Tuesday - April 04, 2006

Madmen To The South Of Us

Let’s see .... Evil Master Plan #4: (1) yell ‘BOO!’ at the French oil companies then when the frogs panic, grab their oil fields; (2) take the oil profits and go shopping in Russia for military hardware to defend your country against an imaginary US invasion; (3) continue to spout drivel about the evil Americans in the hope that one day your face will replace that of Che Guevara on all those cool t-shirts. Yep! Sounds like a plan to me ...

Chavez Grabs Oil Field To Fund Anti-US Campaign
_{04/04/2006 11:33pm EDT}

(LONDON TELEGRAPH)—Venezuela’s president Hugo Chavez yesterday seized control of a French-run oil field, strengthening his control of the country’s vast oil wealth, the lifeblood of his “Bolivarian Revolution”.

Total SA confirmed from its Paris headquarters that the state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, “took control of our operations” during the weekend after it refused to turn the site over to a state-run joint venture.

Mr Chavez has decided to redefine the terms under which foreign companies can operate in Venezuela, which has the largest oil reserves outside of the Middle East.

The new terms state that the Venezuelan government must have a 60 per cent share in any venture. Sixteen companies have bowed to the demands by the president, among them BP and Shell, but Exxon Mobile, the world’s largest oil company, sold its interests instead.

Total and ENI, of Italy, have refused to sign accords, hence the seizure of Total’s concession. The Venezuelan government has said that both companies owe taxes and face being shut down.

Mr Chavez is using his oil windfall to promote a social reform programme, arms purchases and to engage in anti-US diplomacy, selling oil at below market rates to detach Latin American nations from Washington’s orbit.

Chavez Gets Russian Helicopters
_{April 4, 2006}

Venezuela (BBC)

Venezuela has taken delivery of three Russian-built military helicopters - the first of a total of 15 it has so far ordered from Moscow. President Hugo Chavez said they would help to protect Venezuela if the US ever mounted an invasion. Mr Chavez also repeated that he was ready to buy Russian fighter jets.

Washington has dismissed claims of a possible invasion as ridiculous and says Mr Chavez’s military purchases pose a threat to regional stability. A crowd of Russian and Venezuelan generals and diplomats was treated to an air show, displaying the strengths of the Russian-built helicopters. A group of around 20 parachutists jumped in formation out of the olive green MI-17 helicopters during Monday’s ceremony.

President Chavez said Venezuela’s latest purchases could be used to transport parachute troops quickly into combat. This would be ideal for a war of resistance, Mr Chavez said, a reference to his often repeated concerns that the US may want to invade Venezuela to seize its oil reserves. Army Commander Gen Raul Baduel said Venezuela planned to buy a total of 33 helicopters from Russia.

Venezuela has also agreed to buy a total of 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles from Russia. Mr Chavez also repeated his accusation that the US had blocked a deal to buy training aircraft from the Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer, because the Brazilian planes contained protected American technology.

“Nothing and nobody will stop us from making our country’s armed forces stronger,” he said, while stressing that Venezuela was not preparing to invade anybody. The BBC’s Greg Morsbach in Caracas says Mr Chavez’s words may do little to dispel fears in Washington that Venezuela is stepping up its arms expenditure and is upsetting the balance of power in Latin America.

Posted by The Skipper     on 04/04/2006 at 03:33 PM   
Filed Under: • International • Stoopid-People •  
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

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It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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