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Alaska villages reject heating oil gift from Bush critic Chavez

The Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An offer of free heating oil from a critic of President Bush will be rejected by four remote Alaska villages.

Leaders of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association said Thursday that they will not accept oil for residents of Nelson Lagoon, Atka, St. Paul and St. George offered by Venezuela President Hugo Chavez out of loyalty to Bush and the country.

Chavez last week called President Bush "a devil" and made other inflammatory comments about the United States.

"Despite the critical need for fuel in our region, the Unangan (Aleut) people are Americans first, and we cannot support the political agenda attached to this donation," leaders of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association said in a prepared statement Thursday.

Under a program from Texas-based refiner Citgo, which is owned by the Venezuelan government, more than 12,000 rural Alaska homes in about 150 villages are to receive 100 free gallons of heating oil this winter.

The gift is valued at about $5 million and has been welcomed by many in remote, cash-poor villages. Heating oil in rural Alaska can cost up to $7 per gallon in part because of high shipping costs.

Critics say Chavez through the gift is trying to make President Bush and the U.S. government look as if they do not care for their own people. Chavez also supports Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Rest of the story at this link:

The Seattle Times: Local News: Alaska villages reject heating oil gift from Bush critic Chavez