Unocal’s plunge into Afghan politics was the most madcap episode of the Caspian era. In competition with the Argentine company Bridas, Unocal broke bread with Afghanistan’s regional warlords, and when the Taliban came to power hoped they would usher in the kind of peace that would make the pipeline possible. Billions of dollars in profit were at stake. But the Taliban were inextricably connected with Osama bin Ladin. Here I how the deal happened.
Posted by Steve LeVine, Sep 04, 2007 10:07 AM
Jeanie Roemer wrote on Sep 05, 02:39 pm
I was disappointed when the podcast ended! I was ready for the next part, and now I'll have to wait for the book to be released in October. You have taken a complex subject with places and names far removed from my ordinary life here in Texas, yet have broken it down to make it relevant and easy to understand. How can I pre-order the book? Can you provide a link? I have a lot of friends who will want to order it. Thanks.
Vincent wrote on Sep 05, 05:23 pm
Steve, thank you for posting this great peak into the upcoming book. The podcasts definitely bring the excitement level up and quench the thirst until the book arrives. I know we can pre-order this online, but I will enjoy buying on the first day at the bookstore and witness the display in person (just part of the experience). Cannot wait to hear more!
John Imle wrote on Sep 13, 10:59 pm
Steve, I wish you had looked me up before finalizing the copy for this book. Some of your details and assumptions (as read on the podcast) are a bit wide of the mark. Still, the book will be entertaining and I wish you success. I'll be among the first buyers. Best regards.
Chuck Palson wrote on Oct 26, 09:19 am
If his interview with NPR's Terry Gross is any indication of the gist of the book, I'm disappointed because he, like most these days, treats the issue of oil as primarily one of private interest - i.e., Big Oil. While it is true that private interests are indeed important, oil itself is arguably our most important strategic interest because it is without exaggeration the lifeblood of our economy - and is fundamental to our way of life. It is also a dirty 3 letter word - as Alan Greenspan found out immediately upon publication of his book. Levine, though, need not worry about the type of criticism suffered by Greenspan because oil to him is more about personalities and petty national politics. What, for example, explains Putin's oil policy? The huge cash flow it provides will keep Putin in power and finally get Russia the respect it deserves on the international stage. It is a pity, then, Levine failed to bring to center stage the CFR's recent (2006) major white paper, "National Security Consequences of US Oil Dependency" because it makes clear why our relationship to Russia and Iran is increasingly truculent. The gist of the paper, produced by a who's who of the the American political and economic elite, is that the US cannot allow any significant independence of any major oil producing country because the enormous wealth can and will be used to sabotage the aims of American foreign policy. Witness Chavez and pre-invasion Saddam. It follows, then, that an important - if not the most important - goal of US foreign policy is to have substantial control over Russia, Iran, etc. Underscoring the centrality of this paper, the advisory board is made up of a who's who of American political and economic elite.