7.07.2008

Norm Coleman apes Cuba/China oil whopper

Why do Norm Coleman and the Republicans keep aping a thrice-disproven talking point that China is drilling closer to the U.S. than our companies can?

They're not, OK.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/05/08/Worldandnation/Cuba_seeks_oil_near_K.shtmlCuba seeks oil near Keys

Sen. Bill Nelson wants to block exploration and drilling less than 50 miles from Key West that would benefit China.

By SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN
Published May 8, 2006

exerpts:

n February 2005, Castro announced that huge Chinese drilling rigs would be used to further explore areas in which a Spanish company had reported promising results. The Cuban government also signed a contract with China's oil and gas company, Sinopec, to work in areas around the island thought to contain oil deposits.

"There's been very little drilling offshore and there's uncertainty over how much oil there is,'' said Chris Schenk of the U.S. Geological Survey. "There's less than in the Gulf of Mexico, but from a Cuban perspective, it would be a lot.''

The offshore fields are also reported to have a higher quality oil than found onshore, making it easier to produce, Schenk said.


Nelson fired back two days later with a bill that would bar the Bush administration from renewing a 1977 agreement with Cuba unless it agrees not to drill near the Florida Keys.

Under the agreement, which lets the two countries share control of the 90 miles of sea between the Keys and the island nation, Cuba claims the water 45 miles off its coast. That means it could drill within 20 miles of a U.S. marine sanctuary near the Keys.

Paul Schmelzer said...

Yes. If you click my link you'll see that Cuba is working with China on exploration, but no country is drilling within 90 miles of US shores.