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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Breaking: Venezuela signature Validation is imploding |
| 2004-06-02 |
| EFL Daniel Duquenal from V-Crisis. This not getting much coverage, but it looks as if the world’s #5 ranked oil producer might stop production for a while due to total political chaos. For the near term your gasoline budget is in the hands of Jimmy Carter. Monday 31, May 2004 - In an astounding development, Ezequiel Zamora, the vice president of the Electoral board, CNE, went solo for a very strong and delicate series of declarations and statements. Briefly summarized. 1) He has tried to obtain a meeting of the Board all through the day. Apparently it has been impossible, to the point that he decided to go solo at 6 PM. It is inconceivable that on a post election day the CNE cannot manage to gather. What explanation will give the three pro Chavez rectors? One could be missing, but three? 2) He has been deliberately lied to when he asked for the data as to how the signature validation process was going on. When finally they had to give in and give in the data they cut off his PC terminal on his office alleging some "programming problem". 3) He has stated that there is no way that a change in the rules will take place. This if course is an indirect acknowledgment of the buzz today as to an attempt once more by the pro Chavez rectors to modify the previous regulations to allow them to yet, again, modify the final results. This could be seen coming this way after the disgraceful presentation of Carrasquero, the president of the CNE yesterday. 4) To a journalist question as to rumors that the "validation books" were delayed in their arrival to the CNE because they were going first through Tiuna Fort (the military headquarters of the pro-Chavez factions within the Army) for appropriate doctoring, he told that if that were true then the CNE had no more business to do and could close shop. He promised to personally investigate after saying "I certainly hope that this is not happening". 5) He finished his declaration saying to the journalists that "if another rector dares to come here to make a rebuttal of my words, please wait for me, I will be right back". A definitive gauntlet to the pro Chavez majority. Is the CNE finally reaching the implosion point? This show makes Florida look like Diner Theater. I wish CSPAN would do a special on their legislature. It would be entertaining even without a translation. Evidently Jimmy Carter is doing some good work there. From a different post: Alejandro Armas ratifies that the counting is not proceeding, that the validation books are in Tiuna Fort and that is why Rodriguez did not want the journalists go to the counting room. He also confirmed that indeed today there was a meeting to discuss a "change" in the rules approved BEFORE the validation process. And that is why Zamora was not invited. Imagine that! |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #15 There are an awful lot of anti-Chavez folks in Venezuela who could take over the government when/if he steps down. In fact I think the vast majority of the country at this point. So Chavez goes to the hills the new government of Venezuela can deal with him. There is also the assumption that Chavez could make it into the hills. Norega didn't get that far. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-06-02 7:06:03 PM |
| #14 why is the Administration not pushing ANWAR development? ANWAR aint a solution. The USGS has recently produced a very good report on the potential for ANWAR ( I didn't save the link so you will have to Google it) and an interesting titbit is that on the (much larger) Canadian side of the border none of the oil discoveries have been brought to production, which indicates to me that the economics of the oil is problematic. |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-06-02 6:17:24 PM |
| #13 Mojo knows. No it's not raining. |
| Posted by: LBJ 2004-06-02 6:12:11 PM |
| #12 Sloppy, boys. Very sloppy. Old LBJ coulda shown these guys a thing or two about fixing an election. Or (the original) Mayor Daley. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-06-02 4:53:57 PM |
| #11 If Chavez falls, Castro will be in a bad spot unless another Latin American sugar daddy steps in ... or the PRC. Maybe Soros would be interested. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-06-02 2:47:02 PM |
| #10 Agreed, Lucky - they should've fought that to win. Now's the time to take it to the Donks: "Do you, or don't you, support energy independence and security over barren ground and icefields?" Do it hard and loud and MAKE THEM VOTE ON IT |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-02 1:04:44 PM |
| #9 "he's had a while to absorb all the Cuban "advice" he's getting." Not just from Cuba alone but also from some of his muslim brothers. www.soberania.info IP 194.109.209.222 www.albasrah.net IP 194.109.209.222 www.nodo50.org IP 194.109.209.222 Soberania.info is a site financed by the Venezuela Government,although they claim not to. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-06-02 12:53:22 PM |
| #8 Frank, If GW would have, through war powers, had just gone ahead and allowed the development. That oil would be close to production by now. He did bring it up a few days ago but he needs to get shrill about it. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-06-02 12:44:19 PM |
| #7 ... but Venezuela could be invaded on a Friday and our troops could be out and the oil flowing by Monday night football. Don't bet on it. Chavez has some very loyal followers, and he's had a while to absorb all the Cuban "advice" he's getting. He and his minions would head for the hills and conduct a guerilla war with emphasis on sabotaging the oil facilities. Those facilities might well be rigged for explosions right now. And our dear friends on the LLL, including the Dhims, AI, HRW, the media, etc, would out-and-out fry us if we tried it. I'm not sure GWB wants that kind of heat right now. Far better if Venezuela implodes quietly, and some smart, well-bred and =ahem= supported figure picks up the reins of power. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-06-02 12:25:21 PM |
| #6 why is the Administration not pushing ANWAR development? Let the Donks vote it down, payback will come in ads noting just which party (again) is forcing alternate gas days and rationing. Thanks again Jimmuh (the worst president,ever) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-02 12:21:56 PM |
| #5 Guys, that is an old article. Chavez is beginning to face up to the music. The referendum will go. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-06-02 12:10:20 PM |
| #4 The best course of action would be to get the Mexican government to step up and talk to Chavez. Keep the gringos out of the situation totally. With a legitimate government in Venezuela, the combination of Mexico and Venezuela could do a lot to keep the peace and prosperity in Latin America. If they want the Yanks to stay away they better take some responsibility for their neighbors. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-06-02 11:03:01 AM |
| #3 Back in the old days, when Mexico was gonna default on loans and risk the global economy, the great powers invaded. If things get bad the US could always do the same and remove Chavez. After all he's subverting the democratic process. Not that I support that course of action at this point, but Venezuela could be invaded on a Friday and our troops could be out and the oil flowing by Monday night football. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-06-02 11:01:01 AM |
| #2 I read somewhere, forgive me, the links elude me, that Mexico and Russia were going to up their production. Not enough to cover the Soddy's, but it's something. |
| Posted by: AllahHateMe 2004-06-02 10:49:46 AM |
| #1 Venezuela fizzing, Saudi at risk of anarchy any week, Iraq far from capacity, and al Qaeda declaring war on the oil industry. It seems we're running along the cusp of a global economic disaster. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-06-02 9:20:36 AM |