Interesting Stories

When the U.S. economy begins its expected downturn late next year, oil prices will fall a bit with it. Until then, reports my former Wall Street Journal colleague Russell Gold in tomorrow's paper, we will remain in the neighborhood of current record-breaking prices. Gold wrote the story as oil closed over $98 a barrel for the first time, and analysts surveyed by the Journal saw nothing that will soon pop the bubble.

The Economist argues in its current edition that, if Vladimir Putin is seeking his country’s best interests, it’s not always clear what they are.

Blogger Jeff “Maximos” Martin has an interesting if ultimately flawed tirade against U.S. involvement in the Caspian Sea region.