." or, revenge is sweet...
So, for Russia, Putin, Sechin, the above maxim applies, "Gunvoracious-Putin Strengthens Oil Concession for Sechin and Timchenko":

www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page67?oid=53310&sn=Detail

A big BUT remains.
That BUT related to the fact, as I've reiterated numerous times, Russia's private sector STILL exists.
Russia's Gazprom, for example, the 3rd largest energy company on the planet by capitalization, which accounts, I think, if I recall correctly, to something like 20% of Russia's economy, still 49% owned by private, PROFIT MAKING, international corporations.

In the most retarded political country on the globe, the US, where NO industry is nationalized, those, here, calling for government re-regulation of industry, a totally romantic and myopic concept, must recognize that ONLY when the government OWNS the majority share of any industry that they REGULATE it.
Ownership equals regulation.

Russia's Gazprom being a stellar example of the above principle.
Gazprom represents, in effect, par excellence, a government REGULATED, controlled, but, still, private PROFIT MAKING industry by virtue of its government majority ownership.

BUT, Gazprom is NOT a completely nationalized, socialized, public utility.
And, it is this precisely this situation which creates the caveats, the BUT... internal conflicts and contradictions.
Russia's state economy now dependent upon both internal and external energy expansion simply for the sake of expansion.
They are now just as much integrated into the "commodity"market system as everyone else and their productive decisions and investments are predicated upon satisfying first and foremost, needs of profitability.

So, for example, Gazprom now involved with foreign LNG, liquefied natural gas, export projects, despite the fact that LNG is another worldwide trap, like its predecessor, oil.
Nobody on the planet needs LNG.
But, without energy as a commodity export item, where would they be? Energy self-sufficiency is NOT THE GOAL.
Just the opposite.
Gas to replace oil.

Furthermore, assuming the a-biotic theory of gas and oil generation correct, both are found and produced most everywhere on the globe, with the proviso one can drill deep enough into the mantel.
Instead, the international commodity energy trading system is intentionally sustained and agreed upon by the worldwide, global market system, which prefers to talk about shortages, instead.
Profitability in this monopolistic, high capital industry simply too enormous.
No other product can match it.
Dissection of this system can go on and on.
Since I have only limited time and resources, I will leave others to extrapolate further for themselves.
It is, however, THE key, critical, fundamental issue.

Turning my attention elsewhere, for a moment, I can't resist a comment or two on the following, "Turkey Needs an Obama...":

www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid
=104873

Clearly, the stupidity and bias of the European commentator is blatant.
In contrast, here's the reality reflected behind BOTH Obama's campaign and the AKP, twin, soul brothers,
"With Friends Like These, AKP Needs What?":

www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid
=105037

And, following the latest in the contentious Gaza, Eygpt's EMG, Israel gas deal for which the previous lovely little war was instigated:

www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID
=13868

Meanwhile, Sadr's militias acquiesced control both in Basra and Baghdad and Mosul is now on the way to being "cleansed" of any opposition.
(See my blog from March 26, 2008, "Mopping Up Begins in Earnest")
In Lebanon, some parallel developments, the following deal:

www.dailystar.com.lb/doha_deal_main_points.asp

All the above occurring simultaneous to the backdrop of the Palestine Investment Conference, alittle of which is reported in widely varying sources:

www.macon.com/world/story/357481.html

The only two shoes left remaining to fall are Ahmadimidget and Bush. Both happening soon.