The Great Game

When reviewing a book for another thread, I came upon this quote by Lord George Curzon, no date is given, but it is explained that he said it before becoming Viceroy of India, so it would be near the end of the 1800's.

"Turkestan, Afghanistan, Transcarpia, Persia- to many these names breathe only a sense of utter remoteness... To me, I confess, they are the pieces on a chessboard upon which is being played out a game for the dominion of the world."

(David Fromkin, A Peace To End All Peace, Henry Holt and Company, 1989.)

Perhaps this is where Zbigniew Brzezinski got his title for "The Grand Chessboard" his analysis for America's geostrategy in the same region.

It sure is interesting to note the significance of this region throughout history, perhaps there is more than just oil, minerals and heroin in them hills.

On a side note, keep an eye on Kazakhstan I predict that it will be an economic world power in the not too distant future.

the Billmeister