Venezuela To Send U.S. Extra Gas Shipments

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela To Send U.S. Extra Gas Shipments
Million-Barrel Pledge Both Helpful and Political

By Paul Blustein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 8, 2005; Page D06

Never mind his terrible relations with the Bush administration and the Rev. Pat Robertson's recent call for his assassination.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he is shipping boatloads of extra gasoline to the U.S. market to help soften the impact of Hurricane Katrina -- and U.S. officials can only grit their teeth over the propaganda points he is scoring.

In a statement issued yesterday, Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuela's ambassador to Washington, spelled out the amounts and timing of the shipments: In the coming month, the state-owned oil company will deliver nearly 1 million barrels of gasoline, in addition to the 1.2 million scheduled, to Citgo Petroleum Corp., the U.S. refining and distribution firm that Venezuela bought in 1990. The fuel will be taken from storage and diverted from other customers.

"Venezuela is privileged to be able to help the United States in this time of need," Alvarez said. "We see ourselves as a compassionate people and hope that our efforts will help cope with current market needs of the U.S. for gasoline, and provide some immediate relief to the victims of this horrific natural disaster."
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR2005090702235.html
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[Mari333]

1. Viva Chavez

this has so got to burn the shorts of the BFEE

[Akoto]

2. It must make our government look very small, when ...

Other countries are willing to help us despite all the trouble we've given them. Makes me yearn for the days when we had an administration that wasn't selfish.

[Kralizec]

3. I love it! They're not *asking* to send help, they're just doing it...

Citgo is not subject to Federal Aid Impositions. * and co. can only watch as it happens under their noses. I only wish I had a Citgo close to me... x(

"This is not an 'offer,' " said Fadi Kabboul, the minister-counselor for petroleum affairs in the Venezuelan embassy. "It is something we are sending to the market, because there is a shortage."

[Say_What]

10. Happy to say they're everywhere in eastern MA.

I have about three of them very close to me. Yay!! :bounce:

Love that quote too, "This is not an 'offer,' " ..."It is something we are sending to the market,

Go Hugo!!

[Child_Of_Isis]

4. Take that Pat Robertson! eom

[sarcasmo]

5. Way to shove it up Robertsons ahole Hugo.

That man is more of a leader than the boy King. VIVA CHAVEZ.

[mod mom]

6. How can we ensure that * cronies won't profit off this generosity?

[Kralizec]

7. They already took care of that by going through the company that

they fully own, Citgo. This isn't going through any gov't agency or anything. This is just another, slightly larger *cough* shipment of oil/gas, whatever. Just another business day.

[K-W]

8. Venezuala owns citgo refineries.

The only Americans who profit are the owners of the individual gas stations. This oil wont flow through a US oil company.

[Say_What]

9. BUY CITGO!!!