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Guest Commentary April 25, 2002
Oil Distorts U.S. Foreign Policy
The Honorable Marcy Kaptur
The recent events in Venezuela have given the American people yet another example of the way that oil distorts U.S. foreign policy. Most Americans do not realize it, but Venezuela is a crucial supplier of oil to the United States. According to the CIA, petroleum dominates the Venezuelan economy, accounting for approximately one-third of its economy and 80 percent of its export earnings. In fact, Venezuela ranks third on the list of countries that provide with us petroleum, approximately 1.5 million barrels every day, or more than half of its total production.
Stanley Weiss, founder and chairman of Business Executives for National Security, a nonpartisan organization of business leaders, wrote recently in the Los Angeles Times that the United States imports twice as much oil from Canada and Venezuela as it does from the Persian Gulf. And Venezuela is particularly important as a source of reformulated gasoline, which is required in many American cities that are struggling to meet USEPA emission standards for clean air.
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Every time an American citizen pulls up to a Citgo gas pump, they are pumping dollars into the Venezuelan national oil company known as Pedevesa. And it was labor unrest at the Pedevesa facilities throughout Venezuela that helped to spur the 1-day coup against Venezuelan President Hugh Chavez.
So important is Venezuelan oil to the world's market that the price of oil dropped precipitously after Chavez was deposed and rebounded just as quickly when he was restored to power by the people of Venezuela.
The Bush administration, which is dominated by oil in much the same manner as the Venezuelan economy, could barely contain its glee when President Chavez was overthrown in a coup d'etat. Meanwhile, every other government in this hemisphere reacted negatively to the overthrow of a democratically elected government. By putting the interests of the oil economy first and democratic rule second, the Bush administration not only found itself out of step with every other government in Latin America but foolishly forfeited the high moral ground.
Now the administration has a lot of sorting out to do. It has to explain to Congress about what really happened in Venezuela. Did the Bush administration actively encourage antidemocratic forces to overthrow a leader with whom we happen to disagree? Did the Bush administration give a wink and a nod to the coup plotters? Under what authority was the Bush administration acting when U.S. military advisers found themselves on the side of the insurgents? When was that action authorized by the Congress of the United States? When did President Bush learn about the attempted coup and direction was given to U.S. diplomats, military officials, and advisers in the region? What did they receive from the White House, the State Department or the Defense Department? What relationship does the President, Vice President, or any of his advisers have with any oil interests in Venezuela? On whose order did the Bush administration officials choose not to speak out against the overthrow of a democratically elected president from a nation that is America's third largest oil supplier?
The United States simply must occupy the moral high ground. We are engaged in a worldwide battle against terrorism and antidemocratic forces. We are trying to show the rest of the world what it means to stand up for democratic values. Not to support a legitimately elected government, no matter how much we may disagree with its president, has damaged the perception of the United States as a standard bearer for legitimate elections and democratic governments.
The Organization of American States took a position diametrically opposed to this country's position. I hope the Committee on International Relations demands a full explanation by the Bush administration so there is no repeat of this sorry performance. President Chavez should understand that Americans believe in democracy and view Venezuela as a friend, not just as an oil well. And the American people can take from this latest sordid experience another lesson in the many ways in which dependence on foreign oil distorts our politics and our policy.
Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat, represents the 9th Congressional District of Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives. The above commentary has been adapted from a speech Rep. Kaptur delivered on the floor of the House, April 23, 2002. To contact her, Click Here.
The above column has been distributed by PoliticsOL.com.
