Friday, September 29, 2006

Its Time For Citgo To Go

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaking at the U.N. about President George W. Bush: "Yesterday, the devil came here. Right here. Right here. And it smells of sulfur still today." Tough words from Venezuela's totalitarian ruler Hugo Chavez at the U.N. In recent years, Chavez has called America a terrorist state and the Count Dracula of the world. He's appeared on Al-Jazeera TV pleading for allies to bring down American society. He's pledged solidarity with Iran and he supports Iran's nuclear program.Chavez has hinted he would back Iran in a confrontation with the U.S. military. So picture the irony. Our servicemen and women who fill up their cars at Navy bases across America are buying Citgo gas. Citgo is owned by the Venezuelan government. The Navy operates 53 Citgo gas stations nationwide including this one in Annapolis, Maryland. Citgo has annual contracts worth $60 million. The longest is set to expire in the year 2010. Navy officials point out the original contract was awarded in 1989. That was three years before Chavez launched a coup attempt and ten years before he became President. That aside, now is time for Navy lawyers to find a way to cancel this contract for good.