In a UK Channel 4 News interview, Venezuala President Hugo Chavez indicated he might follow Iran in demanding payment in Euro for it oil exports. He was also very dismissive of Bush’s arms embargo, saying that the USA could have the guns they had already sold Venezuela back. He also indicated that if he were Iraqi, he would be fighting against the “US Empire”. Even more worrying for the US, he indicated he would retaliate against and further US sanctions by stopping oil exports to the USA entirely.
The video of the 10 minute interview with Chavez can be viewed from here (warning – annoying advert on page). The summary of the interview has in part:
In an exclusive television interview, he told this programme America could have its arms back – and says he will cut off oil supplies to the US if more sanctions are imposed. #
Mr Chavez has been accused of flirting with authoritarianism at home and backing despots abroad – not least in Iran, where he has forged close ties.
But he says he is protecting himself against US aggression – and says he may join forces with Tehran in their plan to undermine the US dollar by selling their oil in Euros.
Another reference is in a report on the BBC site covering the interview. Chavez was also bullish about being able to see oil elsewhere if the USA were embargoed. This would also, he predicted push the price beyond $100 a barrel – even though his ideal range was between $50 and $60.
so many of Bush’s little hate figures around the world by raining the price of oil. There is a certain irony in this somewhere.
I deeply appreciate Chavez for calling it like it is. Hell, what does he have to lose? He’s already thwarted a CIA/DIA inspired coup attempt. Of course they’ll try again, using middlemen, but the more cats about the machinations of globalism this global leader lets out of the bag, the better. I’d love to see Chavez live on and work on, and dethrone himself at some point, not yet, but I rue the day that he declares himself president-for-life. That’s really going too far with that cockiness.
Chavez knows how precarious the US economy sits with the rest of the world. He knows that he can, with other nations cooperating, dethrone the US from it’s economic hegemony which it no longer deserves. The dollar is not worth the trouble it’s government is causing across the globe. And he knows the US can’t afford a 4th front in it’s economic empire wars — Iraq, Afganistan, and (let us pray not in) Iran. You think the 60-80% of Venezuelans who are of poor extract will let an American troop alive? So that scenario is out, just like it’s out in Iran. But the bombing. The Bombing.
The US is the scourge of the world. We are the baddest of the bad guys.
But guess what all you fucking Chavez-haters, if we, 30 years ago, had taken alternative energy seriously, and begun then to convert the US to alternatives (and the metric system, by gosh! :), the Chavez’ and Bush’s and Bin Laden’s of the world would not have a sandbox to play in. Boo Hoo. So blame your parent’s generation for not taking alternatives seriously when we had a government willing to begin the conversion to alternatives.
Go Chavez, but not too far!!! š š
… in lock step rejecting the US $ payments for oil.
Add Putin, he’s also rejecting US$ payments. Reported in MSM media last week and now here, “The Rouble must become a more widespread means of international transactions. To this end, we need to open a stock exchange in Russia to trade in oil, gas, and other goods to be paid for in Roubles,”
Is that why he’s being given the cold shoulder by Cheney, Bush and Condi administration?
A new technology known as the thermal conversion process (TCP; aka thermal depolymerization) has been developed and deployed that can turn ANY waste (agricultural, municipal, and industrial) into high-grade light oil. In short, this technology makes oil a renewable. 2 plants are currently on line, and we need to build more ASAP.
TCP also destroys bacteria, viruses, and prions (the infectious proteins that cause mad cow and related diseases), eliminates toxins and carcinogens, and breaks down non-biodegradables. The useful byproducts include water and a potent, organic fertilizer. Localized production of oil reduces infrastructural needs (fewer pipelines and tankers). It also helps avert the looming waste management/landfill crisis. To top it off, it creates far more energy than it uses. This is the ultimate in recycling.
I know we would like to eventually get off of oil altogether, but this technology should be seen as a stepping stone or complementary technology to other renewables in meeting that ultimate goal.
For more info, read this diary.
Sorry I missed your linked diary when you posted it. Thanks for the link.
There are plenty of things we’ll still need hydrocarbons for even if we don’t run cars on them. Like plastics and other synthetic materials. So renewable diesel via TCP (something I wish more people would care about) is a big answer for us, even if we don’t run cars on it.
It will become really interesting if the Norwegians join this trend: