Sorry, I hadn’t meant to write about Venezuela again so soon, as there are so many other places to cover (China, Pakistan/India, DPRK) but given these two new pieces of news, well, needs must… And given that Telesur’s terms of use amount to ‘use content at will, but only with attribution, I’ll do so.
‘Far-Right Homage: Bolsonaro Visits CIA Before Meeting Trump on First US Visit’, telesurenglish.net, March 18, 2019
“Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro showed the world who’s really the boss by visiting the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Headquarters in Virginia Monday prior to meeting President Donald Trump, on his first official visit to the U.S.
“No Brazilian president had ever paid a visit to the CIA,” Celso Amorim, who served as foreign minister under former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, told AP, adding that it “is an explicitly submissive position.”
The clandestine chat was announced by his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, in a tweet saying the meeting was “an excellent opportunity to talk about international affairs of the region with technicians and experts of the highest level.”
A rather ominous fact, since the CIA has been involved in numbers of assassinations, military coups, and interventions around the globe with special regard against progressive governments in Latin America. And quite fitting comment as the three-day visit underscores Bolsonaro’s embrace of U.S. influence in Latin America to confront what he calls a communist threat against democracy.” [snip]
The bolded link above
“A theme the far-right populist leader insisted on Sunday declaring he “always dreamt of freeing Brazil from the dirty ideology of the left.” Combine this to his well-known praise of the Brazilian dictatorship, which caused forced disappearances, torture, and killings over two decades, and the CIA does not make such an “unexpected” place to visit after all. Especially as he was accompanied by Brazilian Justice Minister Sergio Moro, the same judge that led the lawfare strategy to carry out the soft-coup against ousted Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, and has been allegedly linked to working for the agency.”
Yet this public admiration is even surprising to the U.S. A senior administration official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said “even the friendliest of Brazilian governments was never really that friendly. Here we have now a government in Brazil we truly consider an ally.” A remarkable claim as the 1964 coup and Brazilian Dictatorship was fully backed by the U.S. government and even received direct assistance from the CIA, as the National Security Archive (NSA) revealed in 2014.”
“Leaving the controversy aside Bolsonaro’s first official visit marks a complete alliance to the U.S. strategy and plans for the region, in which Brazil hopes to play a pivotal role.”
Also from telesurenglish: ‘Venezuela Denounces Unlawful Seizure of Diplomatic Premises in the US’, March 18, 2019
“The Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza denounced Monday that the country’s diplomatic premises in the United States have been forcibly seized by Washington-backed agents.
“In a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, our diplomatic buildings have been seized”, said Arreaza in an official statement, adding that according to the 1961 Convention “Venezuela’s diplomatic assets in the U.S. can only be used by the official personnel that represent the democratic and constitutional government of President Nicolas Maduro.”
Representatives of the Venezuelan lawmaker and self-proclaimed “interim president”, Juan Guaido, took control of two buildings belonging to Venezuela’s defense ministry in Washington and one consular building in New York Monday, said Guaido’s envoy Carlos Vecchio, with the connivance of the U.S. government.
This latest attack on Venezuela’s sovereignty comes as a blatant disregard of international law. According to Art. 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, “the premises of the mission shall be inviolable.” The article continues by assuring that the receiving State may not enter them, except with the consent of the head of the mission and is under a special duty to protect the diplomatic mission against any intrusion or damage.
Even in a rupture in diplomatic relations and supported by art. 45, the receiving nation must continue respecting foreign properties, as the Venezuelan government has done with the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.
Arreaza has asked Trump’s administration to “take the necessary measures to immediately reverse this forcible occupation” yet continued, “that if the U.S. government continues to disregard international obligations, Venezuela’s government reserves its right to take legal actions and reciprocal actions in its territory.”
Despite an ongoing series of interventionist remarks made by U.S. Senators and high ranking officials, the Venezuelan government informed March 13 that it hopes to normalize diplomatic relations with the North American country, hoping the UN will serve as a mediator.”
For background on embassy closures: ‘US withdraws embassy personnel, calling presence a “constraint” on US actions in Venezuela’, Bill Van Auken, 13 March 2019, wsws.org
“Washington announced late Monday that it is withdrawing all of its embassy personnel from Caracas in what may signal preparations for a direct US military intervention to consummate the protracted regime change operation unleashed against Venezuela.
“This decision reflects the deteriorating situation in Venezuela as well as the conclusion that the presence of U.S. diplomatic staff at the embassy has become a constraint on U.S. policy,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
Pressed at a State Department press conference Tuesday as to what Pompeo meant by “constraint,” Elliott Abrams, the Trump administration’s special envoy for regime change in Venezuela, said that it was “prudent to take these folks out” because their presence made it “more difficult for the United States to take the actions that it needed to do to support the Venezuelan people.” [snip]
“He refused to answer a question as to what military options had been drawn up by the Pentagon for a Venezuelan intervention, saying that it would be “foolish for me to go further” in spelling out the nature of the Trump administration’s threat.”
“The Venezuelan government responded angrily to Pompeo’s announcement, insisting that it had issued an order Monday that all remaining US personnel leave the country within 72 hours after talks between the two countries about establishing interests sections—de facto embassies operating under the protection of a third power—to continue minimal diplomatic relations had broken down.
Pompeo’s announcement of the withdrawal of US personnel came only hours after he had appeared before a State Department press conference delivering a heated diatribe against Venezuela and “socialism” but failing to say anything about the emptying out of the US embassy.”
I’d seen this tweet this morning, but I can’t say that any had heeded the call, as the #HOV account doesn’t have it:
@RojoCamacaro 18h18 hours ago “Coup plotters have occupied the Venezuelan consulate in New York on 51st St. We have been asked to gather a crowd of people who stand for Venezuela’s sovereignty outside.”
Soooo, Id poked about a bit to see if their were any news on this fukkery, nope, not at CNN, not at fox, not at the Guardian, save for their coverage of today’s meeting between Jair the Thug Bolsonaro and the Trumpeter-in-Chief.
Ah, i just found this on Jorge’s Twit account:
‘Same rhetoric’: Bolsonaro’s US visit to showcase populist alliance with Trump’, theguardian.com, March 18, and although it’s a disgusting read on Bolton, Bolsonaro, Steve Bannon, et.al., no coverage of the embassy seizures, as apparently the place hates Trump more than it loathes the Criminal Maduro adminstration. But the piece finally adds this at the end:
“Last week [Vice-President Hamilton] Mourão told the Financial Times Brazil could create a “back channel” with Venezuelan military officials for a negotiated exit for Nicolás Maduro, a much less aggressive posture than that voiced by the Bolsonaros and US hawks like Bolton.”
Well yes; Bolsonaro is on record saying he doesn’t support a military ‘intervention’, as have the head of the LIMA group members. Sure, you can take all that to the bank! But I sure wouldn’t bet on it….
Given that Snoopy had shown us this epic evil from (Ret,.) Gen.Tata & Trish Reagan on Twitter the other day, I’d even looked on her account. Nope, no ‘Hails to the Chief’, no nuttin’.
(cross-posted at caucus99percent.com)
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https://twitter.com/telesurenglish/status/1108005459779375107
from popular resistance:
“The language of the Venezuelan Constitution is plain regarding when the president of the National Assembly can become president and none of those conditions have been met. The coup relies on Article 233 of the Constitution, which allows the president of the National Assembly to become president only if the president-elect
“become[s] permanently unavailable to serve by reason of any of the following events: death; resignation; removal from office by decision of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice [equivalent of impeachment]; permanent physical or mental disability certified by a medical board designated by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice with the approval of the National Assembly; abandonment of his position, duly declared by the National Assembly; and recall by popular vote.”
None of these conditions exist. And, if they did exist, the vice president would take power until there is an election. Not only is Guaido a self-appointed president, but he is illegally self-appointed. In a press briefing, Elliot Abrams admitted that Guaido is not “able to exercise the powers of the office because Maduro still is there.”
The State Department has been pressuring the media to call Guaido the “interim president” and not to call him “self-appointed” or “opposition leader” despite the fact that he has no presidential powers and no legitimacy under Venezuelan law. Any media that succumbs to this pressure is participating in a dangerous farce that is part of a US-led coup.”
and from an internal link:
“This contrasts with the legitimacy of President Maduro. This week, international election observers wrote the European Union telling them they were “unanimous in concluding that the elections were conducted fairly, that the election conditions were not biased.” They described EU claims as “fabrications of the most disgraceful kind.” We described in detail the legitimacy of the elections and other essential facts activists need to know about this US coup.”
https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/13899popular resistance:
‘Lavrov’s deputy to war-hawk Abrams: Venezuela ‘aid’ op unacceptable, Russia to protect its interests’, RT.com, 19 Mar, 2019
“Russia is opposed to any efforts by the US to use ‘humanitarian aid’ as a pretext to intervene in Venezuela, Deputy FM Sergey Ryabkov told US special envoy Elliott Abrams, adding that Moscow will protect its interests there.
The diplomats met in Rome on Tuesday to discuss the increasing tensions between Washington and Moscow over the Donald Trump administration’s continued push for regime change in Venezuela.
“We strongly urged the US side… against any temptation to resort to military power. It includes our warning against, so to speak, hardcore massive military intervention, which can’t be excluded given the type of behavior we’ve seen on the US side in recent years,” Ryabkov told RT, where he appeared live after the talks.
The same goes for “low intensity conflicts – the penetration into the sovereign territory of Venezuela from abroad by elements that could be described as paramilitaries to stage provocations and in other ways interfere in the affairs of this state,” he added.
Russia’s representative told Abrams that Moscow’s interests in Venezuela must be protected and said he assumes that Washington has heard that demand. The deputy FM also pointed out that Moscow is increasingly worried about Washington’s sanctions against Caracas.
“How can one blame the [Venezuelan] government for mismanagement, while at the same time depriving this very government of huge assets?” he said, adding that “the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela shouldn’t be abused for political reasons,” and that sanctions must be lifted to improve the life of the people.” [snip]
Ryabkov said that during the talks, the US and Russian sides didn’t manage to find consensus on the Venezuela crisis, but acknowledged that he has a better understanding of the US side after the talks which, he said, were “an example on how things can be done professionally.” [snip]
““The differences are huge. They’re fundamental in some aspects, including on the aspect of Russia not recognizing Juan Guaido as interim president. Likewise, the US wasn’t able to understand why Russia insists that the legitimate president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, should be respected as such.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has reaffirmed that it is considering “all options” for Venezuela. Trump has said multiple times in recent months that he is not prepared to rule out US military action in the country.”
morning additions, file under ‘never miss a trick’: ‘Diaz-Canel Defends Cuban Doctors’ Work in Venezuela After NYT Report’, telesur english, march 19
“According to an article published by the New York Times on March 17, Cuban doctors allegedly pressured their patients to vote in favor of Nicolas Maduro in exchange for medical attention, professional misconduct which allegedly was performed just a few days before the 2018 presidential elections.
“Cuban doctors can never be defamed. Their extraordinary human work carried out those lands which the Empire calls ‘the world’s dark corners’ belies the NYT and its reporter Casey,” President Diaz-Canel said on Twitter and pointed out that “feeding Marco Rubio’s hatred war against Cuba and Venezuela is a crime. We are Cuba.”
Concerning the U.S. media accusations, the Cuban Public Health Minister Jose Angel Portal recalled what Fidel Castro, Cuban former president and revolutionary leader, said about the Cuban doctors’ work:
“The [Cuban] medical personnel, who departs to save lives anywhere, even at the risk of losing theirs, is the greatest example of solidarity that humankind can offer.”
‘It Is Unspeakable’: How Maduro Used Cuban Doctors to Coerce Venezuela Voters’, nicholas casey, NYT, march 17, 2019
“There was oxygen, but they didn’t let me use it,” said Dr. Arias, who defected from the Cuban government’s medical program late last year and now lives in Chile. “We had to leave it for the election.”
To maintain their hold over Venezuela, Mr. Maduro and his supporters have often used the nation’s economic collapse to their advantage, dangling food before hungry voters, promising extra subsidies if he won, and demanding that people present identification cards tied to government rations when they came to the polls.
The Cuban doctors said they were ordered to go door-to-door in impoverished neighborhoods, offering medicine and warning residents that they would be cut off from medical services if they did not vote for Mr. Maduro or his candidates.
Many said their superiors directed them to issue the same threats during closed-door consultations with patients seeking treatment for chronic diseases.
from translatingcuba.com:
“The New York Times responded to the president on Twitter, claiming that they support the article published by their reporter Nicholas Casey. “This type of rigorous journalism is the core of our work,” insisted the New York newspaper.” (and calling this propaganda):
“This Tuesday, the Communist Party owned newspaper Granma ran an article with the title “The truth or the visa?: The New York Times lies against Cuba and Venezuela. The article insinuates that the doctors who participated in the New York Times report are seeking to emigrate to the United States, which was subsequently denied by some of the doctors.
According to the official press, The New York Times was preparing the ground for the reactivation of the Cuban Medical Professional Parole, a special program that granted refuge to Cuban doctors who escaped from missions abroad. The program was repeated by President Barack Obama in 2017. Under this program more than 8,000 Cuban health professionals emigrated to the United States”
raoul castro as the ventriloquist, maduro as…the dummy.
from john stepping on twitter:
this thread seems to be past its sell-by date, so i’ll add a closing song a bit early. given that nicolás maduro said on twitter that he loves jimi hendrix, i’d thought to use one of his songs. but along the way as i poked about, i’d run into this fabulous cover of this song by bluesman timmy thomas, and it seems far more appropriate to me: stevie winwood and carlos santanta, srsly whooosh-worthy.
here’s hoping he’ll like it as well as this salsa boogie music:
@maduro_en 1h1 hour ago “The people of Simon Bolivar do not give up, it continues forward in a permanent battle for the great future of Venezuela. We are the sons and daughters of Hugo Chávez; the enemies of the Homeland will not defeat us.”