US Sec. of State Powell calls Venezuela 'reliable oil supplier'

[bemildred]

RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 13 -- US Sec. of State Colin Powell said during a visit to Brazil earlier this month "that despite the rhetoric of Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela is a reliable oil supplier and the Bush administration has not ruled out the possibility of improving bilateral relations."

Venezuela's status as the world's fifth largest oil producer, and the fact that it supplies 1.5 million b/d of oil to the US—about 15% of total oil imports—are key factors seen by analysts as influencing relations between Washington, DC, and Caracas.

Also, Chávez's mandate was strengthened when 59% of voters expressed their support for him in the Aug. 15 presidential recall referendum, the results of which were endorsed by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Carter Center headed by former US President Jimmy Carter.

Referring to the referendum, Powell said, "That's over and behind us. We still have differences of opinion with Venezuela, of course. . .but we're looking for ways to cooperate" with Caracas.

Oil & Gas Journal

[mom cat]

1. The weasel is desparate

[takumi]

2. Let the Ass-Kissing Begin!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. Wipe my butt, gringo! And do it with a smile!

:evilgrin:

[TheKingfish]

3. Whats going on here

We are going to cooperate with a democracy? Is that wise?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Good one,TheKingfish! It could be dangerous!

It IS a little hard to believe, in light of _Bush's involvement in both the unsuccessful coup, the strikes by business owners, and the long, loud, obnoxious build-up to the embarrassing recall effort.

One might tend to suspect _Bush's administration's motives when they start holding out hope for cooperation. What's the point? Everyone knows their true position on everything they can't control.


US President George W Bush walks past
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez following
Bush's speech at the start of the Summit of the
Americas
(photo: AP)

[WatchWhatISay]

15. Oh JudiLyn

That subscript is so clever!

[realFedUp]

4. When do we invade?

:eyes:

[TroglodyteScholar]

5. Reliable???

Who the fuck does he think he's kidding?

[hatrack]

7. Yes, we just can't get enough Venezuelan synthetic heavy oil

And did I mention that we just can't get enough high-sulfur Saudi crude either? Yeah, the petroleum market just can't get enough of these labor-intensive, capital-intensive second- and third-choice fuels!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

26. What are the "good" oils then? (nt)

[hatrack]

37. Brent (UK) and West Texas Intermediate are the industry benchmarks

They're light (i.e. low viscosity, at least for oil) and hence easier to pump. They also have low sulfur content, meaning that they're easy and inexpensive to crack and refine.

Lots of the Saudi production out of Ghawar, their biggest field, is low sulfur, but much of what's come on the market in the last few weeks, as the al-Saud try to increase production, is very high in sulfur, which is a pain to work with.

The same is true of much of the Caspian reserves discovered so far, particularly Kashagan, the biggest single feature uncovered in Central Asia to date - lots and lots of sulfur. Some of the other fields are so sulfur-heavy that rig crews are at some risk from toxic hydrogen sulfide gas associated with the oil & gas deposits, particulary in the offshore Caspian fields. Again, more risk, more expense.

Much of the Venezuelan reserve is heavy oil - which means just that. It's very viscous and hard (that is, expensive) to pump. If you're a refiner, you want the lightest, sweetest feedstock you can find to work with.

[goforit]

8. That's nice Powell...but what does your Thug-brother Cheney say?

[Judi Lynn]

9. Bush the ultimate diplomat!

Here's a snip from the Miami Herald, reflecting again _Bush's odd compulsion to have his State Department hurl rotating lame charges at countries, just to keep their images fresh in peoples' minds as being on his "list" of "evil" countries he feels he is free to harass:

But Alvarez reiterated a Chávez demand that the National Endowment for Democracy, a private group funded by the U.S. Congress, stop financing Venezuelan opposition groups that Chávez contends are anti-democratic.

One U.S. official said that pulling the plug from NED programs on Venezuela ''just won't happen.'' NED's website says it supports groups and individuals ``struggling to strengthen democratic processes, rights and values, irrespective of their political or partisan affiliations.''

And the Bush administration in fact increased the pressure on Chávez last month, when it decided Venezuela was not doing enough to stop ''human trafficking'' -- usually a reference to prostitutes -- together with Equatorial Guinea, Burma, Cuba, Sudan and North Korea. This meant Washington would automatically vote against aid to Venezuela from institutions like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

The move was a surprise because human rights groups had not previously identified human trafficking as a problem in Venezuela, said Michael Shifter, with the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank.
(snip)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/9903485.htm
(Free registration is required)

[bemildred]

10. Oxymoron alert:

"a private group funded by the U.S. Congress"

[Judi Lynn]

19. Isn't that horrid? It almost hurts just reading it!

Ultimately, it's a "private group" funded by the unwitting U.S. taxpayers, at the order of the U.S. Congress. Argh.

Quite a few people involved before the funds get to the "private group."

So few really benefit with Republicans in the driver's seat.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Just found an interesting response to Bush's charge against Venezuela

which is useful:

Published: Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Bylined to: David Coleman


UN Ambassador says Venezuela active in UN Convention against Corruption

In a press statement, Venezuela's UN delegation states that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has ratified the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and protocols to deal with the mistreatment of individuals ... especially women and children ... in full accordance with international agreements on terrorism and the financing of acts of terrorism which are also considered to be part of domestic Venezuelan legislation. Equally, it is important to point out that on August 7, 2004, Venezuela ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption.


Venezuela's UN Ambassador
Fermin Toro Jimenez

Speaking at 8th session of the 3rd Committee on Crime Control & Penal Justice at the United Nations (UN) in New York, Venezuela's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Fermin Toro Jimenez said that, as a member of the Rio Group, Venezuela supports statements by Brazil and is aware that the prevention of crime and penal justice bears a direct relationship with sustained development, quality of life, democracy and respect for the human rights.

In a press statement, Venezuela's UN delegation states that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has ratified the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and protocols to deal with the mistreatment of individuals ... especially women and children ... in full accordance with international agreements on terrorism and the financing of acts of terrorism which are also considered to be part of domestic Venezuelan legislation. Equally, it is important to point out that on August 7, 2004, Venezuela ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
(snip)

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=23103

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Baby,oh Baby,boogaloo down Broadway!

[amandabeech]

11. If Bush intends on attacking Iran, Syria and Lebanon in his

fantasy second term, we might lose Middle Eastern production. Remember, Iran controls the Straights of Hormuz, through which almost all Gulf production passes. Iran is known to have fortified their side of the straights and they have Exocets and other land to sea missiles. Exocets were the missiles that set afire the aluminum superstructures of such British ships as HMS Sheffield in the Falklands/Malvinas war.

Accordingly, Bush must make nice with our other major suppliers and hope that they don't refuse to sell to us if we attack additional countries. That means showing love to Nigeria, Venezuela, Mexico and Canada.

[TheKingfish]

13. Diplomacy 101

Attempt coup
If coup fails, organize recall
If recall fails, threaten sex trafficing santions
If santions fail, try cooperation
If cooperation fails, invade on 11/3/2004

[amandabeech]

14. And hope that you can take the oil wells intact.

As Hatrack pointed out, we import 1.5 million barrels of nasty but usable stuff from Venezuela every single day of the year. World oil supplies are extremely tight, and it would be very difficult to obtain that 1.5 million from another source in order to avoid real problems with price and supply of products such as heating oil for the coming winter.


And I might add, with what troops?

[TheKingfish]

17. Troops ?

Its all about shock and awe. One pinpoint strike to take out Chavez. Form OAS grand coalition - 1 Costa Rican Infantry batallion, Bay of Pigs veterans battalion, some Columbian death-squads, 1 battalion US special forces, and assorted mercenaries. Pull Tommy Franks off the campaign trail and put him in charge. The hard part is avoiding a Catostrophic sucess - we want as much carnage as possile. Engineer Fox News takover of Telemundo. Get that dam Motorcycle Diaries off the air, it may cause trouble. Receive flowers from the liberated.

Sent in the Oil companies. easy.

[amandabeech]

20. Although I clearly disagree with you on the methodology

and timing of any attack on Venezuela,

WELCOME to DU!

[TheKingfish]

21. thanks, whats wrong with my plan?

[amandabeech]

23. With respect to the methodology, as we have found in Iraq,

it takes many boots in the sand to keep control of an invaded country and to keep the locals and others from sabotaging the oil fields. I don't think that the forces you mentioned plus the fired executives would be sufficient to keep that oil moving. We have a difference of opinion on that issue, and I don't think that either of us is going to convince the other.

As to the timing, * and his buddies have not secured an extra 1.5 million barrels per day from Iraq, and I don't think that they are going to. World oil supplies are very, very tight. We need the oil to keep the economy from completely collapsing. I don't think that we will attack any of our other major suppliers until we are mostly out of Iraq or have a much larger force to spare.

Agreeing with my analysis really requires agreeing with my views on our oil supply and its relationship to our economy, which are not universally shared here or anywhere, for that matter.

[bemildred]

28. It's worth pointing out in this regard, that

1.) There are plenty of guns in Venezuela.
2.) The government has initiated the development of a
"territorial army".
3.) Unlike Iraq, the government has the loyalty of the vast
majority of it's citizens.

[TheKingfish]

31. Hehe my post was pure sarcasm

Why would we want to invade Venezuela?

[WatchWhatISay]

16. Welcome Kingfish, and keep posting

You have a clever wit

[TheKingfish]

18. thank you n/t

[The Magistrate]

22. All Oil Suppliers Are Reliable, Mr. Mildred

They all need money badly, and cannot get it if they do not deliver....

"Can't nobody here play this game?"

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[amandabeech]

25. Please allow me to jump in here, Mr. Magistrate, since oil is

of great interest to me.

While it is true that our oil suppliers need money, they do not necessarily need our money. Chinese yuan and Indian rupees may be sold for petrodollars to pay the Gulf producers or Venezuelans.

I have read that the Chinese have been avidly snapping up oil supply contracts in Saudi Arabia, Angola, Venezuela and perhaps Nigeria. I seem to recall that China is opening or has opened significant equivalents of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Although Venezuelan heavy would not be their first choice, since they do not have refinery capacity to process large quantities of heavy oil, they undoubtedly would pick up anything a bit lighter.

Because the Chinese government tends to take the long view, it might not be out of the question for them to contract now for crude that they will sell on the open market until they can build or control a refinery to process it, just to keep it out of the hands of the United States and India, their historical rival.

[The Magistrate]

29. That Is True, Ma'am

The oil market is going to be changing considerably over the next decade or so as developing countries of great size and potential enter it more fully. The U.S. may well be outbid, or otherwise disadvantaged under these new conditions. The depreciation of the dollar that is sure to flow from the blindingly foolish economic policies of the current administration is one factor that could put the U.S. at a tremendous disadvantage in the coming years, and it is an element that political factors could greatly exacerbate. When an argument can be made on economic terms that the euro is a more secure depository of value than the dollar, the unpopularity of a "cowboy U.S.A." could easily reinforce a purely economic view and make it into a popular movement.

There are jus so many ways the criminals of the '00 Coup preent a tremendous danger to the future of our country....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[amandabeech]

34. Mr. Magistrate and BeMildred, it is a pleasure to exchange

messages with you.

A part of the perceived, and I believe actual, economic security in the Euro is the relatively rational government entities and persons in charge evident in the EU, particularly as compared to the U.S. Perhaps if Kerry wins the election, the dollar will firm up, for better or for worse. However, I do not believe that Sen. Kerry's announced economic programs will solve our economic woes, although I do not believe that his programs will make things worse, which is what would happen under another Bush term.

I see the quest for energy resources as being a key and increasingly important factor in international relations as the years pass, particularly since oil supplies will decline, even if at a rate less than the most severe proponents of "peak oil."

[bemildred]

36. WRT Mr. Kerry, we have nothing to lose, and we might get lucky.

He has shown signs of spine and ethical behavior in his youth, and
continues to talk the talk fairly well. I toy with the idea that he
would not be the candidate had not Mr. Dean scared the bejesus out of
the national party hacks, and he would not be winning had not Bush been
so incompetent. So it is at least conceivable that he will try to
implement some real reforms; a sitting President does have a great deal
of power, both formal and informal, and borders on being God within the
party apparatus.

Perhaps the best thing we have going for us is that most of the rest
of the World does not really want our society to crater, they just
want us to behave better, so they will not willingly attack our
economy if there are other choices.

[amandabeech]

39. I am clearly hoping for the best, and Sen. Kerry has my fullest

support. The absolute labor cost advantage, including benefits and worker safety, combined with the cost advantage of non-existent or completely unenforced environmental standards gives countries such as India and China an overwhelming advantage. I do not begrudge the people in those countries an improvement in their living standards: it is long overdue. However, I see it coming at the expense of the most vulnerable here and at the expense of our talented math and science types who cannot get jobs that pay enough to cover their education and living expenses. Such is the stuff of social and political turmoil which are costs not considered in modern economic theory, to which both Sen. Kerry and Bush subscribe.

[bemildred]

27. I must agree with Ms Beech to some degree.

Hugo has been working assiduously to diversify his customer
base and to improve the marketability of his "heavy" crude.
This is being done in the form of bilateral agreements to sell
product and to develop refining capacity. One might speculate
that these efforts have been noticed by Mr. Bowel, errr Powell.
You may have noticed that I post these stories when I come across
them. You are correct, of course, that he has to sell it somewhere,
but that doesn't seem to be THE burning issue at present.

[The Magistrate]

30. You Know The Imp That Serves Me For A Sense Of Humor, My Friend

Whoever they sell to, that client may rely on the contract being filled in exchange for payment: that is the very model of a reliable supplier....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASDTARDS!"

[bemildred]

32. Well, yes.

Anything else would be like Enron.

[The Magistrate]

33. A Bunch Like Enron, Sir

Would not stay alive a week supplying cocaine....

"To live outside the law you must be honest."

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[bemildred]

35. A happy thought Sir, thank you. nt

[Zorra]

38. I'm skeptical but this is the right attitude, it's just so much better

than "Venezuela has WMD and the US is going to go up in a mushroom cloud if we don't attack Venezuela and take out Chavez immediately."

Too bad they didn't try this tack in Iraq. Oil would not be at record highs right now, and a whole lot of people who are no longer alive or whole would be.