[Cincinatus' Wife]

EX-president of Venezuelan state oil company accuses government of eroding morale ***Other bones of contention were the central government's demand that the company hand over $4.4 billion in dividends last year, forcing PDVSA to borrow $500 million to pay the bill; and the oil sales to Cuba, whose leader, Fidel Castro, is Chavez's longtime mentor. · Chavez has insisted that oil sales continue to Cuba, despite an unpaid $97 million bill for past sales. ***

Venezuela's turmoil is disrupting oil supplies *** The oil company told its international clients Wednesday morning that it could not meet its export commitments. Workers have refused to load tankers with oil and other products since April 3. A New York trader told The Herald that over 28 tankers were waiting offshore for loading.

''They have shut down oil production completely because they do not have anywhere to put the oil,'' the trader said on condition of anonymity. ``Only two tankers have been dispatched since Wednesday, one to Cuba, and the other I don't know where.''***

Venezuela's Power Shift Condemned****Chavez's ouster threw into doubt the budding trade relationship between the two countries. Venezuela is Cuba's No. 1 trade partner. Venezuela had been exporting 53,000 barrels of oil to Cuba daily at preferential terms. CNN's Spanish language network showed Edgar Paredes of Venezuela's oil company saying on Friday, "We aren't going to send a single barrel more to Cuba."****

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Iran Sees U.S. Behind Chavez's Venezuela Ouster

I expect next we'll be hearing from North Korea, Libya and Iraq.

[Kobyashi1942]

If Bush was serious about his "War on Terrorism" he would target that rat b@stard Castro next. I just don't think GW is serious though.

[fhayek]

"We aren't going to send a single barrel more to Cuba."

lol. Perhaps its time Mr. Castro picks up a copy of The Wealth of Nations.

[Calvin Locke]

"The truth is that in Venezuela they have had a coup,"

AND???? Guess he forgot how Castro came to power.

[Ranger]

Castro has two problems:

1. No obvious source of oil except perhaps Iran or Libya.

2. His people now have an example. They see a successful peoples' revolt in Venezuela and can draw a parallel to their own miserable situation.

[Southack]

If you think that the Cubans are protesting now, just wait until they actually figure out what not getting near-free Venezuelan oil will mean for them!

[eleni121]

This was such good news in the midst of all the horrors of the Middle East. Now that the lunatic Chavez is gone, we will be planning another trip to Venezuela (a beautiful country) and spending money there. It's been a while.