Million-Barrel Pledge Both Helpful and Political

By Paul Blustein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 8, 2005; Page D06

Never mind his terrible relations with the Bush administration and the Rev. Pat Robertson's recent call for his assassination.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he is shipping boatloads of extra gasoline to the U.S. market to help soften the impact of Hurricane Katrina -- and U.S. officials can only grit their teeth over the propaganda points he is scoring.

In a statement issued yesterday, Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuela's ambassador to Washington, spelled out the amounts and timing of the shipments: In the coming month, the state-owned oil company will deliver nearly 1 million barrels of gasoline, in addition to the 1.2 million scheduled, to Citgo Petroleum Corp., the U.S. refining and distribution firm that Venezuela bought in 1990. The fuel will be taken from storage and diverted from other customers.

"Venezuela is privileged to be able to help the United States in this time of need," Alvarez said. "We see ourselves as a compassionate people and hope that our efforts will help cope with current market needs of the U.S. for gasoline, and provide some immediate relief to the victims of this horrific natural disaster."


Linky:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR2005090702235.html