And if Yukos is picked apart and the spoils divided among its ugly sisters, handsome princes will steer clear of courting in Russia for a while.

ECONOMIST: Does Russia's Yukos face bankruptcy or break-up?

Ms. MARTHA BRILL ALCOTT (Analyst, Carnegie Endowment): By entertaining Aliyev, the White House is showing their critic that we're not too dependent on Russia, that we are courting somebody like Aliyev.

NPR: Azerbaijan President Visits Washington