The summit meeting between President Bush and Russian PresidentPutin provides an opportunity to discuss the key issues of Iran,energy access, trade, and Georgia.
As oil and gasoline prices surpass $134 per barrel and $4 per gallon, respectively, it is clear that significant change is underway in global energy markets, portending major challenges forthe global economy and energy security.
Is President Dmitri Medvedev of Russia trying to come out from under the shadow of his long-time political mentor and former boss Prime Minister Vladimir Putin? So it would seem.
The U.S. should increase pressure on OPEC and non-OPEC countries,which are failing to meet production forecasts, to open access toIOCs while authorizing oil production in ANWR, other promisingArctic areas, and the lower 48 states to expand domestic energyproduction. Rising oil consumption within key oil-producing statesleaves less oil for export, posing a significant constraint onfuture supply.
The death of former Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov may beVladimir Putin's short-term gain, but it is Russia's long-termloss. Moscow will now confront the deadly face of Islamic extremistterrorism. Washington should cooperate selectively with Russia intracking and intercepting terrorists' financial flows, technicalexpertise, and training capabilities.