BY PABLO ORTEGA

TAMMING THE CAUCUSSES

CENTRAL ASIA

THE KEY PLAYER IN TRADE

CENTRAL TO IMPERIAL AMBITIONS

CENTERAL ATERY FOR TRADE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST

LAND LOCKED OIL GIANT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SILK ROAD

MAJOR OIL PRODUCER FOR THE U.S CHINA AND EUROPE

PIPELINES AVOID RUSSIA

BORDERING KAZAKHSTAN AND CHINA

IMPROVISHED AND RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SILK ROAD

THEY ARE POLITICALLY CORRUPT NATIONS

SILK ROAD NATIONS

BOTH FACING LARGE MUSLIM OPPISITIONS GROUPS

INSTIBILITY AND ECONOMIC TYRANNY RAMPANT

NO REAL DEMOCRACY

HAMID KARZAI VS PERVEZ MUSHARAF

LAND LARGLY UNCONTROLLED

TRIBAL WARLORDS RAMPANT

NO REAL CENTRALIZED POWER

WESTERN POWERS INFLUENCE IS MINIMAL

CHINA EFFECTAVILY BOUGHT THE STANS

RUSSIA AND EU STRUGGLE FOR STABILITY IN THE STANS