Oil luring Bush to Africa?

[undergroundrailroad]

08/07/2003 19:26  - (SA)  



London - US President George W Bush is set to visit Africa to talk about Aids and try to settle the situation in Liberia, CNN reported.

But there may be one more issue on his agenda. Some are saying he's keen to further secure US oil supplies.

West Africa is producing about 4.5 million barrels of oil a day -a figure expected to rise to nearly 6 million by 2008, according to the Energy Intelligence Unit.

Nigeria, one of the five countries on Bush's itinerary, is the 13th largest oil producer in the world, pumping out 2.26 million barrels per day. The biggest supplier is the United States, with 9 million, ahead of Saudi Arabia with 8.83 million.

Oil luring Bush to Africa?

[acmavm]

1. Really? What a novel idea.

n/t

[roughsatori]

2. BINGO

I read a report how American oil companies "harvest" oil and in the process poison the drinking water and kill the live-stock and crops of the people living in various African countries. Did you hear the ridiculous thing Shrub said "the people who were traded into slavery helped free our country." They played it a few times on the Daily Show. Maybe he does not realize that slaves were executed when they they fought for freedom. He disgusts me.

[DrGonzoLives]

3. No way!

He's really, deeply concerned about all those poor dark-skinned fellas! He wants to help...free them from their oppressive oil! Er, leaders! Yeah, that's it, oppressive leaders that we and the USSR put into place.

[dfitzsim]

4. Oil is never far away from a Bush, but some of it is for local show

He has to pretend to be a "compassionate conservative" every now and again. There were a lot of Americans swayed by this claim in 2000. For anyone who has been paying attention, he has proven time and again that he doesn't give a rat's ass about the poor and disenfranchised. Now at the next presidential debate when questioned about his so-called compassion he can say, "My HIV program for Africa blah blah blah ... In 2003 I went there and was touched ... blah blah blah ..." and a significant number of people will believe that he really does care.

You'll note that the congo is not on his mind (which is surprising given the mineral wealth of the country) -- 3.3 million dead. The worst human disaster since WWII.

[Lefty48197]

5. There's one more reason too

It's even harder to ask him questions when he's on Safari, than when he's vacationing IN the USA.

[sam sarrha]

6. oil...

i read that we already get 25% of our oil from africa... i think something is up with the saudi's, if the shites deside to take over they will take revege on us and we will be up shite creek without any gas..... i think the big deal we made with them to raise the price of gas 5X in the 70's is about to fall thru,they arent going to get the money.. if they dont get their sweet deal... we get screwed.

[keek]

7. transcript of interview on BBC news- talking point

and excerpt of questions to James Oporia-Ekwaro from the Centre for Africa Public Policy Studies, and to Alex Vines, a former member of the United Nations panel of experts on Liberia and head of the Africa Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

"President Bush is repeating the same route made by former President Clinton. What is the policy behind this Presidential visit?


James Oporia-Ekwaro:
I think by my rating I would put it this way: 15% towards Africa, 85% mainly towards America. I think the main point about this visit is to play to the audience at home in view of next year's elections.


Duncan Kennedy:
As cynical as that?


James Oporia-Ekwaro:
Yes, I would say so. I take a look at what he has done. We are halfway now through the visit - what is new? The sum of $15 billion is being recycled since May - it's not new. Take the millennium challenge funds and so on - this has been there since March last year. So there has been really no new funding or no new commitments to Africa thus far - I think I can say that quite clearly.


Duncan Kennedy:
Alex do you share that view? We've got a couple of e-mails here saying - one anonymous caller from Egypt has said: why is the USA suddenly interested in Africa?

Do you share that view of James here?


Alex Vines:
Well no - Africa is increasing also it's strategic value to the United States. The three letter word - oil - is important here. The US already had started to try and diversify its oil supplies during the Clinton administration - this is a continuation of that and also you have the war against terrorism. Post September 11, countries in Africa become potentially much more strategic to the USA - the logic being that failing or failed states could be festering grounds for terrorism and that's an important issue for Mr Bush - that overarches every other priority in the Bush administration.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3050916.stm