Anyone think that Putin may be manipulating the Yukos

[Spinzonner]

situation in Russia to keep oil prices high and increase the likelihood that Bush would loose ?

Especially since Saudi Arabia was willing to keep them low for the administrations benefit leading up to the election.

What a nasty thing for old POtty-Poot to do.

[T Roosevelt]

1. He might be looking ahead to the coming oil crunch

by essentially taking over Yukos he makes sure Russia will get Russian oil, rather than selling off a precious resource to us.

[lastknowngood]

2. He's in it up to his eyes. I remember the shrub's dad went to

russia to talk about buying oil leases for the Carlyle group and about 10 days later Yukos was raided and all this stuff started. I don't know if he's an friend or competor of the BFEE.

[FullCountNotRecount]

3. Aren't higher Oil prices better for Putin better because it cost more to

get it out of the Russian frozen tundra and they compete with Iraq and Saudis at a disadvantage because of this.