IS CASPIAN OIL THE REASON THE U.S. IS INVOLVED MILITARILY IN CENTRAL/SOUTH ASIA?

THE UNITED STATES, CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE ALL VYING FOR CONTROL OVER OIL RESOURCES IN THE CASPIAN SEA REGION IN CENTRAL ASIA. BY SOME ACCOUNTS THE REGION COULD CONTAIN THE WORLD'S LARGEST AMOUNT OF UNTAPPED OIL AND GAS RESOURCES. JOURNALIST LUTZ KLEVEMAN HAS WRITTEN A BOOK CALLED, "THE NEW GREAT GAME: BLOOD AND OIL IN CENTRAL ASIA." THE BOOK LOOKS AT WHETHER THE CURRENT WAR ON TERRORISM IS LITTLE MORE THAN A PRETEXT FOR THE PRESENCE OF US TROOPS IN THE REGION TO SECURE PIPELINES LEADING OUT OF THE CASPIAN SEA REGION. HE SAYS THE STRUGGLE TO CONTROL THE CASPIAN REGION'S LARGE ENERGY SUPPLIES ARE CULMINATING IN BLOODY CONFLICTS AND THE KILLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS - WITH THE WAR IN IRAQ BEING THE LATEST EXAMPLE.