An interesting game of oil politics is publicly being played out in the Caspian Sea. This material part of water which joins Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan is resurfacing as an economically viable resource. Its oil and gas excepts have propelled Western oil companies to search for joint ventures with the republics that curb its shores. These republics, in make go round bank on this Western economic interest to acquire much-need assistance for their avow economic revitalization. However, more and more Western companies are