Is 'China slant drilling 50 miles off Key West'?

[underpants]

I read this (below linked) LTTE in my local paper.
Whaaaa? I went looking on the internets and found this only as a talking point on some way-out-there RW sites.

:shrug:

Energy Problems Begin in Washington
Editor, Times-Dispatch:

China and India are preparing to "slant drill" into our continental oil reserves from 50 miles off Key West. We cannot drill there.
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion/letters.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-06-11-0024.html

Sen. Larry Craig discusses this with Fox News's John Gibson
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,193665,00.html

JOHN GIBSON, HOST: Wednesday I told you how China and other countries plan to drill for oil just off the Florida Straits. Check out this map. You see that area near Cuba? China's doing it. France is drilling there. So is Canada. But no American companies are allowed. Why? One senator who is trying to get lawmakers to pay attention to this issue, Sen. Larry Craig, joins us now.

Senator, that is kind of shocking, that there are no Americans out there in the Florida Straits. Why not?

SEN. LARRY CRAIG, R-IDAHO: Well, it's a fascinating anomaly of a 30-year-old foreign policy that said no business with Cuba period, end of statement, John.

And, of course, in the north Cuban basin that's exactly what's going on right now. Cuba is opening this up and allowing exploration and development of oil, 50 miles from the Florida coast.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Guess we'll have to play 'Saddam' and invade China.

[trof]

2. Naw, Cuba's easier. And closer.

;-)

[arcadian]

3. Is this a sex thread?

n't

[Longtooth]

4. If it's true

then the U.S. should seize the platforms and thank China for the gift.

[Wizard777]

5. That's why Saddam Invaded Kuwait. They were side drilling Iraq's oil fields near the boarder.

The UN decission was that if they can reach it. They can pump out all they can.

[DS1]

6. Deja vu!

Don't you post this once a year?

[underpants]

11. No no no

that's the marathon thread

:bounce:

:shrug:

[Vickers]

7. Sen. Larry Craig, huh? Maybe the rig just has a wide stance.

:P

[MiniMe]

8. Dominici brought it up on the Senate floor today

Boy, his brain degeneration was in high gear today, he was having trouble keeping a coherent train of thought. Lets consider the sources. A few far right wing websites and then Faux News (who probably picked it up off those websites). I don't think it is legit.

[thoughtanarchist]

9. "I drink your milkshake"?

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=I+drink+your+milkshake&search_type=

[Javaman]

10. Call me crazy, but isn't 50 miles off the coast of florida, international waters?

if so, why doesn't the various oil companies do the same thing?

[NewJeffCT]

25. Maybe it's Cuban water?

or Cuban territory?

And, of course, Republicans won't allow any sort of US business near Cuba.

[MiniMe]

12. Kick. Anybody know where this "rumor" is coming from?

I can't find anything on it either, but suddenly it has become a talking point.

[underpants]

13. Since you just kicked it

thanks

This is one of those things RW'ers spring on you and it is so odd that you have no reply. I sense, as noted above, that since this in international waters it is their business and the correct response to any of this is that drilling hasn't gotten us any lower prices for 30 years why would that change now?

[Indenturedebtor]

14. Sounds like a nother neuron killing rumor designed for freeper consumption

Even after it's debunked they'll still have it in their "Book of The Stupid", and they'll whip it out at parties and stuff in a smarmy way. You'll be flumoxed by the stupidity of it, and your commitment to facts, so you'll say "I've never heard of that, I'll have to look into it." But of course you'll never talk to that moron again, as the first conversation was so unpleasant and full of vomit.

Well at least you'll be prepared for this story now. :eyes:

[underpants]

15. Spot on

a great description.

They live for that. Complete nonsense wrapped in a package that you figure out once the moment has passed. I have had a couple of these brought up to me and I usually go with "considering that I haven't heard of it it is probably some whack job rightwing propaganda but since you brought it up give me your email and I can probably debunk this crap in about 5 minutes"

or in this case say "drilling hasn't gotten us cheaper gas by now and it won't in the future"

never ask them questions.

[Indenturedebtor]

18. Lol good replies. Of course if your freeptards are anything like my freeptards

They reply with a strawman, 3 leading questions based on rediculous premises, and when you start to answer they just keep talking and changing the subject. Shoot one down, and they whip out four more.

Man they are so freakin annoying.

Oh and they always say that they don't ONLY watch faux news... which is a lie.

[Rosemary2205]

16. Yes, this is true - drilling there has gone on at least since 2004

But it looks like China isn't in the game yet until 2009

http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idINN1631398320080416


And US companies are indeed outlawed from drilling in that part of the water.

[underpants]

19. Thanks

:thumbsup:

[Deja Q]

17. Well, John G. can be a real creep at times...

this isn't one of them.

[Canuckistanian]

20. Good news for oil prices, then

If the Chinese are drilling their own oil, then there's less demand on the international spot market.

Ergo, lower prices.

[underpants]

23. Excllent point

I think the proponents of this are petrified that Cuba could be awash in oil money. That would set back the waiting game YEARS...but then they really milk support out of the refuge element in Florida as long as things stay as is

[Carnea]

21. Is it Me or is "China Slant Drilling" both a sexist and racist term. NT

[gullwing300]

22. Well, you can only gain a couple of miles doing that.

The deepest well ever drilled is under 6 miles, or was the last I looked - might be a bit more now but that doesn't
get you anywhere near 50 miles.
;-)

[underpants]

24. There it is

thanks. the math. I knew that part of the story was being implied and the entire story was not being told.

I should be better at picking up on these word tricks by now (I usually am).

[JHB]

26. This came up a few days ago...

...but I can't find the post: one of those "Help me respond to wingnut e-amil" threads, where the "50 miles off Key West" drilling was one of the nutter accusations.

Of course, in that letter the villain was "business-killing" environmental regulations, not the Embargo on Cuba...