Russia has strong ties with all three of the countries branded the "axis of evil" by President Bush: Iran, Iraq and North Korea .

Iraqi oil is sold initially to Russian firms. The big buyers are, Emerkom, Kalymneftegas, Machinoimport, Rosnefteimpex, Sidanco, Slavneft, Soyuzneftegaz, Tatneft, and Zarubzhneft . Russia gets the largest share of the petroleum sold under the U.N.
oil-for-food program .

It is then resold to a variety of oil companies, including 778,000 bbl/d during 2001 to the United States
through third parties, such as Swiss company Glencore. Nearly 80% of Basra Light liftings, and over 30% of Kirkuk oil, went to the United States during 2001 . Large importers to the United States in 2001 included ExxonMobil, Chevron, Citgo, BP, Marathon, Coastal, Valero, Koch, and Premcor .

The sanctions keep Russian oil companies from fully developing Iraqi oil fields . Russia proposed changes in the pricing rules in the oil-for-food program that it argued have penalized Baghdad and discouraged oil sales . Russian diplomats pushed for a special session of the U.N. Security Council's committee on Iraq sanctions to consider the issue .

Iraq is facing some difficult economic problems in exploiting its vast reserves-"water cut," especially in the south, and in the north, the Kirkuk oil producing area has suffered in the absence of badly needed spare parts . It is oil that is driving the alliance of Iraq and Russia .

Is there a Russia/Iraq five-year economic cooperation agreement worth $40 billion, reinforcing Moscow's close ties to Baghdad ? even as a few airheadss who do not understand the delicate balance of power are pushing a military attack to drive Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power .

Here comes Russia by way of Turkey . You can hear the sound of metal on metal catch releases going on those Turkish Kalashnikov-47's . Let's just hope this is the worst case scenario . What if that milk turns sour, the Kurds are just about ready to take wing as an independent state .

What color is Korea right now ?.....Think of this one, North Korea feels compelled to launch a pre-emptive strike based on the focus of the next arena of empire building .

Regards,