If you read the fineprint you will find that after Iran decided to lay low their oil exchange on that Island. Russia announced a BIG new commodity initiative/exchange to run side by side with their vibrant stock exchange. Not much is mentioned about it other than it is happening. There is a large and growing 'trader' class in Russia from their stock market volatility and success. Oil and other commodities would work quite well on the RTS system.
You should not believe in accidents. It is no coincident that the "non-dollar" oil exchange will be in Russia. Neocons HATE Putin ---and they cannot Nuke him (at least not without getting us showered with warheads). I personally believe this was THE shrewdest move supported by Iran, China, as well as Venezuela. Russia has TONS of oil and TONS of Nukes.
IMO Putin is much shrewder than Bush--who looked lovingly into his eyes. He is every bit as shrewd (and evil) as the most clever Neocon. Just ask the NeoCon lackie Russian Oligarchs. Especially, the Oligarchs who stayed in Russia and thumbed their noses at him. Putin hammered them. Literally.
So we have an interesting matchup here kids.
We the NeoCons who are Trotskyite (or former Trotskyites.cough.cough).
We have Putin and company who's moves are classic Stalin (or a former stalinist ..cough...cough).
Yet once again. We have THE GREAT tactical matchup of the last century. Trotsky was more brilliant than Stalin. BUT he could not get as violent as Stalin. Trotsky always had others doing his fighting for him (figuratively speaking). Trotsky lost. All the similarities are present once again. Lets watch this one closely. (I am not saying Trotsky was a big pussy. It was just that Stalin was probably THE most violent and evil thing this planet has ever seen).
As traders, we have good fishing in troubled waters. As someone who was 'raised a commie' I find it terribly ironic. A trader like me is watching Capitalist battles by folks who are all Philo Commies (at least in operating tactics)! But the Trotskyite and Stalinists always have the same end game. MIGHT IS RIGHT. It is an effective and brutal philosophy that just plain works.