Tom Kirkman + 8,860 May 21, 2020 From the very much leftist BBC. Note the total absence of any mention about Venezuela's Socialism creating the collapse of the country. Iran is portrayed as the knight in shining armor, coming to the rescue of the Socialist regime in Venezuela. Meanwhile, USA is portrayed as a big meanie. Venezuela's military to escort Iranian tankers bringing petrol The Venezuelan military will escort Iranian tankers delivering much-needed petrol to the country to prevent any attempt by the US to stop them. Five vessels are on the high seas and are due to arrive in the coming days. Venezuela's defence minister said they would be "welcomed" into its exclusive economic zone, which extends 370km (200 nautical miles) from its shores. The US, which has imposed sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, is reportedly considering steps to deter shipments. The US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, said the need to import petrol highlighted the mismanagement of Venezuela's oil industry by President Nicolás Maduro's government. Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, but production has plummeted in the last two decades and the country is in a deep economic crisis. The five Iranian tankers - Fortune, Forest, Petunia, Faxon and Clavel - are carrying about 1.5m barrels of fuel and passed through the Suez Canal earlier this month, according to shipping data on Refinitiv Eikon. "When they enter our exclusive economic zone, they will be escorted by Bolivarian National Armed Forces boats and planes to welcome them in and thank the Iranian people for their solidarity and co-operation," Venezuelan Defence Minister Gen Vladimir Padrino said on state television on Tuesday. Venezuela's permanent representative to the UN, Samuel Moncada, stressed that the tankers were "civilian vessels carrying vital goods for our people" and were "coming from a country that has engaged in legal trade with mine". "In the midst of a pandemic, forbidding those vessels from reaching our ports would thus constitute a crime against humanity," he told the UN Security Council. There have been severe shortages of petrol in recent weeks with people queuing for days to fill up their tanks. Iran has also warned that it will retaliate if the tankers are blocked. A flotilla of US Navy and Coast Guard vessels is patrolling the Caribbean Sea on a mission to counter illicit drug trafficking. But US officials have not announced any plan to stop the Iranian tankers. On Monday, the head of the US military's Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller, said he was following the Iran's shipments to Venezuela "with concern", but played down the possibility of a confrontation. "With respect to Venezuela, our focus has been to share intelligence, trying to figure out what Maduro and his cronies are up to," he said. ... @jose chalhoub 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickW + 2,714 NW May 21, 2020 9 minutes ago, Tom Kirkman said: From the very much leftist BBC. Note the total absence of any mention about Venezuela's Socialism creating the collapse of the country. Iran is portrayed as the knight in shining armor, coming to the rescue of the Socialist regime in Venezuela. Meanwhile, USA is portrayed as a big meanie. Venezuela's military to escort Iranian tankers bringing petrol The Venezuelan military will escort Iranian tankers delivering much-needed petrol to the country to prevent any attempt by the US to stop them. Five vessels are on the high seas and are due to arrive in the coming days. Venezuela's defence minister said they would be "welcomed" into its exclusive economic zone, which extends 370km (200 nautical miles) from its shores. The US, which has imposed sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, is reportedly considering steps to deter shipments. The US-backed Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, said the need to import petrol highlighted the mismanagement of Venezuela's oil industry by President Nicolás Maduro's government. Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, but production has plummeted in the last two decades and the country is in a deep economic crisis. The five Iranian tankers - Fortune, Forest, Petunia, Faxon and Clavel - are carrying about 1.5m barrels of fuel and passed through the Suez Canal earlier this month, according to shipping data on Refinitiv Eikon. "When they enter our exclusive economic zone, they will be escorted by Bolivarian National Armed Forces boats and planes to welcome them in and thank the Iranian people for their solidarity and co-operation," Venezuelan Defence Minister Gen Vladimir Padrino said on state television on Tuesday. Venezuela's permanent representative to the UN, Samuel Moncada, stressed that the tankers were "civilian vessels carrying vital goods for our people" and were "coming from a country that has engaged in legal trade with mine". "In the midst of a pandemic, forbidding those vessels from reaching our ports would thus constitute a crime against humanity," he told the UN Security Council. There have been severe shortages of petrol in recent weeks with people queuing for days to fill up their tanks. Iran has also warned that it will retaliate if the tankers are blocked. A flotilla of US Navy and Coast Guard vessels is patrolling the Caribbean Sea on a mission to counter illicit drug trafficking. But US officials have not announced any plan to stop the Iranian tankers. On Monday, the head of the US military's Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller, said he was following the Iran's shipments to Venezuela "with concern", but played down the possibility of a confrontation. "With respect to Venezuela, our focus has been to share intelligence, trying to figure out what Maduro and his cronies are up to," he said. ... @jose chalhoub Whatever the Pravda style reporting of the BBC (which I no longer pay a licence for) I don't see that the USA has any right to intervene in a trading arrangement between these two countries*. Sanctions are not a blockade. * of course I do see the Irony of the country with the worlds biggest reserves of oil having to import gasoline and diesel 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jose chalhoub + 388 May 21, 2020 thanks a lot for this. Here in Venezuela there's a growing anxiety for the deep shortage of gasoline in more than 2 months already with refineries not working and in a slow and uncertain process to restart the 2 main ones in the country while there's a wide black market for gasoline today with a liter sold for 1-2 or 3 dollars in a black business controlled by the armed and police forces. Even if people need gasoline urgently there's a sense that if the iranian vessels enter venezuelan waters this will give more breathing oxygen for Maduro to keep on power while the Trump administration if it allows these iranian ships into venezuelan ports will represent a big defeat for his administration unable to concrete the ousting of the Bolivarian Revolution facing enormous internal problems already. 4 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltz + 140 EW May 22, 2020 (edited) Jose, Que hubo? What is the word on the street down there about Guaido’s involvement with the recent disaster of an “invasion”? Among many other things, price controls for one, gasoline being smuggled into Venezuela because of shortages has to be the perfect example of arbitrage opportunities created by misguided government policy. How much money did Venezuela lose to smuggled fuel? Edited May 22, 2020 by waltz Spelling 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 May 22, 2020 Do these tankers sail anywhere close to the Bermuda Triangle? Plausible deniability....aliens did it....🤔 A new episode for the History Channel! 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piotr Berman + 82 May 22, 2020 Should USA side with freedom of navigation or with piracy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 May 22, 2020 I vote piracy! It seems to be in fashion and China claims the entire South China Sea and nobody seems to give a damn...why not? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Foote + 1,135 JF May 22, 2020 The Iranians must be doing better than we thought. One thing we know Venezuala can't do is pay this. What is the saying, misery loves company. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltz + 140 EW May 22, 2020 John, Vevezuela has shipped $500 million of gold to Iran recently, according to reports. Whether from their official reserves (Which have to down near five billion) or the Orinoco Arc I do not know. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Foote + 1,135 JF May 22, 2020 4 minutes ago, waltz said: John, Vevezuela has shipped $500 million of gold to Iran recently, according to reports. Whether from their official reserves (Which have to down near five billion) or the Orinoco Arc I do not know. Interesting, though I find it hard to believe they have it and would love the source. The rulers in VZ have pretty much stripped it for themselves. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltz + 140 EW May 23, 2020 https://ge.usembassy.gov/iranian-regime-profits-from-maduros-stolen-gold-may-11/ https://www.google.com/search?q=$500+million+venezuela+iran+gold&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichieRich216 + 454 RK May 23, 2020 We have U.S. Destroyers in waters, INK THE _UCKERS..... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 May 23, 2020 If these ships are full of gasoline, they should burn well and limit any environmental issues.... Just saying.... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jose chalhoub + 388 May 23, 2020 theres urgent need for gasoline in Venezuela and people here are between their need for gasoline and longing for any gamechanging event from Washington to stop these tankers from arriving. Personally i think nothing will happen and the tankers will arive without any skirmishes or armed intervention by the US Navy. 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old-Ruffneck + 1,177 er May 24, 2020 9 hours ago, jose chalhoub said: theres urgent need for gasoline in Venezuela and people here are between their need for gasoline and longing for any gamechanging event from Washington to stop these tankers from arriving. Personally i think nothing will happen and the tankers will arive without any skirmishes or armed intervention by the US Navy. Ex Prez Maduro seems to be root of the problems in Venz. The US should turn the tankers around and if no comply, as @Douglas Bucklandnot much mess afterward. Artificial reef !! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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