Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

I would not rule out the possibility that what is happening in Georgia has in part something to do with Putin playing the price of oil through the Yukos fiasco.

Remember how we drove the Soviet Union into bankruptcy during the first Cold War? This time around Russia has the advantage of vast oil and gas reserves and we have a huge deficit.

"I understand America's measures as a continuation of the arms race," says Viktor Baranets, military columnist for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. "With our slim budget we are making an effort to catch up with the rich American chariot."

Put must be enjoying himself.

If Chavez retains the presidency of Venezuela I would not give two cents for our economy.