FRANCE AND CHAVEZ: PERFECT TOGETHER

France is at it again: making lucrative deals with Leftists thug dictators (Dow Jones):

CARACAS: Venezuela is looking to accelerate talks with France's Total for a $5 billion heavy crude upgrading project, President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday. "We've given the green light..." said Chavez, following a meeting with Total President Thierry Desmarest in Paris. ... Total is a partner with Petroleos de Venezuela. ... Total invested $5 billion in Venezuela from 1998 through 2004, mainly in the Sincor project. Total also produces natural gas at the Yucal Placer field. The company plans to invest $150 million in Venezuela in 2005, mainly at Yucal Placer, but expects outlays to pick up in the coming years as new projects are approved. Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, hopes to nearly double crude oil production to 5 million b/d by 2009 with help from private companies.

The French did the same thing with another anti-American tyrant: Saddam. C'est la vie, I guess. After all, this is the entire M.O. and raison d'etre of France's foreign policy: exploit anti-American/anti-democratic regimes, and move in where the USA moves out.