With President Bush and the Republicans calling to lift the ban on offshore drilling of oil and gas,
one claim from many Republicans in support of drilling suggests that China and Cuba are either already drilling or about to start, just 50 miles off the coast of Florida.
But a report in McClatchy Newspapers says that this is untrue. It states: “… no one can prove that the Chinese are drilling anywhere off Cuba’s shoreline.” It adds: “China is not drilling in Cuba’s Gulf of Mexico waters, period, according to Jorge Piñon, an energy fellow with the Center for Hemispheric Policy at the University of Miami.” Despite these assertions Vice President Dick Cheney said in a speech to The US Chamber of Commerce: “George Will pointed out in his column the other day that oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. We are not doing it, the Chinese are, in cooperation with the Cuban government. Even the communists have figured out that a good answer to high prices are more supply.” Sen. Mel Martinez, a Florida Republican against offshore drilling was quoted in the Miami Herald It states: ”Reports to the contrary are simply false, …They are akin to urban legends. China drilling off the coast of Cuba only 60 miles from the Keys, that is not taking place. . . . Any talk of using some fabricated Cuba-China connection as an argument to change US policy has no merit.”
Story Transcript
(CLIP BEGINS)
GEORGE W. BUSH, US PRESIDENT: Our nation must produce more oil, and we must start now.
(CLIP ENDS)
ZAA NKWETA, PRESENTER: President Bush and the Republicans are turning up the pressure on Congress to lift a 27-year-old ban on offshore drilling of oil and gas. One claim from many Republicans in support of drilling suggests that China and Cuba are either already drilling or about to start just 50 miles off the coast of Florida.
(CLIP BEGINS)
Courtesy: Meet the Press
June 22, 2008
LINDSEY GRAHAM, US SENATOR (D-SC): Cuba is doing a deal with China, potentially, to drill off our shores.
(CLIP ENDS)
A report in McClatchy newspapers says that this is untrue. It states: “… no one can prove that the Chinese are drilling anywhere off Cuba’s shoreline.” (McClatchy newspapers, June 11, 2008.) It goes on to add “China is not drilling in Cuba’s Gulf of Mexico waters, period, according to Jorge Piñon, an energy fellow with the Center for Hemispheric Policy at the University of Miami.” Despite these assertions, Vice President Dick Cheney said in a speech to the US Chamber of Commerce:
(CLIP BEGINS)
June 11, 2008
DICK CHENEY, US VICE PRESIDENT: George Will pointed out in his column the other day that oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. But we’re not doing it; the Chinese are, in cooperation with the Cuban government. Even the communists have figured out that a good answer to high prices is more supply.
(CLIP ENDS)
Senator Mel Martinez, a Florida Republican against offshore drilling, was quoted in The Miami Herald: “Reports to the contrary are simply false. They are akin to urban legends. China drilling off the coast of Cuba only 60 miles from the Keys, that is not taking place. . . . Any talk of using some fabricated Cuba-China connection as an argument to change US policy has no merit.” (Sen. Mel Martinez, June 11, 2008.)
DISCLAIMER:
Please note that TRNN transcripts are typed from a recording of the program; The Real News Network cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.
Story Transcript
(CLIP BEGINS)
GEORGE W. BUSH, US PRESIDENT: Our nation must produce more oil, and we must start now.
(CLIP ENDS)
ZAA NKWETA, PRESENTER: President Bush and the Republicans are turning up the pressure on Congress to lift a 27-year-old ban on offshore drilling of oil and gas. One claim from many Republicans in support of drilling suggests that China and Cuba are either already drilling or about to start just 50 miles off the coast of Florida.
(CLIP BEGINS)
Courtesy: Meet the Press
June 22, 2008
LINDSEY GRAHAM, US SENATOR (D-SC): Cuba is doing a deal with China, potentially, to drill off our shores.
(CLIP ENDS)
A report in McClatchy newspapers says that this is untrue. It states: “… no one can prove that the Chinese are drilling anywhere off Cuba’s shoreline.” (McClatchy newspapers, June 11, 2008.) It goes on to add “China is not drilling in Cuba’s Gulf of Mexico waters, period, according to Jorge Piñon, an energy fellow with the Center for Hemispheric Policy at the University of Miami.” Despite these assertions, Vice President Dick Cheney said in a speech to the US Chamber of Commerce:
(CLIP BEGINS)
June 11, 2008
DICK CHENEY, US VICE PRESIDENT: George Will pointed out in his column the other day that oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. But we’re not doing it; the Chinese are, in cooperation with the Cuban government. Even the communists have figured out that a good answer to high prices is more supply.
(CLIP ENDS)
Senator Mel Martinez, a Florida Republican against offshore drilling, was quoted in The Miami Herald: “Reports to the contrary are simply false. They are akin to urban legends. China drilling off the coast of Cuba only 60 miles from the Keys, that is not taking place. . . . Any talk of using some fabricated Cuba-China connection as an argument to change US policy has no merit.” (Sen. Mel Martinez, June 11, 2008.)
DISCLAIMER:
Please note that TRNN transcripts are typed from a recording of the program; The Real News Network cannot guarantee their complete accuracy.
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