By John Daly
02 Mar 2009 |
World Politics Review
Ever since men first put to sea, conflicts have swirled around
narrow maritime passages known as choke points. A subset of the broader
category of Sea Lines of Communication, maritime choke points
act as funnels drawing in shipping from surrounding seas. As critical
pressure points in naval struggles for "command of the sea," every navy
seeks to secure them while denying their use to the enemy.
By John Daly
22 Dec 2008 |
World Politics Review
In the new "Great Game" between Russia
and the West over the future of Central Asian energy, the prize is certainly a tempting one. The Caspian and its attendant coastline are estimated to contain as much as 250 billion barrels of
recoverable oil and up to 328 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas. Since 1991, Washington has sought access to the region's energy while bypassing both Russia and Iran.