[doger5]

First time I've ever seen this! Got to thank Pat Roberts for this! Gave Chavez a chance make himself look good. :eek:

Venezuela offers fuel, food to hurricane-hit US Mon Aug 29, 7:56 PM ET

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez offered to send food and fuel to the United States after the powerful Hurricane Katrina pummeled the US south, ravaging US crude production.

The leftist leader, a frequent critic of the United States and a target himself of US disapproval, said Venezuela could send aid workers with drinking water, food and fuel to US communities hit by the hurricane.

"We place at the disposition of the people of the United States in the event of shortages -- we have drinking water, food, we can provide fuel," Chavez told reporters.

Chavez said fuel could be sent to the United States via a Citgo refinery that has not been affected by the hurricane. Citgo is owned by Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

In the Gulf of Mexico, which accounts for a quarter of total US oil output, 92 percent of crude and 83 percent of natural gas production were shut down due to Hurricane Katrina, which slammed Louisiana and Mississippi, according to US government data.

Venezuela is the fourth-largest provider of oil to the United States, supplying some 1.5 million barrels a day.

Last week, Chavez offered discount gasoline to poor Americans suffering from high oil prices and on Sunday offered free eye surgery for Americans without access to health care.

[Lucky]

Sounds pretty decent.

[Standing Wolf]

It's good to see another country offer to do the American thing.

[Shane333]

I'm not buying it for one second. Chavez doesn't do anything that doesn't directly benefit himself.

Firstly, I wouldn't touch any water sent to the US from Venezuela. Not unless you want ameobic disentary. Food? Same problem. No thanks.

Fuel? Sure, I'll take any he wants to send our way. I'm sure, however, that there are strings attached that we aren't hearing about.

Chavez is an evil tyranical dictator who hates every good thing the USA stands for.

[Cacique500]

Screw Chavez - we can handle this on our own thank you very much. :fire:

[feedthehogs]

Send fuel, leave the rest home.

Don't need to add dysentary to our problems.

[Mnemesyne]

IMHO let them help in whatever way they can...Heaven knows the US is always stepping up to the plate to help other countries in their time of need....

So Chavez might have alterior motives...at least it shows the guy still has a soul....motives or no, I'm still glad to see he's willing to help....esp after the comments by Robertson..

[scout26]

Firstly, I wouldn't touch any water sent to the US from Venezuela. Not unless you want ameobic disentary. Food? Same problem. No thanks.

As a guy who works in the transportation industry (specifically Air and Ocean Imports and alos with food imports). If you've eaten fresh fruits and veggies in the winter, then your eating South American produce. It still has to go through the USDA inspection process. Welcome to Globalization !!!

While I personally think that Chavez is a whack-job, it is a rather generous offer. Be nice to have some of our petro-dollars come back for our benefit.

(How do I sign up for the free laser correction surgery ???) :D

[R.H. Lee]

Damn decent offer. AND gasoline only cost 12 cents/gallon in his country. What's Senor Jorge W. Bush done for us lately?

[Bruce H]

Accept their offer. Thank them sincerely and get on with life.

[XLMiguel]

Bruce H
+1

It's a start, it takes two to have a dialog.

[GunGoBoom]

Wait a sec, I heard a talking head on teevee say that Pat R. is now alleging that he didn't at all mean to assassinate Chavez when he said "we should take him out". My question is, so what exactly does he claim that he did mean by that phrase? Is this Christian a liar too, in addition to calling for murder? Or neither one?

[scubie02]

I think he meant "take him out...to dinner" maybe...yeah, that's it...damn editors probably accidentally deleted that part

as far as the offer--once upon a time, people were gracious, and might just say "thank you" when somebody offers to help.

I personally wish to say that I would welcome his aid, and if he'd like to send a tanker of fuel and some inground tanks my way, I will accept all the aid he'd like to send...

[Sindawe]

A Socialist leader offers assistance to the US during a disaster of biblical proportions, and what is OUR leader doing?


http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050830/capt.capm10208301856.bush__capm102.jpg?x=380&y=325&sig=xlaGyc1Muc3K7iAJg1KmkA-- President Bush plays a guitar presented to him by Country Singer Mark Wills, right, backstage following his visit to Naval Base Coronado, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. Bush visited the base to deliver remarks on V-J Commemoration Day.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050830/480/capm10208301856

QUICK! Somebody get that man a crown of laurel leaves! (http://www.wiu.edu/users/muvck/laurel.htm)

[scubie02]

wow, that looks like an official presidential guitar...got the seal and everything...

[MechAg94]

I can't find that link on sites where I would think it would be posted. Can you post it?

[Marshall]

Sin, taking cheap shots huh? :rolleyes:

The Pres has treated this better and been more on top of this than any President I can remember, heck, he set things in place before the storm hit. I don't ever remember that being done before. He's received nothing but good praise on how he has handled this situation so far by all the media.

[Gillster]

Man and I was just tongue in cheek asked my wife this morning where the offers for international aide were. Now here comes a socialist to help. Yeah, I smell agenda but take the help anyway, you know we'd be sending it their way.


Chris

[Sindawe]

Citations Marshall?

Cake on Monday, guitars on Tuesday. Yep, thats on top of things. :rolleyes:

MechAg94: Sorry, shoulda cited the source. Fixed on edit.

[Shweboner]

His motives may simply be to sway U.S. public opinion.

Its hard to mess with a guy who is popular among the people.

Hell, look how many idiots came out of the woodwork claiming that Saddam was really a good guy...

Chavez offers oil, and aid that no one else is offering.

He may succeed.

[MechAg94]

MechAg94: Sorry, shoulda cited the source. Fixed on edit.

I guess I was talking to doger on a Link for the Venezuela article.

I don't care about your Bush bashing link. :) If he was playing a guitar in a photo op in D.C., would it make you feel better?
If he was personally directing the rescue effort, I would say he was a control freak and needs to delegate. He is doing fine on this from what I can see.

[Shane333]

Shweboner,

The guy really isn't loved by that many of his own people...more like feared.

[Titus]

Cake on Monday, guitars on Tuesday. Yep, thats on top of things.

Are you posting from New Orleans? Got any pictures of all the stuff you're cleaning up down there?