Socialist SOB Hugo Chavez is finding the world is a bit more complicated...

[Ironmako]

Chavez just recently started taking over oil company asset all throughout Venezuela with the aid of troops.

Hugo is taking that property to "give back to the people" probably after he's done his fair share of looting.

The oil companies are quite literally over a barrel so he had them sign papers legally accepting the arrangement in exchange for minority shares of their old businesses. Those legal arrangements also include waiving any of their damaged rights.

One oil company is still "negotiating". ConocoPhillips. Conoco did not accept the terms Hugo was giving...what other options do they have? Its not like US law will protect their assets in Venezuela...

hehe...and this is why I am starting to respect the hell out of Conoco...

By refusing Hugo's deal they keep their rights intact...and are threatening to go after Venezuela's refineries in the US... (Citgo is the Venezuelan company responsible for refining all their heavy crude)

"you steal from us...we steal from you"

The catch here is that for all Chavez's bluster..damn near ALL of Venezuela's refining capacity is in the US...so in theory the US can cut off their spicket at any time. The US doesn't necessarily have to BUY all their oil...BUT..they can damn sure stop Venezuela from selling it to anyone else by simply pulling the plug on the refineries in the US.

Venezuela would need 5 years at least to build a single refinery on their soil...and to recreate the refining capacity they own on US soil would take much longer.

So moral of the story...Chavez and Conoco Phillips are still "negotiating"

And Hugo is finding out that the world is a bit more complicated than he thought...and banditry by means of military force is not as simple of a proposition as he had envisioned...

Way to go Conoco Phillips!!!

Phuck Chavez...

[Spook]

That is pretty funny. If Conoco wins, I'll buy my gas from them. I haven't purchased from Citgo ever since Hugo Chavez took office.

[Mr.X]

CC is not going to win... they will, no doubt, lose a bigger stake in the situation then Hugo. He has China who can refine the oil easily... Sinopec has (you heard it right) 100s of refineries being built in china over the past 6 years.

Hugo, as it stands, is sitting on potentially the LARGEST oil reserve in the world, even bigger then the Saudis...so the chinese are happy to dump BILLIONS $ into developing the site.

[Gator_Mclusky]

We dont have Citgos here but if we did I wouldnt buy from em.....

[Southerner]

I get the feeling China's about to take us to the cleaners in the next few years. Ug.

[Spook]

I can't remember who it was that said this, maybe Durant, but it has been said, "No civilization is ever defeated from without until it has destroyed itself from within." This nation has been it's strongest during the 50's, at it's peak, but with the 60's sexual revolution, it has been a downward spiral of immorality and boo-hooing since. We have become a nation of intolerance to everything that doesn't matter. We've slipped into a civilization that really only cares about the select individuals while throwing out the entire whole and their well being.

[Gator_Mclusky]

Originally Posted by Spook

I can't remember who it was that said this, maybe Durant, but it has been said, "No civilization is ever defeated from without until it has destroyed itself from within." This nation has been it's strongest during the 50's, at it's peak, but with the 60's sexual revolution, it has been a downward spiral of immorality and boo-hooing since. We have become a nation of intolerance to everything that doesn't matter. We've slipped into a civilization that really only cares about the select individuals while throwing out the entire whole and their well being.

So true. Ya cant say Negro without being a racist, ya cant quote a rapper w/o being a racist. Immigration is a topic all its own. Muslums are getting bathing areas fro their FEET at some Universities. The Prez cant ride on his own land w/o a seatbelt. There are so many laws and people put down by the judicial system with fines, court cost, lawyer fees that they cant get ahead. EVERYTHING these days is a Felony making it impossible for qualified upper level educated people to become employed!
WE ARE DESTROYING OURSELVES!
I call my State Representatives and Congressmen and women and let them know how I feel. I wish more would. They dont know if we dont tell them.

[Adam F]

I have been on the phone before bugging my congressman. I am very active in my community, and attened as many city council board meetings as possible. 2 months ago i spent the day with a sandwich board out in front of wal-mart protesting the new Supercenter they want to build. I almost got thrown in jail.! because I was on quote "Private Property". So I moved to the street corner and 30 minutes later the police told me that I needed to get a permit from the city to protest? lol what really pissed me off was there was 60 other people protesting, but they targeted me because I had a mefaphone hehe

[Gator_Mclusky]

Originally Posted by Adam F

I have been on the phone before bugging my congressman. I am very active in my community, and attened as many city council board meetings as possible. 2 months ago i spent the day with a sandwich board out in front of wal-mart protesting the new Supercenter they want to build. I almost got thrown in jail.! because I was on quote "Private Property". So I moved to the street corner and 30 minutes later the police told me that I needed to get a permit from the city to protest?

Good for you. Its the only way to be heard by those deaf mother fuquers!