duty now for the future

-Nabucco Pipeline: Turkey has agreed to a large portion of the U.S/NATO backed Nabucco pipeline which travels from Italy, and will theoretically allow contact between Western Europe and the Caucuses in the from of natural gas exchanges in the crucial strategic area between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. However, questions still remain regarding participants in filling the pipeline and Turkey continues to play it's cat-and-mouse game with Moscow and Washington with simultaneous participation Moscow's South Stream II.

Turkey, EU states sign intergovernmental pact on Nabuccogas pipeline

Turkey 'got what it wanted' on Nabucco, minister reiterates

F. William Engdahl: US Strategy of Total Energy Control over the European Union and Eurasia

-Obama and Putin: The recent meeting of Putin and Obama over breakfast highlights the lack of Russian affinity and reverence for the "magic" of Obama commonly received in Western Europe. Lavrov blasts Polish missile shield as "counter productive" and Medvedev also hints at a potential retribution for continuation of Obama's confrontational policies.

Indifferent or Confused?
For Politicians and Pundits, Barack Obama’s Visit to Moscow is a Breakthrough, But Most Russians Remain Unconvinced that It Will Change Anything

Russia may still reply to U.S. shield with Baltic missiles

Russia's Lavrov says U.S. missile shield plans counterproductive

NEXT WEEK WE WILL DISCUSS CAP AND TRADE, UNTIL THEN...