| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
| Locked on 02/10/2008 3:38:09 PM PST by Admin Moderator, reason: |
Posted on 02/10/2008 3:26:46 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez on Sunday threatened to cut off oil sales to the United States in an "economic war" if Exxon Mobil Corp. wins court judgments to seize billions of dollars in Venezuelan assets.
Exxon Mobil has gone after the assets of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA in U.S., British and Dutch courts as it challenges 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.
"If you end up freezing (Venezuelan assets) and it harms us, we're going to harm you," Chavez said during his weekly radio and television program, "Hello, President." "Do you know how? We aren't going to send oil to the United States. Take note, Mr. Bush, Mr. Danger."
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 on 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 sent one drop of oil to the empire of the United States," Chavez said Sunday.
"The outlaws of Exxon Mobil will never again rob us," Chavez said, accusing the Irving, Texas-based oil company of acting in concert with Washington.
Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Margaret Ross said the company had no comment. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman in Caracas did not return a call.
Venezuela accounted for about 12 percent 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.
Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez has argued that court orders won by Exxon Mobil have "no effect" on the state oil company PDVSA and are merely "transitory measures" while Venezuela presents its case in courts in New York and London.
Exxon Mobil is also taking its claims to international arbitration, disputing the terms it was granted under Chavez's nationalization last year of four heavy oil projects in the Orinoco River basin, one of the world's richest oil deposits.
Other major oil companies including U.S.-based Chevron Corp., France's Total, Britain's BP PLC, and Norway's StatoilHydro ASA have negotiated deals with Venezuela to continue on as minority partners in the Orinoco oil project.
ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil, however, balked at the tougher terms and have been in compensation talks with PDVSA.
Do we get to nuke him now?
We we to tap all our own, we could be supplying other countries instead of the Middle East and Chavez. And we wouldn’t need Mexico’s either!
So, Chavez threatens us as we head toward spring and a probable Dem victory next November? Sounds like a good time to pronounce judgments against him.
More illegal aliens coming through Mexico.
Sounds more like he’s ‘nuking’ himself. There was another thread talking about this today- apparently he can’t sell it to anyone else, because we have the only refineries that can process ‘heavy, sour’ petroleum.
Even if someone else can process it (with higher shipping costs), it still gets released into the world market- so it doesn’t really affect us at all.
Pat Robertson was right. Somebody needs to give him a dirt nap but, of course, it will never happen. We’re too chicken.
if it happens, it might hurt in the short run, but I’m guessing the US will pick up Chavez’s oil via some sort of a straw purchase,
it’s not looking good..
link to a Bloomberg article
Chavez Calls for Farm Seizures, Raises Prices Amid Shortages
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aHsBIz1uemfg
Make my day Hugo! You need us more than we need you.
Please start using the Search Feature.
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.