Posted on 09/29/2006 9:53:14 AM PDT by thackney
WESTERN ALASKA: Patriotism led to a rejection of the Venezuelan handout.
Leaders from four Western Alaska villages have rejected an offer of free heating oil from a Venezuelan- owned company because that nation's president this month called President Bush "a devil" and made other inflammatory comments about the United States.
"Despite the critical need for fuel in our region, the Unangan (Aleut) people are Americans first, and we cannot support the political agenda attached to this donation," read a statement from Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association released late Thursday.
Under a program from Texas-based refiner Citgo, which is owned by the Venezuelan government, that is giving cheap and free heating fuel to poor people across the country, more than 12,000 rural Alaska homes in about 150 villages are scheduled to receive 100 free gallons this winter.
Valued at about $5 million, the gift to Alaska is welcome by people in many poor, remote villages. Heating fuel exceeds $7 a gallon in the remotest villages.
But that gift has been criticized by some as politically motivated. They say Chavez is trying to make President Bush and the U.S. government look as if they don't care for their own people. Chavez also supports Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Nelson Lagoon, Atka, St. Paul and St. George face heating fuel costs between $5 and $6 a gallon, the press release said. They were the only four villages in the region scheduled to receive fuel.
Atka Mayor George Dirks said he didn't like the decision.
"How stupid that is," he said. "We can use the fuel."
He said heating fuel is more than $5 a gallon in the village of 90, located 1,200 air miles southwest of Anchorage, "and some people are just getting by."
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
Unlike the traitors in the NE.
I think that they should speak out against Hugo Chavez AND take the free fuel. It will put a greater cost on the Venezuelan government and it will benefit the Alaskans while also giving Chavez no PR windfall.
God Bless 'em.
A year or so ago Chavez proposed selling Citgo, telling Veneezuelans that it was losing money. At the time, it was making money hand over fist, which means he was lying, he was looking to sell it because he needed cash.
Now, guess what, he's poisoned his own investment, and it probably will lose money, and he probably will have to sell it, but at a lot less money.
The thought of it makes me smile.
I think that these villages and their inhabitants are almost entirely subsidized by the federal government through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
which makes their decision even more admirable.
Ditto.
You should do some more research into Alaska Native Corporations.
Who whould buy it knowing he would just take it back from private ownership.
Few people I know want to even do business there.
Wow! God Bless them!
I good R congress critter should ask for some extra cash for these villages. They deserve it and it would be good PR for the Rs.
No, what's stupid is that they are practically sitting on so much oil up there, yet untapped and unrefined.
God bless them for their decision to stand as Americans first. Capable fellow Americans should make sure they have a nice, warm winter.
Piss off socialists! Beyond the area's surrounding the Universities in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska is about as Conservative as you can get.
Thank you Aleuts. Maybe the leeches in the rest of the country will follow your example. Like the followers of Jessie Jagmo...nah, not a chance.
Bravo!
How typical is that of the sentiment of a politician?
What a pleasant contrast to the church in Harlem that invited this low-rent pig to speak in a sanctuary of God.
OH KATHYYYYY
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.