A Cuban deal for oil drilling draws interest (repugs want Cuba ban lifted)

[Mika]

A Cuban deal for oil drilling draws interest
Cuba's oil and gas drilling program sparked interest from U.S.
lawmakers who want to lift part of the trade embargo.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/14560340.htm

WASHINGTON - Two critics of the law that bans U.S. companies from doing business in Cuba want to relax the embargo to allow the American oil and gas industry to partner with Cuba to drill near the island nation.

Such efforts have been rebuffed in past years, but the legislators suggested Thursday that public anxiety over the rising cost of gasoline may provide enough momentum.

''I'm convinced the world has changed significantly,'' said Sen. Larry Craig, an Idaho Republican. ``With $3 gas a reality to the consumer, it causes us to reexamine policy.''

He and Rep. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican who has long championed relaxing sanctions against Cuba, filed legislation Thursday in the House and Senate, picking up support among legislators eager to show they are acting to ease soaring energy prices.

--

Joined by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Craig and Flake noted that some of the country's biggest competitors for energy are already involved in oil and gas exploration efforts off the north coast of Cuba -- about 50 miles from Key West.
''We need to be able to compete for resources that are off America's coast,'' Thune said. ``Countries like China are able to take advantage of the rich resources off the coast. If we don't, they will.''

[peacetalksforall]

1. #*$^%*$ ,,,,,,,Hypocrites! 46 years of hypocrisy. Republicans have

agreed to let Cuban-Americans legislators and voting public hold this country hostage for 46 years. Any trade embargoes should have come down decades ago - the missile crisis was in the early 1960's. The latest date it should have come down is when the Berlin wall came down or even before when they were making the agreements about it coming down.

It is ironic beyond respect that three Republicans want to do something now when it's oil.

Do you know how much money and how many legislators have taken money from the Cuban-Americans associations to continue to hold this country hostage? This was money that came from the taxpayers pockets.

All hypocrites!

[Mika]

2. Cuba policy has been bi partisan all along

All politicians (except D Kucinich) who come to Florida on campaigns pander to the most radical Miamicubano exile elements (they have the big campaign $$).

Its just silly to assume that Cuba embargo politics, both pro and con, is a repug only platform.


Ex..

charts from opensecrets.org

[peacetalksforall]

3. Yes, I know - I didn't go into my usual rant. It is vey much bi-partisan,

Pres Clinton even added to the discriminating legislation during his eight years while Haitians were turned back or 'held' in Guantanamo.

I resent them equally for bowing. I usually add the Dem accusation. There is no doubt, however, that Republicans led the legislation over the years - Dan Burton, Thurmondd, Hatch. They already had the votes of the Cuban-Americans and had to hold on to it. Dems were cowards - always thinking they would get some votes and as stated, they all put plenty of payola in their pockets.

[David__77]

4. Oil revenue will consolidate the Cuban government.

The economic situation has been improving in the last several years, but they still aren't back to the 1989 level yet. If the oil thing pans out, though, they could gain a real improvement in living standards. Maybe they can replace all those 1950's cars driving around Havana.

[Mika]

6. FYI, there are lots more modern cars than old US cars in Cuba now.

Lots of Fiats, Peugeots, Teanas, Diawas, etc. Small and fuel efficient.


Too bad Americans are travel banned by their own gov so they have to rely on stereotypes, nostalgia, and MSM propaganda regarding Cuba.

[David__77]

9. No, I know.

Don't get me wrong. I support Cuba 100% against US subversion. I know there are modern cars, as well as Ladas and 70s/80s Soviet models. But there aren't enough of them. It is a fact that Cuba is still suffering from the effects of the collapse of the Comecon. The oil will seal the success of its economic realignment.

[Mika]

11. Agreed.

"The oil will seal the success of its economic realignment."


Lets hope so. :thumbsup:

[Judi Lynn]

10. Apparently you're right on target. I found this photo within 15 seconds

after reading your post:



Here are some more:

[drm604]

5. Now tell me our foreign policy isn't all about oil.

:sarcasm:

[Vogon_Glory]

7. Not Surprising About Thune, Craig

I'm not surprised that Senators Craig and Thune would be in favor of amending those parts of US trade restrictions. After all, there aren't that many hard-line right-wing Cuban exiles living in either South Dakota or Idaho.

The other two senators worth watching regarding Gulf Coast oil exploration are Republican Senator Pete Domenici and Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. Both are currently busy carrying water for Big Oil's efforts to open Florida's Gulf waters for oil exploration.

[Mika]

8. They (Craig & Thune) are being lobbied by big AG.

The reasoning for maintaining the extremist positions against Castro is for political gain, at the expense of the ignorant taxpayers who are brainwashed into thinking that Cubans are "fleeing" Castro, instead of understanding the actual Cuban-American community's immigration experience.

Consider this.. If there were to be no Castro, then there would be no VERY profitable taxpayer funded anti Castro foundations and programs. If there were to be no Castro, who the F would Ileana Ros and the Diaz Balart brothers run against? They need Castro. Everything these so called "anti Castro" factions do, from taunts to threats of war to sanctions to embargoes, only unites the Cuban people behind their fearless and successful leader. This is what the "anti Castro" politicians and "free Cuba" foundations need - in order to continue to profiteer on the backs of the US taxpayers.

Regrettably, it is not one sided profiteering. Perpetuating the embargo has a profit motive for US politicians representing both sides of the issue. No Castro = no anti Castro lobby (read campaign $$). No embargo = no pro trade w/Cuba lobby (read campaign $$ mostly from Big AG). Hence, the embargo stays so the lobbying money pours in to both sides.

Status quo pays. Big time.

[Judi Lynn]

12. OVL to acquire Cuba oil blocks

OVL to acquire Cuba oil blocks

PTI< FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2006 05:30:06 PM>

NEW DELHI: ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), will on May 23 sign a contract to acquire stake in seven oil and gas blocks in Cuba.

OVL had last September acquired 30 per cent stake in seven oil and gas blocks in Cuba, which holds more than 4 billion barrels of oil reserves. "A formal agreement with the Cubian government will be signed in Havana," a company official said.

Spain's Repsol-YPF is the operator of the Block 25-29, 36 and a part of Block 25 with 40 per cent stake and the remaining is with Norway's Norsk Hydro.

"OVL had entered into an agreement on September 15 with Repsol-YPF of Spain to acquire 30 per cent participating interest in the deepwater exploration Blocks 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 36 and part of Block 35 in Gulf of Mexico," the official said.

The blocks are spread over an area of nearly 12,000 sq km in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cuba.
(snip/...)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1527626.cms

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since I've never heard of this company, it seemed appropriate to look it up:

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh (ONGC Videsh)
(20% share in the A-1 gas block)
Company Profile
ONGC Videsh Ltd./OVL is the overseas arm of India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation/ONGC, the country's highest profit-making corporation. <1> ONGC is ranked 133 on the Forbes Global "Best Big Companies" list for 2002 - 2003. <2> OVL is the second largest E&P company in India, and currently has nine overseas assets, while it is actively seeking more opportunities across the world.

According to OVL, among its "outstanding achievements, two stand out at first glance itself: a whopping US$ 1.7 billion investment in the Sakhalin oil fields of Russia, the largest of its kind by an Indian corporation, and the securing of a 25% share in the renowned GNOP fields of Sudan via a one-time investment of US$ 720 million, yet another record for an Indian corporation". <2>
(snip/...)

http://www.shwe.org/stakeholders/corporations/ongc/

[KamaAina]

13. We don't want your rum, your cigars, your doctors, just your oil.

:grr: :banghead:

Then again, once you're an oil producer, we will be perfectly justified in invading and occupying your country. :sarcasm:

[reichstag911]

14. Flip-floppers! n/t