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Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
Sat May 16, 2015, 07:05 AM May 2015

16 U.S. Democrats Tell Obama: Stop Sanctioning Venezuela!

16 U.S. Democrats Tell Obama: Stop Sanctioning Venezuela!
Published 15 May 2015 (19 hours 15 minutes ago)

Congressional Democrats have admitted U.S. sanctions on Venezuela have backfired.



U.S. sanctions on Venezuela have “undermined” Washington's relationship with Latin America, members of the U.S. congress warned President Barack Obama Friday.

In an open letter to Obama, 16 members of congress expressed concern that recent sanctions on Venezuela have backfired on the United States.

“We believe that it is in the best interests of the United states, Venezuela and the hemisphere that the (Obama) administration refrain from imposing further unilateral sanctions (on Venezuela),” the letter read.

All 16 signatories were Democrats, who called on Obama to engage in “direct dialogue with the government of Venezuela.”

More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/16-U.S.-Democrats-Tell-Obama-Stop-Sanctioning-Venezuela-20150515-0011.html

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Scuba

(53,475 posts)
1. Hey, it's important to demonize any country that nationalizes their oil industry.
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:31 AM
May 2015

Big oil sets American foreign policy, doncha know?

hack89

(39,171 posts)
2. I have never understood that meme
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:01 PM
May 2015

Venezuela nationalized their oil industry 40 years ago. In the decades since, America and the oil companies have forged a close and lucrative economic relationship with VZ. We are their number one trading partner. We are the largest purchaser of their oil. We let their national oil company buy and operate oil refineries in out country. Even now, oil companies are entering into joint agreements with VZ to develop their oil fields. It does not appear that nationalization has impacted our economic relationship with them one iota.

When you consider all the oil producing counties that have nationalized their oil industries that the US has good working relationships with, this "demonize any country that nationalizes their oil industry" meme seems sophomoric and ill thought out. It is simply a means to reduce the conversation to cartoon themes and ignoring the complex reality of our relationship with SA.

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
4. Venezuela started nationalizing their oil 40 years ago, and continues today. But you knew that.
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:28 PM
May 2015

hack89

(39,171 posts)
5. What is left to be nationalized?
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:40 PM
May 2015

great non-answer. The fact of the matter is VZ needs the oil companies as much as they need VZ and the two of them have worked out a good working relationships that enriches both.

Nationalized oil is common in the world and the oil companies have adjusted just fine. You need to stop living in the past and join the present.

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
6. You need to stop spreading misinformation. Here, from 2013 ...
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:16 PM
May 2015
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/4/venezuela-quietly-seizes-control-us-oil-rigs/

Venezuela quietly seizes control of U.S. oil rigs
Monday, November 4, 2013

Four members of Anzoategui State police and the Venezuela national guard stormed the Houston-based Superior Energy Services rigs recently and demanded that control be transferred to the nation-owned oil producer, PDVSA, The Post said. PDVSA said the equipment was needed for the welfare of South American citizens, and company workers tore down parts of the facilities and loaded up their trucks.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
7. They seized some elses oil rigs after running out of money to pay their bills
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:33 PM
May 2015

Last edited Sun May 17, 2015, 02:12 PM - Edit history (1)

that is not nationalization.

They entered into a legally binding contract that they then reneged on. That is not nationalization.

Oil companies are weary of working with PDVSA, which has accumulated huge debts to service contractors on whom it depends to develop the world's largest proven oil reserves.

Centeno said Superior stopped servicing PDVSA in July after negotiations broke down over millions of dollars in unpaid bills stretching back to December. Removal of the equipment will take a few days, so Superior is also feeding and sheltering the police officers and PDVSA crew on site, he said.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
9. They signed a contract
Sun May 17, 2015, 02:11 PM
May 2015

was that a trick to get the company to send the oil rigs to VZ so they could be "nationalized". Are you saying VZ has the right to unilaterally break any contract they sign?

Bacchus4.0

(6,837 posts)
13. Bitter disappointment over the failure of chavismo
Sun May 17, 2015, 10:27 PM
May 2015

This was the government that was supposed be the "answer" and the model for the world.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
3. We didn't sanction VZ
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:02 PM
May 2015

we sanctioned a handful of government officials complicit in political violence and repression of free speech. They have no economic impact on VZ.

Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
11. Why do you imagine the Congressional Democrats have objected to this sanction, then?
Sun May 17, 2015, 04:25 PM
May 2015

Do these Democrats know far less than you on the subject? Maybe you see them as pinkos.

hack89

(39,171 posts)
12. Perhaps if you could show us how the sanctions impact VZ
Sun May 17, 2015, 04:29 PM
May 2015

We can decide what motivated them. Because despite the bloviating on the issue, no one seems to know exactly what they do. I suspect theses congressional deems are in that category.

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