1. BY PABLO ORTEGA

2. TAMMING THE CAUCUSSES

3.  CENTRAL ASIA
 THE KEY PLAYER IN
TRADE
 CENTRAL TO
IMPERIAL
AMBITIONS
 CENTERAL ATERY
FOR TRADE
BETWEEN EAST
AND WEST

4.  LAND LOCKED OIL
GIANT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE
SILK ROAD
 MAJOR OIL
PRODUCER FOR
THE U.S CHINA
AND EUROPE
 PIPELINES AVOID
RUSSIA

5.  BORDERING
KAZAKHSTAN AND
CHINA
 IMPROVISHED AND
RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE
SILK ROAD
 THEY ARE
POLITICALLY
CORRUPT NATIONS

6.  SILK ROAD NATIONS
 BOTH FACING LARGE
MUSLIM OPPISITIONS
GROUPS
 INSTIBILITY AND
ECONOMIC
TYRANNY RAMPANT
 NO REAL
DEMOCRACY

7.  HAMID KARZAI VS
PERVEZ MUSHARAF
 LAND LARGLY
UNCONTROLLED
 TRIBAL WARLORDS
RAMPANT
 NO REAL
CENTRALIZED
POWER

8.  WESTERN POWERS
INFLUENCE IS
MINIMAL
 CHINA
EFFECTAVILY
BOUGHT THE
STANS
 RUSSIA AND EU
STRUGGLE FOR
STABILITY IN THE
STANS