Hey Mike, keep "rambling"--great post, IMO. This guy Chavez sounds like the nationalistic, anti-west leaders of the late 60's through the 70's in the ME; namely, Nassar of Egypt, (Suez canal, remember?), Quaddafi (nationalization of Bunker Hunt's holdings, 50% of ENI (Italy's national oil co) in Libya, 1973), of course, Sadam Hussein (who was anti-western long before Kuwait), and Iran's revolution against the Shah. (Heck, the Shah himself was somewhat anti-western...which didn't do him any good in his time of need.) Think Chavez can pull OPEC together like Yamani, or before him, Tariki? Certainly as you say, a vaccum of ideas...here in the US; 'mo money ain't going to do it for most people, that is, the people in the oil producing regions. Calm before a storm?
Pete |
