Venezuela to nationalize U.S. firm's oil rigs

Originally posted by zeeblebot
not oil, oil rigs. mobile offshore drilling platforms.

Originally posted by no1marauder
If it makes you happy deliberately lying about the issue, so be it. Haliburton and other companies continue to operate in Venezuela without any major problems.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
For how long?

Any American company that continues to do business in Venezuela over a decade after Clown came to power deserves what it gets. It's like walking up to a beehive drenched in honey and complaining when you're stung. Clown is no more capable of reining in his tendency to go after American interests than bees are capable of reining in their tendency to go after honey.

Caveat emptor.

maybe they're covered by insurance. hopefully Lloyd's 🙂

Originally posted by no1marauder
As long as they follow the rules of the sovereign nation they are operating in. And as long as their presence is deemed beneficial by the elected leaders of that country. Weird idea these days I know.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
The reporter should report what happened, not write political pamphlets.

He should have simply said: "the latest takeover as president Hugo Chavez..."

There are many staunch capitalists who subscribe to (some) socialist ideals. We don't know Chavez' reasons.[/b]

Originally posted by no1marauder
Good fer him.

International Law allows nationalizations if compensation is paid. In prior cases, the Venezuelan government has always paid compensation though amounts have been disputed and the cases brought to the appropriate international forums.

So sorry Spruce; it ain't "stealing".

Originally posted by generalissimo
Which is precisely the case, the reporter reported what happened, I don't see how the way the article was phrased could lead any reasonable reader to believe it was a "political pamphlet".

[b]There are many staunch capitalists who subscribe to (some) socialist ideals
whats your point? this doesn't in any way validate chavez's actions.

We other caudillos, together with his rhetoric I think we can make a pretty educated guess.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
My point is that a Reuters reporter shouldn't be stating his political opinion in a news article. What if a Reuters reporter had written: "in a push for fascism, Congress signed the Patriot Act today..."?[/b]

Originally posted by generalissimo
Thats not a political opinion, thats a fact, if we're looking at the most basic principle behind a socialist economy that would be the public ownership of at least a considerable part of the private sector, something that chavez has been doing slowly but surely since he took power.

[b]What if a Reuters reporter had written: "in a push for fascism, C in a push for further government control..." I don't see why that would be reprehensible.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
It's not a fact. If it's true that, as my hypothesis is, Chavez is doing it to enrich himself and his friends on the short term, then it's clearly not a "push for socialism" and the Reuters reporter is lying.[/b]

Originally posted by no1marauder
On what evidence do you base such a hypothesis on?

Originally posted by zeeblebot
actually, it IS an option. probably the Venezuelan navy would stay out of it if the US navy came in to escort the rigs out. unless they had already occupied the rigs.

difficult to say if this US administration or even the previous one would send in the military.

i'd say the US would certainly be right to do so. suppose Venezuela tried to nationali ...[text shortened]... ck of payment for services rendered?

maybe the RHP Debates Bar has a different take on it.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
On the foolishness of this act - at least from the perspective of the common good for the people.