Comments on: Orinoco flow http://dittologica.net/2008/02/18/orinoco-flow/ alternate interpretations of ideas and events, past and present Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:42:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: egbert souse http://dittologica.net/2008/02/18/orinoco-flow/#comment-14 egbert souse Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:15:14 +0000 http://dittologica.net/?p=27#comment-14 Make that "Iranian" not "Iraqi" Make that “Iranian” not “Iraqi”

]]> By: egbert souse http://dittologica.net/2008/02/18/orinoco-flow/#comment-13 egbert souse Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:13:49 +0000 http://dittologica.net/?p=27#comment-13 As always, there's never an "on one hand, then on the other hand," never even a hint of objectivity. Whenever you cut to the chase, it's always "the US is bad, and everyone else is, at their worst, a little better (except Israel, of course)." It demonstrates a pervasive lack of objectivity. Of course everybody hates, or should hate, Exxon. Your point was carried years ago. How about something newer, fresher? Something like, say, "What's worse, a bunch of private oil robber-barons running roughshod over a country with an active free press and a vital electoral process, or a nationalized oil company whose director seeks to rule for life as he smiles triumphantly in photo-ops with Iraqi leaders with whom Sharia is tantamount to the rule of law? Bush is the Devil, sure enough, but--with the possible exception of Barack Obama--who the hell isn't? As always, there’s never an “on one hand, then on the other hand,” never even a hint of objectivity. Whenever you cut to the chase, it’s always “the US is bad, and everyone else is, at their worst, a little better (except Israel, of course).” It demonstrates a pervasive lack of objectivity. Of course everybody hates, or should hate, Exxon. Your point was carried years ago. How about something newer, fresher? Something like, say, “What’s worse, a bunch of private oil robber-barons running roughshod over a country with an active free press and a vital electoral process, or a nationalized oil company whose director seeks to rule for life as he smiles triumphantly in photo-ops with Iraqi leaders with whom Sharia is tantamount to the rule of law? Bush is the Devil, sure enough, but–with the possible exception of Barack Obama–who the hell isn’t?

]]> By: hermanrex http://dittologica.net/2008/02/18/orinoco-flow/#comment-12 hermanrex Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:08:50 +0000 http://dittologica.net/?p=27#comment-12 I remember a margarine ad from the late 70s or early 80s that had the pitch line "Its not nice to fool mother nature". What about "Its not nice to screw papa Exxon"? It does not surprise me to see Exxon play hardball. What do they have to lose? They will spend whatever it takes in legal fees, even if they never see a dime, just to screw Chavez. And I do think they will see a few dimes from this effort. But it is more interesting to take your logic a little farther. What if this is a quid-pro-quo between Exxon and the US government? Exxon sues PDVSA and takes the cost. What is their compensation? How about preferential treatment in any future Iraq petroleum law.... That should satisfy the conspiracy buffs. I do think Cheney and the neo-cons had plans for Iraq's oil from day one of Bush's reign. Iraq may hold smaller "ultimate" reserves than Venezuela, but there is still a large fraction of Iraq that has not been explored properly. And it will all be on land. And there will probably be a sizable US military presence there for a while. So, there are some advantages to Venezuela.... I remember a margarine ad from the late 70s or early 80s that had the pitch line “Its not nice to fool mother nature”. What about “Its not nice to screw papa Exxon”?

It does not surprise me to see Exxon play hardball. What do they have to lose? They will spend whatever it takes in legal fees, even if they never see a dime, just to screw Chavez. And I do think they will see a few dimes from this effort.

But it is more interesting to take your logic a little farther. What if this is a quid-pro-quo between Exxon and the US government? Exxon sues PDVSA and takes the cost. What is their compensation? How about preferential treatment in any future Iraq petroleum law…. That should satisfy the conspiracy buffs.

I do think Cheney and the neo-cons had plans for Iraq’s oil from day one of Bush’s reign. Iraq may hold smaller “ultimate” reserves than Venezuela, but there is still a large fraction of Iraq that has not been explored properly. And it will all be on land. And there will probably be a sizable US military presence there for a while. So, there are some advantages to Venezuela….

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