Venezuela's Chavez threatens to cut oil to U.S.

[Praxius]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/02/11/chavez-oil.html

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has threatened to cut off oil supplies to the United States if U.S. oil company Exxon Mobile Corp. does not stop its legal action to seize billions of his country's assets.

Exxon has launched legal proceedings against the Venezuelan state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, because it says compensation offered for the nationalization of its oil installations in Venezuela has been insufficient.

Chavez's threat caused oil prices to spike on Sunday to nearly $93 US a barrel before retreating slightly in Monday trading in the Asian markets.

On Sunday, Chavez accused the Texas-based oil company of acting in concert with Washington and vowed that "the outlaws of Exxon Mobil will never again rob us."

"If you end up freezing (Venezuelan assets), and it harms us, we're going to harm you," Chavez said, turning his words to U.S. President George W. Bush. "Do you know how? We aren't going to send oil to the United States. Take note, Mr. Bush, Mr. Danger."

*Snickers* he's funny for a politician.

U.S. 'master' of oil companies

Exxon Mobil has gone after the assets of Petroleos de Venezuela SA in U.S., British and Dutch courts in challenges to the nationalization of a multibillion dollar oil project by Chavez's government. A British court has issued an injunction, "freezing" as much as $12 billion in assets.

The firebrand Chavez has repeatedly threatened to cut off oil shipments to the United States, which is Venezuela's No. 1 client, if Washington tries to oust him. Chavez's warnings Sunday appeared to extend that threat to attempts by oil companies to challenge his government's nationalization drive through lawsuits.

"I speak to the U.S. empire, because that's the master: continue, and you will see that we won't send one drop of oil to the empire of the United States," Chavez said.

Venezuela accounted for about 12 per cent of U.S. crude oil imports in November, the latest figures available from the U.S. Energy Department. The 1.23 million barrels a day from Venezuela makes that country the U.S.'s fourth-biggest oil importer behind Canada, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

He certainly knows how to throw it out there with little misunderstanding.

It does sound kinda silly for one country to sue another country (Organization against a forign government, etc. whatever.) Yes, I'm aware of the legals and technicalities with trading globally, but when you actually think about it, it's sorta dumb and in the end, besides getting more sanctions or some way of restricting a country's ability to trade with other country, there's not much else to be done, because chances are, even if Exxon won, I doubt Chavez is going to pay up.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Chavez doesn't need to pay up when US courts can order assets of Petroleos de Venezuela SA, frozen. Whether it will come to that, who knows.

 

[darkbeaver]

I wish Canada had politicians like him, he's a communicator, and a good one. Canadian politicians are all loosers, boreing conartists and corporate bagmen, reptilian lawyers and godwhacked jesus freaks. Is it any wonder that progress is measured in negative millameters? The whole lot of them could be replaced by a shipload of parrots.

 

[I think not]

Well DB if you want politicians like him you could always move to Venezuela, I hear he needs more commie cronies for his government posts, you would fit right in. :smile:

 

[MikeyDB]

Yes let's all focus on Chavez and the agenda of the petroleum cartels while we forget that Exxon posted the largest profits in American history on the basis of fear and exercising theft at the gas pumps.

Yeah for sure these folk like Chavez strike fear into the liars and theives that make America what it is!

 

[I think not]

Yes let's all focus on Chavez and the agenda of the petroleum cartels while we forget that Exxon posted the largest profits in American history on the basis of fear and exercising theft at the gas pumps.

Yeah for sure these folk like Chavez strike fear into the liars and theives that make America what it is!

I'll never understand what bug people like you have up their asses about corporate profits.

What system of governance do you propose that would be any better, I have yet to read anything from you in that regard. All you do is bitch about the US and its greed.

 

[lone wolf]

Uh-oh.... Revelation of the other side could bring on revenge from right wing cottonballers....

Woof!

 

[MikeyDB]

Profit predicated on honest work and superlative product are fine, when the "profit" comes by manipulation of the people by subterfuge and lies, I'm sorry ITN but that's as dishonest as anything you can name. How do you support the lies and theft of millions by Enron and happily endorse a system of business and government that like you worships the accumulation of wealth and power regardless of the consequences to those who suffer for your greed and malfeaseance?

 

[I think not]

Profit predicated on honest work and superlative product are fine, when the "profit" comes by manipulation of the people by subterfuge and lies, I'm sorry ITN but that's as dishonest as anything you can name. How do you support the lies and theft of millions by Enron and happily endorse a system of business and government that like you worships the accumulation of wealth and power regardless of the consequences to those who suffer for your greed and malfeaseance?

I suppose you haven't been following capitalist news, those responsible for Enron were sent to prison. Anything else? Where's you alternate system of governance?

 

[I think not]

Uh-oh.... Revelation of the other side could bring on revenge from right wing cottonballers....

Woof!

Well good thing capitalists will always reign and socialists will always bitch.

Yes, we allow them that much.:smile:

 

[MikeyDB]

Perhaps you're unaware that theft and fraud are an intrinsic component of American capitalism? Who's more responsible for putting unsafe products on the shelves of Toy'R Us under the labels of Mattel and Fisher Price? When the U.S. calls for invaision of another nation on the basis of the need for Carlyle and Lockheed and the American Military Industrial Complex, that's perfectly acceptable isn't it! But when the shoe is on the other foot and a nation fights for its land and its resources...well then they're terrorists and form the "Axis of Evil"....

Celebrate your corruption if you like....

 

[Unforgiven]

I'll never understand what bug people like you have up their asses about corporate profits.

What system of governance do you propose that would be any better, I have yet to read anything from you in that regard. All you do is bitch about the US and its greed.

Robbing little old wheel chair bound ladies of their pension cheques just because you can get away with it doesn't mean you should nor that it's a fair tactic in business. Nothing wrong with making a profit but when it's at the expense of the public regardless of how much harm it's doing to them, someone should step in. That should be the government, but as the beaver points out, we've allowed the worst of the worst to take control of the country.

No we don't need to become a Communist country, but we do need to take better care of the people than we do the corporations.

 

[lone wolf]

Well good thing capitalists will always reign and socialists will always bitch.

Yes, we allow them that much.:smile:

How generous of you.... :roll:

Woof!

 

[MikeyDB]

And by the way ITN...how much was returned to the people who worked for Enron after your heroes looted their pension plans?

Take your notions of "justice" and sell them to someone who might believe you...it ain't me!

 

[I think not]

Perhaps you're unaware that theft and fraud are an intrinsic component of American capitalism? Who's more responsible for putting unsafe products on the shelves of Toy'R Us under the labels of Mattel and Fisher Price? When the U.S. calls for invaision of another nation on the basis of the need for Carlyle and Lockheed and the American Military Industrial Complex, that's perfectly acceptable isn't it! But when the shoe is on the other foot and a nation fights for its land and its resources...well then they're terrorists and form the "Axis of Evil"....

Celebrate your corruption if you like....

I'm sure you are aware of it in your head, since all I see is when someone breaks the law, they go to prison, simple enough of contemplate. Are you gonna tell me what's a better system or you just gonna complain the rest of your life?

Robbing little old wheel chair bound ladies of their pension cheques just because you can get away with it doesn't mean you should nor that it's a fair tactic in business. Nothing wrong with making a profit but when it's at the expense of the public regardless of how much harm it's doing to them, someone should step in. That should be the government, but as the beaver points out, we've allowed the worst of the worst to take control of the country.

No we don't need to become a Communist country, but we do need to take better care of the people than we do the corporations.

Taking care of old ladies is the job of government, as you pointed out. Sure things aren't anywhere near perfect but when you say, do better, what do you mean exactly? I would really like to know.

How generous of you.... :roll:

Woof!

Oh anytime. It's the least we can do. :smile:

 

[Unforgiven]

There is a natural balance to everything I think. And there is no reason why there wouldn't be a natural balance to this as well. Setting a limit on profit by marginal increases to tax on profits scaled to social programs would be a step.

 

[lone wolf]

Oh anytime. It's the least we can do. :smile:

No doubt....

Woof!

 

[darkbeaver]

Well DB if you want politicians like him you could always move to Venezuela, I hear he needs more commie cronies for his government posts, you would fit right in. :smile:

That would be enefficient ITN totalitarians of my ilk like smoother more profitable options, moving is not an acceptable efficeient option, redistribution is. We will have considerable displacement in the wealthy sector but by and large looking forward we can expect a smooth transition into a socialist future or we can expect no transition at all. I already fit right in, I suggest a quick reevaluation of where exactly you fit in ITN, we often forget regenerated frames of reference in our haste to meet quota and thus fall into the misplaced comfort of past laurels. IMO Mr Chavez follows an imperial prescription for suceesful contractual conclusions.

 

[MikeyDB]

Sure ITN take the profits from Enron and Exxon and Carlyle and Fisher Price and Mattel and fund schools healthcare and rebuild an infrastructure that's crumbling. Having billions scammed from pensioners and savings programs might be your idea of "good business" but while all you folk have been celebrating gangsterism theft and fraud as the "American Dream" your people are suffering and your nation is collapsing around you.

You like things the way they are so why bother changing? World opinion doesn't matter to an American and just like East Timor or Haiti or Iraq or any of two dozen nations and millions of people around the world, you figure whatever you do to people in the name of "business" in the name of "profits" is totally acceptable. If there's a change to be made ITN the change has to come from you not everyone else. You're not prepared to change your perspective on slavery until your nation is burning...you're not prepared to change your thinking on supplying billions to regimes like Saudi Arabia until your skyscapers are burned down...you're not prepared to entertain anything that would indicate that you or the people of America are part of the community of mankind and you're more than happy to make victims of your greed and theft and fraud inside your nation...so how should the American Dream be recieved by the rest of the world?

 

[I think not]

I already fit right in, I suggest a quick reevaluation of where exactly you fit in ITN

I fit just fine where I am, an upper middle class self empoyed capitalist pig that ensures I make money, and then some more, and then more (I wouldn't want MikeyDB to be called a liar). That's what I do, acquire wealth and have a jolly good time.

You on the other hand bitch online. :smile: