Ed Snowden: Leakers “should be shot in the balls,” and "cut this Social Security bullshit"

[MADem]

97. Guess who VZ's BIGGEST trading partner is?

It's us--yes, US, USA, USA, USA.

They might want to check with Iran and see how well sanctions work for them. We could be assholes if we were so inclined--in fact, they've gotten a taste of it for transferring petroleum to Iran.

VZ is a crime-riddled hellhole, unless you can afford to live in a gated community (and you're not crime free there, either--it's just "less&quot .

About the only country with sufficient degrees of economic separation is Cuba--and even they like the money they are getting from family visits and people-to-people tourism.

If I were VZ, I would not trust Russia to keep paying for Snowden after they take him on--I think he's a stinky, smelly hot potato who will cause more trouble than he's worth.

The following two government documents tell the real tale re: US-Venezuelan relations. They need us way more than we need them. Also, if they piss us off, that could be problematic for Cuba, because we know that some stuff that is shipped to VZ ends up on Fidel's island, while we look the other way. (Note for those concerned w/copyright--these are US government documents; they're OURS, we paid for 'em)
Skim these:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35766.htm

(More at link, this is the key bit)

Bilateral Economic Relations

The United States is Venezuela's most important trading partner. U.S. exports to Venezuela include machinery, organic chemicals, agricultural products, optical and medical instruments, autos and auto parts. Oil dominates U.S. imports from Venezuela, which is one of the top four suppliers of foreign oil to the United States. About 500 U.S. companies are represented in Venezuela. U.S. foreign direct investment in Venezuela is concentrated largely in the petroleum, manufacturing, and finance sectors.

In 2011, the Secretary of State decided to impose sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company (PDVSA) for delivering at least three cargoes of reformate, a blending component for gasoline, to Iran between December 2010 and March 2011. The sanctions prohibit PDVSA from competing for U.S. Government contracts, securing financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and obtaining export licenses.

http://www.ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/venezuela

U.S.-Venezuela Trade Facts

U.S. goods and services trade with Venezuela totaled $62 billion in 2011. Exports totaled $18 billion; Imports totaled $44 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with Venezuela was $26 billion in 2011.

Venezuela is currently our 14th largest goods trading partner with $56 billion in total (two ways) goods trade during 2011. Goods exports totaled $12 billion; Goods imports totaled $43 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Venezuela was $31 billion in 2011.

Trade in services with Venezuela (exports and imports) totaled $6.5 billion in 2011 (preliminary data). Services exports were $5.6 billion; Services imports were $814 million. The U.S. services trade surplus with Venezuela was $4.8 billion in 2011.

Exports

Venezuela was the United States= 26th largest goods export market in 2011.

U.S. goods exports to Venezuela in 2011 were $12.3 billion, up 15.9% ($1.7 billion) from 2011, and up 122% from 2000.

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2011 were: Machinery ($3.0 billion), Electrical Machinery ($1.7 billion), Organic Chemicals ($1.3 billion), Optic and Medical Instruments ($810 million), and Vehicles ($682 million).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to Venezuela totaled $1.2 billion in 2011, the 20th largest agriculture export market. Leading categories include: soybean meal ($260 million), wheat ($253 million), and coarse grains ($237 million).

U.S. exports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) to Venezuela were $5.6 billion in 2011, 14.3% ($708 million) more than 2010, and 71% greater than 2000 levels. The travel and other private services (telecommunication, professional, business, and technical services) categories accounted for most of the U.S. services exports to Venezuela.

Imports

Venezuela was the United States= 9th largest supplier of goods imports in 2011.

U.S. goods imports from Venezuela totaled $43.3 billion in 2011, a 32.3% increase ($10.5 billion) from 2011, and up 132% from 2000. U.S. imports from Venezuela account for 2.0% of overall U.S. imports in 2011.

The five largest import categories in 2011 were: Mineral Fuel and Oil (crude) ($42.0 billion), Organic Chemicals ($309 million), Iron and Steel ($263 million), Aluminum ($169 million), and Fertilizers ($152 million).

U.S. imports of agricultural product from Venezuela totaled $5 million in 2011.

U.S. imports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) were $814 million in 2011, up 8.1% ($61 million) from 2010, and up 37% from 2000 level. The travel and the other transportation (port services) categories accounted for most of U.S. services imports from Venezuela.

Trade Balance

The U.S goods trade deficit with Venezuela was $30.9 billion in 2011, a 40.1% increase ($8.9 billion) over 2010. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Venezuela accounted for 4.2% of the overall U.S. goods trade deficit in 2011.

The United States had a services trade surplus of $4.8 billion with Venezuela in 2011, up 15.5% from 2010.

Investment
U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Venezuela (stock) was $12.1 billion in 2011, a 24.6% increase from 2010.

U.S. direct investment in Venezuela is primarily concentrated in the manufacturing and nonbank holding companies sectors.

Venezuela FDI in the United States (stock) was $3.8 billion in 2011, up 30.9% from 2010.

The distribution of Venezuela’s FDI in the United States is not available.

Sales of services in Venezuela by majority U.S.-owned affiliates were $3.0 billion in 2010 (latest data available), while sales of services in the United States by majority Venezuela-owned firms were $714 million.