In the wake of the second Gulf War comes the revelation of shifting alliances in the Middle East. In Iraq, a stable new government has become a major global player rich with oil. OPEC has been redefined and the Saudis are left standing on the sidelines. But Russia is in turmoil. A hard-line Communist is in control, vowing to return Russia to its former power. His first move is to coerce the Saudi Crown Prince into a coalition to corner the world's oil market. His next is to assert his country's military power with a sudden act of aggression. It's time for the tanks to roll.