Venezuela war clouds - US regime change target

[outsider]

Whilst the 4th Fleet is to be 'reactivated', after deactivation after WW2, we don't have to worry, because it will be used
''principally in the struggle against drug trafficking and in theatre of war security cooperation missions...”

Well, we know that the Drug Cartels are very well armed and dangerous, but reactivating the 4th fleet??? At least now we God-fearing, peace-loving folk can sleep soundly in our beds, knowing that the 4th Fleet will defend our kids from hash and crack cocaine....

“This Does Not Increase Military Presence”

The official in charge of external relations for Southern Command Naval Forces is Lieutenant Myers Vásquez.

The BBC asked him why the Fourth Fleet was re-deployed in this moment.

“In reality, the U.S. naval forces of the Southern Command have been acting as a fleet, so from the operational point of view in the region, nothing has changed. Basically this is about changing the name of reality,” assured the official.

He added that the measure is meant to better align the units with the maritime strategy of the United States.

“We will have a base working in conjunction with other components of the Southern Command,” the military spokesperson indicated.

He denied that this necessarily increases the United States military presence in the region and presented the reactivation of the Fourth Fleet as an administrative type measure.

“We will continue the operations that we have been carrying out in the last two years, principally in the struggle against drug trafficking and in theatre of war security cooperation missions,” he specified.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3427 (US 4th Fleet reactivated after 58 years, and to patrol South & Central America and Caribean)

At the same time, moves to carve off rich areas of Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia build apace (as in the Congo, in 1960, when mineral-rich Katanga was persuaded to 'seccede' by Belgians, supported by 'Neutral' (in a pig's eye) Hammarskjold's UN and the US, leading to 'Civil War' and brilliant Nationalist Prime Minister Lumumba's brutal torture and murder)...

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3418 (seccesionary tactics in Venezuela and Ecuador) and
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3416 (and Bolivia)

And, in development in Raul Reyes' laptop saga, Interpol enters the fray:

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3448 (Raul Reyes' laptop & Interpol)

[outsider]

Good article from Global Research, with Eva Gollinger giving robust support to Hugo Chavez. Pity the 'West' doesn't follow Venezuela's example, charging banksters and throwing corrupt judges in jail (and of course, much more!):
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=16604

[outsider]

Groan!! No apparent interest in this subject!

Try and get your heads around this issue of Hands Off Venezuela's newsletter:

http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/newsletter_jan_2010.htm

[satya]

another coup attempt at the democratic chavez? I hope this us state sponsored hatred doesnt result in more civilian death by police like it did last time.

[Disco_Destroyer]

probably because I posted this elsewhere
http://weaselnews.blogspot.com/

plus the public at large have seemingly grown used to war

[outsider]

Latest from Venezuela - 2 students killed and 21 police injured by bullet wounds - US winds up the pressure:

http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/revolution_faces_crucial_battles.htm

Worth watching Aaron Russo's interview, where he tells that Nick Rockefeller predicted 9/11, subsequent Afghanistan and Iraq invasions, the 'War on Terror', followed by intervention in Venezuela, mass microchipping, and other abominations:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5420753830426590918#

[Disco_Destroyer]

Cindy Sheehan has been in town and just interviewed-
Chavez and surprise visitor Morals keep eyes peeled for it

[Disco_Destroyer]

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/vsc-international/topics

VENEZUELA UNDER THREAT

EVENT: Defend Social Progress Against the New US Militarization of the Region
Saturday March 27, 11.30am- 4.30pm (Registration from 11.00) at Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London, W1T 5DL (Nearest tube: Warren Street.)
Register Online Today here!

Ambassador Samuel Moncada and other Venezuelan speakers
Colin Burgon MP, Chair, Labour Friends of Venezuela
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Vice-Chair, APPG on Latin America
George Galloway MP
Rod Stoneman, Executive Producer, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Iain Bruce, Telesur Advisor & Journalist, Author, The Real Venezuela & former BBC Caracas Correspondent
Diana Raby, Author, Democracy and Revolution
Dr Francisco Dominguez, Head of Latin America Studies, Middlesex Uni
Hugh O'Shaughnessy
Bruce Kent
Jennie Bremner, Unite the Union Assistant General Secretary & VSC Chair
Moz Greenshields, UNISON NEC
Karen Mitchell, Thompsons Solicitors
Plus videos & messages from progressives from across Latin America


The Venezuelan Government has transformed the lives of millions through progressive policies in the last decade. Today, this progress is under threat from a US militarization of the region that is encircling the country, including an agreement between the US & Colombia concerning new military bases & the revival of the 4th fleet.
April marks the 8th anniversary of the temporarily successful coup against Chávez. The recent coup in Honduras, followed by the exposure of coup plots in Ecuador & Paraguay, has confirmed that right-wing forces are again seeking to roll back progress across Latin America; threatening peace, democracy & sovereignty.
International support is essential - this event is a great opportunity to learn more about developments & how we can build solidarity. You can register online here!

Registration is only £5/£4 (concessions) for the day. You can register online today by clicking here or send cheques with the attached registration form payable to Venezuela Solidarity Campaign c/o Unite the Union, 35 King Street, London, WC2E 8JG to reserve a place.
Registration also entitles you to a discounted ticket to the fundraising dinner for the Venezuela Under Threat campaign in the evening at La Piragua in Islington with speeches from special guests including Ambassador Samuel Moncada and Unite Assistant General Secretary Tony Burke– contact the office on 0207 420 8963 or info@venezuelasolidarity.co.uk for tickets and information.
Organised by the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and supported by the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

[outsider]

Gracias, DD. I would have picked it up, but hadn't till now.

[satya]

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5420753830426590918&ei=WBeVS 7LJNJfS-AabsMnTAg&q=aaron+russo+&hl=en&view=3#

bilderberg want to take out chavez next.......

[Disco_Destroyer]

UPDATE: Venezuela Surrounded by 13 US Military Bases, Analysis & Further Event Details

VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN, SPECIAL VENEZUELA UNDER THREAT UPDATE, MARCH 2010

To show your support for VSC – by joining or making a donation – click here !

In the run up to the Venezuela Under Threat event on March 27, we have received a number of requests for further information on the US militarization of the region. Please find below articles on different aspects of this and the latest details for the 27th including new speakers (you can register online here ).In the words of Ignacio Ramonet, “at the present time Venezuela is surrounded by 13 US military bases.. as well as the aircraft carriers and warships of the 4th fleet.. Would the people of the world allow a new crime against democracy to be carried out in Latin America?”

1) HUGH O’SHAUGHNESSY: Independent Article: US builds up its bases in oil-rich South America
2) JOHN PILGER: Media Propaganda Preparing Ground for Intervention
3) EVA GOLLINGER: US Threats Escalating As Intelligence Report Classifies Venezuela as “Anti-US Leader”
4) MARK WEISBROT: Guardian Article: The US Game In Latin America
5) TELESUR REPORT: Recording proves Venezuelan sovereignty violation by the USA
6) VENEZUELA UNDER THREAT : New Speakers Announced/ Registration details

1) HUGH O’SHAUGHNESSY: Independent Article: US builds up its bases in oil-rich South America
Here Hugh O’Shaughnessy (a speaker at Venezuela Under Threat ) argues that “The US is massively building up its potential for nuclear and non-nuclear strikes in Latin America and the Caribbean.” He concludes by pointing out that “From the Caribbean to Brazil, political opposition to US plans for 'full-spectrum operations' is escalating rapidly.” Read the full piece here .

2) JOHN PILGER: Media Propaganda Preparing Ground for Intervention
In a recent piece, John Pilger addresses the ongoing media distortion concerning Venezuela, arguing that "Media propaganda has laid the ground for what may well be Obama's next war. In December, researchers at the University of the West of England published first findings of a ten-year study of BBC reporting on Venezuela. Of 304 BBC reports, only three mentioned any of the historic reforms of Hugo Chávez's government, while the majority denigrated his extraordinary democratic record, at one point comparing him to Hitler.” Read the full piece here .

3) EVA GOLLINGER: US Threats Escalating As Intelligence Report Classifies Venezuela as “Anti-US Leader”
In this piece, Eva Gollinger argues that the US-Colombia military agreement signed in October authorizing US occupation of seven military bases in Colombian territory and all other installations as required “is seen as the largest US military expansion in Latin American history,” arguing that “although the two governments publicly justified the agreement as an increased effort to fight drug trafficking and terrorism, official US Air Force documents revealed that the US would conduct “full spectrum military operations” throughout South America from the Colombian bases.” Read the full article here .
In another piece she addresses the recent report from Admiral Dennis Blair, National Director of Intelligence before the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Analysing a section entitled Latin America Stable, but Challenged by Crime and Populism, she explains that “a large portion is dedicated to Venezuela arguing that ’Hugo Chávez has established himself as one of the US’s foremost international detractors, denouncing liberal democracy and market capitalism and opposing US policies and interests in the region.’” She further argues that “"what this intelligence report really means is that operations against the Chávez government will substantially increase this year [and] the report will be used to justify a larger budget allocation to intelligence missions against Venezuela.” Read the full piece here .
Venezuela Ambassador to the US Bernardo Alvarez Herrera responded, saying “Unsubstantiated reports like [this] one .. were used by the Bush administration to set the stage in the public opinion for the 2002 overthrow of President Hugo Chávez’s democratically elected government”. Read his full response here .

4) MARK WEISBROT: Guardian Article: The US Game In Latin America
“US interference in the politics of Haiti and Honduras is only the latest example of its long-term manipulations in Latin America, which have implications for Venezuela, Brazil and others” argues Mark Weisbrot here.

5) TELESUR REPORT: Recording proves Venezuelan sovereignty violation by the USA
A recent broadcast by teleSUR of a conversation between Venezuelan Maiquetía Airport's control tower and a US pilot, supports the accusations presented by Venezuelan authorities concerning the US violating its sovereignty. Venezuela recently announced that “on May 17, 2009, a US war aircraft, took off from Curacao, violated our aerial territory and the Orchila Air Base fly exclusion area.” More here .

6) VENEZUELA UNDER THREAT EVENT: New Speakers Announced/ Registration details

VENEZUELA UNDER THREAT

EVENT: Defend Social Progress Against the New US Militarization of the Region
Saturday March 27, 11.30am- 4.30pm (Registration from 11.00) at Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London, W1T 5DL (Nearest tube: Warren Street.)
Register Online Today here!

Ambassador Samuel Moncada and other Venezuelan speakers
Colin Burgon MP, Chair, Labour Friends of Venezuela
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Vice-Chair, APPG on Latin America
George Galloway MP
Rod Stoneman, Executive Producer, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Iain Bruce, Telesur Advisor & Journalist, Author, The Real Venezuela & former BBC Caracas Correspondent
Kate Hudson, CND Chair & active in the anti-war and anti-foreign bases campaigns internationally
Diana Raby, Author, Democracy and Revolution
Dr Francisco Dominguez, Head of Latin America Studies, Middlesex Uni
Hugh O'Shaughnessy
Bruce Kent
Jennie Bremner, Unite the Union Assistant General Secretary & VSC Chair
Moz Greenshields, UNISON NEC
Karen Mitchell, Thompsons Solicitors
Cat Goss, Student Friends of Venezuela
Helen Yuill, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign
Plus videos & messages from progressives from across Latin America

The Venezuelan Government has transformed the lives of millions through progressive policies in the last decade. Today, this progress is under threat from a US militarization of the region that is encircling the country, including an agreement between the US & Colombia concerning new military bases & the revival of the 4th fleet.
April marks the 8th anniversary of the temporarily successful coup against Chávez. The recent coup in Honduras, followed by the exposure of coup plots in Ecuador & Paraguay, has confirmed that right-wing forces are again seeking to roll back progress across Latin America; threatening peace, democracy & sovereignty.
International support is essential - this event is a great opportunity to learn more about developments & how we can build solidarity. You can register online here!

Registration is only £5/£4 (concessions) for the day. You can register online today by clicking here or send cheques with the attached registration form payable to Venezuela Solidarity Campaign c/o Unite the Union, 35 King Street, London, WC2E 8JG to reserve a place.
Registration also entitles you to a discounted ticket to the fundraising dinner for the Venezuela Under Threat campaign in the evening at La Piragua in Islington with speeches from special guests including Ambassador Samuel Moncada and Unite Assistant General Secretary Tony Burke– contact the office on 0207 420 8963 or info@venezuelasolidarity.co.uk for tickets and information.
Organised by the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and supported by the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

[outsider]

[satya]

anyone who thinks america is a champion of democracy is a fool.
Their continued actions against true democracy are very evident.

[Pugwash]

[Disco_Destroyer]

http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/transcript-of-cindy-she ehans-interview-with-hugo-chavez/

March 26, 2010

Transcribed by Regina Freitag

Original Translation by Eva Golinger

Interviewer: Cindy Sheehan

[outsider]

[Disco_Destroyer]

‎46 US Warships Plus 7,000 US Marines On Route To Costa Rica?
www.welovecostarica.com
‎46 US Warships Plus 7,000 US Marines On Route To Costa Rica?

http://www.welovecostarica.com/public/46_US_Warships_Plus_7000_US_Mari nes_On_Route_To_Costa_Rica.cfm

[outsider]

Marines disembark in Costa Rica, for 'drug-trafficking' control:

http://machetera.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/why-are-marines-disembarking -in-costa-rica/

[outsider]

Venezuela situation going critical...

To save time, I'm posting part of an email I sent out:

Venezuela situation is going critical; US has surrounded it with massive forces; Nick Rockefeller told Aaron Russo that after 'Afghanistan, Iraq, & 'War on Terror',
US would deal with Venezuela (this was 11 months BEFORE 9/11!!!).

To save time, I'm copying part of email I sent to a Venezuelan Solidarity group in UK ('Hands off Venezuela'):

There is a film by Oliver Stone, 'South of the Border', opening Friday 30th July (this Friday) till Thursday 5th August, with Chavez as well as others, playing at the Empire Leicester Square:

https://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/8590812

It might be a good idea to prepare either a one or two-sided A5 leaflet and leaflet the cinemagoers, informing them of developments (recent re-commissioning of US Fourth Fleet after it had been mothballed after WWII, and sending it to patrol the Carribean and Pacific coasts; leasing of 7 bases from Colombia's US puppet leaders; machination in Dutch Antilles; and 'anti-drug task force' landing (and off-shore) in Costa Rico, as well as Colombia's US-backed and inspired bellicosity.
Once again, banging my head against a brick wall, I'll ask those of you who haven't watched it, to watch the online video 'Aaron Russo: Historic Interview'.

Also, info below.

UK-wide filming of Oliver Stone's 'South of the Border' from tommorow:
http://southoftheborder.dogwoof.com/screening/

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5524

http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2010/07/bolivia-calls-unasur-meeting -to-solve.html

This stuff really is urgent; please try to publicise situation.

[Disco_Destroyer]

Yup not looking good:-


Name:ALERT TO ALL TZM/TVP SUPPORTERS: Concerning Venezuela:
Now is a critical time. We must voice to the world that there is a way to surpass these predatory stages of humanity, that there is a way to peacefully unite a species. When injustices glare the strongest so do the solutions. We must speak out, come together in solidarity to support the Venezuelan people and the TZM Chapter located there. It is now time to spring-launch The Zeitgeist Movement out of the embryonic stages of development. Privacy type:Open: All content is public.
Contact Details

Email:the.zeitgeist.movement.now@gmail.com
Website:http://thezeitgeistmovement.com
Recent news

News:Attention All,

Mounting evidence suggests that Venezuela is about to get hit hard. We need to support the recently organized Venezuelan ZM Chapter and the entire country. We have to expose this unjust war that's in the brewing. As The Zeitgeist Movement WE MUST oppose this with ear deafening repugnance AND SHOW the world that there is a way to end this tyrannical merry-go-round-cycles of escalating of aggression, human exploitation, and environmental degradation.

Sources indicate that the United States in collusion with Columbia is about to launch a pre-emptive attack on Venezuela. Colombia recently gave Venezuela a 30 day ultimatum to "stop supporting terrorist actions". (1) Hugo Chavez ( the president of Venezuela) claims has received intelligence that US is planning to go to war with Venezuela and will use Columba as the catalyst, and in turn Chavez ordered his troops to the highest state of combat readiness. (2)

Chavez has been on the top Washington's hit-list for a long time. His talk about democracy in Latin America and his refusal to genuflect to U.S. empire is too dangerous. The CIA during the Bush administration tried taking him out by staging a coup in 2002, but failed. (3) And in Feb. 2010, the U.S. National Directorate of Intelligence (NDI) classified Venezuela as “Anti-U.S. Leader” in the annual threat assessment, and this was right after Chavez threatened to cut the US from its oil in the near future. Venezuela has one of the last remaining large oil reserves. (4)

Also its critical to know that ever since Ecuador's president Rafael Correa decided to terminate Washington's use to Ecuador's Mantra military base, (the last one open to the US in S. America) (5) US and Colombia concluded a secret deal to permit the US to use seven military bases in Colombia in July 2009. (6)

The official purpose is to counter narcotrafficking and terrorism, "but senior Colombian military and civilian officials familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press that the idea is to make Colombia a regional hub for Pentagon operations," AP reported. Allowing the United States to have swift control over possible threats. There are reports that the agreement provides Colombia with privileged access to US military supplies. Colombia had already become the leading recipient of US military aid.(7)

AP also cited an April 1999 document of the U.S. Air Mobility Command, which proposes that the Palanquero base in Colombia could become a "cooperative security location" (CSL) from which "mobility operations could be executed." It quite transparent that this was setup for US attacks against Venezuela. (7)

And within the past couple weeks, the Costa Rican government authorized 46 US war ships & 7,000 marines into their maritime and land territory under the guise of "fighting drug trafficking" but it seems likely that of this mobilization could be used for a pre-emptive attack on Venezuela. (

Also the purpose of the 10,000 US military personnel occupying the Port Au Prince airport in Haiti now becomes clear. (9) It is to neutralise any air cover that Cuba decides to offer to the defense of Venezuela. Raul Castro, the president of Cuba's Council of Ministers assured Cuba’s full support for Venezuela's right to defend itself from threats and provocations, saying that nobody can ever doubt “who Cuba will side with,” in case of any problem. (10) The earthquake merely provided a convenient cover for an operation many years in the planning.

Chavez is too dangerous for US interests. He is disrupting the United States hegemony on the oil. He has long been a vehement critic of western oppression. He has to go. Columbia has supplied no evidence for terrorist operations in Venezuela because there is no evidence. These are the same tactics used to illegally invade Iraq and Afghanistan. What they mean by "terrorist" is the poor and disenfranchised of Latin America who are disrupting their plans for further rape and pillage. If you have been listening the US has been beating this war-drum louder and louder leading up to this 30 day warning for Venezuela and the US has shown they are quite serious about silencing Chavez. As you read this the US is supplying Columbia with the weapons while mounting marines and battle ships. Its success will stabilize the US economy and stave off the double-dip recession that is otherwise likely and maintain its rule over the last drops of oil left.

*** Now is a critical time. We must voice to the world that there is a way to surpass these predatory stages of humanity, that there is a way to peacefully unite a species. When injustices glare the strongest so do the solutions. We must speak out, come together in solidarity to support the Venezuelan people and the TZM Chapter located there. It is now time to spring-launch The Zeitgeist Movement out of the embryonic stages of development.

*** SOURCES AT BOTTOM

IT'S NOW TIME TO AMP UP OUR PRESENCE.

1.) Email, call, or walk into your local news headquarters and or radio stations. Pressure them to start covering this now, exposing what it really is before the US can instill its propaganda, convincing the public that its actions against Venezuela are needed to fight this fake war on terror. Send them the above statement with the sources attached. Even if you do not live in the US.

Explain to them that you are a member of The Zeitgeist Movement, the advocacy arm of The Venus Project, which has a way to finally ending these cycles of war and exploitation. Give them information on this direction.

2.) Email and or call the following people and anyone else you think is progressive on this issue.

A.)

Eva Golinger is a Venezuelan-American attorney from New York. She's been on top of this trying to expose this big time. Contact asking her, informing her about TZM and what we can do and how we can help her expose this. I'm sure she has got some good ideas.

Her email: evagolinger@gmail.com

She has a FB page.

Her twitter: http://twitter.com/evagolinger

Her website is: http://www.chavezcode.com/

B.)

Pressure John Perkins to write an article about this in the Huffington Post or to speak out in everyway. Whats going on here fits everything he has written about. He has made alot of money for his three books talking about the messed up stuff he did while as an EHM. Tell him that is he has really changed, if he is truly sincere he'll quite staying in the safe zone i.e., talking about events after they have happened and start putting his head on the chopping board by exposing them before they have happened. Tell him that remaining silent in times when people are in trouble and only talking about them when its safe disqualifies himself from being taken seriously.

Here are 3 emails that affiliated in someway to him. Flood them with emails.

pegbooth@boothmedia.com
info@dreamchange.org
danielsphotography@mac.com

C.)

Second person. Noam Chomsky.

Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus)
Linguistic Theory, Syntax, Semantics, Philosophy of Language

Linguistic Articles (pdf)
Linguistic Books (pdf)

Mailing Address:
MIT Linguistics and Philosophy
77 Massachusetts Avenue, 32-D808
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA

Office Number: 32-D840
email: chomsky@mit.edu
tel: 617-253-7819

Also Chomsky and Perkins has facebook pages.

Flood him. Ask him what we can do ( he may have some ideas) and tell him to speak out before the American Government can make this look like a worthy legal war. There is no one who knows more about this than Chomsky. Explain to Chomsky what this movement is about as well.

3.) Spread this around on FB and think of as many creative ways you can spread this.

"People often ask me, "How long will it take to make the world a beautiful place" I have to tell them thats its not up to me, it's up to you...If you do nothing, nothing will change" -Jacque Fresco

------------------------------


SOURCE 1 -------

"Long-simmering feud behind Venezuela-Colombia split" July 27, 2010, Xinhua News Agency

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52252

SOURCE 2 --------

"Chavez says US, Colombia seek pretext for ‘invasion',
July 24, 2010, The Malaysian Insider

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/chavez-says-us-colomb ia-seek-pretext-for-invasion/

SOURCE 3-----------

"The CIA Was Involved In the Coup Against Venezuela's Chavez" 11/24/2004, The Venezuelan Analysis

http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/800


SOURCE 4 -----------

"Venezuela head threatens US oil cut over Colombia row" 7/25/2010, The BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10757064


SOURCE 5-----------

"Ecuador Giving U.S. Air Base the Boot" 9/04/2008, The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR20080 90303289.html

SOURCE 6-----------

"Columbia: US base Sparks Suspicion" 12/1/2009
Foreign Policy Digest

http://www.foreignpolicydigest.org/Longstanding-Conflict-December-2009  /December-2009/colombia-us-base-sparks-suspicions.html

SOURCE 7----------

"Militarizing Latin America" 8/30/2009, by Noam Chomsky

http://www.chomsky.info/articles/20090830.htm


SOURCE 8---------

"7,000 U.S. Marines Landing on the Beaches of Costa Rica"
7/12/2010, The Global Post

http://www.globalpost.com/webblog/costa-rica/7000-us-marines-landing-t he-beaches-costa-rica


SOURCE 9 ---------

"US Using 4 Airports to Support Haiti Relief or to ...???"
21/01.2010, Lebanese Communication Group, Al-Manar TV

http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=120931&language =en

SOURCE 10--------

"Raul Castro: Cuba and Venezuela are Moving Towards the Economic Union" 26/7/2010 ACN Cuban News

http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2010/0726raul-castro-cuba-and-venezuela-are -moving.htm

[outsider]

Venezuela 'Solidarity' events coming up shortly (17/18 Sept.), and HoV meeting Tuesday 7th September near Kings Cross, London; also please consider signing online Solidarity Statement:

The Hands off Venezuela campaign and the Bolivarian Congress of the Peoples are calling for International Days of Action in Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution on September 17 and 18.

This coming Tuesday (7th) at 7pm HOV London will be holding its regular
monthly meeting to organise upcoming solidarity activities.

This is a critical time for the Bolivarian Revolution, with parliamentary elections taking place on September 26 and the right-wing opposition set
to make gains, having boycotted the last elections. (Please see the HOV statement on the upcoming elections:
http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/venezuela_september_26_elections.htm and add your name to our signature campaign in support of the Bolivarian
revolution:
STATEMENT - ADD YOUR SIGNATURE - LIST OF SIGNATURES -EVENTS ORGANISED:
http://handsoffvenezuela.org/on_september_26_we_support_the_bolivarian _revolution.htm).

We are organising solidarity activities in London around these critical elections, so come down and get involved!

07 Septembre · 19:00 - 22:00
National Union of Journalists
308 Gray's Inn Road
London, United Kingdom

[Disco_Destroyer]

http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/us-media-intensifies-ca mpaign-against-chavez-by-eva-golinger/

US Media Intensifies Campaign Against Chavez by Eva Golinger
Posted on September 16, 2010 by dandelionsalad
http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/
by Eva Golinger
Postcards from the Revolution
Sept 15, 2010

As election time approaches in Venezuela, international media increase negative coverage of the South American nation. CNN applauds terrorism against Venezuela, while Fox News accuses the Chavez government of terrorism
The bombardment of negative, false, distorted and manipulated news about Venezuela in US media has increased in volume and intensity during the last few days. Venezuela is subjected to this phenomenon every time an electoral process nears. This international media campaign against the government of Hugo Chavez appears to have a clear and coordinated objective: removing the Venezuelan President from power.
During the last eight years, those pursuing this same objective have promoted, and attempted to justify, coup d’etats, economic sabotages, terrorist acts, assassination attempts, electoral interventions, psychological warfare and a disproportionate increase in US military presence in the region – all with the goal of ousting President Chavez. And to achieve this objective – which every year seems attainable to the powers that be – millions and millions of US taxpayer dollars are channeled by US agencies into political parties, campaigns, candidates and organizations that oppose Chavez.
International media also do their part. With sensationalist headlines and slanted reports, mass media try to condition public opinion to believe any action or aggression against Venezuela will be necessary to remove the “evil” Chavez from power.
[...]
via Postcards from the Revolution: US MEDIA INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHAVEZ: http://www.chavezcode.com/2010/09/us-media-intensifies-campaign-agains t.html

[outsider]

FBI raiding Colombia Solidarity home in US:

OpEdNews

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/Victim-of-FBI-Raid-Speaks-by-Tom-Eley -101002-568.html

October 2, 2010

Victim of FBI Raid Speaks Out

By Tom Eley

Antiwar activists in Minneapolis and Chicago targeted in last week's FBI raids for their support of nationalist movements defined by the US as "terrorist" say they have done nothing illegal and that the invasion of their homes came without warning.

Most of those raided have been served with subpoenas to appear before a grand jury in Chicago on October 12. An unknown number of activists in other states, including Michigan, North Carolina, California and Wisconsin, have been approached by the FBI for interviews, although it is not clear if additional subpoenas have been issued.

Jess Sundin, whose home in south Minneapolis was raided and who received a grand jury subpoena, spoke with the World Socialist Web Site about the government attack.

"At 7 AM I awoke to the sound of banging at my front door," Sundin said. "My daughter and my partner were already awake. By the time I got downstairs, there were six or seven federal agents in our house.

"When they came in and asked if we had any guns in the house, my six-year-old said, 'We don't believe in guns'. She took offense at the suggestion. We don't even allow toy guns in our house.

"The agents showed me a search warrant and proceeded to go through everything in my house, every room. Among the things they seized, they took books, they took music CD's, photographs, computers, my cell phone, check book, papers, camera and a lot more.

"We were very clear that we were not going to talk to them. They gave both my partner and me our subpoenas for the grand jury. They told us we were not detained, we could leave, but no one else was allowed in. We couldn't use the phone, except to call a lawyer.

"They took my phone into their possession and kept it with boxes and lists. I could hear it going off but I wasn't allowed to answer it. Steff, my partner, kept possession of her phone but we weren't allowed to use it to make or receive phone calls.

"They took about four hours to search the house. I don't know how many boxes they carried out. They gave me a receipt, but I refused to sign it. I said, "I don't know what you've taken.'"

Sundin said it was "immediately clear" to her that she was being targeted for her antiwar activism, and, in particular, her activity against US foreign policy in Colombia and the Middle East.

"The US is heavily involved in Colombia," Sundin said. "They've been building military bases and they've been funding the Colombian government's war against its own people. It's the third largest recipient of US foreign aid in the world.

"Israel is the largest recipient of US foreign aid. And the Palestinian people have lived for generations--sixty-plus years--without an internationally recognized state. Their homes are bulldozed, they're second-class citizens with no right to participate in the political process. And in places like Gaza bombs fall from the sky."

Sundin said she is a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, a founding member of the Anti-War Committee of the Twin Cities, and a member of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Local 3800. She is a clerical worker at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Sundin's opposition to US foreign policy took her to Iraq in 1998, where the sanctions regime imposed on the country by the Clinton administration and its allies had created a humanitarian disaster.

"We went to a children's hospital where I was most struck by the empty shelves in the pharmacy and the stories that doctors shared of a health care system that had been the best in the Middle East, but had been paralyzed by the sanctions and the war," she said. "So you had children that died because there weren't IV fluids to give them. You had people who died because they couldn't get inhalers for asthma, antibiotics, heart medicine. These things just weren't available there" The most striking thing I saw was Al Ameriya, which was a bomb shelter that was destroyed by two US smart bombs in 1991."

Sundin said she does not know what sort of case the government intends to make against her. The search warrant indicates the FBI may well seek criminal prosecution based on the "Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996," which, in effect, proscribes political speech in support of organizations the US president defines as "terrorist."

The law, which prohibits "knowingly provid[ing] material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization," even if that support consists of "expert advice or assistance" for "lawful, non-violent purposes," was upheld in June by the Supreme Court in the case Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project.

Sundin said she "can't speculate on what the government's plans are, but I will say that when we arise to the defense of democratic rights for any movement, it is for the greater protection of every movement."

She concluded by pointing to the threat that the raids and grand jury subpoenas pose not just to the targeted individuals, but to their families. "Lastly, I will say that I am the mother of a six-year-old," Sundin said. "A number of us involved in this case are the parents of young children, and I'm worried about what this means for our kids. I believe that I have the right to speak and that I wasn't putting my job in jeopardy by doing so."

Those raided by the FBI are clearly under attack for constitutionally protected political speech. The raids and grand jury hearings, at which those subpoenaed do not have the right to counsel, represent a frontal attack on democratic rights and a major step in the direction of police-state forms of rule. The Obama administration has carried out the raids to establish a precedent and test the waters for far more sweeping attacks on political opponents of the government's reactionary policies, both foreign and domestic.

The Socialist Equality Party and the World Socialist Web Site call on all workers, youth and students who oppose the war policies of the government and all those who uphold democratic rights to defend the victims of the FBI raids. We have fundamental political differences with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, which has its roots in Maoist student groups from the 1960s and 1970s, but we are unreserved in our defense of the democratic rights of the organization and its members against state repression.

Author's Website: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/apr2009/pers-a11.shtml

Author's Bio: Tom Eley is the author of numerous articles and writes regularly from a Socialist perspective on national and international issues for www.wsws.org, the voice of the International Committee of the Fourth International.

[Disco_Destroyer]

??

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2010/10/18/Venezuel a-Russia-nuke-deal-a-new-headache-for-US-IAEA/UPI-87341287435639/

Venezuela-Russia nuke deal a new headache for U.S., IAEA
Published: Oct. 18, 2010 at 5:00 PM

CARACAS, Venezuela, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Russia's agreement to build a nuclear power station and a research reactor in Venezuela has handed the Obama administration and the International Atomic Energy Agency with a headache that won't go away easily.

The problem isn't so much the introduction of nuclear energy to the Latin American country, which has growing electricity needs, but the unpredictable policies of populist President Hugo Chavez.

U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in Washington the United States hoped both Russia and Venezuela would act responsibly and adhere to IAEA rules. Comparisons with the Iran nuclear row figured in Crowley's briefing with reporters.

Any criticism of Chavez is readily equated in Caracas with ill intentions toward Chavez but oil-rich Venezuela this year won dubious distinction as the only major Latin American economy to shrink despite steady income from crude oil exports.

Prolonged outages of power and water supplies in 2009 and this year, which exacerbated popular discontent, were partly the result of severe drought but expert evidence cited in the government's own performance reports cited inefficiencies and waste.

Poor investment in the energy sector was also blamed for the energy crisis. A stopgap investment program to upgrade the infrastructure at a cost of $192 million was seen by opposition critics as too little too late.

The 500 megawatt Russian-built power station could take several years to be ready but Chavez faces elections next year and has seen his congressional majority halved in recent polls.

After a deal signed during his ninth visit to Moscow since coming to power in 1999, Chavez announced: "Venezuela is on its way to getting nuclear power. I hardly need to say so but I'll say it anyway: for peaceful purposes, of course."

Chavez added, "They'll say that we are going to build atomic bombs. No, we are not ... nothing is going to stop us, we are free, sovereign and independent."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, "Our intentions are absolutely pure and open. We want our partner Venezuela to have a full range of energy possibilities."

However, the deal follows more than $4 billion of Russian military sales, at least $2.2 billion on flexible credit terms. The deal enabled Russia to transfer Soviet-era military hardware to Venezuela as part of its strategy to stimulate Russian arms industries. Included in the deal are about 100 T-72 tanks, fighter jets and helicopters, short-range missiles and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles of an earlier make.

Opposition critics of Chavez say the arms buying is superfluous to Venezuela's needs. Chavez says Venezuela needs the weapons to defend itself against foreign adversaries among which names Colombia and the United States.

Critics say Venezuela could meet most of its energy needs through a better management of its vast hydroelectric resources and several new renewable energy projects.

Crowley said, "Any new nuclear program or activity should be conducted in accordance with the highest standards of non-proliferation, safety and security, including IAEA safeguards."

He added, "Venezuela and Russia have international obligations and we expect them to meet those obligations."

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wave for media during a welcoming ceremony for Chavez in Tehran, Iran on April 2, 2009. UPI/Mohammad Kheirkhah

[outsider]

@ D_D:
'Crowley said, "Any new nuclear program or activity should be conducted in accordance with the highest standards of non-proliferation, safety and security, including IAEA safeguards."

He added, "Venezuela and Russia have international obligations and we expect them to meet those obligations." '

And let's hope the 'Honourable' Aleister (sorry, Philip!) Crowley will be doling out the same advice to Israel.

[Disco_Destroyer]

but outsider how will that affect the BBCs fair and balanced

[Disco_Destroyer]

http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_63079.shtml?utm_source=f eedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+axisoflogic%2FAxisFeed+ %28axisoflogic.com

Venezuela: No Oil Contracts with US Government ( 0) Print This ShareThis
By News Bulletin
T/ AVN via Correo del Orinoco
Friday, May 27, 2011


PDVSA employees respond to U.S. sanctions In response to State Department sanctions against Venezuela, oil supply to the US could be affected The Obama administration unilaterally, and in violation of international law, imposed sanctions against the Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA, this week, accusing the Chavez administration of aiding in developing Iran’s nuclear program. This far-fetched claim was soundly rejected by the South American nation and other allied countries in the region, who have deemed this latest hostility of Washington towards Venezuela as an “act of aggression”. The Chavez government announced it will reserve its right to respond accordingly and is evaluating the effects on its supply of oil to the US.


Venezuelans supporting PDVSA and President Chávez
against U.S. Sanctions on May 25 in Caracas


Since 2005, Venezuela has not had any type of oil contract with the US government, nor has it received financing from the US Export-Import Bank, noted Venezuela’s Minister of Energy and Oil, Rafael Ramirez, this week. As such, the scope of the sanctions imposed by Washington against state-owned oil company PDVSA are not clear.

Nonetheless, Ramirez explained that export licenses, which were also included in the unilateral sanctions, are “undefined” until the situation is clarified.

“We have to ask [the US] what the scope of their measure is, because we have only received information from very-low-level authorities. We believe they are making a political point more than an economic one”, he stated.

Additionally, Ramirez said that continuity of oil shipments to the US will be decided according to assessments made by the Venezuelan government. “Curiously, they say we can continue exporting oil to the US in spite of these sanctions, but they are wrong because that is a decision that will be made according to our own terms. They hope to dictate what our response will be, but this is an issue concerning sovereignty”, he explained.

The US government announced sanctions against PDVSA on Tuesday for its relations with Iran, but those sanctions would not disallow the sale of Venezuelan oil to the US. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said that the sanctions would prevent PDVSA from having access to contracts with the US government and financing imports and exports through US institutions.

Source: T/ AVN via Correo del Orinoco

[Disco_Destroyer]

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/09/world/americas/venezuela-chavez-arre st/index.html

[outsider]

[outsider]

'41 Killed in Gas Explosion in Venezuela, 3 Days of National Mourning Declared'
By Rachael Boothroyd:

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/7206

' Opposition claims

During his visit, Chavez cautioned against speculating over the causes of the accident until the results from the investigation could be reviewed. The president also denied claims by Venezuela's political opposition and their spokespeople in the media who have cited a lack of government investment at the plant as the cause of the leak.

“I know who is saying this, but I will not stoop to their level,” said Chavez, adding that government investigators had not yet managed to reach the site of the explosion in order to decipher the cause of the leak.

Energy minister Rafael Ramirez also discounted the claims, and confirmed that the plant had received US$4.3 billion from the government since the year began.

Commenting on the political opposition's coverage of the tragedy, grassroots activist Joel Linares from Caracas criticised the private Venezuelan media and opposition figures for using the incident as an opportunity to smear the current government in the run-up to the presidential elections.

“All death is painful, but it hurts even more when it is used to attack and insult the memory and the dignity of the people,” said Linares.

He also pointed out that in 1982 and 1993 there had been two accidents in state refineries in Tacoa and Las Tejerias, which resulted in 260 and 48 deaths respectively.

“In that moment,” said Linares, “it wasn't being blamed on Luis Hererra or Carlos Andres Perez,” who were the presidents at the time.

Following the blast, the Venezuelan opposition candidate Capriles Radonski urged Venezuelans to “seriously reflect” on “where they wanted Venezuela to be headed”.

“We are talking about human lives here, not material damage,” he said.

Reports that government websites were hacked at the time of the explosion and that opposition news station, Globovision, broadcast “exclusive” footage from an unknown person with a professional camera outside the refinery at 2am, have led some journalists to speculate that the cause of the leak was not accidental...'

Not the same 'Globovision' that was so involved with the attempted coup against Hugo Chavez, surely?

Understandably, Hugo is not publicly 'jumping to conclusions'; I of course, don't need to be so careful.
I wonder if it was the Naudet brothers with their 'professional camera' who were on hand at 02.00 hours, to 'document the event'? Or even the high-fiving 'Dancing Israelis'?
One thing that is reported, the filmer of the 'exclusive footage' is unknown to the Government.
Who was it, does he/she/they live in the area; if not, what where they doing there at that time in the morning, with their 'professional camera'?
Is/are that/those person/s known in the area, and known as professional camera owner/s?