US refiner Citgo emerges as key to Venezuela's power battle

[Zorro]

The U.S. and dozens of other countries may have declared that Nicolas Maduro is no longer the legitimate president of Venezuela, but that has not loosened his grip on power. Maduro still controls the military, despite scattered defections. He has the loyalty of the Supreme Court. And he has rendered the opposition-controlled National Assembly powerless by setting up a rival constitutional assembly.

But Maduro stands to lose one crucial lever of power: Houston-based refining company Citgo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Venezuelan state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, known by its acronym PDVSA.

Americans know Citgo for its familiar red triangle logo at its more than 5,000 branded gas stations and the iconic sign visible from Fenway Park in Boston. Venezuelans know it as one of their collapsing economy’s last lifelines.

The Trump administration is moving to help transfer its control to Juan Guaido, the National Assembly leader recognized by the U.S. and other countries as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/us-refiner-citgo-emerges-as-key-to-venezuelas-power-battle/2019/02/09/e4f4d664-2c4c-11e9-906e-9d55b6451eb4_story.html

[juxtaposed]

1. hundreds of thousands will be executed and murdered b/c of US

intervention for the last 18 years trying to overthrow the democratically elected government in free and open elections.

[Zorro]

2. Venezuelan elections have not been free and open for quite a few years now

[MyNameGoesHere]

3. Neither has ours. Who should interfere in our affairs?

Oh that's right Russia. How does that feel? You like it?

[Zorro]

5. US elections have not been free and open?

Were you prevented from voting in recent US elections? Did the government jail your preferred candidates?

[juxtaposed]

7. yes they have

[Zorro]

8. You haven't been paying attention then

[GulfCoast66]

4. Yeah. Right. Just like is the fault of the US fault

That Cuba jails dissidents.

For the last 18 years you are referring to we have been their largest trading partner and the largest source of cash for the increasingly corrupt and despotic government.

I don’t want US to be militarily involve. But have no problem removing financial support.

Now I wish we would do the same to The Saudis and scores of others.

[ripcord]

6. It makes sense when you consider that Guaido is the legitimate leader of Venezuela