Posted on 02/18/2006 7:42:10 PM PST by Thunder90
CARACAS: Venezuela’s president Hugo Chavez warned late Friday he was taking potential steps to cut off oil shipments to the United States, in the event Washington “crosses the line.”
“The US government must know that if it crosses the line it won’t be getting Venezuelan oil,” the leftist leader said, repeating similar threats he has made in his long, simmering dispute with the United States.
Chavez, who did not clarify how Washington might incur such a sanction, apparently was reacting to Thursday’s call by US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice for an international “united front” against Venezuela.
“I have to say that I’ve begun taking steps on the matter, but I won’t tell you what they are,” Chavez told a meeting of pensioners in Caracas. “They think I can’t take these steps, because we won’t know where to place our oil. Aha! That’s where they are wrong,” Chavez said.
“Many countries ask us for more oil and we’ve had to answer that we can’t give them any more because, among other things, (of) the million and a half barrels of our production that goes to the United States.”
Rice called Chavez a “challenge to democracy” on Thursday and said Venezuela’s close ties with Cuba were “a particular danger in the region.”
She told the US Congress she had recently spoken of the Venezuelan problem on the telephone with the foreign ministers of Austria, Spain and Brazil.
“The international community has just got to be much more active in supporting and defending the Venezuelan people,” Rice said.
Chavez has called Rice’s remarks a “threat,” and accused US president George W Bush and British prime minister Tony Blair of launching a plan against Venezuela aimed at keeping him from being reelected in coming December elections.
“The plan has been launched. They are trying to get Spain, France, Germany and all of Europe against us,” Chavez said.
He called upon Venezuelans to embrace “resistance to imperialism”, his shorthand for the US government. afp
Chavez is a nut case, like the leader of Iran. He would love to see the U.S. fall.
What a lying sack. Venzuela's crude is highly sulfurous (sour), 80%+ of the refineries equipped to handle it are in the US. Other countries clamoring for it? For what? Personal lubricants?
The evil Rove and Bush regime are probably gonna force Chavez to use Diebold machines.
As nut cases go, he's one tough nut case. But eventually he'll crack.
Venezuela's oil is just one grade above tar. It is some of the cheapest oil in the world because it costs so much to refine.
Question. Does the US give any foreign aid to Venezuela?
Wait! You forgot FIDEL!!
Could not find info on your question. My feeling is that most US foreign aid is a waste. The other day I read that we give the Mexican military $250 million a year. We are idiots!
Chavez is a nut case, like the leader of Iran. He would love to see the U.S. fall.""
Nothing like being the middle of the sandwich between these two loonies...
Chavez is only another south-of-the-Border Nazi among many millions like him. He should be drinking his oil.
Not only does Tehran need to be flattened, but Chaves's palace needs to be flattened as well.
Eff him and his oil.
Happy to pay more if it means this jack ass goes broke.
Let's cut this commie f*ck off, Mohammed-style, separate his head from his shoulders.
"He would love to see the U.S. fall."
We won't fall. It might force the Dems and the environmentalist wackos to support drilling in ANWAR. Hey, they'll figure a way to make fuel out of dirt if they have to.
"Blustering asshole. He DESERVES to be whacked - if for no reason other than to show that he CAN be whacked."
The world hasn't heard too much out of Khadafy since Ronnie Reagan dropped a bomb in his bedroom. Am I right or wrong?
Hydrogen fuel cells are coming. In about 10 years probably 1/3 to 1/2 of gasoline service stations will have fuel cell refueling available.
We won't be on the total oil tit forever. Like you said, we can drill on U.S. property. Plus the fuel cells and we get pretty much weaned off of foreign oil.
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