It has been suggested that America may now resemble an Oil Company with an Army, which DJT wants to rename the "Department of War.". Do you agree? Query: shall thinking people now consider DJT for nomination for the "Quockerwodger and Snollygoster Peace Prize?" You tell me. From The Hill:
Trump says he tipped off oil companies on Venezuela attack
President Trump said Sunday that he spoke to oil companies ahead of the operation in Venezuela and claimed they’re eager to revitalize the industry in the South American nation.
Reporters on Air Force One asked the president if he spoke to American oil companies to tip them off before U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.
Trump nodded and said he spoke to the companies “before and after” the operation.
“And they want to go in, and they’re going to do a great job for the people of Venezuela, and they’re going to represent us well,” Trump continued.
Trump signaled Saturday that his desire to take over the Venezuelan oil industry played a role in his decision to greenlight the operation to capture Maduro.
He said American companies would be able to tap into the country’s significant oil reserves, telling reporters, “We’re going to be taking out a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground.”
Chevron remains the only large oil company operating in Venezuela, after other major international operators were forced out of the country in the early 2000s, when then-President Hugo Chávez took steps to deepen the nationalization of the oil industry. Today, Venezuela has the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, accounting for 17 percent of global reserves, but it produces less than 1 percent of the world’s oil supply, the AP reported.
“Chevron remains focused on the safety and wellbeing of our employees, as well as the integrity of our assets. We continue to operate in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations,” Chevron spokesperson Bill Turenne told the AP.
As the president announced the U.S. would take charge in Venezuela for the foreseeable future, he justified the cost of such a move by pointing to the oil reserves.
“It won’t cost us anything, because the money coming out of the ground is very substantial,” Trump said, adding, “We’re going to get reimbursed for everything that we spend.”
Experts are warning that revitalizing the oil industry could take years and significant financial investments, after the country faced years of neglect and international sanctions, The Associated Press reported. But others have said they’re optimistic Venezuela could more than double its current output of oil and return to its historic levels.
Trump, on Sunday, acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“The infrastructure is rusty, rotten. Most of it unusable. It’s old, it’s broken. You see pipes laying all over the ground. Nothing’s been invested for years,” Trump said.
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