Washington Beating War Drums

[Judi Lynn]

Washington Beating War Drums - Act Now, Defend The Venezuelan Revolution!

......... by Jorge Martin April 29, 2005
......... and Alan Woods
Hands off Venezuela

On the eve of Condoleeza Rice's tour of Latin America, an extremely provocative article appeared yesterday in The New York Times. Under the title of "U.S. Considers Toughening Stance Toward Venezuela" and signed by Juan Forero, the article quotes a number of unnamed "American officials" basically saying that "the Bush administration is weighing a tougher approach, including funnelling more money to foundations and business and political groups opposed to his leftist government".

Forero claims in his article that a "multiagency task force in Washington has been working on shaping a new approach, one that high-ranking American policy makers say would most likely veer toward a harder line". The article quotes another unnamed American official as saying: "The conclusion that is increasingly being drawn in Washington is that a realistic, pragmatic relationship, in which we can agree to disagree on some issues but make progress on others, does not seem to be in the cards (...) We offered them a more pragmatic relationship, but obviously if they do not want it, we can move to a more confrontational approach."

Another "high-ranking Republican aide on Capitol Hill who works on Latin America policy" (also unnamed) explains: "What's happening here is they realize this thing is deteriorating rapidly and it's going to require some more attention (...) The current look-the-other-way policy is not working."
(snip)

This renewed campaign against the Venezuelan revolution represents a serious threat, which the world labour movement will neglect at its peril. In all previous occasions in which this kind of language has been used, it has always been the preparation for military intervention. Such interventions do not necessarily take the form of an actual invasion. The fact that the US army is bogged down in an unwinnable war in Iraq makes this a problematical option at this stage. But the examples of Chile and Nicaragua indicate that there are other options: a dirty war of terrorism and subversion, the assassination of President Chavez, provocations leading to war with Colombia, which the Pentagon has already turned into an armed camp. These and many other weapons are at the disposal of Bush, Rumsfeld and Rice.
(snip)

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=45&ItemID=7754

[peacetalksforall]

1. Venezuelan revolution...they elected a President who has an agenda

to make things fair...is that what they call a revolution? All our destructionist corporations are mad because they can't call the shots in Venezuela like they have for decades.

[carnie_sf]

3. You nailed it

have you read Smedley Butler's article "I was a gangster for capitalism"?

[peacetalksforall]

5. I haven't...I didn't even know about Smedly Butler before DU. I will.

Thanks.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Here's the link to his article carnie_sf mentioned.......

http://www.doublestandards.org/butler2.html

He was one courageous Marine. He had the strength to tell the truth.

[Double T]

2. What Gives The US The Right To Meddle In Other Countries Affairs??.......

.... OOOHHH, I See, The Country Of Venezuela Is Run By The Left So * Will Use Tax Payer Dollars To Attempt An Over Throw Of The Government.
That Sounds Like Another Country We All Know.

[dbeach]

4. Ven., India,China and Russia are pals...

in the oil insanity..

and the busheviks don't like it..

if it don't benefit bush and his oil barons from TX ..its unaamerikan and anti-patriotic

How the chikenhawks LOVE WAR...Disgusting and a genuine insult to every US Veteran not the NG deserter /awol tpyes who offer incomplete records as proof of honorable discharge.

4/30/05 marks 30 yrs since end of VN War.

What did we learn???

There is no HONOR ONLY HORROR in a crime syndicate! Only HORROR!!

"http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1725065.phpChavez, who is on a four-day visit to India that began Friday, is seeking new markets to reduce Venezuela's dependence on the sale of oil to the US

India, Venezuela sign 'historic' deal on oil exploration:


Venezuela is the world's fifth largest oil producer and an active member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4123465.stm
Venezuela and China sign oil deal

China has become one of the world's major oil importers
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has offered China wide-ranging access to the country's oil reserves.
The offer, made as part of a trade deal between the two countries, will allow China to operate oil fields in Venezuela and invest in new refineries. "

[bpilgrim]

6. SHOCK-n-AWE was apparently impotent

the neoCONs are gonna need more than drums to get anyones agreement after the iraq fiasco.


http://images.globalfreepress.com

peace

[peacetalksforall]

7. Is Mz Liar back from So Am? Did she have any luck turning anyone

against Venez?

[Judi Lynn]

10. No way! She got handed her hat.

Just saw the thread today in LBN saying all her efforts have failed, and the OAS meeting in Chile which she attended yesterday produced the socialist candidate for the head of OAS as the winner, while _Bush's choice stepped back, out of the running.

It's a real loss for _Bush. It could have gone much differently if he had sought diplomacy rather than getting rough with the people's chosen leader in Venezuela, and trying to snatch him from his office, replacing him with another old oil man for the corrupt oligarchy's team.

[IntiRaymi]

8. I just don't see how Washington can do much about this...

(a) Bogged down in stupid expeditions in the middle east,
(b) Its military attaches have been expelled from Venezuela,
(c) Following from (b), a dearth of intelligence on the ground,
(d) We depend on THEM, not the other way around, we lose 14% of our oil imports, the suburbanites will find themselves stranded, unable to afford their daily routine,
(e) Chavez enjoys massive popular support, the terrain in Venezuela is therefore impossible to control,
(f) Brazil, a major power, is also looking at this very closely
(g) Add Russia, China, Iran, etc, etc.
The stakes are high, and all bets are off. Its a tit for tat world, and most of it is nothing but tat. :-)
We latinamericans are not interested in hegemonic powers, we are an ornery bunch, as you can see.

[Judi Lynn]

11. So glad to see you've joined D.U.!

You'd better believe your views will be relished here!

Welcome, hello, howareya! :hi: :hi: :hi: :woohoo:

[FlyByNight]

12. I wonder what the (false) pretext could be?

Narco-terror? Communism? Domino Theory (Threat of a Good Example)? WMD? Nuclear program? Or will the Bush Regime be brazen enough to say, essentially, that the US government must maintain the empire?

And Venezuela does possess oil...

[bemildred]

13. We're all wondering.

All of the usual bullshit doesn't seem to be getting traction.

[struggle4progress]

14. kick