Comments on: Is Energy Central Asia’s Curse or Cure? http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/ All Central Asia, All The Time Fri, 25 May 2012 03:15:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sebistan http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/comment-page-1/#comment-374793 sebistan Tue, 29 May 2007 17:34:14 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/#comment-374793 The Emirates are disgusting, though admittedly on a different level than most of those places. At Sharja airport I once witnessed a Russian Prostitute being goose-stepped through the terminal in Ankle chains. It was horrifying, especially considering the central part these women appear to play in the nightlife of next-door Dubai. The Emirates are disgusting, though admittedly on a different level than most of those places.

At Sharja airport I once witnessed a Russian Prostitute being goose-stepped through the terminal in Ankle chains. It was horrifying, especially considering the central part these women appear to play in the nightlife of next-door Dubai.

]]> By: Botir http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/comment-page-1/#comment-374790 Botir Tue, 29 May 2007 13:35:49 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/#comment-374790 ->Joshua Foust: Oh yeah, especially the UAE gets an A! And it is related to Central Asia! Every Central asian businessman=official with some self-esteem and a head on his shoulders will have a bank account there(likewise, every experienced central asian prostitute having worked there). But the point is that whatever curse these countries have, they always support each other and/or interact closely, e.g. Central Asians need Russia, in case of revolutions, it will never refuse an asylum... ->Joshua Foust: Oh yeah, especially the UAE gets an A! And it is related to Central Asia! Every Central asian businessman=official with some self-esteem and a head on his shoulders will have a bank account there(likewise, every experienced central asian prostitute having worked there).

But the point is that whatever curse these countries have, they always support each other and/or interact closely, e.g. Central Asians need Russia, in case of revolutions, it will never refuse an asylum…

]]> By: Nathan http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/comment-page-1/#comment-374743 Nathan Fri, 25 May 2007 18:50:11 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/#comment-374743 Hey, I'm cautiously optimistic about evolutionary change through engagement, but I think economic growth will be much more important than constitutional reforms. The reforms are at best a wash institutionally. If they don't limit the power of the executive, then there's really not much of a chance for democratization. But, I do think that if more people get a piece of the economic pie, they will have growing incentive to create institutions that limit the power of the state. That's why I'm fairly pessimistic about engagement with Uzbekistan; there's no reason to think it wants to reform the economy in a way that would make its economic growth actually mean something. Hey, I’m cautiously optimistic about evolutionary change through engagement, but I think economic growth will be much more important than constitutional reforms. The reforms are at best a wash institutionally. If they don’t limit the power of the executive, then there’s really not much of a chance for democratization. But, I do think that if more people get a piece of the economic pie, they will have growing incentive to create institutions that limit the power of the state.

That’s why I’m fairly pessimistic about engagement with Uzbekistan; there’s no reason to think it wants to reform the economy in a way that would make its economic growth actually mean something.

]]> By: Joshua Foust http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/comment-page-1/#comment-374740 Joshua Foust Fri, 25 May 2007 12:30:37 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/#comment-374740 Sebistan, now you're just being petty. Does Canada not get an A+? And what of UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, all of which are fairly liberal, prosperous places? Regardless, that's not the point of this article. It is about Central Asia, not any of the world's other basket cases. And while it's right to raise concern - particularly about Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - there was some uncharacteristic fear mongering in the ICG report. Sebistan, now you’re just being petty. Does Canada not get an A+? And what of UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, all of which are fairly liberal, prosperous places?

Regardless, that’s not the point of this article. It is about Central Asia, not any of the world’s other basket cases. And while it’s right to raise concern – particularly about Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan – there was some uncharacteristic fear mongering in the ICG report.

]]> By: sebistan http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/comment-page-1/#comment-374739 sebistan Fri, 25 May 2007 11:38:59 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/#comment-374739 Alaska, Scotland and Norway all get A pluses. Wyoming gets a solid D for giving the world the Force of Darkness that is Richard Cheney. Alaska, Scotland and Norway all get A pluses.

Wyoming gets a solid D for giving the world the Force of Darkness that is Richard Cheney.

]]> By: Dolkun http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/comment-page-1/#comment-374737 Dolkun Fri, 25 May 2007 08:49:39 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/#comment-374737 An important though not fully determinate variable, and I'm sure this is this is the subject of countless papers, is the political system in place at the time oil was discovered. Scotland was at a much different place when old McCoy went out shootin' for some food than was Kazakhstan. An important though not fully determinate variable, and I’m sure this is this is the subject of countless papers, is the political system in place at the time oil was discovered.

Scotland was at a much different place when old McCoy went out shootin’ for some food than was Kazakhstan.

]]> By: Joshua Foust http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/comment-page-1/#comment-374733 Joshua Foust Fri, 25 May 2007 03:54:34 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/#comment-374733 You forgot Alaska (and a smattering of other states like Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Colorado), Norway, Mexico, Canada, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Equatorial Guinea (you forgot the rumors of Teodoro's cannibalism), Sudan, and a smattering of smaller producers throughout Africa and South Asia. It really is a mixed bag, with some countries showing good stewardship and a lot falling to madness. You forgot Alaska (and a smattering of other states like Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Colorado), Norway, Mexico, Canada, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Equatorial Guinea (you forgot the rumors of Teodoro’s cannibalism), Sudan, and a smattering of smaller producers throughout Africa and South Asia.

It really is a mixed bag, with some countries showing good stewardship and a lot falling to madness.

]]> By: sebistan http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/comment-page-1/#comment-374732 sebistan Fri, 25 May 2007 03:39:47 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/24/is-energy-central-asias-curse-or-cure/#comment-374732 Let's do a quick rundown of the precedents: Saudi: Gross Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman: Bizarre and kind of gross. Nigeria: Worm-eaten corpse of a country. Turkmenistan: Halk, Watan, Turkmenbasy! Texas: Gross Venezuela: Only country in South America that can never ever be considered a contender for the World Cup of futbol. Plus, eating disorder pandemic. Azerbaijan: Baku-Cehan pipeline is like a catheter tube right up the vas deferens of the former Soviet Union. Hurts going in, but soooo good coming out. Indonesia: got an Aceh it can't scratch Ecquatorial Guinea: political prisoners doused in honey and fed to ants. This is true. Russia: Is that Polonium 210 in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Libya: Qaddafi is a poor man's Turkmenbashy... next to the Ruhnama, the Green book looks like Rousseau. Iraq: sheesh Iran: shah What am i missing? Oh, yeah: Angola: Algeria: Ecuador: Colombia: Let’s do a quick rundown of the precedents:

Saudi: Gross
Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman: Bizarre and kind of gross.
Nigeria: Worm-eaten corpse of a country.
Turkmenistan: Halk, Watan, Turkmenbasy!
Texas: Gross
Venezuela: Only country in South America that can never ever be considered a contender for the World Cup of futbol. Plus, eating disorder pandemic.
Azerbaijan: Baku-Cehan pipeline is like a catheter tube right up the vas deferens of the former Soviet Union. Hurts going in, but soooo good coming out.
Indonesia: got an Aceh it can’t scratch
Ecquatorial Guinea: political prisoners doused in honey and fed to ants. This is true.
Russia: Is that Polonium 210 in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
Libya: Qaddafi is a poor man’s Turkmenbashy… next to the Ruhnama, the Green book looks like Rousseau.
Iraq: sheesh
Iran: shah

What am i missing?

Oh, yeah:

Angola:
Algeria:
Ecuador:
Colombia:

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