This is near Tashkent, Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan border.
That is an amazing picture. You do look happy. On top of the world.
You're right. Life is dangerous, everywhere.
I'm getting a discounted copy of the book. From the summary (Kirkus review) looks like another chapter in the Russia/West jockeying for influence in Asia, Europe, and the world. Oil may be at the heart of this particular tug of war, but the dynamic goes back through modern history.
Just my kind of book :)
0.00000000 CASHMAP
I have a news for you: Oil is always at the heart of most modern conflicts.