should the U.S. place trade sanctions? and what hostilities towards the US has Hugo Chavez shown toward the US other than the satanic metephore toward Bush??
2007-02-27 09:55:35 · 8 answers · asked by musstoffa 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
The US is able to purchase the oil it needs from other sources, and Venezuela can sell their oil to other countries. So trade sanctions on Venezuela oil would do little to either side. Same with other goods that Venezuela buys (and sells).
Sure it would add some cost to transport Venezulan oil farther for sale in Europe for example, as well as conversion of refineries to use the Venezuelan grade of crude oil, but with the recent volatility of oil prices that would be barely noticed. Pennies per barrel in difference, and the price fluctuates much more than that nearly every day.
An embargo on Venezuela may actually help them by driving up world oil prices. Oil prices are partially based on fear, and even if the production and sales remain constant an US embargo of the country would add to "fear".
Venezuela will colapse the instant oil prices fall from their recent high values. If prices fall below $30 a barrel, I doubt Hugo will last 1 more month. That should happen in the next 5-10 years.
Hugo is not really that popular, he only gets by due to bribeing his population with the oil profits. If the money for the bribes dry up so will his popularity. If he starts nationalizing foreign oil investmens as he seems intent on doing, the world market certianly will not give him loans he will need in the future to get through a dip in the oil prices (and continue his spending). The way he is running the local oil industry it is becoming increasingly inefficient, and he needs the current very high prices just to survive.
2007-02-27 10:15:00 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Fred 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, last winter Chavez offered free petroleum to impoverished Americans who couldn't afford to heat their houses. I guess people thought he was pretty evil for this. Lots of people don't like Bush, but that doesn't mean that they are evil. At the same time, lots of people like Bush, but that doesn't mean they are evil either. One's politics do not necessarily make them a good or bad person (with the obvious exceptions of people like Hitler, lets try to use some common sense here).
2007-02-27 18:03:12 · answer #2 · answered by kittiesandsparklelythings 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
So what if Chavez badmouths America and Bush. Most of the world do the same. He does a good job for his people.
2007-02-27 18:04:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The US needs Venezuelan oil much more badly than Venezuela needs anything from us.
We already have a weapons embargo against them, but they are buying all the weapons they need from other sources with all those petrodollars Americans send them every day.
2007-02-27 18:00:21 · answer #4 · answered by chimpus_incompetus 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hugo Chavez is ruining Venezuela I bet as soon as his country wakes up to his bull crap they will be begging the Marines to come save them.
2007-02-27 18:03:41 · answer #5 · answered by TD1HOGY2K 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Bottom line is Venezuela hasn't done anything to the US. Chavez has shot off his mouth repeatedly, that's about it.
2007-02-27 17:59:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Chavez is a punk. We don't need to worry about him. He only has oil and he is hurting badly now that oil is so cheap compared to the previous years. His oil is the heavy crude that is not very good. As long as oil prices are moderate, he will be marginalized.
2007-02-27 18:03:31 · answer #7 · answered by james 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
His company, Citgo, donated a lot of heating oil to poor people here in the U.S....that was pretty hostile huh?
2007-02-27 18:00:19 · answer #8 · answered by Pete Schwetty 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋