Where should we buy gas?

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) is a group of militants who are fighting for the rights of the largest tribe in the area, the Ijaw. One way that this group moves into power is to have its leaders be awarded state positions due to negotiations with kidnappers.

 

Perhaps we should buy gas from Angola, where Global Witness, a London based NGO estimates that in 4 years preceding 2001 over $8 billion of public money is unaccounted for.  The US imports 4% of its oil from Angola, yet output per capita is among the lowest in the world.

 

Something can be said for the ‘other side’. The tribes on the Nigerian delta live among oil slicks and gas flares. Cabinda, the provience where ChevronTexaco, Sonangol (the Angolan state oil company), and ENI-Agip have Block Zero, a place where a majority of Angola’ crude is pumped out is located took a payment (payoff) for their impedance.