The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Hazcat on March 19, 2010, 06:41:03 AM
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By THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Obama administration is poised to ban offshore oil drilling on the outer continental shelf until 2012 or beyond. Meanwhile, Russia is making a bold strategic leap to begin drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. While the United States attempts to shift gears to alternative fuels to battle the purported evils of carbon emissions, Russia will erect oil derricks off the Cuban coast.
Offshore oil production makes economic sense. It creates jobs and helps fulfill America's vast energy needs. It contributes to the gross domestic product and does not increase the trade deficit. Higher oil supply helps keep a lid on rising prices, and greater American production gives the United States more influence over the global market.
Drilling is also wildly popular with the public. A Pew Research Center poll from February showed 63 percent support for offshore drilling for oil and natural gas. Americans understand the fundamental points: The oil is there, and we need it. If we don't drill it out, we have to buy it from other countries. Last year, the U.S. government even helped Brazil underwrite offshore drilling in the Tupi oil field near Rio de Janeiro. The current price of oil makes drilling economically feasible, so why not let the private sector go ahead and get our oil?
The Obama administration, however, views energy policy through green eyeshades. Every aspect of its approach to energy is subordinated to radical environmental concerns. This unprecedented lack of balance is placing offshore oil resources off-limits. The O Force would prefer the country shift its energy production to alternative sources, such as nuclear, solar and wind power. In theory, there's nothing wrong with that, in the long run, assuming technology can catch up to demand. But we have not yet reached the green utopia, we won't get there anytime soon, and America needs more oil now.
Russia more sensibly views energy primarily as a strategic resource. Energy is critical to Russia's economy, as fuel and as a source of profit through export. Russia also has used energy as a coercive diplomatic tool, shutting off natural gas piped to Eastern Europe in the middle of winter to make a point about how dependent the countries are that do business with the Russians.
Now Russia is using oil exploration to establish a new presence in the Western Hemisphere. It recently concluded four contracts securing oil-exploration rights in Cuba's economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. A Russian-Cuban joint partnership will exploit oil found in the deep waters of the Gulf.
Cuba has rights to the area in which drilling will be conducted under an agreement the Carter administration recognized. From Russia's perspective, this is another way to gain leverage inside what traditionally has been America's sphere of influence. It may not be as dramatic as the Soviet Union attempting to use Cuba as a missile platform, but in the energy wars, the message is the same. Russia is projecting power into the Western Hemisphere while the United States retreats. The world will not tolerate a superpower that acts like a sidekick much longer.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/18/obama-surrenders-gulf-oil-to-moscow/
Comments at link
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The world will not tolerate a superpower that acts like a sidekick much longer.
If the world can just hold out for another two years and a few months, we'll fix that for 'em.
I continue to weep for my nation.
Crusader
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So basically, we are not allowed to drill for our own oil, but Russian can come over and drill for our oil??? Lets be clear, weather you tap into it from Texas, or Cuba, you are tapping the same reserve. (at least according to the USGS) So how long before Russia starts sneaking short range missles into Cuba and claiming they are drilling parts. Obummer and clan will look the other way, because How dare we stand up to anyone.
Just a thought...In times of crisis, when our national security is at risk. Can someone like the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs relieve Obummer of command? Because we all know how well bowing and ass kissing works. >:(
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Another Obama WTF moment.......... seems to be a recurring trend. >:( >:( >:(
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Another Obama WTF moment.......... seems to be a recurring trend. >:( >:( >:(
bho's whole life is one giant WTF moment! >:(
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So basically, we are not allowed to drill for our own oil, but Russian can come over and drill for our oil??? Lets be clear, weather you tap into it from Texas, or Cuba, you are tapping the same reserve. (at least according to the USGS) So how long before Russia starts sneaking short range missles into Cuba and claiming they are drilling parts. Obummer and clan will look the other way, because How dare we stand up to anyone.
Just a thought...In times of crisis, when our national security is at risk. Can someone like the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs relieve Obummer of command? Because we all know how well bowing and ass kissing works. >:(
A purely technical note. Cuba, and any other nation, can drill out to two hundred nautical miles of it's coastline under UNLOSIII (UN Law of the Sea Treaty III). This also includes fishing rights and ?ostensibly? some degree of soveriegnty, but for obvious resons of geography these are touchy issues. So yeah, Cuba can lease drilling rights to Russia. Of course, we can drill as well. The 12 mile limit is more cocrete, but its like Iraq and Kuwait. Two nations, one oilfield.
FQ13
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A purely technical note. Cuba, and any other nation, can drill out to two hundred nautical miles of it's coastline under UNLOSIII (UN Law of the Sea Treaty III). This also includes fishing rights and ?ostensibly? some degree of soveriegnty, but for obvious resons of geography these are touchy issues. So yeah, Cuba can lease drilling rights to Russia. Of course, we can drill as well. The 12 mile limit is more cocrete, but its like Iraq and Kuwait. Two nations, one oilfield.
FQ13
I know that you are in the permanent duck and cover, but apparently my point went completely over your head. Let me use little words here. This basically means that Cuba is allowing Russia to drill OUR OWN oil and sell it back to us. Think about it like this, If I have a dairy cow, this would be like you paying my neighbor for the right ti milk my cow, and then turning around and selling the milk to me.
But the bigger issue is this, Putin has spouted off many times that he wants to rebuild the old Soviet empire. So if we have Russian equipment coming in and out of Cuba constantly, whats to stop him from slipping in a few missiles? The dictators of the world are not as stupid as we like to think. They know our dear leader is weak, and they WILL exploit that. And living in Florida, I would think a move like this would scare the liberalism right out of you.
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I know that you are in the permanent duck and cover, but apparently my point went completely over your head. Let me use little words here. This basically means that Cuba is allowing Russia to drill OUR OWN oil and sell it back to us. Think about it like this, If I have a dairy cow, this would be like you paying my neighbor for the right ti milk my cow, and then turning around and selling the milk to me.
But the bigger issue is this, Putin has spouted off many times that he wants to rebuild the old Soviet empire. So if we have Russian equipment coming in and out of Cuba constantly, whats to stop him from slipping in a few missiles? The dictators of the world are not as stupid as we like to think. They know our dear leader is weak, and they WILL exploit that. And living in Florida, I would think a move like this would scare the liberalism right out of you.
Actualy, I think mine went over yours, note the preface "just a technical note". It seemed you were claiming its our oil. It is. And its theirs too legally speaking, as long as its not inside of the 12 mile limit of each other's waters and within 200 miles. Look at it like North Sea oil. Several Eropean nations can build platforms. Its just a question of who gets there the first with the most, gets the lion's share. I agree that it should be us, but the isea of a sole propietary claim doesn't hold water.
FQ13
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I believe what he is saying FQ is that why don't we drill for it and use it rather than buying it from them. It is the same oil, and we can have it for the drilling and pumping rather than paying for it.
Take JC5123's milk cow example and move it back to the 19th century open ranges, and you will understand his use of ownership.
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I believe what he is saying FQ is that why don't we drill for it and use it rather than buying it from them. It is the same oil, and we can have it for the drilling and pumping rather than paying for it.
Take JC5123's milk cow example and move it back to the 19th century open ranges, and you will understand his use of ownership.
And I agree with you both. I was just stating exactly what you said. It is essentially "the commons" out there. Useit before the other guy does. At least the Russians are doing us one big favor though. It should serve to shut up the greens. Do you really trust the Russians, operating half a world away to give a rat's ass about oil spills, or pay if sued in US courts? Or would you rather have US companies that have a pretty good track record in La. do the job? We can underbid Russia here as well if we can drop the stupid damned Cuban embargo. Now that Russia want's hard currency (or oil concessions in this case), we can mke a better deal based on logistics alone and get all US platforms, albeit some producing for Cuba, but still ours, drilling the field. Yes I know, Castro's evil blah,blah, blah. But you rather deal with the Cubans or the ragheads? At least the cubans won't use suicide bombers. If they get pissed at us they'll just move to Miami. ;D :o
FQ13
FQ13
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bho's whole life is one giant WTF moment! >:(
If I had the trophy...........
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Where's the construction of wind farms, the solar array in the middle of the deserts, the nuclear plants, how about an additional refinery? ANWR? Nope,......... we just keep on paying more for other countries oil.....that control the strings for the American consumer puppet.
Shale deposits in the mid west contain vast oil reserves. Notice the price at the pump lately????? We just keep on taking the leash with these clowns.
That hope & change is doing really well..... >:(
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The area to be drilled was given to Cuba by international agreement. Now they may have gotten more than they should have, but that was done several administrations ago. So...Cuba has a right to let whoever they want drill their oil.
Heaven forbid it would be Exxon or Chevron...and that they might make billions on it to bring back to be taxed on and that would make them very, very bad companies to exploit "the people" like that by making money. Now it is going where it belongs...to Mother Russia.
Good riddance and lets get rid of all of those bad old US oil companies like Gulf Oil, Amocco, Texaco, Mobil...oh wait, they are gone...they died off and were bought out. Now there are only the bad old US oil companies like Exxon and BP and Shell and Total and Chevron and Fina and...oh wait...only Exxon and Chevron are US companies...those other companies bring their dollars to European countries. So when the European companies like BP and Shell make billions in the middle east or Africa or the Pacific rim...those billions are not owned by the EVIL US companies we love to punish so much because they provide jobs and taxes...they go to those other countries that love us so much where we don't have jobs or collect taxes.....
Point is, why can't US companies go overseas and drill and pump the oil and make billions on it to come back here...why punish them out of existance so "MOTHER RUSSIA" can do it for us? The Chicago Oil traders (thank you for allowing the commodities market for crude oil comrade Clinton) have more to do with the oil price by far than the oil companies and just less than the countries that own the oil that is pumped out and transported over here.
I hope everyone is happy that BP, Shell, Fina, Total and the like siphon our money back to Europe and that there are so many of the BAD OLD EVIL US OIL COMPANIES in the trash bin of history because they....gasp...made money.