From the same guy:
For Dobson, the sanctions aren't exactly as tough as Bolton would like one to believe, and they won't really have much of an impact on Venezuelan society.
Huh. Maybe there's another reason for the problems on the ground, and it's not U.S. citizens being expressly forbidden from buying gold from Nicolas Maduro and forty other individuals.
Maduro Calls on UN to Help Break US-Led Blockade
https://twitter.com/AbbyMartin/status/1063571281579134976
"US govt cynically exploits the poor in Venezuela to implement debilitating sanctions that prevent poor people from accessinng vital medicine. Like Allende, CIA's strategy is to 'make the economy scream' by preventing recovery and breaking society from within..."
US govt cynically exploits the poor in Venezuela to implement debilitating sanctions that prevent poor people from accessinng vital medicine.
The U.S. isn't blocking medication from reaching Venezuela. In fact, they're one of many countries offering aid that the government is rejecting.
Of course they just want to help. Pull the other one it's got bells on...
Blockading Venezuela: The Linchpin of the US Strategy of Aggression
https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/14111
"Sanctions now form a key part of what is a strategic plan by the US to ruin the Venezuelan economy, says Tim Young."
Venezuela Under Siege: The West's Ongoing Campaign Against President Maduro (and audio)
https://soundcloud.com/user-918579032/venezuela-under-siege-the-wests-on...
"This week's GR News Hour attempts to deconstruct some of the messaging around the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Our first guess, author and foreign affairs critic, Yves Engler."
Of course they just want to help. Pull the other one it's got bells on...
Think what you will of the U.S. But what about the other 49 countries?
And why would Venezuela refuse aid, NDPP? If people are dying from lack of medical supplies, and some country wants to give them some medical supplies, why not take them? Why are you pretending that the sanctions are the reason they don't have them?
The question that keeps coming up, Magoo, is this: if you have ANY knowledge of the historic U.S. role in Latin America-a role that has almost always been solely to be an oppressor and a crusher of hope-why would you ever TRUST anything any U.S. government did regarding any situation in Latin America? Knowing that the States sees everything south of the Mexican border(and, for all practical purposes, Canada as well) as its economic empire, why would you ever give the U.S. government any benefit of the doubt at all about anything it does in the Americas? How could you think a historic oppressor could ever act in non-oppressive ways? I ask that as a U.S. citizen who knows the ugly imperialist truth about what my country has done to the Americas, over and over and over again.US govt cynically exploits the poor in Venezuela to implement debilitating sanctions that prevent poor people from accessinng vital medicine.The U.S. isn't blocking medication from reaching Venezuela. In fact, they're one of many countries offering aid that the government is rejecting.
The question that keeps coming up, Magoo, is this: if you have ANY knowledge of the historic U.S. role in Latin America-a role that has almost always been solely to be an oppressor and a crusher of hope-why would you ever TRUST anything any U.S. government did regarding any situation in Latin America? Knowing that the States sees everything south of the Mexican border (and, for all practical purposes, Canada as well) as its economic empire, why would you ever give the U.S. government any benefit of the doubt at all about anything it does in the Americas? How could you think a historic oppressor could ever act in non-oppressive ways? I ask that as a U.S. citizen who knows the ugly imperialist truth about what my country has done to the Americas, over and over and over again.
^^^^^^ What Ken said ^^^^^^^
Thanks, U. But could I trouble you slightly to add the words "as its economic empire" right after the parenthesis? I meant to write those words, but forgot to add them. Thanks.The question that keeps coming up, Magoo, is this: if you have ANY knowledge of the historic U.S. role in Latin America-a role that has almost always been solely to be an oppressor and a crusher of hope-why would you ever TRUST anything any U.S. government did regarding any situation in Latin America? Knowing that the States sees everything south of the Mexican border(and, for all practical purposes, Canada as well) why would you ever give the U.S. government any benefit of the doubt at all about anything it does in the Americas? How could you think a historic oppressor could ever act in non-oppressive ways? I ask that as a U.S. citizen who knows the ugly imperialist truth about what my country has done to the Americas, over and over and over again.
^^^^^^ What Ken said ^^^^^^^
if you have ANY knowledge of the historic U.S. role in Latin America-a role that has almost always been solely to be an oppressor and a crusher of hope-why would you ever TRUST anything any U.S. government did regarding any situation in Latin America?
I didn't say "trust the U.S.". In fact, I literally said:
Think what you will of the U.S. But what about the other 49 countries?
And my point was that the U.S. is not, as claimed, preventing medicine from reaching Venezuela. Whether they have South America's best interests in mind or not has really nothing at all to do with that.
Edited as requested, Ken Burch.
Thanks. I sometimes write faster than I think.Edited as requested, Ken Burch.
US Senator Rubio Pushes for Venezuela to be Placed on US State Terrorism Sponsors List
"Discussions had 'moved forward' in recent days, thanks to Rubio's insistence."
Business As Usual: Washington's Regime Change Strategy in Venezuela
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/11/23/business-as-usual-washingtons-re...
"For those who have been following Venezuela closely in recent years there is a distinct sense of deja vu regarding US foreign policy towards that South American nation. This is because Washington's strategy of regime change in Venezuela is almost identical to the approach it has taken on Latin America on numerous occasions since WWII.
The strategy involves applying economic sanctions, extensive support for the opposition, and destabilization measures that create a sufficient degree of human suffering and chaos to justify a military coup or direct US military intervention. Because this strategy has worked so well for the US for more than half a century, our elected leaders see no reason not to use it regarding Venezuela..."
Trump Considering to Put Venezuela on 'State Sponsor of Terrorism' List and Intensify Sanctions (and vid)
https://therealnews.com/stories/trump-considering-to-put-venezuela-on-st...
"According to reports in Washington Post and Reuters, the Trump administration is actively exploring the option of placing Venezuela on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list, to further intensify sanctions that have already caused significant damage to Venezuela's economy. We speak to Steve Ellner about the sanctions' effects."
Municipalism In Venezuela Offers A Pathway Beyond Authoritarianism
The deep social and political crisis in Venezuela has polarized global opinion. Some on the left cheer the social welfare programs that former President Hugo Chavez accomplished, while for many advocates of free market capitalism, Venezuela is the new Soviet Union exemplifying that socialism cannot work. Both of these accounts are oversimplified. They also overlook a key dimension that could help overcome the current disaster.
The Venezuelan revolution has two poles: an authoritarian, bureaucratic croynism fighting against a bottom-up leftism. But it was the latter that lifted Chavez into power in 1998 after years of struggles in the barrios.
Another dimension often overlooked by those advocating a capitalist counter-revolution is the fact that pre-1998 Venezuela was a deeply unequal state where social and economic problems ran deep.
Despite its current socialist direction, Venezuela is suffering from an economic crisis that was capitalism's making. Its over-dependence on oil has ruined the economy, most recently because of the drop in the price of curd. But the problems with this Dutch disease go deeper, since the oil industry effectively overwhelms the country's other productive ventures.
A key example: since oil money encouraged food imports, Venezuela's own food production dropped. Now that the oil price has plummeted, the country faces food shortages.
The fact is, the solution to these crises can be found at the very origins of the revolution: in bottom-up communalism.
Venezuela has more than 1,000 communes: geographical areas bonded by their historical identity, and in many cases comprising indigenous communities.
In the northwestern plains and mountains, El Maizal is one of these successful communes. A cooperative of around 2,000 families of farmers, El Maizal has, since 2009, taken over 600 hectares of previously unproductive farmland to grow corn and raise livestock.
Through sharing of communal profits, the commune built itself houses with electricity, invested in schooling and health services, and created its own cooperatives, including a dairy and one that distributes cooking fuels.
Decisions at El Maizal are made by citizen assemblies in communal councils, formed by around 250 families each. In turn, these councils send representatives to a parliament composed of communes, where representatives must rotate their roles every two years.
The communes give people sovereignty through self-governance, participation and direct democracy. This happens through committees, for instance, ones focusing on women's rights or providing universal water access. Communes provide themselves with social banking. And land can be held in three ways: privately, by the state, or democratically by the people.
Communes in Venezuela have already empowered people, but their full potential remains unrealized. In 2006, under Chavez, the commune system was rolled out as a decentralizing national plan. But officials in the top-down party, and state, have often resisted the project....
..more from above
quote:
Communes have faced opposition from Venezuela's governing politicians, and the current economic, political and social crises have reduced the impetus for creating more of them. The decentralization of Venezuela's communes is also limited in scope when compared with what has been accomplished in Rojava and Chiapas. For instance, many of Venezuela's communes do not have financial sovereignty and receive funding from the state.
El Maizal is one commune that has moved away from this dependency, but it has not been easy. And the conflict clearly illustrates the fight occurring within the Venezuelan revolution.
Angelo Prado is an organizer who sees the commune as a means to transform Venezuela. Quoted in Venezuela Analysis, he said: "The commune, with its dynamic of production and participation, can also help free us from our dependence on private capital and on government patronage. So long as, the 'cells' are built across the country and we also work to develop people’s political conscience, a new culture and new relations between communities that prioritize the common good, then we can make strides towards this model of society that comandante Chávez proposed."
Judging by his supporters, Prado isn't alone in suggesting that the Venezuelan government has overlooked communes. In December 2017, he ran for office in local government on a commune platform and won. The government has since refused to recognize his victory, while the commune has vowed to fight in court until their candidate has been declared mayor.
Another issue that has put El Maizal in a Catch-22 situation is the country's nationalized seed company, which won't sell seeds to the communes due to shortages, cronyism and bureaucracy. However, the company sells to illegal wholesalers, and El Maizal has been going to them for their product.
Due to the many contentious issues, the state has sent troops to intimidate the commune and even burnt fields of crops as reprisal.
The battle between communes and the new establishment is also shown in Jose Pio Tamayo Commune, also in northwest Venezuela. Like other successful communes, it has united with a worker-run factory, and managed to take over a brewery when it was due to be liquidated. Nepotistic state officials unsuccessfully tried to block the takeover.
The communes have grown more in rural areas than urban. One exception is Commune El Panal 2021 near the capital, Caracas. The commune's cooperative activities include sugar-packing, baking, textiles and growing crops. It also has plans to create its own local currency to counter the skyrocketing inflation and develop self-administration beyond government control. Again, these moves have been resisted by Venezuela's national politicians.
Another commune epitomizing the struggle is Commune Negro Miguel in northern Venezuela, which has occupied land for farming plantains. Both the old land-owning elite and the new socialist-branded elite are so far resisting this people-power.
It seems fitting that before his death, Hugo Chavez said, "La comuna o nada", "the commune or nothing," to describe the future of the country. He created a rallying call for bottom-up leftists against the elites of Venezuela, be they capitalists or party officials. The contradiction goes a long way to sum up Venezuelan politics – for Chavez's call could also help stop the collapse of Venezuelan society itself.
'Bolton is Preparing Plan for My Assassination with Help From Bogota' - Venezuela's Maduro
"Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused US National Security Advisor John Bolton of preparing a plot to murder him, and also has called out Columbian leader Ivan Duque as Bolton's accomplice.
'John Bolton is leading a plan to unleash violence and conduct a coup to introduce a transitional government' in Venezuela, Maduro said at a press conference which was broadcast live on his Facebook..."
The United States Are Preparing a War Between Latin-American States
http://www.voltairenet.org/article204400.html
"...On 1 November 2018, Security Advisor John Bolton declared in Miami that Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela formed a 'troika of tyranny'. Then Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis, affirmed on 1 December, before the Reagan National Defense Forum, that elected President Maduro is an 'irresponsible despot' who 'has to go'."
Affaire ExxonMobil: Nicolas Maduro publishes his evidence
VOLTAIRE NETWORK | 10 JANUARY 2019 
According to the US transnational ExxonMobil, on 22 December 2018 the Venezuelan navy expelled two ships that were carrying out prospecting works in the territorial waters between Venezuela and Guyana. Venezuela and Guyana are disputing to which of them these waters belong. On the faith of this communiqué, Guyana, followed by the United States and finally the Lima Group have condemned this military action by Venezuela.
According to Para 9 of the Lima Group’s Declaration on 4 Jan 2019, the thirteen states that are still members of this organization have denounced the military provocation of Venezuela which threatens peace and security in the region [1].
Then on Wednesday 9 January, Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, presented proof that his country’s territorial waters were violated on 22 December 2018. He denounced this as an international manoeuvre against Venezuela.
He has published videos and recordings of conversations between the captain of one of the two ships at issue and the Venezuelan Navy. In this exchange, the captain gives his precise location and he admits being in waters that are internationally recognized belong to Venezuela. The captain provides an authorization given only by the government of Guyana which had fallen just the day before. The Venezuelan Navy then invites him to leave Venezuela’s territorial waters.
This evidence negates the communication of ExxonMobil, the main supplier of oil to the Pentagon and the company previously led by Rex Tillerson (the former US Secretary of State of the Trump Administration) [2]. This evidence also robs the United Kingdom of any justification for its proposal to install a military base in Guyana. Finally it delays the war between the Latin American states that the Pentagon is preparing [3].
Venezuela has given the Lima Group just two days to withdraw para 9 of its declaration.
Babblers who are interested need to read the Lima Group's declaration in its entirety. Our government is directly interfering in a sovereign nations internal politics and threatening war over another non-incident. I don't remember Trudeau running on a foreign policy plank that included regime change for countries we don't like the leadership of. Where was the outcry from Canada demanding the US elections be overturned given the allegations from credible sources of widespread voter suppresion and irregularities in many places.
Canada is captive to the oil and gas industry and that industry wants to develop the disputed oil as the planet burns, so our politicians threaten war-like sanctions and actual war to get it. Western liberal democracy proves its true worth, once again. There are no sovereign nations in our brave world only enemies of the US/NATO oligarchies and countries captive to those interests.
The governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Santa Lucia, faced at the beginning of 10 January 2019 of the illegitimate presidential period of the regime of Nicolas Maduro (2019-2025) in Venezuela, declare as follows:
I’m trying to find a way to argue this comment but can’t
Our government is directly interfering in a sovereign nations internal politics and threatening war over another non-incident. I don't remember Trudeau running on a foreign policy plank that included regime change for countries we don't like the leadership of. .........
Organized! we must challenge our Government´s violations of international law...thanks for your comments!
Chrystia Freeland: 'Canada Rejects the Legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro's new Presidential Term'
https://twitter.com/dimitrilascaris/status/1083904964445954048
"Canada's government sells deadly weapons to the monstrous Saudi autocracy. It heaps praise on Israel's apartheid regime. It supports coup regimes in Honduras and Ukraine. But it 'rejects the legitimacy' of Venezuela's validly elected, left-wing president..."
If the analyses I trust are more accurate, then there’s closer to only 50% of what we thought was there. This is a big problem for a nation without any sort of a plan, especially one that has used the shale output to convince itself that oil abundance is always going to be a part of the landscape.
Beyond the significance of not having an energy strategy, there’s the more immediate predicament of how a nation up to its armpits in debt, and sinking rapidly, is going to fare when the great output boom stops and then heads into reverse.
High levels of debt and rising energy costs are a terrible combination.
We’re placing that collision within the next three years. Are you prepared for that?...from Peak Prosperity
...does this explain the preparations for war in Venezuela?
Chrystia Freeland: 'Canada Rejects the Legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro's new Presidential Term'
https://twitter.com/dimitrilascaris/status/1083904964445954048
"Canada's government sells deadly weapons to the monstrous Saudi autocracy. It heaps praise on Israel's apartheid regime. It supports coup regimes in Honduras and Ukraine. But it 'rejects the legitimacy' of Venezuela's validly elected, left-wing president..."
Here's a more in depth comparison along those lines:
Good one! Yes, evidently Maduro bad, Poroshenko good.
The 'Lima Group' Pretense To Be An International Body is Irresponsible and Dangerous
https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/01/11/the-lima-group-pretense-to-be-an...
"Canada is leading an illegitmate splinter group of OAS countries, self annointed as The Lima Group, to push for regime change in Venezuela."
If America Stopped Destroying the World, the Bad Guys Might Win
https://twitter.com/Attaphia/status/1084304414511386624
"While the US government is openly broadcasting its intention to keep interfering in Venezuela's political system, it continues to scream bloody murder about alleged Russian interference in its own democratic process two years ago..."
Exactly why Justin Trudeau’s Canadian government is so hot under the collar about Maduro is unclear.
From Above:
"Ottawa wants to stake out a position in Latin America. In taking on Venezuela, Ottawa has allied itself not only with the new rightist government in Brazil but with other countries in the 14-member Lima Group, such as Argentina and Peru. Tellingly, Mexico - one of the group's original members - refused to sign it...Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is looking for areas in which it can demonstrate to the US that it is still a staunch ally. And Maduro is a convenient target."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/15/politics/trump-juan-guaido-venezuela/inde...
President Donald Trump is considering recognizing Venezuela's opposition leader as the legitimate president of the country, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN, a significant move that would increase pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump is weighing recognizing the country's National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the legitimate Venezuelan leader after Maduro, a socialist authoritarian who has presided over Venezuela's political and economic crisis, was sworn in last week for a second term.
Since Hillary Clinton got more votes and Trump benefitted fromforeign interference, Venezuela should recognize Nancy Pelosi as the legitimate president.
Ya WWWTT is commenting in this thread so it must have something to do with China
I suspect that the Chinese growing influence into South America has the US imperialists realing back on it’s heels
Jorge Arreaza: Is there a Coup in Progress?
https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/14239
"The United States [Canada,] and allied nations in Latin America are ratcheting up pressure on Venezuela in what appears to be a coordinated effort to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from office. The US-led effort targeting the oil-rich nation of Venezuela dates back two decades, since the late Hugo Chavez became president in 1999. In November, John Bolton accused Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua of being part of a 'troika of tyranny'. On Thursday I had a chance to interview Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. 'They want a war in Venezuela. And it's not going to happen..."
Armed Venezuelan Soldiers Detained in Caracas For Trying to Stage 'Uprising' Against Maduro (and vid)
https://www.rt.com/news/449340-venezuela-soldiers-arrested-uprising/
"Hit by hyperinflation, the devaluation of the national currency and a shortage of basic necessities, Venezuela struggles to cope with a prolonged crisis exacerbated by the hardline stance [and sanctions] taken by Washington against the government of Nicolas Maduro..."
© Reuters / Adriana Loureiro/ Joe Skipper
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered a revision of diplomatic relations with the US after the White House has openly urged the opposition to unite and overthrow the “dictator with no legitimate claim to power.”
Ahead of the mass street protests against Maduro on Wednesday, called by the opposition-led National Assembly, US Vice President Mike Pence released a video message reaffirming unwavering support for a regime change in Venezuela. Denouncing Maduro as “a dictator with no legitimate claim to power” who has “never won the presidency in a free and fair election,” Pence declared that time has come for the Venezuelan people to take the matters into their own hands, in a speech peppered with Spanish phrases.
“The United States supports the courageous decision by Juan Guaidó, the president of National Assembly, to assert that body’s constitutional powers, declare Maduro a usurper and call for the establishment of a transitional government,” Pence said.
Slamming the speech as shameless US meddling in his country’s internal affairs, Maduro in response promised his supporters to announce specific measures against Washington in the coming hours.
“Enough of aggressions and conspiracies, enough is enough!” said Maduro, rejecting the “imperialist interventionism” and open calls for coup d'état that he called unprecedented in the 200-year history of US-Venezuela relations.
Turmoil in Venezuela
Freeland: Canada Rejects the Legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro
Poodle turns tricks on cue
Venezuela - US Again Tries Regime Change
"Which is likely to fail..."
Venezuela breaks off diplomatic relations with the U.S. after the U.S. and others, including Canada, recognizes opposition leader as interim president.
Pop quiz: Which Canadian political party has come out against the Freeland/Trudeau/Trump support for regime change? NOTE: Answers are restricted to parties which have some elected representation somewhere.
Calling Svend Robinson...?
Canada Will Recognize Juan Guaido President of Venezuela
https://twitter.com/dimitrilascaris/status/1088195414455652352
"It's disgusting that Justin Trudeau's government [and opposition?] is recognizing as President of Venezuela an opposition figure who has never won a presidential election..."
If this stands, we can assume Guaido will start executing leftists almost immediately, and immediately go on a massive privatization and austerity spree-none of which can improve the lives of Venezuelans. He will also do nothing on economic diversification, because no previous Venezuelan government has ever tried to diversify(and because diversification was only made an issue as a means to attack Chavez and Maduro).
Canada's position 'is a clearcut violation of the OAS Charter to which Canada is a contracting party.' - International lawyer, Francis Boyle
Ok so Maduro is still president? And this Juan character isn’t? But he declared himself the president?
Sounds like treason. I suspect Juan will be arrested soon if not already.
If he’s not then he probably has enough support to prevent it. That could mean it could grow big enough to overpower Maduro?
Would be nice if there was more info beyond feeble “tweets”. So just going by tweets, I’m going to say that Maduro is still in power, and this whole fiasco is some kind of new style of “soft coup” by the US and Canada using confusion to somehow manipulate their desired outcome.
I bet Hillary Clinton wishes she'd thought of that. Just declare yourself president, and all the countries that'd prefer you be president recognize you.
US Refuses to Withdraw Diplomats From Venezuela, Vows 'Appropriate Action' if They're Harmed
New Coup Attempt in Venezuela Led By Juan Guaido
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/New-Coup-Attempt-in-Venezuela-Led-by...
Lol! The US is refusing to call back their diplomats. Sounds like they are spies. They will probably be deported now, and or are now jailed and possibly charges with security issues
Special note about Kovrig and Spavor would be that if Canada is so quick to recognize a quacks claim to be the president of Venezuela, then China probably has Canadian so called diplomats under a microscope. Using “diplomats” to do dirty work is nothing new
I bet Hillary Clinton wishes she'd thought of that. Just declare yourself president, and all the countries that'd prefer you be president recognize you.
Any word from the NDP as to whether they're supporting regime change or not?
Lol! The US is refusing to call back their diplomats. Sounds like they are spies. They will probably be deported now, and or are now jailed and possibly charges with security issues
Any word from the NDP as to whether they're supporting regime change or not?
