GT+Cordoves+Cruz

=__1AC__= Plan Text: The United States federal government should assist Venezuela in liberalizing its energy sector.

=Venezuela Adv=

The Venezuelan oil sector is declining
Ladislaw and Verrastro 3/6 – Ladislaw is co-director and senior fellow with the Energy and National Security Program at the CSIS and Verrastro is senior vice president and James R. Schlesinger Chair for Energy %26 Geopolitics at CSIS (Sarah and Frank, "Post-Chavez Outlook for Venezuelan Oil Production," Center for Strategic and International Studies, http://csis.org/publication/post-chavez-outlook-venezuelan-oil-production) Despite its enormous oil resources, Venezuela~’s oil production (regardless of whose figures you AND production and a worsening economic outlook for Venezuela during a politically difficult time.

This will collapse the Venezuelan government
Tulchin 13 - Visiting Fellow at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University, Latin American scholar, member of the task force on Hemispheric Security Issues at the Center for Hemispheric Policy of the University of Miami (Dr. Joseph S. "Oil price is key to success for Venezuela~’s President Maduro" World Review April 24 2013  6/27/13)//AH Mr Maduro now has to follow in some large footsteps. Charismatic Mr Chavez was AND petroleum industry. The interplay between these determines the scenarios for Venezuela~’s future.

And that independently causes global conflict
Manwaring 05 (Max G., retired U.S. Army colonel and an Adjunct Professor of International Politics at Dickinson College, Venezuela~’s Hugo Chávez, Bolivarian Socialism, and Asymmetric Warfare, October 2005, pg. PUB628.pdf)//SR President Chávez also understands that the process leading to state failure is the most dangerous AND and their associated problems endanger global security, peace, and prosperity.65

The Chavez model in Venezuela has limited investment, restricted growth and increased the risk of oil shocks and instability -U.S. investment can reverse the trend and preserve our influence
The unconventional revolution will also force the resource-endowed nations of the Western Hemisphere AND external subsidies will take a toll on the economy and are ultimately unsustainable.
 * Goldwyn 13** —- President, Goldwyn Global Strategies, LLC (4/11/2013, David L., "The Impact of the Tight Oil and Gas Boom on Latin America and the Caribbean: Opportunities for Cooperation," House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere; "Energy Opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean" http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20130411/100622/HHRG-113-FA07-Wstate-GoldwynD-20130411.pdf, JMP)

U.S. resources and expertise are key to revive the oil sector
AND THE CARIBBEAN, HEARING BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20130411/100622/HHRG-113-FA07-Wstate-FarnsworthE-20130411.pdf, JMP) More broadly, the United States has a strategic interest in working with willing nations AND our technical assistance to improve the investment climate and the rule of law.
 * Farnsworth 13** - vice president of the Council of the Americas and Americas Society (4/11/2013, Eric, "ENERGY SECURITY OPPORTUNITIES IN LATIN AMERICA

=Relations Adv=

The U.S. is losing its influence in Latin America
Council on Foreign Relations 08 – independent task force project, CFR is an independent, nonpartisan organization (~’US Latin America Relations: A New Direction for a New Reality~’, May 2008, http://www.cfr.org/mexico/us-latin-america-relations/p16279)//MJ For over 150 years, the Monroe Doctrine provided the guiding princi- ples for U.S. policy toward Latin America, asserting U.S. primacy in the foreign affairs of the region. Over the past two decades, those principles have become increasingly obsolete. Washington~’s basic policy framework, however, has not changed sufficiently to reflect the new reality. U.S. policy can no longer be based on the assumption that the United States is the most important outside actor in Latin America. If there was an era of U.S. hegemony in Latin America, it is over. ¶ In most respects, this shift reflects positive developments within Latin America itself. The region has undergone a historic transformation politically, with military-authoritarian rule giving way to vibrant, if imperfect, democracy in almost every nation. Economically, Latin America is now one of the more open market regions in the world and a crucial global provider of energy, minerals, and food. None of this is to say that Latin America has entirely overcome its history of political tumult or done enough to alleviate poverty, improve competi- tiveness and human capital, or correct extreme inequality. But it does mean that U.S. policymakers must change the way they think about the region. Latin America is not Washington~’s to lose; nor is it Washing- ton~’s to save. Latin America~’s fate is largely in Latin America~’s hands. ¶ A failure to acknowledge how Latin Americans define their own challenges has created new political strains in recent years. It has also caused U.S. policymakers to overlook the ways in which the United ¶ States can meaningfully contribute to Latin America~’s progress—fur- thering the United States~’ own interests in the process. By truly begin- ning to engage Latin America on its own terms, Washington can mark the start of a new era in U.S.-Latin America relations.

Large-scale rapprochement not likely now but oil investment could catalyze stronger relations
WASHINGTON, Jun 17 2013 (IPS) - A shift in U.S AND more time to observe the new government and see where it is going."
 * Metzker 13** (6/17/2013, Jared, "Analysts Say Oil Could Help Mend U.S.-Venezuela Relations," http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/06/analysts-say-oil-could-help-mend-u-s-venezuela-relations/, JMP)

This is critical to boost U.S. influence and mold the regional economic framework
Goldwyn 13 —- President, Goldwyn Global Strategies, LLC (4/11/2013, David L., "The Impact of the Tight Oil and Gas Boom on Latin America and the Caribbean: Opportunities for Cooperation," House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere; "Energy Opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean" http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20130411/100622/HHRG-113-FA07-Wstate-GoldwynD-20130411.pdf, JMP) III. The Impact of Hemispheric Energy Trends on U.S. Foreign Policy AND a citizen I thank the committee for its leadership on this critical issue.

This will boost U.S. standing in important Latin American regional forums
Delahunt 12 —- chairman of the Venezuela-US Friendship Group and retired U.S. Representative (10/30/2012, William, "A new role for the US and Venezuela," http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2012/10/30/podium-venezuela/EJ6Jd2yRKfaJ76HYrXb4WJ/story.html, JMP) The recent election in Venezuela offers an opportunity to improve the US-Venezuela bilateral AND that the Venezuelan government is prepared to respond favorably to such an initiative.

That prevents a global war
Rochlin 94 [James Francis, Professor of Political Science at Okanagan U. College, Discovering the Americas: The Evolution of Canadian Foreign Policy Towards Latin America, 130-131, Wake Early Bird File] While there were economic motivations for Canadian policy in Central America, security considerations were AND , such as Contadora, as will be discussed in the next chapter.

And, relations are key to solve proliferation and climate change - only engagement solves
Zedillo et al 08 —- Commission Co-Chair for the Brookings Institute Report on the Partnership for the Americas and former President of Mexico [Ernesto Zedillo, Thomas R. Pickering, etc, Rethinking U.S.–Latin American Relations A Hemispheric Partnership for a Turbulent World. Report of the Partnership for the Americas Commission, The Brookings Institution, November 2008, http://www.brookings.edu//media/Research/Files/Reports/2008/11/24%20latin%20america%20partnership/1124_latin_america_partnership.PDF, ENDI File] The Need for a Hemispheric Partnership Historically, the United States and Latin America have rarely developed a genuine and sustained AND as other economic and political actors fill the void left by its absence.

Prolif results in a nuclear arms race
Garner 10 (Calvin, ~’Venezuela~’s Nuclear Program – The Alarmists are Right~’, December 13, 2010, http://www.iar-gwu.org/node/240)==== Mixed signals from a nuclear Venezuela would have troubling implications for keeping Latin America free AND international success story of Latin America as a nuclear-weapons free zone.

Climate change causes extinction
Mazo 10 – PhD in Paleoclimatology from UCLA Jeffrey Mazo, Managing Editor, Survival and Research Fellow for Environmental Security and Science Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, 3-2010, "Climate Conflict: How global warming threatens security and what to do about it," pg. 122 The best estimates for global warming to the end of the century range from 2 AND adaptation to these extremes would mean profound social, cultural and political changes.

Investment in Venezuela will force a tradeoff with Canadian oil sands
Campbell 13 (4/16/2013, Darren, "A new leader could signal change for Venezuela~’s troubled oil and gas sector; If Nicolas Maduro can reverse the industry~’s decline, it could siphon off investment in Alberta~’s oil sands," http://www.albertaoilmagazine.com/2013/04/a-new-leader-could-signal-change-for-venenzuelas-oil-and-gas-sector/, JMP) Oil-rich Venezuela has a new president and his name is Nicolas Maduro.¶ AND could be going to develop its reserves will flow to the oil sands.

Impact is extinction from runaway climate change
Hansen 12 —- directs the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (5/9/2012, James, NYT, "Game Over for the Climate," http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/opinion/game-over-for-the-climate.html?_r=0) GLOBAL warming isn~’t a prediction. It is happening. That is why I was AND economic incentives to leave tar sands and other dirty fuels in the ground.

=China Adv=

U.S. influence in Latin America declining
Council on Foreign Relations 08 – independent task force project, CFR is an independent, nonpartisan organization (~’US Latin America Relations: A New Direction for a New Reality~’, May 2008, http://www.cfr.org/mexico/us-latin-america-relations/p16279)//MJ

For over 150 years, the Monroe Doctrine provided the guiding princi- ples for U.S. policy toward Latin America, asserting U.S. primacy in the foreign affairs of the region. Over the past two decades, those principles have become increasingly obsolete. Washington~’s basic policy framework, however, has not changed sufficiently to reflect the new reality. U.S. policy can no longer be based on the assumption that the United States is the most important outside actor in Latin America. If there was an era of U.S. hegemony in Latin America, it is over. ¶ In most respects, this shift reflects positive developments within Latin America itself. The region has undergone a historic transformation politically, with military-authoritarian rule giving way to vibrant, if imperfect, democracy in almost every nation. Economically, Latin America is now one of the more open market regions in the world and a crucial global provider of energy, minerals, and food. None of this is to say that Latin America has entirely overcome its history of political tumult or done enough to alleviate poverty, improve competi- tiveness and human capital, or correct extreme inequality. But it does mean that U.S. policymakers must change the way they think about the region. Latin America is not Washington~’s to lose; nor is it Washing- ton~’s to save. Latin America~’s fate is largely in Latin America~’s hands. ¶ A failure to acknowledge how Latin Americans define their own challenges has created new political strains in recent years. It has also caused U.S. policymakers to overlook the ways in which the United ¶ States can meaningfully contribute to Latin America~’s progress—fur- thering the United States~’ own interests in the process. By truly begin- ning to engage Latin America on its own terms, Washington can mark the start of a new era in U.S.-Latin America relations.

Large-scale rapprochement not likely now but oil investment could catalyze stronger relations
Metzker 13 (6/17/2013, Jared, "Analysts Say Oil Could Help Mend U.S.-Venezuela Relations," http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/06/analysts-say-oil-could-help-mend-u-s-venezuela-relations/, JMP) WASHINGTON, Jun 17 2013 (IPS) - A shift in U.S AND more time to observe the new government and see where it is going."

Failure to rebuild ties on oil issues allows China to solidify its stronghold and use oil as a diplomatic weapon against the U.S.
Hurst 08 —- political-military research analyst with the Foreign Military Studies Office and a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve (9/8/2008, "China~’s Global Quest for Energy; Rocky U.S. Relationship with Venezuela is Playing into China~’s Energy Policy Despite The Ocean Between Them," www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=740%26pageid=%26pagename=, JMP) The U.S. rocky relationship with Venezuela is playing into China~’s hands, AND not curbed, is also searching for technology that will stretch its resources.

That triggers great power conflict with China
Salameh 11 —- international oil economist, a consultant to the World Bank in Washington, DC on energy affairs and a technical expert of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Vienna (Second Quarter 2011, Mamdouh G., International Association for Energy Economics, "China~’s Oil "Adventure" into Venezuela," www.iaee.org, JMP) China~’s Global Oil Diplomacy China~’s growing involvement in Venezuela is an integral part of its global oil diplomacy. AND and also reducing his country~’s dependence on oil exports to the United States.

And it kills U.S. heg globally
The international game of politics often plays like dominos. Columbia recently accused Venezuela of harboring rebels and this in turn lead Chavez to comment on oil exports to the U.S. If the dominos had fallen, a fourth country would have been the most likely to benefit in the long-term. China is predicted to overcome the U.S. economy one day. Its AND but for the U.S. it has a far greater consequence. As the economic playing field levels, China is eager to catch up to the AND surpass the U.S. this small measure could fuel global change.
 * Elton 10** (8/19/2010, Doug, "What would happen if Chavez cut off the US from Venezuelan oil?" http://www.helium.com/items/1926791-chavez-cut-off-the-us-from-venezuelan-oil-china-benefits, JMP)

US primacy prevents global conflict – diminishing power creates a vacuum that causes transition wars
Brooks et al 13 [Stephen G. Brooks is Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College.G. John Ikenberry is the Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University in the Department of Politics and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He is also a Global Eminence Scholar at Kyung Hee University.William C. Wohlforth is the Daniel Webster Professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth College. "Don~’t Come Home, America: The Case against Retrenchment", Winter 2013, Vol. 37, No. 3, Pages 7-51,http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/ISEC_a_00107, GDI File] A core premise of deep engagement is that it prevents the emergence of a far AND case would generate intensely competitive behavior, possibly including regional great power war).

China is using economic contacts to expand defense ties —- U.S. reengagement key to signal a firm response and deter conflict
Dowd 13 —- served as an adjunct professor and lecturer at Butler University, a researcher and administrator at leading think tanks, and a congressional aide (4/19/2013, Alan W., "Monroe Doctrine Version 2.0," http://www.legion.org/landingzone/214857/monroe-doctrine-version-20, JMP) Much has been reported about Washington~’s pivot into Asia and the Pacific. What~’s not AND There is room for only one great power in the Western Hemisphere.