Replies to post #30122 on Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Amaunet]

Yukos was probably also nailed in order for Russia to gain control over the Murmansk project along with the Negev.

Murmansk Pipeline

In late 2002, Russia's five largest oil producers, including YUKOS, announced plans to construct a major new pipeline to ship Western Siberian crude through a deepwater terminal near Murmansk. The project will be jointly implemented by the companies, who are traditionally fierce rivals in just about all other areas. Funding for construction will come from private sources, without financial support from the Russian Government. The completed pipeline will be operated on market terms as a private venture.
There are a number of reasons why the new pipeline is vitally needed. On the geopolitical front, Murmansk is much closer to the world's largest markets for crude in North America than is the Persian Gulf. The pipeline will allow for a vast increase in the amount of crude that can be economically shipped from Russia to North America, helping the United States to significantly reduce its dependency on oil from the turbulent Middle East.


The sale of Yukos shares to a U.S. company would entail that representatives of American big business would be sitting in the Russian parliament. Russia would cede its sovereignty if it allowed transfer of strategic assets to corporations that are, in turn, closely linked to foreign governments. This would be like having a representative of Russian business in the U.S. congress voting on or blocking key legislation relating to the national interest. According to this it is a matter of degree, the influence in Russia, through a weakness in their laws, has the ability to wreak havoc. This apparently is not just the influence exerted through campaign funds. Is it that in America you buy the person in Russia you buy the seat?

I do not like that either the Jews or the Arabs or any foreign entity has significant influence over our elected officials. Yes to some degree, and this varies, they do control the banking system and US congress. Why are we paying taxes?