Coincidence? What does Iraq have to do with Venezuela?
<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 By: Oscar Heck
VHeadline.com commentarist Oscar Heck writes: The USA appears to be sticking their nose (again) into Venezuelan internal affairs … and Vicente Rangel is saying that the Venezuelan government doesn’t give a damn about what the USA thinks (and rightly so) ... and that Venezuela is not (and will never be) a colony of the USA.
In Iraq, apparently, at least a million Shiite Muslims (the Iraqi majority) took to the streets to celebrate a religious ceremony recently. Meanwhile, they also apparently expressed their desire to establish an Iran-style religious government now that Saddam and gang are gone.
The USA does not agree...
The USA wants a “democratic” government ... better said, the USA wants a USA-style and USA-dictated “democratic government that will allow for USA financial (and exploitation) interests to proliferate without question (under threat of military superiority).
In the last few days, again in Iraq, there have been Iraqi-led demonstrations asking for the US military to leave Iraq. It is reported that in one of these demonstrations, 13 people were killed and over 75 injured after the US troops opened fire on the demonstration. The dead and/or injured included children (to make it clearer, not USA children, but Iraqi children).
What does Iraq have to do with Venezuela?
A lot … principally about oil and who wants to control it, but with a twist called SAIC.
After having done some research, SAIC is: Science Applications International Corporation ... SAIC is 60% owner of a company called Intesa, a joint-venture established in 1996 between PDVSA and SAIC which controls and operates all information systems at PDVSA, and has, according to some reports, an estimated 3,000 employees (40% of Intesa is apparently owned by PDVSA).
Who or what is SAIC?
SAIC was founded in 1969 and is one of the major USA defense and intelligence contractors. According to some ... 55% of their contracts are from USA military and intelligence agencies. The board of SAIC (as well as several lead employees and advisors) is comprised mainly of ex USA military and intelligence heads, including some formerly (?) from the CIA, the FBI and US defense agencies.
According to La Red, a Venezuelan scientific news publication, PDVSA is trying to find a way to buy out the 60% share ownership from SAIC. According to Intesa’s website, Intesa will be dissolved ... and according to another report, it is being dissolved amicably at the request (imposition) of SAIC.
The first question is: Who in his or her right mind would enter into a minority control joint-venture agreement with a USA company specialized in intelligence and defense contracting … and that allows the joint-venture majority owner (SAIC) to control all data and information of a government owned Venezuelan enterprise (i.e., owned by the Venezuelan people)?
I suspect that the joint-venture was approved by the PDVSA Board of Directors at the time.
What were they thinking?
I am not in the petroleum business, but it seems quite evident to me that such a decision (regardless of possible positive economic impacts) is completely irresponsible and anti-Venezuelan.
The next question is: Why is Intesa being dissolved? Perhaps the Chavez government is getting too close to the fire? Was/is SAIC involved (through the 60% ownership of Intesa) in conspiring or in aiding and abetting in the attempted coup against the Chavez government and in the sabotage of PDVSA?
According to SAIC website, some of Kent Greenes’ clients also include, in addition to PDVSA, the US Navy and the US Department of the Defense and according to The Guardian's investigative reporter Duncan Campbell, there are allegations that that the US Navy aided the abortive Venezuelan coup on April 11 with intelligence from its vessels in the Caribbean.
Coincidence?
In addition, as per the SAIC website, the Corporate CKO (Chief Knowledge Officer) of SAIC, is Kent Greenes, formerly a 17-year employee of British Petroleum.
Petroleum interests? Coincidence?
SAIC, being one of the major USA defense contractors was also possibly (and probably) involved with the invasion in Iraq, whether directly or indirectly and/or with the establishment of the USA military high-tech operations base in Doha many months before the invasion. Could it be that SAIC is/was also involved indirectly or directly in the attempted coup against Chavez or in an eventual planned invasion of Venezuela?
SAIC is also deeply involved in the USA “Homeland Security” projects … and there is also a USA-based anti-Chavez and pro-ex-PDVSA-employees group preparing to present a proposal to “Homeland Security” insisting that the present Venezuelan government is a “terrorist” threat … according to them on the same footing as Saddam Hussein!
Coincidence?
CIA’s SAIC ? (palindrome)
Oscar Heck oscar@vheadline.com