Latin oil supplies for U.S. start to dry up

The political and environmental debates swirling around the proposed $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas miss a crucial point, energy analysts say: The Canadian oil is needed to replace fast-dwindling production from two other major suppliers of oil Mexico and Venezuela.

The United States remains the largest consumer of oil in the world, requiring more than 8 million barrels a day of fuel imports to feed its appetite, with nearly half of that coming from oil-rich neighbors in Latin America as recently as 2005.

But oil production south of the border has fallen off dramatically, and Canadian crude in recent years quietly overtook imports from Mexico, Venezuela and even Saudi Arabia to become the most important outside source of oil for the U.S.

The trend toward replacing unstable sources of oil in Latin America and the Middle East with reliable and friendly sources in Canada was heartily welcomed in political circles until the pipeline controversy broke out last year. After trying to delay a decision until after the presidential election, the White House agreed in a compromise with congressional Republicans to determine within the next two months whether to proceed with the pipeline.

Because nearly all of Canada’s production will come from the Alberta tar sands served by the Keystone pipeline, energy analysts say, the pipeline extension will be needed to ensure that promising trend continues and that the U.S. does not go back to relying inordinately on unstable and hostile suppliers. “As traditional supplies of heavy crude from countries such as Mexico and Venezuela decline, Canadian oil sands become more important,” said Lucian Pugliaresi, an analyst with the Energy Policy Research Foundation Inc. Canada ships about 2.5 million barrels a day of crude to the U.S., more than twice as much as Mexico and Venezuela combined.

“Tell this to the liberal nuts who oppose the pipeline.”

Why bother? They will be over-joyed that fewer evil fossil fuels will invade their utopian Gaia earth. They will giggle all the way to lighting their candles for light and burning their furniture and rags for heat, and then whine and cry once more once the wax and rags are gone.

At my age, I will just delight watching the inner-city socialists wonder why they can’t get their checks, and why social services have been cut off. I’m not a cruel man, but the idea of the “gimmes” not “getting” is something I hope I see before my end time. Unfortunately, it will include those who don’t deserve it, but hey, many of them voted for it...so...too bad.

I have thought about it and come to the conclusion that you are clinically insane.

Thank you very much. I think you proved my point. Most Americans are not willing to defend their property. If you do not think that when a socialist nation takes over American businesses, with millions of American shareholders is not worth taking a stance, then we certainly have a difference in opinion. I see no difference between that and the welfare folks across the river from me in Harrisburg that want to "socialize" America than those in Venezuela.

They are thugs. They take other people's property ... Legally in many cases, forcibly in others. They did not earn, they do not work, they are parasites on society. They are ALL DEMOCRATS, might as well be socialist. Most importantly, they do not own. That is because they rely on others for their meager existence.

I have no problem whatsoever in offing some of the socialists from, say Occupy Harrisburg, coming into my neighborhood that want to take or destroy my property. Heaven forbid they step one foot on my property ... we have the castle doctrine in PA. My neighbors feel the same way, and we help each other out. Is that harsh? Yes. But it is just. Our nation was formed on such justice.

So what is so insane about about defending your property? It can be real estate, it can be stocks, it can be my laptop that I carry to work in the midst of "heavy handed robberies" according to the Capitol Police. Call me insane, but I carry, and if some thug is going to steal my laptop for my work (when he does not work, takes handouts from the tax dollars that I pay, and wants more through the hand of socialism) then he is dead.

So what is the difference between the thug in Harrisburg and the thug in Venezuela? None. It is just scale.

They both deserve the the outcome, but only one deserves the rights given under our constitution. However, those that have the rights still have to deal with me and my neighbors. That is why I have no crime in my neighborhood. That is the way America worked for the majority of its history, and still to today. Yes, that is insane.

Why would I want to go to war over businesses that take their business to other nations? They want to play in other countries, then they take the risks. I’m not bailing their stupidity, financially or militarily.

I do not see it as bailing out their stupidity. Yes, they take risks, and stockholders take risks, but what do you do when the rules of the game change? E.g., doing business in Venezuela pre-Hugo, then for a number of years, under Hugo, and later ... overnight your business is nationalized. What message does that send to other countries/dictators? I guess American businesses can only do business in America. American technologies/know-how can not be exported. I guess middle east oil would only have been developed by the Brits and Dutch.

As for war, I believe in carrying a big stick, seldom using it, but when it is used, it is fast and brutal. I also believe in war paying for itself. Spoils to the victor. The Iraq war should have lasted 3-4 months and we should be sucking their (our) oil dry, while maintaining a strategic position in the middle east. There would be no nation building and Iran would be scared crap-less.

This is peace through strength. It saves American lives and wealth. Unfortunately, in our PC world, we are not even able to identity our enemies and wage war when necessary that limits American casualties and dissuades our other adversaries from working against our just interests.

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.