U.S. sanctions Venezuela's oil giant for Iran trade

[rabs]

(In simple terms; "WE (the U.S.) determine with whom YOU (Venezuelans) do business -- but in the meantime, keep sending us your oil.")


By Andrew Quinn

WASHINGTON | Tue May 24, 2011 1:18pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States took aim at Venezuela's state oil giant on Tuesday in its latest effort to disrupt Iran's fuel supplies, threatening to provoke a fierce response from anti-American President Hugo Chavez.

The U.S. sanctions against PDVSA, Venezuela's state oil company, for engaging in trade with Iran are narrowly targeted, and will not affect the company's vast sales of oil to the United States or the activities of its subsidiaries including U.S.-based CITGO.

Nonetheless, the U.S. move against PDVSA and six other oil and shipping companies was a diplomatic escalation as Washington tries to further stifle Iran's energy sector and convince it to abandon a suspected nuclear weapons program.

PDVSA would be barred from access to U.S. government contracts and import/export financing, and the move marks a significant shot across the bow of Chavez, a frequent and vocal critic of Washington who has in the past threatened to cut off oil supplies to the United States.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/24/us-iran-usa-sanctions-idUSTRE74N47R20110524

[EFerrari]

1. Winning hearts and minds as usual. n/t

[Bacchus39]

2. who cares about Hugo?? Look at Obama's reception in Ireland

you think the Irish care about Hugo??

[EFerrari]

4. Because this is all about Hugo and not Venezuela or your government.

Good grief.

[Bacchus39]

5. the Obama Administration is not looking to win the hearts and minds

of the Chavez administration. so sorry for you.

lol

[EFerrari]

7. What a circumscribed view you have of foreign policy.

:)

[Bacchus39]

10. its fine policy to me. why would you want to reward someone

who is assisting Iran. Venezuela has no right to expect favorable treatment from the US.

[Judi Lynn]

6. So damned odd, a person should scream! Holy ####. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

8. You need to calm down. Here's an article from Irish Indymedia:

Hugo Chavez has won his second term as President
Monday December 04, 2006 15:53 by Cllr Keith Martin

Chavez won 61.3 percent of the vote compared to 38.4 percent for Manuel Rosales.

The victory is a confirmation of Chavez's policies of targeting the needs of the poor with the huge profits from the country's oil industry. Until Chavez's election most of these profits went into tax breaks for the middle and upper classes in Venezuela.

Hugo Chavez has won his second term as President last night with a wide margin over the opposition candidate. Chavez won 61.3 percent of the vote compared to 38.4 percent for Manuel Rosales.

Rosales has admitted that there was no fraud and has accepted that the elections were fair although he insists the actual figures are much tighter than above.

When you consider that at the time of his election almost 60% of the country lived below the poverty line. Giving tax breaks to the wealthy at the obvious expense of the poor could not be justified. Chavez campaigned on these issues and on reform of land ownership.

Since his election Chavez has poured money into anti poverty measures and a literacy campaign. Poverty has been reduced by 20% and illiteracy has been eradicated.

More:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80019

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised was filmed by Irish filmmakers who were there to do a feature on Hugo Chavez just as the filthy coup occurred.

[Bacchus39]

9. he should go to Ireland then n/t

s

[Bacchus39]

3. the US determines who can get US government contracts

who cares what Hugo thinks???

[rabs]

11. Ven. reaction: repudiation and "options being evaluated"

Official communique read by FM Maduro; sanctions against PDVSA are "unilateral and illegal," and one more sign of a hostile policy "against the strong, independent and sovereign petroleum industry" of Venezuela. Sanctions called violation of U.N. economic and social accords principals.

--------------------------------

El Gobierno de Venezuela manifestó este martes su repudio de manera categórica al anuncio del Departamento de Estado estadounidense de imponer sanciones contra la estatal Petróleos de Venezuela Sociedad Anónima (Pdvsa) por mantener relaciones comerciales con Irán. La decisión fue catalogada como violatoria de los principios y pactos económicos y sociales de las Naciones Unidas.

A través de un comunicado emitido por el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y leído por el mismo canciller venezolano, Nicolás Maduro, en una rueda de prensa ofrecida en Caracas (capital), el Gobierno de Venezuela rechazó las sanciones estadounidenses y recalcó que se seguirán “evaluando opciones” para fijar posición en torno al caso.

En este sentido, Maduro señaló que las sanciones “unilaterales e ilegales en contra de Pdvsa”, son una muestra más de la política hostil “contra la industria petrolera fuerte, independiente y soberana” de Venezuela.

[Bacchus39]

12. Chavez's response

"¡Bienvenidas Mr Obama! No olvide que somos los hijos de Bolívar!, expresó.

http://eluniversal.com/2011/05/24/chavez-rechaza-sanciones-contra-pdvsa.shtml


I guess he really showed Obama. I imagine Obama is meeting with his national security team right now.