[Zarathustra]

Rocky,

The situation changed dramatically after the Georgian attack on South Ossetia. Russia has made it very clear since then that Iran and themselves were political and energy partners. China has very subtly let the world know that it is on that side via the Shanghai Cooperative. The sides have been drawn, and it has been made very clear, especially in light of the South American defection from U.S. interests, that Russia, China, South America, Pakistan, et alia, have determined that U.S./Western Europe, Israeli hegemony is OVER. The only question now is the U.S./Western Europe, Israeli reaction to this fact. If it is military, then things could get crazy fast. We will have to keep a careful eye on this.