China, Canada seek crude off Cuba, but not US (AFP)

(Funny how ReThugs suddenly get concerned about Off-shore Oil drilling when they are locked out of the party.)

China, Canada seek crude off Cuba, but not US

12/05/2006 03h11

HAVANA (AFP) - China will send 12 hi-tech rigs to drill for oil in Cuban waters of the Gulf of Mexico, officials have confirmed, irking US lawmakers that US firms cannot prospect in nearby US waters. Cuba has stepped up work on a total of 36 new oil wells with Chinese companies and Canada's Sherritt, about four kilometers (2.5 miles) off the north coast, officials said privately.

The communist Cuban government is generally tight-lipped about oil matters but this week has been more public. The party newspaper, Granma, gave uncharacteristic front page play to news of the well, drilled to a record depth for Cuba, near Varadero east of Havana. And diplomatic sources on Thursday said that India's ONGC Videsh and Norway's Norsk Hydro would join forces with Spain's Repsol to seek crude in the Gulf of Mexico.

That news came as US lawmakers, with oil prices soaring, grumbled ever more loudly about rivals prospecting in Cuban waters while US environmental laws make it all but impossible for US firms to do so in nearby US waters, even as the US embargo locks them out of Cuba.

In Washington Thursday, two Republican US lawmakers submitted a bill that would in effect ease the US economic embargo by allowing US firms to operate in Cuban waters. "The American public would be shocked and stunned that as this country faces a serious energy crisis at home, countries like China, India, Canada, Spain and Norway are exploring and drilling 50 miles off the US coast," said Republican US Senator Larry Craig of Idaho.

(more at link)

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060512014824.9ng1prfd.html>

making deals with Chavez etc...

:rofl:

That they don't need us that much anymore.

and finding out that we've lost our superpower status. In fact, the only reason we still function as a superpower is some combination of historical inertia and our military power. Economically and politically, we already profile like Argentina.

you guys can't drill there, we have an embargo. What's that: you say you don't care! OK, you are all al Quida so there>

:kick:

The Chinese tankers fill up with oil. They hang big banners on the side of the ships, so they're visible to the US as they sail home.

"1,000,000 gallons"
"980,000 gallons" HA HA

The Chinese put on little shows on the deck for the angry Americans, as they sail by.

I can just see the Repubs heads explode.

One of the many reasons for Chretien and Martin's trade delegations.

:kick: