Eric S. Margolis wrote a nice piece for the L.A. Times that explains some of the history behind Russia’s shrewd Oil strategy (as enabled by the “War On Terrorism” ):
Russia Checkmated Its New Best Friend .

He who controls energy, controls the globe.

Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, wants Central Asian resources to be transported across its territory. Iran, also an oil producer, wants the energy pipelines to debouch at its ports, the shortest route. But America’s powerful Israel lobby has blocked Washington’s efforts to deal with Iran.

Pakistan and the U.S. have long sought to build pipelines running due south from Termez, Uzbekistan, to Kabul, Afghanistan, then down to Pakistan’s Arabian Sea ports, Karachi and Gwadar.

Oilmen call this route “the new Silk Road,” after the fabled path used to export China’s riches.

This route, however, would require a stable, pro-Western Afghanistan.

Since 1989, Iran has strived to keep Afghanistan in disorder, thus preventing Pakistan from building its long-sought Termez-Karachi pipeline.

When Pakistan ditched its ally, the Taliban, in September, and sided with the U.S., Islamabad and Washington fully expected to implant a pro-American regime in Kabul and open the way for the Pakistani-American pipeline.

But, while the Bush administration was busy tearing apart Afghanistan to find Bin Laden, it failed to notice that the Russians were taking over half the country.