Commentary from George E. Pataki on Citgo
By George Pataki November 16, 2009Region: South and Central America
Topics: Bipartisanship, Energy Independence
A secret Israeli intelligence report recently obtained by the Associated Press states that Venezuela is supplying uranium to Iran for its nuclear program. These actions pose a clear and present strategic threat to not just Israeli but also to America’s national security.
Unfortunately, this is the latest in a long and growing body of evidence that points to the serious dangers posed by Venezuelan strong man Hugo Chavez. Yet President Obama – after a grinning photo op with the Venezuelan dictator – stated, “It’s unlikely that as a consequence of me shaking hands or having a polite conversation with Mr. Chavez that we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States.”
President Obama is wrong. There is a consequence and he should understand possibly better than any modern president the importance of symbolism and the message that such a photo sends to our friends and foes around the globe.
Beyond the symbolism, however, there are clear causes for concern. Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela is today the third largest supplier of oil to the United States and he uses his petro-billions to support terror, to subvert democracy, to buy advanced weapons systems and to destabilize governments throughout South America.
Hugo Chavez fashions himself as a 21st Century Fidel Castro with one tremendous distinction: oil. Chavez makes billions from CITGO, the Venezuelan-owned oil company. Venezuela took full control of the oil company in 1990. When Chavez took power in 1999 he began replacing its directors with loyalists who have allowed him to use its profits to underwrite his radical agenda ever since.
Unfortunately, our own crippling reliance on petroleum has meant that American consumers have been unknowingly supporting Chavez’s activities. Every day when we fill up our gas tanks at CITGO we are helping to finance his regime of terror.
When Americans fill up at CITGO, we help Chavez extend his support to Middle East terrorist allies in Hezbollah and Hamas.
When we fill up at CITGO, Chavez buys more sophisticated weapon systems from the Chinese and Russians.
And when Americans fill up at CITGO, we are essentially conspiring with Chavez to undermine the Columbian government by providing resources to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which engages in bombings, kidnappings, extortion, assassination and the drug trade.
President Obama, it is clear that our “strategic interests” are endangered by Hugo Chavez and that is why we must take immediate strong action to curb his influence.
We must work to stop the flow of petro-billions to Chavez. My belief is that we should pass federal legislation to turn off the CITGO spigot. Federal law should prohibit United States oil refineries or distributor companies that have a majority of their ownership in the hands of a foreign government from owning rolling stock, refineries and retail petroleum establishments in the United States. This would force Chavez to divest his CITGO assets in the United States, depriving him of profits and legitimacy here at home.
Let me make one point clear. CITGO’s stations in the United States are owned and operated largely by Americans – our friends, neighbors and local business leaders. We seek them no harm. Their company’s corporate boardroom wasn’t always in the grip of an anti-American dictator, and CITGO is better off without him.
Second, Congress should act swiftly to enact the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Colombia is a strong democracy one of the most reliable U.S. allies in the region, and their cooperation is critical to U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking. The failure to approve the agreement simply strengthens Hugo Chavez and Venezuela.
The three-page Israeli report concludes that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is trying to undermine the United States by supporting Iran. The Israelis understand the threat. The world understands the threat. It’s time the Obama Administration and Washington understand as well and take action.
George E. Pataki, former Governor of New York State, serves as Vice Chairman of the American Security Council Foundation and Chairman of Project Independence.
