Found at Street 128

Scratched onto one of the tables at Coffee Plus on Street 128 is an unusual piece of graffiti. Between the scribblings of "Ly loves Ty" and "Call me Babe 012...." are the words "Find Oil."

Cambodia has recently found oil. But I'm not sure if it is the key to prosperity that some national leaders claim it will be.

John Ghazavian has published a new book about the oil booms in African nations. (Untapped: The Scramble for Africa's oil.) From Nigeria in the late 1950s to Gabon in the 60s and now Angola, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea, Ghazavian contends that all the oil wealth has done for Africa is to entrench chronically corrupt politicians who squander the money and then toss the leftovers at a few projects they call "development". He argues that this is a pattern that is unlikely to change.

A realist might caution that perhaps the hope for Cambodia isn't in crude oil alone. The cynic could reply that you'd be more likely to find happiness by calling the babe at 012...