Chávez, Extending Control, Seizes Assets of Oil Contractors

[pete2]

CARACAS, Venezuela —President Hugo Chávez asserted greater control over the country’s energy industry on Friday by seizing the assets of some foreign and domestic oil contractors while his government grapples with a sharp decline in oil revenue and mounting debts...

The move points to a greater concentration of power by Mr. Chávez, who is busily exerting sway over key industries and political institutions during the economic crisis. In recent weeks, his government has also hounded top rivals, stripping the mayor of Caracas of financing for the city budget, while forcing another mayor, of Maracaibo, to seek asylum in Peru after he was confronted with corruption charges.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/wo...tml?ref=global

First bumping obama

[toxic avenger]

Good on him, they've f*cked Venezuelans over too long.

[Thac0man]

Its a vicious circle. The oil industry itself sees production fall off, so control is extended to subsidiary industries to bolster flaging state performance in the sector. But if past evidance is anything to go by that extension of control will lead to even greater inefficiency, not lower costs. The sort term gain of this is to negate the effects of production loss, not correct that core problem causing it. Long term though, it might only make things worse.

Through his international links Chavez has all the tools he needs for a good shake out to improve efficiency in the state oil sector. The only thing that is lacking it seems is political will.

[pete2]

Its a vicious circle. The oil industry itself sees production fall off, so control is extended to subsidiary industries to bolster flaging state performance in the sector. But if past evidance is anything to go by that extension of control will lead to even greater inefficiency, not lower costs. The sort term gain of this is to negate the effects of production loss, not correct that core problem causing it. Long term though, it might only make things worse.

Through his international links Chavez has all the tools he needs for a good shake out to improve efficiency in the state oil sector. The only thing that is lacking it seems is political will.

I agree, Chavez is out of control and must be stopped. The people he rules with an iron fist need to take note of the signs he is now a dictator.

[cactusflower]

I agree, Chavez is out of control and must be stopped. The people he rules with an iron fist need to take note of the signs he is now a dictator.

Would like to substantiate any of that with a teeny bit of evidence ?

[pete2]

Would like to substantiate any of that with a teeny bit of evidence ?

Hugo Chavez, Dictator of the Month June, 2005
Hugo Chavez Becoming a Dictator
No Holds Barred: Why does Obama smile at dictators? | Columnists | Jerusalem Post
Chavez to send troops to another rice-processing plant Monday - Politics Wire - News & Observer

[cactusflower]

Hugo Chavez, Dictator of the Month June, 2005
Hugo Chavez Becoming a Dictator
No Holds Barred: Why does Obama smile at dictators? | Columnists | Jerusalem Post
Chavez to send troops to another rice-processing plant Monday - Politics Wire - News & Observer

That's not evidence, its a collection of rabid right wing disinformation.
Not one of these "US friendly dictators" (Pinochet, for example) has made it onto your "dictator of the month" list although Chavez, a repeatedly democratically elected head of state, has.

Alphabetical by Dictator

[pete2]

That's not evidence, its a collection of rabid right wing disinformation.
Not one of these "US friendly dictators" (Pinochet, for example) has made it onto your "dictator of the month" list although Chavez, a repeatedly democratically elected head of state, has.

Alphabetical by Dictator

eh? I didn't refer to the list you have.

Pinochet was dictatorofthemonth.com's dictator of the month for May 2004! I don't like dictators from the left or the right.

[CookieMonster]

Good on him, they've f*cked Venezuelans over too long.

Yes, now it's time for Venezuelans to be f*cked over by their own.

A change, as they say, is as good as a rest.

[cactusflower]

eh? I didn't refer to the list you have.

Pinochet was dictatorofthemonth.com's dictator of the month for May 2004! I don't like dictators from the left or the right.

Including these lads:
COLONEL HUGO BANZER, President of Bolivia
FULGENCIO BATISTA, President of Cuba
SIR HASSANAL BOLKIAH, the Sultan of Brunei
P. W. BOTHA, President of South Africa
GENERAL HUMBERTO BRANCO, President of Brazil
VINICIO CEREZO, President of Guatemala
CHIANG KAI-SHEK, President of Taiwan
ROBERTO SUAZO CORDOVA, President of Honduras
ALFREDO CRISTIANI, President of El Salvador
NGO DINH DIEM, President of South Viet Nam
GENERAL SAMUEL DOE, President of Liberia
FRANÇOIS & JEAN CLAUDE DUVALIER, Presidents-for-Life of Haiti
GENERAL FRANCISCO FRANCO, President of Spain
ADOLF HITLER, Chancellor of Germany
HUSSAN II, King of Morocco
FERDINAND MARCOS, President of the Philippines
MAXIMILIANO HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ, General of El Salvador
MOBUTU SESE SEKO, President of Zaire
GENERAL MANUEL NORIEGA, Chief of Defense forces, Panama
TURGUT OZAL, Prime Minister of Turkey
MOHAMMAD REZA PAHLEVI, Shah of Iran, King of Kings
GEORGE PAPADOPOULOS, Prime Minister of Greece
PARK CHUNG HEE, President of South Korea
GENERAL AUGUSTO PINOCHET, President of Chile
GENERAL SITIVENI RABUKA, Commander, Armed Forces of Fiji
GENERAL EFRAIN RIOS MONT, President of Guatemala
ANTONIO DE OLIVEIRA SALAZAR, Prime Minister of Portugal
HALIE SELASSIE, Emperor of Ethiopia
IAN SMITH, Prime Minister of Rhodesia
ANASTASIO SOMOZA, SR. AND JR., Presidents of Nicaragua
ALFREDO STROESSNER, President-for-Life of Paraguay
GENERAL SUHARTO, President of Indonesia
RAFAEL LEONIDAS TRUJILLO, President of the Dominican Republic
GENERAL JORGE RAFAEL VIDELA, President of Argentina
MOHAMMED ZIA UL-HAQ, President of Pakistan

?

Why are you describing a democratically elected head of state as a dictator ?