TRANSPARENCY SHOULD TRIGGER INTERESTING DEBATE
SHUDDERS ON WALL ST. AND WASHINGTON
You got to give it to Trump he really does say what he is thinking. Yesterday he said that that Venezuela took our oil and our lands and now they must give them back. I suspect 90 % of global countries that have a history of being on the wrong end of colonialism sat up straight at that one. I suspect that the neocolonialists in the UK, France and on Wall street are aghast at Trumps honest remark. Now we have to see what members of congress want to say about this, do any of them have any guts or will we hear a deafening silence. They may be in one of those lose, lose situations, you have got to love it.
We assume Trump is referring to the oil rights that were nationalized by Venezuela 20 year ago. Suits were filed and awards were won by oil companies and others, some received some money, Conoco Phillips was paid $2 Billion in 2024. Many of the awards were not paid.
Resource extraction of oil and minerals is a very expensive proposition, often taking a decade to produce a return. It is expected that long term contracts are a necessity, a contract is often advantageous for both the companies and the countries with the resources. I have no idea about these contracts, but those companies have a right to be compensated for their loss. Contracts for extraction are not a perpetual claim on the resources. We expect they have an expiration and then a new contract can be negotiated.
I expect that if Venezuela had access to markets, they could easily pay off the awards that they owe. It does seem that some would rather claim ownership of the resources rather than pay for them at market price.
Many of the disputes we see today starting with Iran and the overthrow of their elected government in 1953, Iraq's oil fields stripped and given to the British created Kuwait. The Libyan regime change operation were all about western countries lust for control of their oil. Russia's resources are looked at with envy by western countries. The reality is they would all gladly sell them as much oil as they want, but that is unacceptable, as they would grow prosperous, and that is never acceptable.
Trump's words yesterday will be echoed around the world, probably already has. It will raise the issue of colonialism in much of the world. If we remember in the last year we witnessed Ukraine selling the UK 100 year leases for their resources and control of their ports and infrastructure, colonialism pure and simple. No wonder the UK and France and others are so set on Ukraine prevailing, they will be able to intimidate Ukraine more easily than Russia.
John Bolton fretted that Trump ruined the hope of acquiring Greenland with his public comments. Has he now lite a bright light on the colonialism still being attempted around the world. He must really be stupid or?
There is no reason a negotiation can't be made for Venezuela to pay off the awards they owe. Of course, they will need to sell things to come up with the money, sounds like a reasonable solution to me.
President Trump has stated many times, America will no longer tolerate being ripped-off by other nations. We both know, by using the term America in this context, Trump is actually saying that you, me, and every other taxpaying citizen of this country has had ENOUGH of this robbery.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of actual American taxpayer could possibly disagree with the above stated policy? Or, object to measures put into place by the Trump Administration to level the playing field?
Amazingly, some of our local media, including bloggers, like O'Hare, Molovinsky, and others, are here still objecting to the implementation of programs to re-capture of our rightfully deserved income. Programs that can only strengthen America's wellbeing into the future.
Tariffs, restrictions on trade, taking back control over our borders, removing illegal contraband products, drugs, violent illegals sneaking in here to destroy our people and create chaos in our cities, are all designed to protect each one of us. Fail in executing this mission, we become like the now defeated England, France, and Germany.
This is NOT a time to play "I'm a Democrat, you're a Republican, so there!"
Our nation is under attack. A victory could take years. Those who refuse to see this, or keep themself willfully blind to facts surrounding this new kind of war being fought are not helping fellow and future Americans. I refer to such people as blockheaded partisans.
Again, Ray, I thank you for providing mature, reasoned commentary. Merry Christmas.
I believe that the answer to strengthening America is at home. Fiscal restraint, and responsibility. of course, border security and elimination fraud and corruption. I also believe that world has changed, we cannot control the changes by military intervention. It has broken our finances and has been ineffective. I hope that we can understand that the greatest threats to the country are right here at home. Thanks for your input.
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