Is There Oil in Liberia?

[heidiho]

That's the only reason I can think of that Bush would be interested in the "people" of Liberia.

What about the other African nations on his trip? I know his motives are always about oil. I know Nigeria has lots of it.

I read the book "Emma's War" about the Civil War in Somalia and
it said that Bush Sr. came down there while he was UN Ambassador to secure oil field for Chevron.

Does anyone know about Liberia's oil and who controls it.

[legin]

1. I think zip

Not even named on this:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/iea/table81.html

[Sal316]

2. It's not exactly in Liberia...but West Africa is rich with oil.

"US EYES AFRICAN OIL"

The United States has denied persistent reports that it intends to build a military base on the tiny west African island state of Sao Tome - but said it will expand co-operation with the former Portuguese colony.

US interest in the region centres on large offshore oil deposits in the Gulf of Guinea and a desire by Washington to diversify its oil supplies away from the turbulent Middle East region.

<snip>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2312975.stm

It's an old article, from 2002, and here's another one...

http://www.counterpunch.org/gancarski0823.html


Just do a google search on west africa oil and you'll be surprised at the results.

[GalleryGod]

3. Wouldja' Believe- DIAMONDS & GOLD! Woo-Hoo!

Shocking? Surprizing? Puzzling? I think NOT! ;>)

[Allah Akbar]

4. Here is an article that explains Bush's "concern" for Africa

quite nicely.

http://www.counterpunch.org/madsen07042003.html

The neo-cons now see West Africa as America's next target for control. One of their chicken hawk columnists, National Review's Rich Lowry, recently suggested that West Africa is of such strategic interest to America, the U.S. should set up military bases in the region with a U.S. military headquarters on Sao Tome, in the Gulf of Guinea, a potental future "American lake." More U.S. colonies. After years of exploitative European colonization, Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, and other African countries may soon become virtual American colonies as part of a Greater West Africa National Economic Sphere. It is a page right out of the Japanese fascist playbook from World War II. So for our mentally challenged president, his neo con advisers tell him, "West Africa = diamonds + oil." That's all he has to hear. He authorizes sending in U.S. troops, building U.S. bases, and makes a trip there to Africa to cement the deals.

[heidiho]

6. Thanks for this link - WOW!

It's just amazing what we don't know, isn't it?

[Allah Akbar]

12. It sure is, and some of it is funny!

http://www.news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=731172003

This one made me laugh out loud and I nominate it for "Best Acronym of 2003"

The core idea of the plan, ponderously titled the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), is a trade-off with the world’s aid-weary major powers. Africa, in an effort to shake off its persistent begging-bowl disorder, commits itself to democracy, good governance, financial discipline and market-oriented policies in return for more help from the developed countries, especially in the form of better access to their markets for Africa’s exports.

The intricate plan has obvious merit. It was drafted by Africans for Africans and so is free of any imperialist taint. Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria are also co-authors.

NEPAD’s godfathers know the developed countries are sick of pouring their taxpayers’ money into Africa only to see it end up in the pockets and offshore accounts of corrupt leaders while the ordinary people - Franz Fanon’s "wretched of the Earth" - sink into ever deeper poverty.

NEPAD’s ultimate grand ideal is to end Africa’s conflicts, encourage accountable government and achieve growth rates that can at least absorb into employment the millions of African children who leave school each year, let alone the many millions who get no education at all.

NEPAD - HA! That has to be someone's sick idea of a joke!

[realFedUp]

14. Madsen's piece is a MUST READ

Bush Inc. is always about bidness, not human rights.

[StClone]

5. No Liberia visit, no oil

Bush leaves death and chaos in his wake... so he won't visit Liberia. That nation has no oil and is already a mess. So his services are not needed. Nigeria will receive a visit as an emerging oil power. Liberia problems get lip service. Nigeria gets a state visit.

[DrGonzoLives]

7. None

The oil in western Africa basically sits under Nigeria. Of course, that could mean that Nigeria could become a wonderful place with incomes on the rise, good standard of living, and a beacon of hope to the rest of the region, but their leaders are too damn corrupt to do anything like that.

By helping with Liberia, Bush may be trying to position himself as a "savior" of western Africa, to make Nigeria more amenable to selling us cheaper oil despite what OPEC tells them to do. And, let's face it, it's Nigeria, there will be another coup sometime soon, and Bush may be trying to get a pro-U.S. faction operating over there.

[noonwitch]

15. Isn't Nigeria where Shell Oil plays all kinds of nasty games?

Hasn't Shell been accused of paying to assassinate community leaders who have opposed their developments? I read something about this a few years back in the Metro Times.

[Touchdown]

8. Somebody mentioned Pat Robertson.

That he apparently owns one/or some diamond mines, and is in cahoots with Taylor's regime.:shrug:

[havocmom]

9. Google Pat Robertson Liberia Taylor

Amazing how the rich and far right get attention from the misadministration

For starters: http://www.theperspective.org/patrobertson_taylor.html

<snip> Rev. Robertson is not troubled or concerned at all about doing business with President Taylor, a man widely known for "fueling the violence in Sierra Leone" and "actively supporting the RUF at all levels." Taylor is a known menace to his people as well as a danger to his neighbors in the West African sub-region. The heinous atrocities he inflicted upon the Liberian people are well documented, yet Pat Robertson claims to "have no knowledge of the activities in Liberia during its bitter civil war."

another link: http://www.ethicalatheist.com/docs/robertson_bin_laden.html

[ozymandius]

10. in cahoots with Taylor himself

As Charles Taylor is the embodiment of Liberia under his system of government, Pat Robertson's business contract was with him. Robertson is an ersatz genocidal despot.

[havocmom]

11. My guess is since they are looking to move US bases in foreign lands

to new locations, they will look for locations near areas of commercial intrest to BFEE cronies. US troops are no longer the defenders of Truth, Justice and the American Way. They are now used as the rent-a-cop company for Corporate Amerika.

If a US Fat Cat is having trouble with the locals at any site, look for US troops to be sent in "to fight insurgents and terrorists"*

*new code word for folks rebelling against deporlable conditions and human rights violations imposed by huge corporations. As in: we at DU are likely to be classified as insurgents and terrorists as soon as we start making soem headway against the Corporate Coup.

[Solomon]

13. Liberia is important for three reasons:

As a base to capture West African oil, for diamonds, and for gold, which will be extremely important when the shit hits the fan and paper money becomes worthless.