Get ready. We're going for regime change in Syria.

[Moonbeam]

I think the main thing is the pipeline.

 

[LunarRay]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I think the main thing is the pipeline.

Yeah..but..

Afghanistan was at relative peace when the project was being discussed. Turkmenian President Saparmurat Niyazov felt that the U.S. could help to guarantee the construction of the pipeline. He was able to find an American company that became interested in the project: Texan Unocal bought 54% of the consortium, while Bridas was simply dismissed.

However, the situation in Afghanistan has changed a great deal. In 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul. Members of the consortium had to negotiate with a new and unpredictable partner. According to Mike Thatcher, a PR director at Unocal, "we have been negotiating with the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. We simply wanted to know when the war in Afghanistan would end and who would finance the project. There was no reply. When the Taliban gave refuge to Osama Bin Laden after he had organized the terrorist acts in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998, we decided to quit the project."

There is, however, a different opinion. According to our diplomatic source, "Unocal was not really trying to push the project. The company was simply lying to Ashkhabad. The U.S. is not interested in the Central Asian pipeline. If it is built, Washington will be unable to control the gas market in the region. Unocal was simply an effective tool for preventing this project from being realized."

When there is peace in Afghanistan, the idea of the Central Asian gas pipeline is likely to surface again. In a recent interview, the Pakistani ambassador in Moscow, Iftihar Murshed, stated that "the key to solving the Afghani crisis is in economics. The construction of this pipeline could solve some of the economic problems in the region."

The only question is whether anyone will be willing to take part in such a risky project. Unocal refuses to do so. According to Thatcher, "we have left the consortium. Our company is a small one; we do not have many resources. As of now, we have a number of projects in Indonesia and China and we would not be able to begin any new ones within the next five years or so."

It is also quite unlikely that Bridas will return to the idea. No other company has expressed an interest in the project: the political risks are too high. The Central Asian pipeline that is destined to "pacify" Afghanistan will probably remain a paper project.

edit a dated link

But then..

Afghanistan hopes to strike a deal later this month to build a $2bn pipeline through the country to take gas from energy-rich Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India.

edit... a more current link

 

[DeRailur]

Syria is gonna be next. While I was in siege of As Samawa, Iraq in March listening to my shortwave radio, all I heard was reports of the Syrian government blocking any television broadcasts of happy Iraqis. They wanted to portray the all too common Arab media picture of the US as evil occupiers. Syria is obviously anti-US to me. It shows in their actions and in the fact that a large number of their citizens have crossed into Iraq and are currently taking part in the insurgency there. Syria has no intentions of stopping these border crossing as it fits their agenda to have Americans killed. I say lets go get them. Im ready to when the call comes.

 

[Moonbeam]

Pak to continue dialogue with India despite LoC fencing: Jamali
Wednesday January 21, 2004 (1505 PST)




KALAT: An official of Sui Northern Gas briefs to Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali about the Kalat Gas Pipeline Project during its opening ceremony in Kalat.

KALAT, January 22 (Online): Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Wednesday said that though Pakistan had complained against India in the United Nations for its fencing of Line of Control by India, yet Pakistan would not abandon the negotiations process between the two sides aimed at normalization of bilateral relations.
?We have protested against India?s fencing of LoC and Pakistan also took up the issue with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his delegates? said Prime Minster Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali while addressing an inaugural ceremony of a Gas supply project here.

Jamali said that negotiations with India will continue. Election in India will not affect the negotiation process.

He said government would soon make crucial decisions to ameliorate the lot of common man.

He said the government was conversant of the burden shifted on common man due to increment in the prices of patrolmen and other product.

He said by the grace of God rain and snow falling had started in Balochistan saying he was experiencing immense pleasure while inaugurating gas supply in Kalat.

?Government will extend gas pipeline supply to the far-flung areas of Balochistan for this people of the province would have to demonstrate patience. Government will not spare any efforts in this regard?, he said.

The Prime Minster said that since he hailed from the same province so he was very well aware of the problem confronting the people. He said that the project aiming at extending gas to Ziarat from main gas pipeline was underway, saying that Zhob would be provided CNG.

Jamali said government was taking keen interest in the mega development projects for the province, saying the rails and roads were being improved in a bid to make Gwadar project a success. He said that Gwadar and Karachi have been linked through a road.

The Prime Minister said that during his visit to Afghanistan he had discussed the matter of laying railway line till Kandhar with Afghan government.

?Pakistan has asked the Afghan government to award contract of laying railway track to Pakistani firm?, he said.

End.

 

[Zephyr106]

There won't be any more wars until/if Bush wins reelection. Then Syria and North Korea will suddenly become imminent threats. Condoleeza Rice has explicitly said there will be no more wars for Bush's first term. I'm sorry that I can't provide the direct quote.

Zephyr