I can not quite put my finger to it, but something does not feel right.
In November 2018 the U.S. was importing about 500 thousand barrels per day from Venezuela. In December of 2018 the U.S. was importing about 450 thousand barrels per day from Venezuela. In January of 2019 the U.S. was importing about 300 thousand barrels per day from Venezuela. In February of 2019 the U.S. is importing about 75 thousand barrels per day from Venezuela.
Venezuela crisis: Who is buying its oil now?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-47239060
The sanctions do not cut off imports entirely, but they do require payments to be made into accounts that Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. , the Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company, cannot access. The sanctions also freeze the company's assets in the U.S. The PVDSA subsidiary in the U.S. --Citgo--- can continue operation, but its earning are to be deposited in a blocked account in the U.S.
The socialist program started by Hugo Chavez and then carried on by Nicolás Maduro has been devastated when the price of oil collapsed, when oil provided Venezuela with about 90% of its foreign revenue from exports to other countries. The sanctions aggravated this further, with Venezuela unable to gain access to the monies made into the non-state-owned PVDSA accounts. This caused hyperinflation in Venezuela, major unrest and mass migration out of the country.
With the various explosions now going on in Venezuela, after the electrical power grid mostly coming back online after the electrical generator take-down, or rather mishap, it makes me wonder if these 'mishaps' are against those Venezuela people supporting their President Nicolas Maduro.
Make it difficult for the people to live, and maybe have them riot against Nicolas Maduro, or contribute to a civil war, for all the food, water, medical, transportation, or any other problems contributing to their hardships.
https://southfront.org/in-photos-explosions-at-venezuelas-petro-san-felix-heavy-oil-project/
Electrical System Mostly Restored In Venezuela. But Infrastructure “Accidents” Continue
https://southfront.org/electrical-system-mostly-restored-in-venezuela-but-infrastructure-accidents-continue/
I wonder if the restoration of most of the electrical system so quickly was probably due to the two suspects arrested being questioned. Now the infrastructure is being 'attacked'?
http://www.uniindia.com/maduro-two-suspected-of-sabotage-on-venezuela-s-power-system-detained/world/news/1525704.html
The electrical blackout a diversion from abroad?
https://www.rt.com/news/453925-venezuela-blackout-overseas-diversion/
“The Venezuelan energy sector was “targeted from abroad,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, claiming the culprits aimed for the grids which work on Western-made equipment.
In order to cause “a diversion “ foreign actors hit the nation’s key power stations which “had equipment manufactured in Canada,” Maria Zakharova explained(Google translate), adding that the perpetrators were well aware of “all the algorithms and weak spots” of Venezuela’s power grid.
The official claimed that attacks on vital infrastructure are often being employed by the West in “hybrid wars.””
If so, diversion from what, or who? Would a spotter be inserted, to target infrastructure, or to initiate a bridgehead, to harass and disrupt civilian life, to help direct the opposition against Nicolas Maduro?
Who are the bad guys, as from the good guys, working in the background?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/venezuela-crisis-latest-updates-190123205835912.html
What's the next move? The pre-occupation is always to remove Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro: Dictator or defender of socialism?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20664349
Robert.
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