The world has changed a lot since my last post in 2008, especially the global oil and gas industry. The largest hydrocarbon importer of 2008 is now set to be an exporter. What a change of fortune?
However, the politics around it has not changed much. US is still present in Mideast and so are some other western countries. Also, it seems they are going to be in this region for a longer haul.
And again the story revolves around oil. Or at-least this is what it looks like. Who will not be interested in Iraq's large oil reserves? Both ISIS and US and its allies eye these for different reasons, not to undermine the local and regional Shia-Sunni political equation. Other regional players are equally feeling the heat.
Is this a worthy war for US? Why does it get into this muddled water repeatedly? And pays heavy price each time. Will US ever learn?
For the region, issues have remained the same, probably got more complex with time. Unfortunately each workable solution has led to another problem, each time bigger than the previous one. No final solution in sight.
Events of past have just become memories for present and future. Not good memories though.
However, the politics around it has not changed much. US is still present in Mideast and so are some other western countries. Also, it seems they are going to be in this region for a longer haul.
And again the story revolves around oil. Or at-least this is what it looks like. Who will not be interested in Iraq's large oil reserves? Both ISIS and US and its allies eye these for different reasons, not to undermine the local and regional Shia-Sunni political equation. Other regional players are equally feeling the heat.
Is this a worthy war for US? Why does it get into this muddled water repeatedly? And pays heavy price each time. Will US ever learn?
For the region, issues have remained the same, probably got more complex with time. Unfortunately each workable solution has led to another problem, each time bigger than the previous one. No final solution in sight.
Events of past have just become memories for present and future. Not good memories though.
