- After ten and a half years in office, Hugo Chavez is
very savvy about America's intentions. On January 17, even before Obama's
inauguration, he said "Barack Obama has the 'stench' of his predecessor
as US president and was at risk of being killed if he tries to change the
American 'empire.' "
-
- He added that frayed ties with Washington were unlikely
to improve despite the departure of Bush, the man he called the 'devil.'
Now there's a new "devil" with his fingerprints all over the
June 28 Honduran coup. More on that below.
-
- At a January political rally on a historic Venezuela
battlefield, Chavez said "I hope I am wrong, but I believe Obama brings
the same stench, to not say another word" and do little to change
his predecessor's policies.
-
- After earlier hoping for better US - Venezuelan relations,
he reacted to Obama's rhetoric, accusing him of obstructing Latin American
progress and exporting terrorism. In late March on his Sunday radio/television
program (Alo Presidente), he voiced the same concern in calling Obama
an "ignoramus" and suggested "he should read and study a
little to understand reality....the obstacle to development in Latin America
has been the empire (he) preside(s) over today."
-
- Its State Department February 25, 2009-released "2008
Human Rights Report: Venezuela" provided more proof. While calling
Venezuela a "constitutional democracy," it accused the government
of outrageous, groundless offenses:
-
- (1) Numerous human rights abuses, including:
-
- -- arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life; mistreating
prisoners in custody; unlawful killings by security forces; disappearances;
torture and abuse of detainees; harsh prison conditions; arbitrary arrests
and detentions; denial of fair public trials; incarcerating political prisoners;
violating personal privacy; and more.
-
- (2) censuring the press and free speech, including
-
- -- harassing the private media; using government-controlled
outlets to air unsubstantiated charges against their owners; using a pro-
government organization to fire tear gas canisters at Globovision's headquarters;
and changing the penal code to make criticizing the president a crime.
-
- (3) numerous other charges were over:
-
- -- compromising Internet freedom;
-
- -- free assembly, association, and movement;
-
- -- limiting religious freedom and attacking Catholic
bishops and the Papal Nuncio for commenting on political issues;
-
- -- anti-Semitism;
-
- -- protection of refugees;
-
- -- electoral irregularities;
-
- -- government corruption and transparency;
-
- -- trafficking in persons;
-
- -- obstructing the right to organize and bargain collectively;
and more.
-
- Overall, the report described America, not Venezuela
and its constitutionally mandated freedoms, making it the hemisphere's
most open and democratic society, with Chavez its most popular leader after
ten and a half years in office. In America, George Bush left office with
the lowest approval rating ever for a president, and Obama's poll numbers
are sinking fast after less than seven months as chief executive. His hostility
toward center-left Latin American democracies won't improve them.
-
- On July 20, AP reported that a "US congressional
report on drug trafficking in Venezuela charges that corruption within
the government and military led to a permissive environment that allows
smuggling to flourish." Released by the US Government Accountability
Office (GAO), it also charged the government with "extend(ing) a 'lifeline'
to Colombian rebels and other illegal armed groups that rely on drug sales
for financing 'by providing significant support and safe haven along the
border.' "
-
- In addition, the GAO said "available data indicate
that drug trafficking through Venezuela is increasing," the police
and National Guard are involved, bribes facilitate it, and cooperation
between Washington and Caracas has decreased because fewer DEA agent visas
were approved.
-
- Chavez called the report "a new lie," like
so many others, and another effort to vilify him and his government. He
also accused America of being "the top drug trafficking country on
this entire planet" and added that recent large drug seizures and
arrests show his resolve to fight Colombian cocaine smuggling.
-
- The recent mid-April Summit of the Americas highlighted
growing regional disenchantment with Washington under a new administration
no different from its predecessor and in some respects worse. It demands
everything and offers nothing but failed policies and rhetorical promises
that leaders like Chavez and others know are hollow.
-
- James Petras is a long-time Latin American expert. In
his new book due out in August titled "Global Depression and Regional
Wars," he addresses what he also discussed in his May 21 article,
"Obama's Foreign Policy Failures: Diplomacy, Militarism and Imagery."
-
- He explained that the US financial collapse and "accompanying
economic depression has led to a major crisis and conflict between North
and South America with profound long-term consequences," including
hundreds of billions of repatriated US dollars harming regional countries
dependent on American capital, "financial protectionism," and
the virtual "de-capitalization of Latin America" to the detriment
of credit-starved regional exporters and importers.
-
- America first policies and stepped-up militarism are
contrary to "any 'harmonization of interest' and strengthen nationalist,
regionalist and statist political and economic policies and governments
in Latin America." Like his predecessor, Obama's policies have "accelerat(ed)
the shift in Latin America away from US dominance." It's evident in
Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, for half a century in Cuba, and
the reason their governments are targeted.
-
- Spinning the News - Dominant Media Efforts to Vilify
Chavez
-
- In America, Chavez bashing remains in vogue with major
media contributors especially vocal after he accused the State Department,
CIA, and Pentagon of being behind the Honduran coup with clear evidence
it's true after decades of US meddling in the region.
-
- A July 31 Washington Post editorial headlined "Rockets
for Terrorists" in accusing Chavez of supporting FARC-EP "insurgents."
It cited "extensive evidence that the government of Venezuela had
collaborated with a Colombian rebel movement known for terrorism and drug
trafficking....The evidence was contained on laptops captured (from) a
guerilla base in Ecuador."
-
- In fact, none existed, according to INTERPOL's forensic
experts after examination discovered "no evidence of modification,
alteration, addition or deletion in the" supposed user files from
"three laptop computers, three USB thumb drives and two external hard
discs seized during a Colombian anti-narcotics and anti- terrorist operation
on a FARC camp on 1 March 2008." INTERPOL also acknowledged that Colombia
likely manipulated the contents, rendering them bogus and fraudulent.
-
- At the time, Chavez denounced the documents as forgeries
to vilify him. But like indigestion, they've resurfaced with new charges,
that, according to the Post, "will be even more difficult to ignore"
even though they're as baseless as earlier ones.
-
- This time they're over late July claims that "sophisticated
Swedish- produced antitank rockets" sold to Venezuela years ago were
captured in a raid on a FARC-EP camp. Supposedly, the same laptops referred
to "a FARC operative in Caracas" discussing them in 2007 "with
two top Venezuelan generals, including the director of military intelligence,
Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios."
-
- Calling Chavez a "caudillo," (a strongman or
military dictator), the editorial accused him of "public bluster"
after withdrawing his ambassador and diplomatic staff from Colombia and
"threaten(ing) to close the border to trade" for reasons the
Post omitted.
-
- Colombia is a corrupted narco-state and the region's
most repressive death squad democracy that targets unionists, human rights
activists, and legitimate resistance groups like the FARC- EP. Chavez acted
in response to America's stepped up military presence there and intention
to supply the government with new weapons and technology plus billions
through Plan Colombia in support of the "Uribe doctrine" that's
hard right, corporate- friendly, and militarized for enforcement.
-
- Stepped Up Gunboat Diplomacy
-
- During his late June White House visit, president Alvaro
Uribe gave the Pentagon access to seven new military bases - three airfields,
two naval installations, and two others later revealed. The largest is
Palenquero Air Base, north of Bogata. Another is the Malambo Air Base near
the Venezuelan border. The two navy bases are at Cartagena and Bahia Malaga,
and the Florencia army base as well, near the Ecuadorean border, along
with nine other military installations currently stationing US forces supplemented
by the reactivated Fourth Fleet in April 2008 (headquartered at Florida's
Mayport Naval Station) after a 60 year hiatus.
-
- It was created during WW II for Latin America and the
Caribbean, disbanded in 1950, and now again operating to "conduct
varying missions including a range of contingency operations, counter narco-
terrorism, and theater security cooperation activities." According
to US Naval Forces Southern Command chief Adm. James Stevenson last year,
"the Fourth Fleet will send a message to Venezuela and the region."
Commandant of the National War College, General Robert Steel, said at the
time:
-
- "The United States' obsession with Venezuela, Cuba
and other things indicates they are going to use more military force, going
to use that instrument more often."
-
- With Fourth Fleet strength including aircraft carriers,
submarines, other sophisticated attack ships, and nuclear weapons, indeed
it may, and that has regional leaders worried, given the increased US military
presence in Colombia.
-
- The move sparked regional outrage with Chavez saying
"They are surrounding Venezuela with military bases" and may
"soon start sending thousands of North American soldiers to Colombia....These
are contract soldiers who are nothing more than paramilitary mercenaries
and assassins. Airplanes, radar, sophisticated weapons, bombs - and, of
course, they say it's to fight drug trafficking."
-
- Ecuador's Minister of Internal and External Security,
Dr. Gustavo Larrea, warned of "an increase in military tension"
with more US forces in Colombia.
-
- On the pretext of fighting drugs trafficking and hemispheric
security, militarizing a close Washington ally is meant to intimidate Venezuela,
Ecuador, and other center-left governments. They threaten Chavez and his
allies and will replace the Manta, Ecuador base, now closing, after president
Rafeal Correa declined to renew its lease last year. At the time, The New
York Times called it "a critical platform in the fight against narcotics
smuggling." In fact, it's part of America's global footprint with
over 1000 bases on every continent and a key factor behind growing animosity
against its intrusive presence.
-
- Nonetheless, the Post cited the above GAO report about
Venezuela's "permissive environment for FARC that had allowed the
group to massively increase its cocaine smuggling across the border."
According to the Post:
-
- "This all sounds an awful lot like material support
for terrorism -- which raises the question of whether the State Department
will look again at whether Mr. Chavez's government or its top officials
belong on its list of state sponsors of terrorism," an action even
the Bush administration never took although talk surfaced that it might
after earlier reckless charges were made. That's unfinished business for
Post writers and Washington hard-liners who suggest that Obama should focus
on "those in the hemisphere who have been caught trying to overturn
a democratic government (meaning Colombia, not Honduras) by supplying terrorists
with advanced weapons."
-
- The New York Times' Simon Romero produces similar reports
from his Caracas post. On July 20, it was about the "State Ruled by
Crime and Chavez Family" in highlighting Barinas for being "the
bastion of the family of President Hugo Chavez and as the setting for a
terrifying surge in abductions." He called it "anarchy (where
the Chavez family) accumulates wealth and power" while others fear
for their lives.
-
- Then on August 2, he jumped on the claim that "Venezuela
Still Aids Colombia Rebels, New Material Shows" in saying they indicate
"detailed collaborations between the guerrillas and high-ranking (Chavez
government) military and intelligence officials as recently as several
weeks ago" despite the above-cited proof that earlier "evidence"
was fraudulent and baseless. Even so, Romero says it confirms that "the
FARC operates easily in Venezuela....despite repeated denials by President
Chavez."
-
- An August 3 Bloomberg.com report headlined "Venezuela
Media Closings Hurt Freedom, Executive Says" in calling the "closing
of 32 radio stations and two television broadcasters....an example of 'Cuban-style'
repression." While stating that the July 31 action followed from their
"fail(ure) to comply with an order issued last month to update documents
at the government regulator," it failed to explain that their licenses
had expired, they violated regulations, and community media serving all
Venezuelans will replace them.
-
- Telecommunications (CONATEL) and Housing and Infrastructure
Minister Diosdado Cabello said the stations were operating illegally, hadn't
registered, and failed to pay required fees. In addition, another 206 stations
may face similar penalties for violating broadcast regulations. But hundreds
of private stations operate freely throughout the country because they
comply with the law. Many other non-profit, non-commercial community ones
also that make Venezuela perhaps the freest, most open society in the world,
not one enforcing censorship as the State Department and anti- Chavistas
contend.
-
- Cabello explained that the state cracked down against
lawbreakers by "recovering the concessions that were being used illegally
for more than 30 years. It is an act of justice that has to do with giving
power to the people," not an attack on media freedom, as Bloomberg
suggests, or an attempt to accelerate a "push for a government-run
economy" by takeovers of private industries.
-
- In fact, they operate freely and profitably in Venezuela,
but unlike in America, they're held accountable for law violations. In
the US, corporate lawyers and lobbyists write business-friendly legislation
and regulations, contrary to the public interest. That's a major difference
between the two countries and why Chavez is targeted for the good example
he represents.
-
- Implications of the Honduran Coup
-
- There's no debate about the Honduran coup despite media
efforts to distort it. It was made-in-the-USA like most others in the region
over many decades. Since the late 19th century, America has directly meddled
in Latin and Central American states well over 50 times, a record unmatched
by any other nation, and abuses keep mounting. They involved invasions,
bombings, occupations, assassinations, and coups as well as countless destabilization
and election rigging interventions.
-
- Against Honduras alone:
-
- -- in 1903, American Marines invaded to protect US business
interests;
-
- -- in 1907, they intervened during a war with Nicaragua;
-
- -- in 1911 - 1912, they came to support a coup against
the liberal Davila regime, aided by two US mercenaries, one of whom became
Honduras' army commander-in-chief; US forces remained for months to protect
American interests;
-
- -- in 1919, they intervened in Honduras' election campaign;
-
- -- in 1924 - 1925, they came again for the same reason;
-
- -- in 1980, US aid began supporting the Nicaraguan contras,
given sanctuary in Honduras to launch cross-border attacks; and
-
- From 1982 - 1990, America used Honduras as a land-based
aircraft carrier to support the Contra insurgency against the Nicaraguan
Sandinista government. Mass killings and atrocities were committed. Over
$1.6 billion in military aid was provided. A US military presence was established
at Soto Cano Air Force Base. American forces remain there today in close
liaison with Honduran commanders who wouldn't blow their noses without
first asking permission. Through close Pentagon - Honduran military ties,
the June 28 coup was coordinated along with the US State Department.
-
- All Honduran officers from captains on up are trained
at the School of the Americas where they're taught how to torture, repress,
exterminate poor and indigenous people, overthrow democratically elected
governments, assassinate targeted leaders, and suppress popular resistance
when it erupts.
-
- The June 28 coup against President Manuel Zelaya was
a coordinated State Department - Pentagon project working with Honduran
commanders and top opposition political figures to establish a de facto
dictatorship. The scheme followed similar tactics against earlier Latin
American governments, including:
-
- -- Jacobo Arbenz in Guatamala (1954);
-
- -- the failed Bay of Pigs invasion against Cuba (1961)
and hundreds of subsequent unsuccessful assassination attempts against
Fidel Castro;
-
- -- Juan Bosch in the Dominican Republic (1963) followed
by a 1965 US invasion to crush popular support to return him to power;
-
- -- Joao Goulart in Brazil (1964);
-
- -- Salvador Allende in Chile (9/11/73);
-
- -- Uruguay's military junta takeover from a civilian
democracy (1973);
-
- -- Isabel Peron in Argentina (1976),
-
- -- Carlos Humberto Romero in El Salvador (ousted by a
right-wing El Salvador junta - 1979);
-
- -- the assassination of Panama's Omar Torrijos (1981);
-
- -- Maurice Bishop in Grenada (1983);
-
- -- Manuel Noriega in Panama (1989);
-
- -- Jean-Bertrand Aristide twice (1991 and 2004); and
-
- -- Manuel Zelaya in Honduras (2009) who was blamed for
the action to legitimize the coup d'etat government long enough, destroy
his image, weaken his authority if a negotiated return is arranged, and
effectively render him impotent until the November 29 presidential and
parliamentary elections after which a new president will take office since
Zelaya can't succeed himself.
-
- Will Chavez Now Be Targeted?
-
- Throughout his tenure, numerous attempts were made to
destabilize his government, discredit his leadership and policies, oust
him in the aborted April 2002 coup, and again in the failed August 2004
recall referendum. In addition, Chavez and others claim assassination schemes
were hatched, the latest one forcing him to cancel his June 1 El Salvador
trip to attend President Mauricio Funes' inauguration.
-
- In his place, Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolas Maduro
said it was learned that "ultra (Venezuelan) right wing groups....linked
to ultra conservative coup sectors, together with the international ultra
right," hinting Washington primarily, were behind an assassination
plot.
-
- Chavez said he got reliable information about a scheme
"to launch one or several rockets at the Cubana airline plane that
was already to leave from (Caracas') Maiquetia" airport. His regular
plane was being repaired, so Cuba provided a substitute. He and Bolivia's
Evo Morales planned to travel together, so perhaps there was a plot to
kill them both.
-
- Chavez also accused former Venezuelan military personnel
of involvement, some of whom entered San Salvador earlier. "I know
them," he said, "they have sworn to me that they were going to
kill me because they say it's my fault that they lost their jobs and didn't
reach the highest military ranks. The government of the United States is
behind all this," specifically suggesting the CIA, not Obama himself.
-
- Earlier suspected plots were also uncovered. As a result,
Chavez is very watchful for future ones, given his troubled relations with
America, not at all eased since the accession of Obama. On numerous occasions,
US-Venezuelan lawyer and Chavez confidante, Eva Golinger, has said that
schemes are always underway to destabilize the government, vilify Chavez,
and look for ways to oust him, thus far without success.
-
- As recently as August 3, she said:
-
- After CONATEL's suspension of media licenses, "opposition
groups in Venezuela (are again) trying to provoke a coup against Chavez....They
are calling for destabilization activities throughout the nation....and
using this situation as an excuse to call for protests (and on) the international
community to support their destabilization actions."
-
- For the past ten and a half years, Washington and Venezuelan
oligarchs have targeted Chavez relentlessly and won't let up while he's
in office. Whether the Honduran coup signals stepped up efforts ahead remains
to be seen. Perhaps so given Washington's regional history of intolerance
of democracies that place national interests above America's. Chavez explained
it well saying Obama "risk(s) being killed if he challenges the American
empire." So far, there's not a hint of it in sight.
-
- Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre
for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
-
- Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday
- Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting edge discussions with distinguished
guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
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