NEWS: Chavez Turns the other Cheek: Offers Oil to the Poor of the US

Huge Chavez, President of the Republic of Venezuela, has replied to televangelist Pat Roberston's death threats by offering the US cheap oil for its poor communities.

Pat Roberston remarked a few days ago that Chavez should be assassinated as it would be cheaper and easier than going to war.

Chavez, a former military officer is not one to cower however. He made it very clear that he would use Venezuela's oil as a political bargaining tool in dealings with the US.

Venezuela is currently the world's 5th largest importer of crude oil, supplying 1.3m to the US per day.

Roberston aplogized for the off the remarks he made regarding President Chavez and added this: "I said our special forces could take him out. Take him out could be a number of things, including kidnapping."



Interesting rebuttal from the man whose brass ones seem to be getting bigger by the day. Chavez is ensuring that all the verbal threatening is happening in the open, in case something should happen to him 'accidently.'

Roberston's ill-timed comments have just made the tension between Chavez and the US increase by two-fold. Interesting thing Chavez is doing with the oil though, trading or swapping it for services from poor countries.



[edit on 25-8-2005 by nikelbee]

[edit on 25-8-2005 by nikelbee]

[edit on 25-8-2005 by nikelbee]

This guy is a political genius if you ask me.

Offering cheap oil to America's poor at times of soaring oil prices is a master stroke for Chavez. It undermines President Bush more than any vitriolic speech ever would.

The Bush administration will obviously decline the offer but how does that make Bush look to Americans who are paying record prices at the pump? Then again, if he accepts the offer he looks like he is endorsing Chavez and infact makes the United States look like a charity case and raises Venezuela up to a donor-status for the United States no less!

[edit on 25/8/05 by subz]

Absolutely. I am giving Chavez another thumbs up. I think partly he is taunting, but he also shrewedly sees this as an opportunity to supply oil at a cheaper rate if benefits can be gained for his country. That he is targeting the poor in AMerica is a very interesting move.

I agree the more you wade thru the news and stories surrounding this guy, the more you realise maybe just maybe hes the kind of leader we all need.
At the end of day could it be any worse.

Nice one Hugo you get my vote for Man of the year.

But he should really watch his back now. the price on his head must be huge, and the donaters to the reward im sure would include some of biggest names around.

The guy is a commie!

Eschewing Marxism-Leninism, Lanz says, Chavez has developed an economic model called "endogenous development" whereby state oil money will finance the creation of thousands of small-scale cooperatives in agricultural and other areas to provide jobs and foster community development.


Roper

Chavez is a socialist. There is a difference. Reading that paragraph, where do you see anything wrong?

Now if it said: Chavez wants to ensure he sits on all the royalties like a regal baron and robs the people of Venezuela of health care, education and social reform, then I would agree with you.

Remember that a lot of times we repeat the propaganda from our governments verbatim because they want us to think ALL socialists are bad and are threatening our way of life. If anyone is threatening our way of life it is our own government. Have you seen oil prices lately? Or house prices? Look how much money is being spent on the war. How much of our population needs health care? How many are illiterate and unskilled? Did you read about the states declaring State of Emergency because of border problems and lack of funding?

Who do you think is getting big and fat on the earnings of the richest nation on earth? It certainly isn't the ordinary people!

Let's stop worrying about Chavez' political agenda. Besides, regardless of what he believe, he was elected as a leader of a democratic country. It is not our business to tell other countries to do as we do.

I applaud Chavez for standing up to Roberston.

[edit on 25-8-2005 by nikelbee]

And communism is automatically bad why? Because the Russians failed with it? I can show you many a failed capitalist economies as well you know.

I thought the rabid opposition to communism died with McCarthyism

Chavez wants to stop selling oil to the US because he feels his country is being screwed over. If you are a top oil producing nation and your country is knee-deep in 3rd world debt and all the negative aspects of that, wouldn't you want to use the money to benefit them in a positive way?

Look at Ecuador for example. Poor small country being sucked dry by the US, trillions of dollars in debt and their own people having to protest against the government to turn some of the profits from the oil sales to national initiatives. Last week the military intervened, sending soldiers to quell the protesters and restart the oil production. Who do you think is harmed when oil doesn't get produced??

The US.

This isn't commie babble people - Wanting a decent life for your loved ones and not wanting the greedy oil tycoons and corrupt governments to take it all is not a 'commie' agenda.

We all argue the same things everyday on ATS. We want healthy, safe, affordable countries to live in. There is nothing wrong with that.


[edit on 25-8-2005 by nikelbee]

nikelbee:

Who do you think is harmed when oil doesn't get produced??

The US.

That pain and harm would only be temporary.
Some here fail to realize that it would not take very long for the US, if push came to shove, to cut its oil consumption in half, thus in a sense, nullifying the oil threat poised by Venezuela and Saudi Arabia to virtually nil.

How?
A matter of simply converting industry and enforcing automakers.
To do what?
The US has abnormal amounts of available cow manure and corn that can readily be coverted into ethenol and other fuel derivatives, such as E85, etc.

The US may be gluttonous, but when cornered, the US can be very innovative and creative. Why the US has not made a bigger push towards such energy and fuel alternatives is the 64 million dollar question and answer [and 'no', it is not solely based and revolving around money]. Pisses me off that we are in the position that we are in, but till there is an consorted effort to place major emphasis on obtaining and converting to alternative fuels and sources of such, the US will have to continue to be held hostage by major oil producing nations, such as Chavez's Venezuela.






seekerof

[edit on 25-8-2005 by Seekerof]

Chavez is a good leader who has withstood US supported coups from the rich industrialists of his country while laying hte foundations for a system that with any luck could cut swathes of of the poverty in Venezuela.

By offering cheap oil to the US Chavez is trying to apply his brand of 21st century socialism to the poor of the USA, a huge group of people who would benefit from a few steps toward socialism.

Seeker

I completely agree. They should be pushing alternative fuel methods with all the bright, innovative folks they have - some of the finest minds in the world in fact. Maybe this is the kick in the pants the US needs? I can see how holding the oil hostage would be a way to infuriate the powers that be, but I can also see how Venezuela needs to do it. THey are not doing it to be 'mean' or nasty, they themselves have no choice. Maybe it will be a good thing in the end for all if we find other methods that are cheaper, more efficient, cleaner/etc...

Chavez is a smart man and although i dont agree with "the company he keeps" he has come back with the smartest reply in the world!!!
Good for you!

Now, I'll take 1000 gallons of your oil, please!

And thank you.

He certainly put Robertson in his place.

The poor/needy of America would be who exactly?
Those who are cash strapped because of unforseen hardships, etc?
Those who are debt ridden because of other factors more related to one's spending and money habits [ie: credit card holders, etc]?
Those who are actually homeless and truly poor?

Btw, has anyone asked Mr. Chavez at exactly what price he will provide that oil/gasoline to the poor of the US.

Mr. Chavez is saying what he is as a humilitating slap-in-the-face tactic against the Christian TV evangelist Pat thou shalt not kill Robertson. Think about it...
And 'no', it does not take a "genius" or a rocket scientist or even one to be super duper smart to be a wise arse or to give a wise arse remark, correct Mr. Chavez?
Simple tit-for-tat, albeit, on a world stage, and in the applied case, not good for Robertson.








seekerof

[edit on 25-8-2005 by Seekerof]

Hard to say exactly who would give oil and at what cost, but the context of this makes it sound reasonable.

Personally I like many of the programs that Mr. Chavez has been performing, and I now have a good level of respect for this remark. Not only is it a kind thing to offer, it is political brillance. Like someone said before, this undermine's everything Bush has to say.

If you can't beat a person with force overwhelm them with kindness, the other guy won't know what to do.

As much as I'd like to see a friendship between the two nations, and socialism in the US, it's probably pretty far off in the current political climate. McKarthyism didn't die with McKarthy.

You are right on the money with your analysis of this situation, Seekerof. I applaud your insight into the fuel and energy situation here in the US. When the powers that be decide they have ridden the fossil fuel wagon as far as it will go, then, and only then, will we see a concerted effort to develop alternative, renewable fuel and energy sources.

In the meantime, we will have to listen to people like Pat and Hugo go back and forth about it. Round two goes to Chavez.

[edit on 25-8-2005 by Icarus Rising]

It is really easy for Chavez to say he will give oil to the poor at lower prices, but just how could this be accomplished?

I think this is nothing more then lip service from him and it will never happen.

Shots

In the article it says they have already done something similar with Cuba and just signed a deal with Jamaica to do the same.

Apparently they 'swap' the oil for services, for those who cannot pay the prices.

I'm unsure whether this same thing could work in the US, but it isn't a new concept. Lots of country doctors and lawyers used to take payment in services or goods when money wasn't available.

Check this out for more info

www.cnn.com...

I had no idea that Citgo was owned by Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA. If Chavez really wanted this to happen it's clear he has the resources to make it occur with 14,000 outlets in the US. Can you imagine what would happen if they offered gas at $1.50 a gal at these stations! Then again, those in power would find some way to prevent it from happening.

Yeah now old Pat wants to change his story to kidnapping?........and our taking him out would have been better that conducting a war to oust him?

So is he saying that we conduct wars to kidnap guys like this.....not defeat or kill them mind you............just kidnap them right Pat?............

Chrissst........what a twit Robertson is.......

Doesn't this guy realize that he's biting the hand of all those sucker Christians that donate to his 700 club vomiting up statements like that?

And Chavez want to provide discount pump prices to the poor in the US?

Better hurry up there old boy.........at the rate the political and economic elite are working at ruining America we will all be poor and accepting of your commitment........

ya know folks........it must be that the more powerful you are in any government and/or any organization the less thinking must be going on up in your cranium.........

Shhhhh Renegade - you don't want people to start getting ideas and putting the Anti-Christ together with Chavez...

I could see it now... 'charismatic leader, brings peace to the world, unites countries and is the son of the devil'


muahahahaa

Come to think of it his name *does* have 6 letters :