Reply #36: Completely empty threat.. [View All]

"Venezuela would stop oil to U.S. if invaded -Chavez"

If Venezuela were invaded by the US, it would lose it's oil production facilities in the first hours.

The US would seize everything having to do with oil production, refining and exporting in the first phase of any invasion to prevent any damage or intentional sabatage.

My guess is that Chavez is preparing for the National Electoral Council to reject as invalid the signatures gathered for the national referendum which could end his rule. If and when that occurs, which I believe I've read could be as early as next week, it could spark the beginning of a violent civil war in that country.

The opposition to Chavez is claiming that his cronies on the Council are doing everything they can do to prevent the referendum. Last I heard James Carville was helping the opposition unify and oust Chavez by attacking the economy rather than Chavez personally.

If the Council rejects the referendum, Chavez probably assumes the US will claim he manipulated events to thwart the referendum. If that does indeed happen, Chavez may believe the US will intervene in Venezuela directly with military forces - which may be correct.

I think Chavez is on thin ice. I suspect a majority of the people in Venezuela are tired of Chavez and would vote him out. I can only guess that he is a hero to some on DU because he is quasi-marxist Castro apologist.

All Chavez's bluster aside, if the US really invaded they would topple Chavez in hours. What segments of the Venezuelan military remained loyal to Chavez would be crushed rather quickly.

Saying that, even if the US enjoyed temporary support in Venezuela for getting rid of Chavez, it would still cause more damage than it is worth unless Chavez can be proven to have manipulated the referendum process and the world community joins the US - which is unlikely to happen. Unless a real threat to the US is present, America should keep its nose out of other nations affairs as much as possible.

Still though, Chavez is a thug in my opinion, I am glad Carville has assisted the opposition, and I suspect Mr. Chavez will be out of power sooner rather than later, one way or another.

Imajika

edited for spelling