The planning for these exercises clearly predates the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Georgia.

ECONOMIST: Ruling the waves

It does not address the fact that with Mubarak's ouster, a previously all-but unthinkable outbreak of hostilities with Egypt has now become eminently thinkable.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The real Egyptian revolution

Israel's powerful military is capable of toppling Assad, he said, while an outbreak of hostilities could potentially drag in Syria's key allies, Iran and Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.

NPR: Israel Warns Syria Against Attacks On Golan

Some four months after the outbreak of hostilities, at a time when prices were falling again, reserves were released under the auspices of the IEA, at Mr Obama's prodding.

ECONOMIST: Oil reserves

Just as the Versailles Treaty produced not a lasting peace but an interlude between and pretext to war, so the Vance-Owen "peace plan" will assure the future outbreak of regional hostilities even if succeeds (against all odds) in temporarily suspending the present ones.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Thanks, But No Thanks: Clinton Should Back Bosnia in Rejecting Vance-Owen ��Peace In Our Time��

Just as the Versailles Treaty produced not a lasting peace but an interlude between and pretext to war, so the Vance-Owen "peace plan" will assure the future outbreak of regional hostilities -- even if succeeds (against all odds) in temporarily suspending the present ones.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy