Comments on: Just a Reminder

By: Registan.net » Some Dead Horses Need Repeated Beating

Registan.net » Some Dead Horses Need Repeated Beating — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 00:20:40 +0000

[...] ut Uzbekistan–that it’s an oil powerhouse–Phil Bailey left the following comment: I suppose the fact that Uzbekistan has the fourth largest gold reserves in the world, mas [...]

By: Phil Bailey

Phil Bailey — Mon, 20 Jun 2005 22:53:17 +0000

I suppose the fact that Uzbekistan has the fourth largest gold reserves in the world, massive undeveloped gas fields (Tim clearly reads the wrong journals) and sufficient oil to interest foreign companies is also irrelevant?

Enron didn’t think so in ‘94 when they were trying to arrange a deal over the Kandym gas field, nor do the UK’s Oxus Gold, busy digging up the stuff right now (no doubt so Karimov can steal it and ship it to the Bank of England, as he has done in the past).

By: asiapundit

asiapundit — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 03:12:11 +0000

it’s all about oil

I never post on Central Asia, it’s an area I know very little about. Besides the Registran’s coverage is so good it would be futile to compete. Read the whole site, regularly, but today also note the debunking of a

By: Tim Newman

Tim Newman — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 07:25:44 +0000

Sorry, should say “appear”. And “everyone is an expert ON the oil industry”.

By: Tim Newman

Tim Newman — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 07:24:44 +0000

What those outside of the oil industry appeat to know about the oil industry could be written on stamp. Problem is, everyone is an expert in the oil industry.

I work in the oil and gas industry, right in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Kuwait. There is lots of talk about forthcoming major projects in the Kazakh and Azeri sectors of the Caspian, the opening up of Russia, West Africa, China. I have yet to hear Uzbekistan mentioned once in 2 years of being in the industry and reading its associated journals.

I’m not sure when the penny is going to drop, but Uzbekistan’s oil is a non-issue for anyone outside of Uzbekistan and the Russian companies which are involved.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 04:08:40 +0000

Saves time to just copy from the wire service’s cheat sheets…

If there’s anything I’ve learned from writing for this blog, it’s that the vast majority of journalists know jack shit about the topics they cover. The good ones are great, but there are too few covering Central Asia.

By: david_walther

david_walther — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 04:01:20 +0000

yeah, i remember nathan well pointed out how that phrase suddenly appeared, as if by command, in every single article on uzbekistan from the u.s. press last month. i wonder if they actually get paid for saying it? but again, it’s the standard you have to compare to: kazakhstan’s 12 soldiers probably also constitute a “valuable ally” in the war on terror. and those two swiss guys.

By: jonathan p

jonathan p — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 18:53:23 +0000

The thing that drives me crazy is the constant references to Uzbekistan as “a valuable ally in the war on terror.” Gimme a break.