OH NO!!! Venezula. . .

[ShrowdedPoet]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4739841.ece

*head pounds* 

[Sabby]

Of course, someone will make this out to be the work of Mercenaries 2

[Avi]

Oh no, you didn't.... :P

[ShrowdedPoet]

. . .huh. . . 

[Avi]

I seriously doubt it will come to anything military but... yeah, it's worrisome.  :-\

[Sherona]

wow...videogame?

Anywho, I saw this coming unfortunatley. Ambassadors are either helped or hindered by world opinion, and right now they are decidedly hindered..very much so....couple that with tense political situations in Venzuala, well..it was almost inevitable *sighs*

It is certainly something to keep a serious eye on.

[ShrowdedPoet]

wow...videogame?

Anywho, I saw this coming unfortunatley. Ambassadors are either helped or hindered by world opinion, and right now they are decidedly hindered..very much so....couple that with tense political situations in Venzuala, well..it was almost inevitable *sighs*

It is certainly something to keep a serious eye on.

I'm worried about the gas prices. . .they've already gone up over 30 cents since this morning and are estimated to go up even higher and it doesn't help that we're closing refineries for the Hurricanes. . .*cries*

[Avi]

Amazing how fate just clumps stuff like this together, huh?  One can only hope that a resolution is on its way.

[ShrowdedPoet]

Amazing how fate just clumps stuff like this together, huh?  One can only hope that a resolution is on its way.

Yes, one can only hope though it looks VERY not good for gas prices for a long time coming. 

[Celestial Goblin]

Chavez is a drama queen that can't stand a week without international media attention.
If Venezuela won't sell oil to USA, is there anyone else who'll offer a good price?

[ShrowdedPoet]

Chavez is a drama queen that can't stand a week without international media attention.
If Venezuela won't sell oil to USA, is there anyone else who'll offer a good price?

I really have no idea. . .never been much for foreign relations. . .but I can't handle the high gas prices!  *cries*

[OldSchoolGamer]

Chavez is a drama queen that can't stand a week without international media attention.
If Venezuela won't sell oil to USA, is there anyone else who'll offer a good price?

He's not going to embargo oil.  He wants to get paid.  And I agree with the "drama queen" assessment.  I'm sick of the rest of the world whining about how America is responsible for all their problems, and Chavez is one of the more grating "professional victims."  His country has plenty of oil revenues, so if things aren't shipshape at home Chavez just needs to man up and take some responsibility for how his country is doing.

[Trieste]

Chavez has made the unfortunate mistake of assuming that the United States cannot touch him, and thinks him too important to ignore and/or retaliate against. Considering our track record, though, I have to point this out.

We put Saddam in power, only to have to go back in and take care of that later on.

We put Castro in power, and look how that turned out.

Makes me wonder if we supported Chavez in the latest revolution or whatever that put him there. It would suit our track record. We have a habit of placing people who hate us in power.

I have no sources for this, by the by - it's hearsay, and I'm open to being wrong. It's just an idle thought. I, like Sherona, saw this coming a mile away. And it's disgusting how the oil prices are going up over there if it's in reaction to this, Poet. He hasn't even cut off any supplies yet, the bastards.

[The Overlord]

I've had mixed feelings about this guy. On one hand he's urged Latin America to stand up to the US, which ain't a bad thing if big government or business here can't push around everything south of Texas.

On the other hand, he's just gone too far with his anti-Yankee harangues. At this point he's the Kanye West of the United Nations. He's made a few good points and now he just needs to STFU hardcore.

As I heard yesterday, he's boasting that any American aggression against Venezuela will be punished by shutting off the supply of crude...but the reality of the situation is that stopping shipments to one of his biggest customers will hurt him more than us.

My greater concern is the Russian connection, as they sent some bombers there to do military maneuvers. Since the situation in Georgia, the Russians and NATO have been moving ships and planes about; the board is being carefully set with pieces that I hope does not evolve into the second Cold War.

What Mr. Chavez best realize is that dictators that run oil-rich nations tend to get on the military-industrial complex's shit list fairly easily. If he's actually baiting a confrontation with America then he's a damned fool.

[Trieste]

What Mr. Chavez best realize is that dictators that run oil-rich nations tend to get on the military-industrial complex's shit list fairly easily. If he's actually baiting a confrontation with America then he's a damned fool.

I think it's arrogant to automatically assume we can 'make him pay' or something... the embargo on Cuba is a joke... but it's also stupid of him to assume that he won't earn enmity and attempted retaliation at all because of his oil. I believe there's a couple countries that have been on the shit list that have just a little bit to say on that note...

The Russian aspect worries me as well, but I don't think the upcoming leaders we have queued have the subtlety to carry out such a thing. I cannot picture McCain or Obama pulling it off - I really can't.

[Caehlim]

Makes me wonder if we supported Chavez in the latest revolution or whatever that put him there. It would suit our track record. We have a habit of placing people who hate us in power.

Interesting that you should say this, because as it turns out it's the direct opposite. America attempted to remove him from power and failed. They funded a military coup in the country, however when he was seized by the military the entire country rioted. The military gave him back.

America's involvement in these events isn't really a secret or even denied. It's pretty textbook CIA operation from back in the day.

[Trieste]

Interesting that you should say this, because as it turns out it's the direct opposite. America attempted to remove him from power and failed. They funded a military coup in the country, however when he was seized by the military the entire country rioted. The military gave him back.

Are you sure they/we didn't put him there before that, and then change their/our minds? :P

*is being goofy, by the by*

[Caehlim]

Are you sure they/we didn't put him there before that, and then change their/our minds? :P

*is being goofy, by the by*

Would America ever do that? Nooo.. :P

[The Overlord]

I think it's arrogant to automatically assume we can 'make him pay' or something... the embargo on Cuba is a joke... but it's also stupid of him to assume that he won't earn enmity and attempted retaliation at all because of his oil. I believe there's a couple countries that have been on the shit list that have just a little bit to say on that note...

It's not like I'm suggesting we go to war with Venezuela simply because this moron shoots his mouth off, but worst come to worst I don't feel we should be against teaching him some respect. Maybe a flyby of SAC bombers escorted by F-22's right over Caracas, or just drive a carrier battle group past his coastline, just to make the point we can jack him back 100 times worse any-time-we-fracking-want.

I see this guy like that annoying little kid that lived next door that used to throw rocks over the fence and you call you names. It often works until the first time you decide to hop the fence and punch him in the mouth for talking too much.

[Sabby]

It's not like I'm suggesting we go to war with Venezuela simply because this moron shoots his mouth off, but worst come to worst I don't feel we should be against teaching him some respect. Maybe a flyby of SAC bombers escorted by F-22's right over Caracas, or just drive a carrier battle group past his coastline, just to make the point we can jack him back 100 times worse any-time-we-fracking-want.

I see this guy like that annoying little kid that lived next door that used to throw rocks over the fence and you call you names. It often works until the first time you decide to hop the fence and punch him in the mouth for talking too much.

I just love how you Americans handle these things :) if you don't blow it up, just flex your military muscle.

[Sherona]

I just love how you Americans handle these things :) if you don't blow it up, just flex your military muscle.

Once again Sabbat, not all Americans..and really not even most...would support doing what Overlord is saying just because someone is running their mouth.

They kicked out ambassadors, next step is to keep watch if they start to escalate. I think at this moment Americans are getting tired of being randomly insulted constantly that it will take a bit more then yelling insults across borders to get congress to retaliate.

To clarify, we are getting thicker skins so a bit of cage rattling isn't going to declare "military action."

[Sabby]

Honestly, it sounds like two neighbors yelling at each other across their fence... just on a ridiculously larger scale.

[Sherona]

*smiles* And where one neighbor holds a decent supply of the other neighbor's oil. With gas prices already ridiculous, and only getting worse, it makes it a bit more important then "Your a moron!"

and in case it wasn't clear, taht "your a moron" was in respect to the neighbors shouting insults..not calling anyone here a moron :P

[Oniya]

*smiles* And where one neighbor holds a decent supply of the other neighbor's oil. With gas prices already ridiculous, and only getting worse, it makes it a bit more important then "Your a moron!"

and in case it wasn't clear, taht "your a moron" was in respect to the neighbors shouting insults..not calling anyone here a moron :P

Definitely more important.  This morning we did some recalculations (gas prices are up 50c from a 2-3 days ago), and this little power-play could result in us losing our house.  I work out of the home, but it's part-time/contract work, and we're in a dry period.  My husband has a full time retail job, as does our roommate, but because of schedules, that means 3-4 trips in the car at 4.00/gallon...

It was just starting to go down, too.

[Sherona]

Are you in the US Oniya? A some of the gas hikes were due to Hurricane Ike, once tehy get the refineries back up and running it will go down some.