Venezuela would stop oil to U.S. if invaded -Chavez (Chavez calls Bush an A--hole)

Reuters ^ | 02.29.04 | Pascal Fletcher

[Tailgunner Joe]

(Please note that paragraph 7 contains language that may be offensive to some readers)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned the U.S. government Sunday that if it tried to invade Venezuela or impose a trade blockade against his country, he would shut off Venezuelan oil supplies to the United States.

Although the context Chavez gave was hypothetical, it was the first time the outspoken Venezuelan leader had publicly mentioned the possibility of cutting off oil supplies to the United States.

Venezuela is among the four top suppliers of crude and oil products to the U.S. market.

The left-wing Venezuelan leader made the warning in a fiery speech to supporters in which he accused U.S. President Bush's administration of backing opposition attempts to oust him from the presidency of the world's No. 5 oil exporter.

"Mr. Bush must know that if he gets the mad idea of trying to blockade Venezuela, or, even worse, of invading Venezuela, if that happened, the people of the United States should know that not a drop of oil would reach them from Venezuela, not a drop more," Chavez told tens of thousands of cheering supporters.

Ties between Washington and Caracas have been badly strained by U.S. criticism of Chavez's rule, and his sharp condemnation of U.S. policies. But the Venezuelan government has always insisted it will remain a secure oil supplier to the United States.

In his speech, Chavez also called Bush an "asshole" for, he said, supporting a short-lived coup in 2002 that briefly toppled him.

The U.S. government has repeatedly dismissed as false and "not serious" accusations by the populist president that Washington is supporting efforts to topple him. His opponents accuse him of blocking a bid by them to secure a recall referendum against him this year.

Chavez said that if the U.S. government tried to confiscate Venezuelan oil refineries in the United States, run by the Citgo affiliate of the state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), he could do the same to U.S. oil operations in his country.

"There are plenty of American installations here," he said.

Chavez said U.S. oil magnates were manipulating Bush "like a puppet" and added the United States wanted to "get its hands on PDVSA."

The Venezuelan president has tightened his government's nationalistic political control over PDVSA since the company was rocked by a strike by employees in December 2002 and January 2003 that badly disrupted oil production and exports.

More than 18,000 PDVSA workers who joined the strike were fired by Chavez, who replaced them with soldiers and loyal personnel.

Venezuela's government says oil output has been restored to pre-strike levels of above 3 million barrels per day (bpd). But fired PDVSA managers opposed to the president say production is running well below this.

[Viking2002]

One bullet. Just one bullet.

[FormerACLUmember]

Long paste time for this butt-ugly commie thug to reach room temperature.

[FormerACLUmember]

Long past time for this butt-ugly commie thug to assume room temperature.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[DarkWaters]

As of Friday a barrel of oil closed above $36.00. Its not because the rants of mad men. It is however do to a declining production from wells that are roughly a good 30 years or more, Increased demand(drilling can't keep up) from developing third world type countries, and of course China(I shudder to think about that one), and 'green',i.e. commie movements, to wreck our economy. You'll see $3-4 a gallon of gas just on this in the next 2 years. And if you add rantings of mad men with control of oil, well I think you figured it out that a large hole will burned into our pockets. Either way its going to be some expensive times ahead.

[DarkWaters]

You'll need more for his inner circle and of course all those 'teachers and aid workers'(i.e. intelligence, special forces, and various military personal) that Castro is sending over. I don't think they are going to roll over at this point.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Don't worry Chavez, GW has plenty of lice inspectors available. You won't have to wait long...

[Mike Darancette]

Doesn't Chavez realize that if the USA wants him gone he would be gone?

Chavez is just a pimple.

[PizzaDriver]

IF I were President Bush; I'd have 1 question for President Hugo Chavez...

Do you want to waive ALL U.S. protections, including the protections established under the Monroe Doctine?

[endthematrix]

"You'll see $3-4 a gallon of gas just on this in the next 2 years."

Maybe, maybe not. How about some comparisons to what others in the world pay for gas. You know that half or more is taxes. The government may actually wave a tax. It did in IL, but quickly returned it when our backs were turned. It's cheaper that bottled water!

[tenthirteen]

Speaking of butt-ugly....is this guy better looking than Noriega, or pehaps they're related? Maybe he had two Mothers?

[FormerACLUmember]

Castro is protected by some kind of bizarre secret understanding since the Cuban Missle Crisis of 40 years ago.

Commie scum Chavez is not similarly protected. After Afghanistan and Iraq, if Chavez thinks the USA will allow a terrorist hellhole in the Americas, he is muy loco. And muy butt-ugly.

[vanmorrison]

There's another thread here that states that Iraqi oil production has recently reached pre-war levels, beating a target set last year of accomplishing this by April. It is also noteworthy that Aristide was ousted from the presidency of Haiti, which was caused by intense civil unrest. I think both of these events explains the hot rhetoric of Chavez, who is struggling with his own political and economic problems in Venezuela. If the US can rely on Iraqi oil supplies, then the value of Venezuelan oil drops. And if the Venezuelans who want Chavez removed believe that the US will support their efforts, the protests in Caracas are sure to increase. Thus, Chavez gets hit with a double whammy.

But this scenario only works if Bush is re-elected. If the Democrats take over, you can bet they'll kiss Chavez' ass.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

He's trying to be a big shot in front of all his loser buddies. What a shrimp.

[rebel_yell2]

oooh! We are so scared! Venezuela stops sale of oil to the U.S. and instead sells it to Japan. Suppliers who were selling to Japan (or wherever) sell their oil to the U.S. Oil is a fungible commodity; it doesn't matter if one country refuses to sell to another; it simply washes around until equilibrium is reached.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

More proof that Chavez is an imbecile. He can't withhold oil from the market without sinking his regime. And if it goes to market, we're fine.

Right! Let him sell it to Castro.

[backhoe]

-The Fire Down South...( Latin America--)--

[LibWhacker]

Muy, muy, muy butt-ugly

[Dead Dog]

Interesting thought, We know "Notorious Kim" is spring a little tight and suffers from paranoia. What fun it would be for Rummie and friends to float rumors about Seal Teams, .50 BMGs, and infiltrations. NK would lose some nerve

[Truth666]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3523023.stm
Oil prices rise to one-year highs