Carnal Reason

According to Investor’s Business Daily, Venezuela sends 90,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba. IBD estimates the value of the oil at a billion dollars annually. What does Venezuela receive in return?

He’s [Chavez] so afraid of potential rebellions that some observers believe his real game is to set up a safe place in Havana for Venezuela’s biggest money centers — oil and banking. That in turn would keep cash within his access. No people-power revolution can reach this money in Havana.

So, if there’s a revolt in the restive oil fields of western Venezuela or in Caracas, money will still be accessible to Chavez’s political machine, far from the hands of his democratic opponents.

Venezuelan cash in Havana also props up Castro. Ironically, this oil alliance will likely serve to entrench both leaders. That in turn will free them to take up more predatory practices around the region. A long shadow of tyranny over the Americas looks to be lengthening.

This seems hard to believe, given that Hugo has said that “Being rich is bad, it’s bad”. Maybe it’s just bad for other people.

Posted on May 21st, 2005 by pwyll
Filed under: Cuba, politics