WikiLeaks Reveals Regime-Change Plans for Venezuela Blackout
"President Nicolas Maduro has ordered US diplomats out of the country and is turning to allies like China to help restore the country's power grid..."
Venezuela
Wed, 2019-03-13 19:48
#502
Wed, 2019-03-13 21:25
#503
If no previous Venezuelan government ever managed-or, for that matter, ever even tried-to diversify that country's economy, why should not diversifying be held against the PSUV? Has it occurred to anyone that maybe it isn't actually POSSIBLE to diversify the Venezuelan economy?Betting your economy and society on continuous high oil prices seems very problematic.
Would it even have been worth diversifying it if that had meant treating international corporations like local governments in the US do when they bend the knee to Amazon? If it meant making unions sign no-strike pledges? If it had meant agreeing to permanent spending constraints on human services? The fact is, there's probably no way to diversify the economy of a place like Venezuela without simply abandoning any semblance of human dignity.
Could Venezuela have emulated Norway and saved the earnings they make from their petroleum industry in a sovereign wealth fund?
It depends on who was holding the funds. If they were held in any accounts that the US can control or even have an ally freeze then they would have already been taken out of play. The global oligarchy wants a compliant neo-con government to give them control over the oil. The idea that it is about the state of the economy is laughably naive.
I think Venezuela could find safe places for their funds. Maybe places like China and Russia?
Like Venezuela, the command economies of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact were devestated by inept economic management.
Wed, 2019-03-13 23:20
#504
The global financial network is a lot more centralized than most people think. When Argentina was trying to make deals to settle its debt with individual nations while there was a judgement in American court against it, it ran into the problem that it was technically impossible to send any money that didn't pass through servers under New York's jurisdiction. They were briefly considering loading ships with precious metals to send to Europe. Not to mention the renminbi's not convertible on capital accounts, even if there were a direct line from Caracas to Beijing.
Thu, 2019-03-14 00:16
#505
Would it even have been worth diversifying it if that had meant treating international corporations like local governments in the US do when they bend the knee to Amazon? If it meant making unions sign no-strike pledges? If it had meant agreeing to permanent spending constraints on human services? The fact is, there's probably no way to diversify the economy of a place like Venezuela without simply abandoning any semblance of human dignity.
Huh?
Why would Venezuela (or any other country) need to do any of that in order to avoid Dutch Disease?
Thu, 2019-03-14 08:11
#506
Cuba next?
Will Trudeau Follow Washington's Lead on Cuba?
"According to a recent article by the state-funded CBC, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland thinks Cuba's relationship to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is 'concerning'...
Thu, 2019-03-14 17:59
#507
Canada Ever More Deeply Implicated in US-Engineered Coup Attempt in Venezuela
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/03/14/cave-m14.html
'If we look independent enough, we can do things for you that even the CIA cannot do.' PM Chretien to Pres ['Dirty'] Bill Clinton.
As the political crisis in Venezuela deepens, the leading role that Canada and the Trudeau government are playing in the ongoing US-orchestrated coup becomes ever more evident...By ruling out military intervention, at this point, Canada seeks only to distance itself from the Trump administration's bellicose threats, the better to support the US-led regime change operation, and all the while laying the political groundwork for a naval blockade or outright invasion should the escalating economic sanctions - themselves an act of aggression tantamount to war - prove insufficient.
Freeland said that Canada has 'put many of the senior leaders in the Maduro regime on our sanctions list' and is now 'discussing with our partners ways that sanctions list can be expanded in order to have even more bite.' Like Washington, Canadian imperialism is determined to install a client regime in Venezuela so as to advance its predatory ambitions in Latin America..."
Thu, 2019-03-14 18:10
#508
Freeland said that Canada has 'put many of the senior leaders in the Maduro regime on our sanctions list'
Are those the sanctions that are supposedly starving babies and suchlike?
Funny that when the context is "sanctions" then everyone is dying in Venezuela. But when the context is just "Maduro's government" then everything is great! Shelves are stocked! The people are happy, and tales of misery are just right-wing propaganda.
Thu, 2019-03-14 21:47
#509
So Magoo are you alright with our government imposing sanctions that are meant to do grievous harm to the Venezuelan economy.
Thu, 2019-03-14 22:01
#510
Don’t know what Mr Magoo is going on about in his last comment?
The starvation hype being broadcast by the icm appears to be exaggerated bullsit. If this is the case then probably the same could be said about the collapsing Venezuela economy?
Thu, 2019-03-14 22:58
#511
The Imperial Racist Saga Comes Home Where It Began
https://blackagendareport.com/imperial-racist-saga-comes-home-where-it-b...
"Racialized imperialism is embedded in the white [North]American worldview, including most whites that call themselves 'progressives' - which is why so many of them support US 'humanitarian' military interventions in places like Libya and Syria, and now Venezuela. No such right exists in international law or the UN Charter, but [North] American exceptionalism trumps international law - in white [North] American imaginations.
The US empire is once again drawing a line around the planet, as George Bush did at the outset of his war against Iraq. 'Today', said Pompeo, 'The United States is drawing a clear line between those who give life to the Venezuelan people's democratic dreams.' Or, as Bush put it, 'You are with us or against us.'
The strategy this time is to assault the trading rights of all nations that do not participate in the illegal blockade of Venezuela, in an attempt to create a global regime of ILLEGALITY under the dominion of the United States. And, to outlaw socialism within that domain..."
And replace it with collaborationist faux-socialist, pro-Imperialist compradors not unlike the NDP.
Thu, 2019-03-14 23:32
#512
This reminds me of how the MSM/ICM used to lie about the USSR having a weak economy. The MSM/ICM didn’t believe that the strong economy built by Stalin, Khrushchev, and Brezhnev could last for at least a century! Pravda was proven right after all!
Fri, 2019-03-15 09:20
#513
TRNN: Guaido Claims He Can Authorize Foreign Military Interests in Venezuela
"Temir Porras, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs under Hugo Chavez says Guaido's assertion on Fox News is a violation of the Venezuelan constitution. Porras says the only way to avoid a bloodbath is a negotiated political solution..."
"Guaido wants us to believe he's president yet is so dense he fell for Russian pranksters who 'reassured him that he will be able to 'manage' frozen Venezuelan government accounts 'as head of state..."
Fri, 2019-03-15 19:47
#514
So Magoo are you alright with our government imposing sanctions that are meant to do grievous harm to the Venezuelan economy.
The starvation hype being broadcast by the icm appears to be exaggerated bullsit.
Then I guess the sanctions are moot. Do me a favour and tell kropotkin?
What sanctions do you believe that Canada is imposing on Venezuela that are doing grievous harm to their economy?
As I understand it, Canada's sanctions apply to 40 individuals, not "Venezuela".
Sat, 2019-03-16 12:25
#515
As far as I understand it, the sanctions are denying access to some critical medicines, the Government relies on from the Trans National Pharmaceuticals...Venezuela, all of us must prepare ourselves to find the alternatives, something which Cuba was clever enough to prepare for!
Sun, 2019-03-17 07:02
#516
'Sanctions Are WAR. Sanctions are War' (and vid)
https://twitter.com/ChuckModi1/status/1107014112431755264
"Brian Becker (ANSWER) explains what sanctions really mean for Venezuela..."
Venezuela's Guaido Readies To Open Up Oil Industry
https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1106209006371131392
"Unelected US-appointed coup leader Guaido is trying to privatize Venezuela's oil industry. This was obvious from the beginning but corporate media outlets mostly ignored it until now."
Sun, 2019-03-17 07:52
#517
The August Plot to Kill Maduro With Drones
https://twitter.com/Jeff_Kaye/status/1106403280521957376
"US officials met with assassins. They 'wanted to get information and then we asked for things in return. They took notes on this and we aked if they would be able to help..."
Sun, 2019-03-17 17:16
#518
Chomsky on Venezuela etc...
"The idea is to totally strangle the country..."
Tue, 2019-03-19 16:47
#519
Wed, 2019-03-20 08:41
#520
Project Censored: Abby Martin at Social Justice Week (and podcast)
https://www.projectcensored.org/abby-martin-at-social-justice-week/
"Abby Martin describes and explains US corporate media's parroting of Trump administration's propaganda as Trump works to topple Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. She also asks why almost no Democratic Party office holders are speaking out against the attempted coup either."
"The hypocrisy is grotesque..."
Wed, 2019-03-20 08:54
#521
Venezuelan Opposition Takes Control of Diplomatic Properties in US
https://twitter.com/amalsaad_lb/status/1108287494943059969
"This is batshit crazy and a violation of the most basic norms of international law. The UN Charter's principle of non-intervention and the Vienna Convention's principle of inviolability of diplomatic premises. At most, states can cut diplomatic ties with govts they don't recognize."
Wed, 2019-03-20 08:56
#522
I think the meeting of the two fascists yesterday, Trump and Bolsonaro, plus Bolsonaro's visit to the CIA, is confirmation of a military operation in the near future.
Wed, 2019-03-20 14:42
#523
I fear you may be right, seems the "soft" coup attempt is not working.
Wed, 2019-03-20 15:24
#524
I think the US is preferring to have Venezuela implode without the US having the burden of a military intervention.
Thu, 2019-03-21 08:38
#525
Telesur English Twitter Account 'Restricted'/Suppressed
https://twitter.com/telesurenglish
CitiGroup to Sell Venezuelan Gold After Caracas Misses Buy Back Deadline Due to US Asset Grab
"...Venezuela declared a 'force majeure', arguing that US sanctions and asset seizures prevented the country from paying back the loan on time, but the bank reportedly refused to extend the grace period."
Thu, 2019-03-21 10:39
#526
Trump & Bolsonaro Join Forces to Back Regime Change in Venezuela & to Attack Media as “Fake News”
quote:
MARIA LUÍSA MENDONÇA: I think that, basically, Brazil gave out many things and didn’t receive anything back. For example, Bolsonaro promised that now U.S. citizens will not need a visa to travel to Brazil anymore, and that won’t be the case for Brazilians coming to the U.S., which is a big change in foreign policy. Brazil has a history of reciprocity in its foreign policy, and independent of the government. It’s part of the Brazilian diplomacy.
Also, Brazilian diplomacy has a history of resolving conflicts through a peaceful process of negotiation. And the discourse about Venezuela is very different than how Brazil has dealt with conflicts in the region historically. Venezuela is being used as an external enemy in Latin American countries as a way to help elect far-right political leaders. That was the case of Bolsonaro in Brazil and also in Colombia. And that’s very dangerous, because a war in Venezuela will have catastrophic consequences in the region.
Another issue that they both talked about is looking at Venezuela as a country that needs humanitarian aid. But that doesn’t make any sense. For example, President Maduro offered to buy agricultural products from Brazil, so they don’t need aid from Brazil. Also, Venezuela is a very strategic partner for Brazil, because Brazil exports industrial products to Venezuela. So, even from a pragmatic perspective, it doesn’t make any sense not to have good relationships with Venezuela and other Latin American countries. Historically, Brazil always had good relationships with Latin American countries.
quote:
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: I wanted to ask you about President Bolsonaro’s family connections to militia groups in Brazil and the fact that you have a sitting president who some of his family members have been connected to groups—for instance, the killing of Marielle Franco was linked to one of those militia groups. Could you talk about that?
MARIA LUÍSA MENDONÇA: Yes. Bolsonaro’s son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who was a state legislator in Rio de Janeiro, employed the mother and the daughter of one of the heads of this militia group that is being accused of killing Marielle Franco. Also, the two suspects who were arrested in connection to the case, one of them is a neighbor of Bolsonaro. They live in a very luxurious condo in Rio. They are both neighbors, although he’s a former police officer, so how he was able to live in such an expensive condo, that’s something to be investigated. Also, one of the suspects, his daughter dated one of Bolsonaro’s sons, as well. And Bolsonaro himself appeared in a photo with one of the suspects. And he himself and his sons also have praised members of these militia groups in the past. So there are several connections that need to be investigated.
quote:
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: I wanted to ask you about Bolsonaro’s stances on immigration, something with which he has a lot in common with President Trump, although, ironically, he agreed to lower visa restrictions for Americans coming into Brazil, make it easier for Americans to come to Brazil, but at the same time he’s anti-immigrant. Could you talk about that?
MARIA LUÍSA MENDONÇA: Exactly. He said that immigrants and the Brazilian immigrants coming to the U.S. don’t have good intentions. So, he’s attacking Brazilians here in this country. And, you know, he got a lot of criticism for this. So, it’s unthinkable that a head of state would criticize its own people in a foreign country and at the same time break this tradition of Brazilian democracy of reciprocity, meaning that now U.S. citizens won’t need a visa to go to Brazil, but that won’t be the case for Brazilians coming here.
quote:
MARIA LUÍSA MENDONÇA:And now the latest is that he is also negotiating with Trump to allow the U.S. to have a spaceship base in Alcântara, which is the Northeast region, that is also close to the Amazon. It’s a very strategic region of the country. And in 2002, that agreement was not approved by Congress, because it would allow military presence of U.S. officers in Brazil, and the Brazilians won’t have access to this space anymore, or to have—you know, even to enter the base. So, it would be the U.S. taking over part of Brazilian territory, in a region where we have hundreds of Afro-Brazilian rural communities, the quilombola communities, that have the same rights to land as indigenous people. And it’s already a struggle for them to have access to land in that region.
quote:
AMY GOODMAN: Well, as we wrap up, we have 20 seconds. But do you think Bolsonaro would engage in a military invasion against Venezuela to topple Maduro?
MARIA LUÍSA MENDONÇA: I think that some sectors of the military in Brazil oppose that, and that there would be a catastrophic consequence if they move into that. So I think it’s important to have resistance here in this country, to understand that the discourse about Venezuela is very similar to the discourse about Iraq. At the end, it’s about, you know, lying, misinformation, to promote a war that, at the end, is about oil.
Thu, 2019-03-21 19:03
#527
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba said on Thursday the United States was moving special forces closer to Venezuela as part of a covert plan to intervene in the chaotic South American country using the pretext of a humanitarian crisis.
https://journal-neo.org/2019/03/21/vladimir-putin-as-mad-max-and-the-impending-oil-disaster/
Fri, 2019-03-22 01:57
#528
'Armed Terrorist Cell': Venezuela's Interior Minister Confirms Arrest of Guaido's Aide
"...Robert Marrero was taken into custody on Thursday as part of a government raid against a 'terrorist cell' that plotted to carry out attacks against top Venezuelan politicians the Minister of the Interior Nestor Reverol said in statement. John Bolton, US President Donald Trump's national security advisor, immediately denounced Marrero's arrest as 'illegitimate' and stressed that the move will 'not go unanswered..."
Fri, 2019-03-22 02:41
#529
'Appalled by the News Guaido's Chief of Staff Illegally Detained by the Maduro Regime' - FM Freeland
https://twitter.com/dimitrilascaris/status/1108919247508508672
"I too am appalled that Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland allies herself with fascists and misognynists like Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, and is openly fomenting a military coup against a president who won elections deemed free and fair by international observers."
Fri, 2019-03-22 03:51
#530
I think the US is preferring to have Venezuela implode without the US having the burden of a military intervention.
Yes I mentioned this before in this thread. I believe that Venezuela is too geographically close to the US for heavy military use for the US war pigs to consider
Doing so runs too great a risk of weaponized violence spilling back into the US.
Many here on babble are under this impression that a violent revolution or some kind of coup is not ever possible (great example of how many babblers are brainwashed by the icm!) in the US. But it is! Out of the g7, the US probably has the greatest risk of a falling into a long violent revolution rebellion.
Heavy US military intervention in Venezuela, similar to Iraq Afghanistan Syria Libya could cause a backlash or spill back into the US. May even have some kind of effect in Canada?
Fri, 2019-03-22 04:02
#531
Bolsonaro is playing with fire here! If the Brazilian people see him helping the US military strike Venezuela, and there isn’t some kind of miraculous surge in the Brazilian economy lifting millions out of poverty, coupled with an equally miraculous plummet of the horrifying violence in Brazil, then Bolsonara and his servants of twisted insanity are gone.
Sun, 2019-03-24 21:07
#532
Russian Troops, Aid Arrive In Venezuela After Delivering Red Line Warning To Trump...from zerohedge
no doubt, the plan is to erode the survivability of the Government via a combination of economic sanctions and mercenary warfare.....
possible given the weak economic prospects for the country....
Sun, 2019-03-24 21:30
#533
Abrams was likely brought on by Trump regime hardliners for an encore – for something similar to what went on in the 1980s against Venezuela.
On Saturday, Maduro said Venezuelan security forces “captured the head of the Rastrojos gang in Carabobo state (with links to Guaido) and he is giving testimony…about who hired him and why he was brought to Venezuela,” adding:
Arrested and detained Guaido henchman Roberto Marrero revealed the scheme in custody.
“The American imperialism wants to assassinate me,” Maduro stressed, adding: “We have just foiled a plot that the diabolic puppet (Guaido) personally directed to kill me. We have proof, but they could not prevail.”
Venezuela’s Minister of Communications Jorge Rodriguez explained that the (Trump regime) plot involved smuggling Central American hitmen into Venezuela, adding:
Other planned operations include assassinations of targeted Bolivarian officials, sabotaging public transportation networks, disseminating anti-government fake news through Venezuelan corporate media and social media, inciting labor sector unrest, assaulting the presidential palace, and other terrorist actions – waging US proxy war on Bolivarian rule.
Rodriguez stressed that anti-government paramilitary elements will be hunted down, rounded up, and arrested “wherever they are.”
Venezuela’s Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas said telephone communications between elements plotting violence were intercepted.
He named Guaido, convicted coup plotter Leopoldo Lopez under house arrest, opposition political figure Freddy Guevara, and others, plotting anti-government terrorist actions.
Foiling the Trump regime’s latest coup plot doesn’t end its efforts to topple Maduro and eliminate Bolivarian social democracy.
More of the same is likely to continue indefinitely – at least as long as Trump remains in office....Stephen Lendman
Mon, 2019-03-25 11:07
#534
Peace loving Russians sending soldiers and mercenaries to protect the palace.
Phew, that'll protect the country from evil Trump (who's apparently int he pockets of Russia?).
Tue, 2019-03-26 10:51
#535
"Weird to be concerned about 'Russian influence' in Venezuela at the same time you're trying to install a bloodthirsty coup there..."
https://twitter.com/AbbyMartin/status/1110336274278211585
It's because Russia already disrupted their bloodthirsty coups before in Crimea, E Ukraine, Syria and now Venezuela. Bad, evil Russia. You should be good American ass-lickers like Canada.
Sat, 2019-03-30 11:29
#536
Eva Bartlett: US is Manufacturing a Crisis in Venezuela So That There Is Chaos and 'Needed' Intervention (and vid)
"Venezuela's is America's current target for mass destabilization in the hope of installing a puppet government..."
Sun, 2019-03-31 10:47
#537
"Here's what happened when Juan Guaido left his bubble and entered a working class barrio (El Valle) in Caracas..."
https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1112131499464294400
Mon, 2019-04-01 21:54
#538
Russia's FM Spokesperson Zakharova Fires Back at Trump
"US is arrogant and in COMPLETE violation of International law. 'An attempt to dictate to sovereign states how they should conduct relations between them..."
Sun, 2019-04-07 17:34
#539
Why Venezuela's internet shuts down every time Juan Guaido speaks
None of it is true, of course. Everyone knows the internet has to be shut down periodically for cleaning.
Perhaps iyraste1313 can add this to his list of CBC grievances.
Sun, 2019-04-14 20:53
#540
US Military Attack On Venezuela Mulled By Top Trump Advisors and Latin American Officials at Private DC Meeting
Guaido coup regime tools went to a secret meeting 'assessing' military options in Venezuela at a weapons industry funded stink tank.
Mon, 2019-04-15 21:39
#541
"Senator Sanders calls Venezuela's Maduro 'part of axis of corrupt authoritarianism' and govt a 'fraudulent', 'failed regime'. Says 'We want to establish democracy there.' Disturbing echoes of Bush terms. Will Sanders simply offer 'progressive' face for some imperial interventionism?"
Thu, 2019-04-25 10:55
#542
WATCH : "CIA torture whistleblower John Kiriakou gives an insider's perspective on CIA coups at the [Washington] Venezuelan Embassy, where activists are gathering to protect it from an expected seizure by the US government."
https://twitter.com/MintPressNews/status/1121190922874523650
Canadian activists should perhaps similarly prepare themselves for the possibility of a Freeland ordered seizure in Ottawa.
'Juan Guaido - NO NO NO!'
Thu, 2019-04-25 13:21
#543
'Arresting Members of The Embassy Protection Collective Would Be Illegal'
https://twitter.com/codepink/status/1121449430660464641
"We told the State Department that if they enter the Venezuelan Embassy, they are violating international law and if they arrest members of the Collective for trespass or unlawful entry, these will be unlawful arrests."
https://twitter.com/codepink/status/1121449430660464641
WATCH: Heavy Secret Service Presence at Venezuela DC Embassy
"An 'Embassy Protection Collective' of US activists are continuing to occupy the Venezuelan Embassy of Washington DC in order to prevent its seizure..."
Fri, 2019-04-26 23:05
#544
Hands Off Venezuela! - DC Embassy (and vid)
https://twitter.com/answercoalition/status/1121835024196751360
"Urgent: Share Now FULL MOBILIZATION of all people of conscience to join us Sat 4.27 at 2:00 PM at the Venezuelan embassy in Washington DC. We urgently request that all who can stay overnight on Sat and/or all or part of Sun."
"Protest outside the DC Venezuelan Embassy, where activists have been camping out in anticipation of raid by the US government."
https://twitter.com/MintPressNews/status/1121416774954692608
WATCH NOW!
Tue, 2019-04-30 07:39
#545
Guaido calls for coup.
https://twitter.com/AP_VideoAlert/status/1123188484611739648
Tue, 2019-04-30 08:09
#546
Attempted coup apparently underway
Tue, 2019-04-30 08:29
#547
8 of the top 10 trending hashtags on twitter are in support of the coup. Clearly, the U.S. government is engaging in full internet propaganda.
Tue, 2019-04-30 08:56
#548
Looks like another fizzle...
"This is the moment for those military officers in Venezuela to fulfill their constitutional oath and defend the legitimate interim President Juan Guaido in this effort to restore democracy. You can write history in the hours and days ahead."
https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1123165355420024832
"We denounce before the international community the support of the Columbian government for this new coup attempt in Venezuela. From Washington and Bogota, all the unsuccessful unilateral actions of the last months in Venezuela have been planned..."
https://twitter.com/telesurenglish/status/1123202203580342272
Supported by Ottawa. Watcha gonna do Canucklheads?
Tue, 2019-04-30 09:50
#549
US-Backed Guaido Calls For Venezuela Military Uprising in Video (and vid)
"Juan Guaido has called for a military uprising. Guaido had earlier claimed on Twitter that he was meeting with 'the key military units' of the Venezuelan army as 'the beginning of the final phase of Operation Freedom..."
LIVE: From Caracas as US-backed Juan Guaido announces military uprising in Venzuela
https://www.rt.com/on-air/457898-venezuela-caracas-military-uprising/
Live from La Carlota military base in Caracas.
"Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez reports that apart from 'two dozen soldiers' on a highway in east Caracas [see live feed], the entire country is in absolute normalcy."
https://twitter.com/venanalysis/status/1123209739075239937
Check above twitter feeds for updates
Tue, 2019-04-30 10:01
#550
Venezuela's Guaido Launches Military Uprising to Oust Maduro
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/venezuela-guaido-final-phase-maduro-1.5116327
Canada does its bit for 'manifest destiny.'
Tue, 2019-04-30 10:10
#551
I guess no news is good news.