American in line at the Soviet Spaceport.

"I would like to buy a ticket on the January Soyuz to ISS. First class, any seat."

Soviet ticketmaster. "I'm sorry, we're all sold out. We had one ticket, but that went to the husband of the Governor of Alaska for a trade mission. A consortium of oil companies, earmarked Federal funds and Alaskan economic development funds are paying a small fortune."

America. "I really, really need that ticket. I used to have my own Shuttle, but it wore out."

Soviet. "Sorry. The First Dude has a scientific experiment to take with him. His theory is that you can get higher from marijuana raised in space than the stuff from the ground. We're interested in it, too."

Looking at the typical timeline for US space and military projects of this magnitude and the reality that there will not be money available for items such as this, it would seem that the US will be dependent upon the Russians for 7 or 8 years for transport to the ISS. If the Russians have any inclination to allow it.

Arf