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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Venezuela outsources |
| 2005-01-26 |
| Massively snipped; RTWT. On December 22,Venezuela enacted a law granting Cuban judicial and security forces extensive police powers within Venezuela. Under the new code, Cuban officials are allowed to investigate, seize, detain, and interrogate Venezuelans and Cubans living in the Bolivarian Republic. Suspects taken into Cuban custody in Venezuela could be extradited to the island and tried there without any assurance that they would be returned to Venezuela. The Venezuelan "government" hardly seems to qualify as such. Allowing officials in Mr. Castro's dictatorship authority to conduct police operations in Venezuela has raised concern that Venezuela is no longer safe for the 30,000 Cubans living there, especially members of the anti-Castro opposition. Ya think? Some 27,000 Cuban doctors, teachers, sports trainers, intelligence and police officers, and other workers are currently in Venezuela, sent by Mr. Castro to help Mr. Chävez replicate in his own country many of the social and political structures of the Cuban regime. The workers receive about $15 to $20 a month from the Cuban government. Well, it's better than being in Cuba. In exchange for the assistance Mr. Castro's regime has provided Mr. Chävez Cuba receives roughly 80,000 barrels of oil a day at significantly reduced prices and on very generous credit terms. In a setup very similar to one Castro enjoyed with the Soviet Union, a portion of the Venezuelan oil bypasses Cuba entirely and is resold immediately on the world market, with Mr. Castro pocketing the profits. Surprise, surprise. |
| Posted by:someone |
| #11 Damn Jimmy Carter. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2005-01-26 10:53:50 PM |
| #10 Hello, State Department? Can we have a moratorium on issuing visas to Muslims and get a bunch out real quick to the Cubans who need out of Venezuela Real Quick? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-01-26 10:23:14 PM |
| #9 I'd have Noriega call Hugo weekly |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-26 9:45:41 PM |
| #8 :-) use him as a feint, LOL |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-26 9:44:58 PM |
| #7 Frank, it needs someone who can pull that off, duh! |
| Posted by: Sobiesky 2005-01-26 9:43:40 PM |
| #6 maybe Mark Thatcher needs a new adventure? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-26 9:38:56 PM |
| #5 Exactly! That SOB can only go out one way: feet first! |
| Posted by: TMH 2005-01-26 9:27:34 PM |
| #4 .50 caliber coup needed - apply within |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-26 9:05:08 PM |
| #3 Cubans have been operating in Venezuela for a while now. We have Cuban "doctors", "PE trainers", "Tourism Instructors", etc. They are in every poor neighborhood indoctrinating people under the pretense of "helping" them. Ironically, Venezuelan employment rate is sky-high but apparently we need people from Cuba to perform those jobs. With this new "edict", Chavez just makes legal a situation that has been going on for over 4 years now. |
| Posted by: TMH 2005-01-26 8:46:10 PM |
| #2 Oil for People; clever idea. But when does the UN get its cut? |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-01-26 8:40:15 PM |
| #1 Interesting. Thanks, someone. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-01-26 8:39:51 PM |