Video: Next to the Persian Gulf, Central Asia has now emerged as the major reservoir of oil and gas. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, this homeland of the Turks has no re-emerged as four independent Turkish states: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgiztan and Turkmenistan are Soviet creations with Soviet-style governments. They have Muslim populations with secular governments. They also sit on a treasury of fossil fuel. Americans, Russians and Chinese are vying for control. The contest is heating up.

Date: 02/09/2006