Re: [Marxism] WSJ: Cuba Libre: Cuba Says It Has More Oil Than the U.S.

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Some people refuse to take an opportunity when it's offered to
them, and it's no surprise at all that some would rather quibble
over some individual word or two in a Wall Street Journal blog
than use a moment when some may be thinking about the blockade 
of Cuba, to argue about something else: an estimate of proven
(US) or to-be-proven (Cuban) petroleum reserves. 

So there is a 1.3 billion barrel difference between "proven" 
and "unproven". What difference does this make when discussing 
a brand new news story? 

This makes absolutely zilch difference to anyone, though it
may prove that Sartesian can do research on unimportant topics.

Another way to look at the "important" "factoid" which Sartesian
has focused on is that Cuba has a massively greater level of oil
reserves, PER CAPITA, than does the United States. I wouldn't 
bother with such issues, since Cuba's remain to be "proven" and
the US reserves are presumed to be "proven".

The most important aspect of this is the political aspect, that
is, the importance of this at a time when, for the first time 
in ages, US policy toward Cuba is a topic which has found a 
modest entry into US presidential politics. Of course, this is
a topic which Sartesian isn't interested in, since it diverges
from the notion that there is no difference between the parties
which continue to dominate the US presidential race.

That is why the Sartesian focused on something other than the
political issue of the moment. However quantitative, and not
qualitative the difference, it's one worth noting. 

If you haven't had a chance to see the short MSNBC video on
this subject, just 3.5 minutes, it's worth taking a look at:

No surprise: almost every one wants Obama.

Here's the video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27181196#27181196

Here's their blog, which anyone can write in:
http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/15/1544093.aspx

Ordinary rank-and-file Cubans also see a difference between the two:
http://circlesonline.blogspot.com/2008/10/cuba-issue-weighs-on-us-elections.html


Walter Lippmann
Los Angeles, California
================================================================
SARTESIAN writes:
The US has more PROVEN reserves than the Cuban 
estimate of 20 billion barrels.

From the US Energy Information Agency:

For the first time in four years, U.S. proved oil reserves increased during 
2007, as proved reserve additions of 2.0 billion barrels exceeded production 
of 1.7 billion barrels. Year-end proved reserves in 2007 stood at 21.3 
billion barrels, nearly two percent higher than at the end of 2006.



=========================================
     WALTER LIPPMANN
     Los Angeles, California
     Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
     "Cuba - Un ParaÃso bajo el bloqueo"
=========================================

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