Radiofree West Hartford - An Ex-Citgo Customer by Tim Siggia

An Ex-Citgo Customer

By Tim Siggia

September 23, 2006

To My Friends And Acquaintances:

Up until my most recent filling I always gassed up at my local convenience store, which offers Citgo gasoline. I have since learned, however, that the Citgo corporation is totally owned by the government of Venezuela, currently presided over by the leftist government of Hugo Chavez, who recently called President Bush "The Devil", and went on a typical anti-American rant today in Harlem before an audience of sympathetic American leftists.

To say that Mr. Chavez is one of the most vocal critics of the United States and American policies is a gross understatement. It goes much further than anti-American rhetoric and political disagreement. The Chavez government in Venezuela is also openly allied with the Communist regime of Fidel Castro in Cuba, as well as the governments of Syria and Iran. It is not unreasonable, therefore, to consider Mr. Chavez and his cohorts in Venezuela enemies of the United States, and de facto supporters of world terrorism in that they have thrown their lot with governments which support terrorism and knowingly give safe haven to international terrorists.

As of today, I am therefore no longer a customer of Citgo products, and will not be again for so long as Hugo Chavez holds power in Venezuela, or else in the highly unlikely event that Citgo gets new ownership. As a loyal American and a military retiree, I refuse to knowingly do business with our country's enemies as long as reasonable alternatives exist. I will not presume to tell others what to do in this regard; let each of you act in accordance with your own conscience, circumstances, and political viewpoint. I send this only to make you aware of a situation that demands such awareness, and to assure you of where I personally stand on this issue: that I will no aid and no comfort to any enemy of the United States.

Thank you for reading this e-mail, and may God bless America.

Sincerely,

Timothy M. Siggia

Chief Journalist, United States Navy, Retired