Oil prices are going up right now because of what is happening in Venzuela, not the middle east.
We get tons of oil from them. They have political and labor strife right now, maybe a strike or something by the guys who drive the tankers.
Total mess down there right now. Here's an article.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ? Venezuela's Supreme Court wrested control of the Caracas police force from President Hugo Chavez in a ruling Wednesday, restoring it to opposition Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena.
The decision came as opposition protesters choked the capital by blocking roads on the 17th day of a strike aimed at forcing Chavez to resign or agree to early elections. The strike has cut Venezuela's precious oil output by almost 90%.
Chavez ordered the military to take over police stations in Caracase on Nov. 16, seizing power from Pena, one of his strongest opponents. The two have failed to resolve a six-week labor dispute and charges that officers routinely repress pro-government demonstrations.
Police Chief Henry Vivas refused to resign, and many officers in the 9,000-strong department refused to recognize Chavez's hand-picked chief, Gonzalo Sanchez Delgado, a retired sergeant.
The Supreme Court ruling, announced by a justice on nationwide television, was a victory for Chavez opponents.
Pena, Chavez's former chief of staff before the two had a falling out, and Vivas filed a lawsuit Nov. 2 challenging Sanchez's appointment. They say crime has increased because police patrols have dropped since the military takeover. Vivas ordered many officers to stay in their precincts to avoid clashes with the army and national guard.
The Supreme Court ordered Sanchez to hand over a police precinct that serves as the department's communications center. It also ordered a 15-day period in which city and national authorities arrange the transfer of the department from the military to the mayor.
"This restores normality," Pena said after the ruling. "This ruling restores the authority of the mayor's office."
There was no immediate reaction from Chavez's government, which once relied on the court as a rubber-stamp for Chavez's policies but has recently ruled against the president on several occasions.
The Venezuelan crisis ? combined with concerns that a U.S. attack on Iraq is becoming likely ? propelled oil prices Wednesday past $31, its highest level in nearly three months.
Oil production fell to about 370,000 barrels per day ? compared to a normal output of 3 million barrels ? because storage facilities were close to overflowing. Most oil tankers remained moored in ports, their crews having joined the nationwide strike.
Chavez has defied opposition calls for him to resign or stage early elections, citing Venezuela's constitution which requires him to accept the results of a possible recall halfway into his six-year term ? August 2003.
Venezuela provides more than 10% of America's oil imports, but the White House said Wednesday there was no immediate need to release crude oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. However, the crisis has stirred international concern
Secretary of State Colin Powell, meeting with Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, said the United States and European Union are worried that the crisis may turn violent, and urged a constitutional solution.
They also supported mediation efforts by the Organization of American States, though no breakthroughs in those talks appeared imminent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chavez over the phone that he hoped the Venezuelan leader could overcome the crisis. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Mamedov offered Moscow's help in mediating talks.
Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ? a leftist, like Chavez ? ordered his special adviser to Caracas to see whether Brazil could help.
Meanwhile, An eight-lane highway that connects Caracas to other major cities along the Caribbean coast became a soccer field as demonstrators whiled away time while tying up traffic. Only emergency vehicles, foreign diplomats and journalists were allowed to pass makeshift roadblocks of parked cars and debris.
"In this kind of situation, everyone loses," motorist David Bendahan complained, as he was turned away at a highway roadblock. Demonstrators, some waving flags and anti-Chavez banners, set off bottle rockets and firecrackers.
Bendahan gestured at the demonstrators. "We've had corrupt government for decades in Venezuela. Who says these types will govern any better?" he asked.
But demonstrators vowed to keep up the pressure until Chavez, a former army paratrooper who led an unsuccessful coup in 1992, resigns.
"We hate the government," snapped Juan Antonio Marquez, an insurance agent who lost his job when his foreign employer left Venezuela ? which he blames on government mismanagement of the economy. "This is the worst government Venezuela has ever had."