Venezuela evicts US military

[seemslikeadream]

Last Update: Thursday, May 13, 2004. 7:54am (AEST)
Venezuela evicts US military
Venezuela has asked the US military mission to leave liaison offices at armed forces bases in the country, US Ambassador Charles Shapiro said on Wednesday.

The request appeared to signal a further downgrading of military links between the two countries, whose relations have become strained under the government of left-wing President Hugo Chavez.

It was sent to the US Embassy on Friday by Defence Minister General Jorge Garcia.

Asked why the request to vacate the offices was made, Gen Garcia told Reuters, "Because they are still there."

In August 2001, Venezuela's government asked the US military mission to leave the Fuerte Tiuna site it had occupied for more than 50 years.

more
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1107158.htm

[Vladimir]

1. Kick! n/t

[seemslikeadream]

2. United States out of the "quagmire" of Colombia's internal conflict

Venezuela's Public Defender German Mundarain denounces US interference in paramilitary case

VENPRES reports: Public Defender German Mundarain has stated categorically that there is well-founded historical evidence to suspect that the US State Department participated in the paramilitary operation frustrated last Sunday by state security agencies.


The maximum defender of human rights said that he’s convinced that “there are (local) groups who are conniving with traditional terrorist and criminal groups.” He added that he is fed up with knowing how paramilitary groups operate in the world, principally in Colombia, almost always with funding from drug trafficking; they are permanently dedicated to developing terrorist acts.

He added that “The US State Department needs to explain its complicity with this modus operandi of attacking governments in order to change the peoples of the Third World. Up to now, we’ve been able to show evidence that that has been the State Department’s repeated behavior, and it leads us to believe that they will continue acting the same way.”

Mundarain commented that the paramilitary incident is extremely grave, and he noted several occurrences within and outside the hemisphere that demonstrate the classic behavior of US intelligence towards governments that disagree with US foreign policy objectives, interests and purposes.


more
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=21128



May 13, 2004
Bush Administration Seeks to Expand US Military Personnel in Colombia

by Elanor Starmer
Last month the Bush administration announced plans to deepen U.S. involvement in Colombia by doubling the number of U.S. troops and private military contractors stationed there. The move came in the midst of an energetic public-relations campaign by the U.S. State Department and the Colombian government. Both administrations attempted to paint U.S. policy in Colombia as an assured success. However, statistics show a stable presence of cocaine on the U.S. market, and there's evidence of continued ties between members of the Colombian military and brutal right-wing paramilitary groups.

Four years ago the U.S. Congress voted overwhelmingly to pass a $1.3 billion aid package known as Plan Colombia. The support of moderate Democrats and Republicans hinged on a number of safeguards included in the legislation, which they hoped would keep the United States out of the "quagmire" of Colombia's internal conflict. Congress has restricted the number of U.S. troops and private military contractors allowed on the ground to 800 total and limited their mission to anti-drug efforts, legislating that no intelligence, training, or equipment be used to assist Colombia in its war against left-wing insurgents. Congressional supporters also promised that the U.S. commitment in Colombia would last no more than five years.

Human rights groups, drug reformers, and some members of Congress warned repeatedly that military aid would pour fuel on the flames of the long and brutal conflict involving the Colombian government forces, right-wing paramilitary allies, and left-wing insurgents. Many critics, including current House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, also argued that attacking drug production at the lowest level of the supply chain – the poor farmers who grow drug crops in Colombia's rural areas – was an inhumane approach that would ultimately prove futile.

Despite these grave concerns, Plan Colombia was signed into law. The Republican congressional leadership touted it as a reasonable policy that was limited in scope but which would help bring an end to America's drug problem. Following September 11th, however, the policy began to transform. The Bush administration and congressional allies broke promise after promise made in 2000, and skepticism of the policy grew in Congress.

more
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/starmer.php?articleid=2565


Venezuela Is Evicting U.S. Attachés From Bases
By REUTERS

Published: May 13, 2004


ARACAS, Venezuela, May 13 - Venezuela has asked the United States military mission to leave liaison offices at armed forces bases in the country, the American ambassador, Charles Shapiro, said Wednesday.

The request appeared to signal a further downgrading of military links between the countries, whose relations have become strained under the government of President Hugo Chávez. It was sent to the American Embassy on Friday by the defense minister, Gen. Jorge García.

American attaché staff members were asked to leave offices at Fuerte Tiuna armed forces headquarters in Caracas and at other military installations, Mr. Shapiro said. That would mean they would have to work from the embassy or other rented premises.

Mr. Shapiro declined to say how the move would affect military cooperation with Venezuela, which has decreased since Mr. Chávez took office in early 1999.

more
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/13/international/americas/13vene.html



Venezuelan president says U.S. military knew about plot as 14 more arrested

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused a senior U.S. military commander Wednesday of knowing about a purported conspiracy to send Colombian paramilitary fighters to overthrow his government.

Although he acknowledged he didn't "have proof at this moment," Chavez said he is "completely sure" U.S. army Gen. James Hill, the commander of U.S. military operations in Latin America, "knew about the plan that was being prepared against Venezuela." Chavez stopped short of accusing Hill of involvement.

Chavez said his government thwarted a sophisticated international conspiracy with the arrest this week of more than 80 suspected members of Colombia's right-wing paramilitary groups, most of them at a farm outside the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

Authorities detained 14 more alleged paramilitaries near Caracas on Wednesday, Chavez announced.


more
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2004/05/12/457157-ap.html


Venezuela Asks U.S. Military to Leave Base Offices
Wed May 12, 2004 04:02 PM ET

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela has asked the U.S. military mission to leave liaison offices at armed forces bases in the country, U.S. Ambassador Charles Shapiro said on Wednesday.
The request appeared to signal a further downgrading of military links between the two countries, whose relations have become strained under the government of left-wing President Hugo Chavez. It was sent to the U.S. Embassy on Friday by Defense Minister Gen. Jorge Garcia.

U.S. defense attache staff members were asked to leave offices at Fuerte Tiuna armed forces headquarters in Caracas and at other military installations, Shapiro said. That would mean they would have to work from the embassy or other rented premises.

Shapiro declined to say how the move would affect U.S. military cooperation with Venezuela, which has decreased since Chavez took office in early 1999.


more
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=512314...

[Dhalgren]

6. The peoples of the world must rise up and unite

to defeat the American Imperial beast. The US will surely lose and go down in infamy and defeat, but how many innocent lives and and much wanton destruction will have to be endured before the US gets its just come-upance?

[TahitiNut]

3. "50 years"?

Strange, I've never noticed the military of other nations scattered all over the US ... whay does the US think it's OK to have our military stationed in 130+ other countries?

"Why?"??? I think "Because they are ... there" is an excellent answer.

[Minstrel Boy]

5. yeah, that was a great answer.

US military response, muttered under its breath: "Veel be back."

[Malva Zebrina]

9. to protect and defend our freedoms

nt

[snooper2]

4. That's clasic!

"One night in the 1880's, a man named Cesario Chavez crossed the border from Chihuahua, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas. He was fleeing the hardships of his homeland to make a better life in the United States for his family. Decades later, his grandson, Cesar Chavez, would make a stand in the fields of California to fight for a better life for all farm workers."

http://www.sfsu.edu/~cecipp/cesar_chavez/cesarbio5-12.htm

[dArKeR]

7. Guantanamo Bay US base is more of a slap in the face than any other US

base in the history of the world. Imagine North Korea having a base in New York Harbor. Are Americans that arrogant or clueless?

[Imperialism Inc.]

8. "relations have become strained under the government of left-wing Chavez"

Ummm, no. Relations have become strained (WITH EVERYONE!) under the radical right-wing administration of G.W. Bush , thank you very much.

[Toucano]

11. Thank you!

That's much more accurate.

[AP]

13. Why do you want Bush out of the White House?

Because he's still there.

[seemslikeadream]

15. Thanks for the direction MiddleMen

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[Just Me]

10. Wow. They are really turning up the heat.

I hope they don't endure any form of retaliation. We have a wickedly vengeful administration in rule.

[seemslikeadream]

12. Red Rover Red Rove let Chavez come over

The game Aristide will be playing in South Africa.

[Karenina]

17. Petrol EUROS, anyone?

:evilgrin:

[Judi Lynn]

14. Bush's ambassador, Charles Shapiro could not be a larger insult

if he tried. He's right on target, doing _Bush's nasty will, mocking the democratically elected Venezuelan President even as he works to destabilize his government. He's profoundly dishonest.

Maybe people remember that the moment it appeared they had bumped off Hugo Chavez, and the new "boss" staggered forth, our ambassador Charles Shapiro was witnessed rushing out to throw his arms around the little new sham official, who proceeded to dismantle the national assembly, the supreme court, and pitched the constitution, I believe:

According to Duncan Campbell, writing in the April 29 Guardian, Venezuelan national assembly member Roger Rondon accused US ambassador to Venezuela Charles Shapiro, and two US embassy military attaches, of involvement in the coup. Rondon claims that the attaches — James Rogers and Ronald MacCammon — had been at the Fuerte Tiuna military headquarters with the coup leaders during the nights of April 11-12. “We saw leaving Miraflores palace, all smiles and embraces, with the dictator Pedro Carmona ... satisfaction was obvious. Shapiro's participation in the coup d'etat in Venezuela is evident”, Rondon told the Guardian.

http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2002/497/497p20.htm


Coup "president" Pedro Carmona

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Loathesome, disprespectful apology from "Ambassador" Charles Shapiro concerning his triumph of tastlessness and gracelessness at one of his laughable soirees:

U.S. Ambassador in Venezuela Apologizes for Chavez Puppet Act
Caracas, May 16 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela Charles Shapiro apologized to the government for hosting a press conference that featured a female impersonator and a puppet of President Hugo Chavez.

Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel yesterday called Shapiro ``irresponsible'' for having a press conference that ended with a performance in which the impersonator played a female Venezuelan television reporter talking to the puppet and mimicking Chavez's voice.

``I apologize to those who were offended by that show,'' Shapiro said on Union radio. ``It was an act with very partisan political content.''

http://adam.antville.org/stories/394927/

(As an aside, can you IMAGINE what _{George Bush} would do if he learned the ambassador from another country here had entertained his American guests with an event MOCKING the very President of the country where he was a guest?)


Shapiro

[seemslikeadream]

19. Victims file charges in US courts, and in the World Court in the Hague

International court cases to be brought against US Ambassador to Venezuela


VHeadline.com correspondent Philip Stinard writes: On April 11, in Caracas, the Venezuelan group ASOVIC (Association of Victims of the April 11, 2002 coup against Hugo Chavez) announced that they would file charges in US courts, and in the World Court in the Hague, against US Ambassador to Venezuela, Charles Shapiro, for his involvement in sniper shootings at the Llaguno Bridge during the coup at the Miraflores Palace that left several people dead, including a journalist.

According to a statement released by Merly Morales, a spokeswoman for the lawyers representing ASOVIC, there are “elements for conviction, which in our judgment, serve as evidence to ask for the opening of an inquiry before US courts and the appropriate international tribunals” against Ambassador Shapiro. Such evidence ranges from “special courses in assault given by US authorities to members of the Caracas Metropolitan Police Phoenix Group and Chacao and Baruta municipal police in the months of October 2001 and with greater frequency in March and the first days of April 2002, to conversations recorded in the Center of Operations of the Metropolitan Police on April 11 of that year (2002) between Commissioner Forero and Ambassador Shapiro during the hours of greatest intensity of shots fired by members of the aforementioned police institution (Caracas Metropolitan Police) against people concentrated in the areas immediately surrounding the Miraflores Palace.”
In addition, there is also evidence “presented by the (Chavez) administration relating to the presence in Venezuelan territory of US ships on April 11, as well as (US) military personnel in the military installations at Fort Tiuna that would lead one to believe that there was an act of State committed against the constitutional government of Venezuela that directly affected members of our association that were injured and killed.”

"It is important that these be made known, and I come here to make this (tape) public because I don’t want to be involved in the cover-up of criminal activities. On the tape, it is clearly evident how the Metropolitan Police participated in the crucial moment of the 11th of April, and several things that they have tried to cover up will be revealed.”

more
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=17335

[Judi Lynn]

20. It's great seeing a Shapiro photo. He's revealed in all his snarkiness.

From the posted article:

As the tape plays, one can hear a conversation between various police officials, who indicate that they have taken various roof tops of buildings in the center of Caracas, in the vicinity of the opposition march. One can also hear the voice of a person who identifies himself as “Sun 1” ... who in this case is Metropolitan Police Director Vivas ... talking to “Sun 2” ... Lazaro Forero, current Commander of this police force ... asking for updates. Forero informs Vivas that the “talibans” (referring to the pro-Chavez demonstrators on Llaguno Bridge), are shooting back at them, and the police can’t leave their current location. He adds that, “the Phoenix Group must arm itself with long-range rifles” to neutralize those people.

Navas continues: “This is a 120 minutes tape and I selected the most relevant parts, but I must say that you can hear that they were stationed on the rooftops of the buildings on Baralt Avenue. Some people have said that, hours before, in the morning or at noon on April 11, there were supposedly snipers ... and if that theory were true, how is it that you hear that the Metropolitan Police are on these same roofs and that there are no people being detained? That shows that it was the police who were on the roofs, (not snipers). Furthermore, the police indicate that they were being shot at from below. All of this is clear evidence that the (Metropolitan Police) institution was loaned to a sector of the population, in this case the opposition.”

Later, one can hear on the tape a voice asking someone to call “Zeus 32 Americana” ... the code word for US Ambassador to Venezuela, Charles Shapiro. Nava continues “this raises suspicion or calls attention to the fact that, in this crucial moment, when they should be paying more attention to what is happening on Baralt Avenue, they ask to speak to someone who has nothing to do with this ... this is interference in the internal affairs of the country.”

“All of this will be public proof, well-known and widely communicated, that any prosecutor can use officially to initiate a criminal investigation; and we can demonstrate that, truly, some members of the (police) institution were involved in the situation that occurred on April 11; and with the deaths and injuries, we are looking at several crimes. Commissioners Forero, Vivas, and Delgado must know that the police ... by acting in a disproportionate manner ... entering forcefully to neutralize people who at that moment were not using their guns or presenting any resistance, increasing the activity of an institution that, rather than reestablishing public order, subverted public order.”

For any DU'er who speaks Spanish well enough:
The tapes can be heard at: http://rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=28&t=1742

[Say_What]

16. I remember when they were asked to leave--I'd assumed they were gone

Surprise, surprise. The US was obnoxious enough to outstay their welcome and defy the kind request by the Venezuelan government to vacate. Why doesn't that surprise me?

[Tatiana]

18. Good. It's about time we got the hell out. n/t

[donsu]

21. kick

nt

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

22. You go Hugo!!!

Stand up for what is right!!!!!!!!

[seemslikeadream]

23. So you'd better get up, stand up, stand up for your right

"Get up, Stand up"
Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right (3 times)
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight

Preacher man don't tell me heaven is under the earth
I know you don't know what life is really worth
Is not all that glitters in gold and
Half the story has never been told
So now you see the light, aay
Stand up for your right. Come on

Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight
(Repeat)

Most people think great God will come from the sky
Take away ev'rything, and make ev'rybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You would look for yours on earth
And now you see the light
You stand up for your right, yeah!

Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight
Get Up, Stand Up. Life is your right
So we can't give up the fight
Stand up for your right, Lord, Lord
Get Up, Stand Up. Keep on struggling on
Don't give up the fight
We're sick and tired of your ism and skism game
Die and go to heaven in Jesus' name, Lord
We know when we understand
Almighty God is a living man
You can fool some people sometimes
But you can't fool all the people all the time
So now we see the light
We gonna stand up for our right

So you'd better get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight
Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight.