[speakfreely]

> Is this really worth it? For some crude which is really high in sulfur and not even that important given fracking?

The US doesn't need their oil. It's about stopping China from getting it.

[yunnpp]

I am still confused about this. Is the goal for US companies to extract Venezuelan oil, or is it to suppress Venezuelan oil exports altogether? Or are both goals orthogonal?

[aglavine]

I don't think oil has something to do with this. As I have mentioned I think the main reason is the cartel has become too powerful and menacing, controlling three countries and expanding.