Russians want to search for oil off Cuba

[babylonsister]

Russians want to search for oil off Cuba


Nov 23rd, 2008 | HAVANA -- Russian oil companies could soon begin searching for oil in deep Gulf of Mexico waters off Cuba, a top diplomat said just days before Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits the island.

Russian oil companies have "concrete projects" for drilling in Cuba's part of the gulf, said Mijail Kamynin, Russia's ambassador to Cuba, to the state-run business magazine Opciones.

Kamynin also said Russian companies would like to help build storage tanks for crude oil and to modernize Cuban pipelines, as well as play a role in Venezuelan efforts to refurbish a Soviet-era refinery in the port city of Cienfuegos, according the article published this weekend.

Medvedev comes to former Cold War ally Cuba on Thursday, part of a tour of Latin America to strengthen his country's economic and political ties in the region. Kamynin said trade between Russia and the island would top $400 million this year.

more...

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/business/2008/11/23/D94KPS101_cb_cuba_russia_oil/index.html

[Vincardog]

1. good for them. Can we move on now?

[babylonsister]

2. Huh? If you're not interested, there's really no need to respond, FYI. nt

[ThomWV]

10. I agree, and I wish them all the luck in the world finding oil out there

I certainly don't see any reason why they shouldn't look for oil there nor do I see where it is much of any of our business.

[Vincardog]

15. You got that right. Why should we care who drills for Cuba's oil?

[Turbineguy]

3. Will they be using

missiles?

[TomInTib]

4. They are lining up, aren't they?

Venezuela, China, and Russia.

All those years of our criminal, inhumane blockade, and Cuba has held firm.

[ben_meyers]

8. Blockade?

We got ships surrounding Cuba? Cuba has been able to trade with the rest of the entire world and the reports of their hardships are only U.S. propaganda. The only reason that some of their people try to come here is to get parts for their classic car collections.

[TomInTib]

12. I meant "embargo", but....

I was/am too wasted to think of the right word. Girlfriend reminded me of it.

We are planning on going to Cuba in Spring '09 (thru Mexico).

Right now, though, I'll take Cabo. The deals here are amazing. Americans are staying home, and I have a $700 suite for $80.

[lapfog_1]

5. They might be interested.

But with oil now at under $60/barrel, I bet this project goes on the back burner.

[JDPriestly]

6. Perfect location from which to listen to and observe our naval defenses

Had we handled our conflicts with Cuba better, we could be in the position that Russia is in now in terms of our relationship with Cuba. No matter who you are dealing with, there are ways to leverage your needs and theirs to get the best for both parties. American foreign policy needs to be based on negotiating rather than on bullying. It will get us a lot further.

[ThomWV]

11. That's a joke, right?

In case you haven't been informed just yet our naval defenses are based primarily on Submarines for one thing and for another we do our naval surveillance from space these days. We are no longer cavemen with sentries hiding in the tops of Palm trees sending back coded messages via the short wave every time a loaded tanker leaves port.

[JDPriestly]

13. I have no clue about military matters, so, of course, I'm being snide.

But I'm not joking about the need to have better relationships with our neighbors. If we can import all kinds of junk including the shoes on our feet from China which is a Communist country, why can't we trade normally with Cuba? Don't try to tell me it is because Cuba is Communist. We are good friends with quite a few Communist countries, not just China. That argument just does not wash. Our Cuba policy makes no sense. It is anachronistic.

Regardless who drills the oil in Cuba, some of it will end up in the U.S. Oil is fungible as Sarah Palin pointed out. As one who worked in the oil business for a short while, I am aware that oil from different areas is, of course, very different in terms of lead content and many other characteristics.

[pscot]

7. We're not likely to re-enact the Bay of Pigs

folly. On the other hand, the Monroe Doctrineisn't completely obsolete. Maybe we should learn to make nice with Fidel, pull our missiles out of Poland and politely tell the Russians to take a hike.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. This sounds like a project for Dr. Strangelove.

Fearsome Cuba threatening Miami with forced health care, black beans and rice, and great salsa music.

[Ikonoklast]

14. I say go for it.

The more self-sufficient in natural resources a sovereign nation becomes, the better it is for everyone.

Cuba and the United States will reconcile their differences one day, and we will all be wondering what the fuss was all about to begin with.

But first we have to admit to ourselves as a country that we have no right to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. I am sick to think of what this hemisphere could have looked like if we let those nations determine their own destiny, instead of United Fruit and the CIA.