H04320
Headlines : InternationalChavez makes US oil export threat
It’s sad that the people most affected by a move like this would be the middle and lower class Americans. Hardly the adminstration. But 1.3 million barrels a day would have a huge impact on the U.S. economy, especially now when oil prices are at a record high. I would be impressed if Chavez has the cojones to cut off U.S. oil. And if the loco leader in Venezuela does this, it would be interesting to see what the U.S. reaction would be.
[Posted By alpinestar]Republished from BBC News
He described recent US government actions as “aggressive” in a speech at a youth festival in Caracas.
As a result, Venezuelan oil “instead of going to the United States, could go elsewhere,” he said.
Venezuela exports about 1.3 million barrels a day to the US and is the world’s fifth largest oil producer.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated since President Chavez accused the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of spying on his government.
Washington denies the charge and has accused Caracas of failing to co-operate in the fight against drug-trafficking.
On Friday the Venezuelan government withdrew diplomatic immunity from DEA agents working in the country in response to a US decision to revoke the visas of six Venezuelan officials based in Washington.
Venezuela is an important transport route for cocaine from neighbouring Colombia, which produces 80% of the world’s supply.
Posted by alpinestar
I have lived many lives in many countries. an alchemist on a constant quest for truth. my destiny is as of yet unclear, but i am still immature. i only want to learn as much as i can before i die. minimalism, naturalism and a few other isms define me ...
Of course the neocons want Venezuela’s oil. They want everyone’s oil. They’ll rob, steal, lie and bomb civilians to get it. And they’ll use cocaine as a pretext. But the cultural and material exports of the USA are everybit as harmful as cocaine. More so. The first nations peoples of South America have always grown coca, and it is their right. If Bush proceeds to use US military in Venezuela (and Bolivia) he may see the whole of South America declare US capitalism unwelcome. And it’s about time.
Uh-oh. Time to spin this. Chavez supports drugs! Chavez supports drug traffiking! Operation Just Cause 2.0 and we can drag him to the US for a trial, hopefully in the Miami Cuban-American community area.
Maybe the neocons are mad about oil, and cocaine, its not liek the CIA hasn’t trafficked a bit of coke in their day. Well, when we went into Iraq it was all “no, we aren’t going to Iraq. North Korea’s evil!” now it’s “look how evil Iran is, no, we would never go into venezuela”... fuckin orwellian nazis
VIVA HUGO!
It is very inspiring to see an intellingent and highly charismatic leader emerge to lead the people of South America in a strong socialist revolution in South America and not be afraid to go toe to toe against American imperialism. I say cut the United States off President Chavez! And if the U.S. were to invade your sovereign nation, I would be proud to fight alongside of you in a guerilla war campaign to make the Imperialists “bite the dust.”
Washington denies the charge and has accused Caracas of failing to co-operate in the fight against drug-trafficking.
LOL
Cutting off the oil would not have that much effect as far as i’m aware, in that way I think Chavez is using this for shock tactics. A more threatening move would be to trade oil through the Iranian oil bourse, the real reason for US drum beating over Iran.
Just found this article which gives a nice overview of all the areas Bush and Chavez clash on.
Wow Trust, that article was great – Thanks. Does Venezuela accept immigrants (draft-dodgers)?
“I say cut the United States” that would only hurt us poor folks who hate bush..I sure hate the moe foe!
No worries Chick, always a pleasure. Here’s some more good background. I have wanted to go for a while, but the only jobs I can find are on oil rigs, for reasons this article explains, not really my field of expertise i’m afraid. I suppose they might accept people into their citizen millitia, i’m not much of a fighter but I would probably make an exception for Hugo. If you can get a civillian job, you are likely to benefit from co-management schemes which sound great. In the meantime (as opposed to the kindtime you get in Venezuela), I have decided to learn Spanish, so that when they need people specialising in sarcastic put-downs, I can hit the ground running. Fluency in Spanish would also liberate my news intake appreciably. Information on people like Evo Morales is seriously lacking in English, and you know what is there is a Westernised version. There are definitely promising signs that the US will be kicked out of the south altogether though. Viva Bolivar!