Cuba's Oil
May 16, 2009 5:34 PM Subscribe
Cuba's Undersea Oil Could Help Thaw Trade With U.S. [WAPO bugmenot] - Deep in the Gulf of Mexico, an end to the 1962 U.S. trade embargo against Cuba may be lying untapped, buried under layers of rock, seawater and bitter relations.
Why Cuba's Dreams of Major Oil Discoveries Might Come True - US News & World Report
Cuba claims massive oil reserves - BBC News
Russia to help Cuba with oil projects - Cuba Headlines
Why Cuba's Dreams of Major Oil Discoveries Might Come True - US News & World Report
Cuba claims massive oil reserves - BBC News
Russia to help Cuba with oil projects - Cuba Headlines
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
Let's hope for neither without people being held accountable for their crimes.
posted by oddman at 5:53 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by oddman at 5:53 PM on May 16, 2009
Yeah, the U.S. will invade under some pretext. What are those commies doing living over OUR oil anyway? They'll be better off anyway-- the only McDonalds in Cuba is in Guantanamo, and the freedom-starved populace of Cuba can't even patronize it.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:57 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:57 PM on May 16, 2009
Not mentioned in the article but the Eastern Gap looks to be the area outside the various 230 mile exclusive economic zones.
posted by toroi at 6:02 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by toroi at 6:02 PM on May 16, 2009
No Cohibas and yellow rice and black beans for oil!
Ok, well maybe.
posted by loquacious at 6:13 PM on May 16, 2009
Ok, well maybe.
posted by loquacious at 6:13 PM on May 16, 2009
Wait, I totally did that wrong. They already have both of those. Guh. /too hot
posted by loquacious at 6:15 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by loquacious at 6:15 PM on May 16, 2009
I hear Fidel was trying to buy yellowcake in Niger . . .
posted by Crotalus at 6:31 PM on May 16, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by Crotalus at 6:31 PM on May 16, 2009 [3 favorites]
What, spreading glorious American freedom to a nation of people who doesn't want it wasn't a good enough reason to "save" Cuba?
posted by rokusan at 6:45 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by rokusan at 6:45 PM on May 16, 2009
I seriously doubt Cuba is going to get invaded over this. US/Cuban diplomatic relations are starting to open up right now. Following that path, America could become Cuba's largest customer. Cuba profits, America gets oil; everybody wins.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 7:01 PM on May 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 7:01 PM on May 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
Wait, I thought Cuba was drilling for oil right off the shores of Florida? Wasn't that the right wing scare of the week last year? Or was it some other commie country drilling *our* oil off of our shores?
posted by NoMich at 7:29 PM on May 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by NoMich at 7:29 PM on May 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yeah, the U.S. will invade under some pretext.
They need to be rushed US car parts ASAP! It will be an intervention - not an invasion.
posted by rough ashlar at 7:33 PM on May 16, 2009
They need to be rushed US car parts ASAP! It will be an intervention - not an invasion.
posted by rough ashlar at 7:33 PM on May 16, 2009
As long as Shell or Exxon or BP or some gigantic oil conglomerate can get that oil at cheap prices, Cuba hasn't a thing to fear.
And even at cheap prices, that revenue stream is enough to keep Cuba's citizens in very good stead. They'll eventually become Swedish: a socialist democracy. All things considered, that's a pretty damn fine way for a society to go: it works. That's a lot more than you can say for some of the systems America does support.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:36 PM on May 16, 2009
And even at cheap prices, that revenue stream is enough to keep Cuba's citizens in very good stead. They'll eventually become Swedish: a socialist democracy. All things considered, that's a pretty damn fine way for a society to go: it works. That's a lot more than you can say for some of the systems America does support.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:36 PM on May 16, 2009
buried under layers of rock, seawater and bitter relations.
Has anyone developed a drill bit for the last?
posted by dhartung at 9:44 PM on May 16, 2009
Has anyone developed a drill bit for the last?
posted by dhartung at 9:44 PM on May 16, 2009
They need to be rushed US car parts ASAP! It will be an intervention - not an invasion.
"As long as you're comfortable, it feels like freedom."
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:51 PM on May 16, 2009
"As long as you're comfortable, it feels like freedom."
posted by Mayor Curley at 9:51 PM on May 16, 2009
Rokusan - the US has already "saved" Cuba once - Fidel is the unintended consequence of that.
posted by Artw at 10:51 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by Artw at 10:51 PM on May 16, 2009
Also: "I drink your milkshake!"
posted by Artw at 10:53 PM on May 16, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 10:53 PM on May 16, 2009 [4 favorites]
This is so cool. This would be such a major shift in global politics, and it's a story I'd love to see. And, I'd finally get to go to Cuba. Please let them find oil...
posted by saysthis at 11:09 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by saysthis at 11:09 PM on May 16, 2009
Also: "I drink your milkshake!"
Yes! A colony of Montgomery Burns-style 45° angled oil derricks all along the south Florida coast.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:13 PM on May 16, 2009
Yes! A colony of Montgomery Burns-style 45° angled oil derricks all along the south Florida coast.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:13 PM on May 16, 2009
Some pundit was joking that Cuba's the last place on earth where American-built cars are still popular.
posted by five fresh fish at 11:19 PM on May 16, 2009
posted by five fresh fish at 11:19 PM on May 16, 2009
And, I'd finally get to go to Cuba.
Obama's already lifted travel restrictions on Americans who want to visit family members in Cuba, and is talking about a "new beginning" in relations between the two countries, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that soon direct travel from the US to Cuba could be on the horizon.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:21 PM on May 16, 2009
Obama's already lifted travel restrictions on Americans who want to visit family members in Cuba, and is talking about a "new beginning" in relations between the two countries, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that soon direct travel from the US to Cuba could be on the horizon.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:21 PM on May 16, 2009
I can't see the U.S. lifting the embargo on Cuba. It's a matter of principle that we cannot trade with nondemocratic countries, especially those that are run by communist governments. If we were to open up trade with Cuba what would be next, Red China? Would we trade with countries with questionable human rights records like Saudi Arabia and Vietnam?
posted by Tashtego at 11:48 PM on May 16, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by Tashtego at 11:48 PM on May 16, 2009 [5 favorites]
Heh. There's an argument that the US directs it's special anger at countries where it's meddling has turned out "wrong" - Iran being another big one.
posted by Artw at 7:39 AM on May 17, 2009
posted by Artw at 7:39 AM on May 17, 2009
This line made me pause: "Enough [oil] to turn the island into the Qatar of the Caribbean."
If the point is that oil will make Cuba rich, then the oil is redundant b/c Cuba already has what it needs to be rich--some of the most valuable real estate in the world. Cuba could be Florida without a drop of oil. But the Communist dictators of Cuba have decided the people of Cuba don't want to be prosperous because, you know, prosperity is bad for you.
If the point is that oil will make Cuba into a one-party state run by ideological fanatics who derived most of their political views from a long-dead age, then, again, the oil is redundant because Cuba is already there.
So Cuba doesn't need oil. Cuba needs democracy.
posted by MarshallPoe at 8:50 AM on May 17, 2009
If the point is that oil will make Cuba rich, then the oil is redundant b/c Cuba already has what it needs to be rich--some of the most valuable real estate in the world. Cuba could be Florida without a drop of oil. But the Communist dictators of Cuba have decided the people of Cuba don't want to be prosperous because, you know, prosperity is bad for you.
If the point is that oil will make Cuba into a one-party state run by ideological fanatics who derived most of their political views from a long-dead age, then, again, the oil is redundant because Cuba is already there.
So Cuba doesn't need oil. Cuba needs democracy.
posted by MarshallPoe at 8:50 AM on May 17, 2009
"Cuba already has what it needs to be rich--some of the most valuable real estate in the world. Cuba could be Florida without a drop of oil. " - MarshallPoe
Oh yeah, and who wouldn't want to be Florida. (As if!)
Cuba has sovereignty, pride, sustainability, good health and education for all their people ... and you think selling their "valuable real estate" to rich interlopers would make them 'happy'?! You want them to return to the "Old Havana" and to bow down to the wealthy elite and mafiosa?!
Cuba should burn all their oil in the ground now! Then they should pull up any welcome mats before they are enlisted as the 51st state and have to live the servant life made famous in the 50th state.
posted by Surfurrus at 3:56 PM on May 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, and who wouldn't want to be Florida. (As if!)
Cuba has sovereignty, pride, sustainability, good health and education for all their people ... and you think selling their "valuable real estate" to rich interlopers would make them 'happy'?! You want them to return to the "Old Havana" and to bow down to the wealthy elite and mafiosa?!
Cuba should burn all their oil in the ground now! Then they should pull up any welcome mats before they are enlisted as the 51st state and have to live the servant life made famous in the 50th state.
posted by Surfurrus at 3:56 PM on May 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yeah. Cuba wants to be Florida.
Oh. Wait. That's right. It didn't. And it won't in Cuba. In fact it would be a one stop ticket to narco-trafficking state run by oligarchs. Like 70% Mexico. Or like it was BEFORE Castro, when the mob ran the place.
I like how Poe equates democracy with selling out to real estate developers. Awesome.
Here I thought democracy was a system in which state-power is held by the majority of citizens within a country. Yeah that sounds good. I'd like it here, too.
posted by tkchrist at 9:49 PM on May 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
- "At the end of the third quarter in 2008, Florida had the highest for mortgage payment delinquency rate in the country, with 7.8% of mortgages delinquent at least 60 days.[70] The state also had the second-highest credit card delinquency rate, with 1.45% of cardholders in the state more than 90 days delinquent on one or more credit cards.[70] A 2009 list of national housing markets that were hard hit in the real estate crash included a disproportionate number in Florida."
Oh. Wait. That's right. It didn't. And it won't in Cuba. In fact it would be a one stop ticket to narco-trafficking state run by oligarchs. Like 70% Mexico. Or like it was BEFORE Castro, when the mob ran the place.
I like how Poe equates democracy with selling out to real estate developers. Awesome.
Here I thought democracy was a system in which state-power is held by the majority of citizens within a country. Yeah that sounds good. I'd like it here, too.
posted by tkchrist at 9:49 PM on May 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
To Mr. tkchrist, I would only say that the people should decide, not the dictators. Since the dictators won't allow free elections--the surest sign of a corrupt and frightened government--maybe they should try this: open the borders. What do you imagine would happen? I would guess--and this is only a guess--that Cuba would empty and Florida would fill. For further information, see "East Germany."
posted by MarshallPoe at 8:10 AM on May 18, 2009
posted by MarshallPoe at 8:10 AM on May 18, 2009
For further information, see "East Germany."
Sure. See "Mexico", too.
Poor people don't like being poor.
posted by tkchrist at 3:00 PM on May 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Sure. See "Mexico", too.
Poor people don't like being poor.
posted by tkchrist at 3:00 PM on May 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
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