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Venezuela is preparing itself against US invasion
by Luiz Castro | June 28, 2008 at 10:16 am | 1118 views | 47 comments
That is an interesting article about Venezuela published by BBC yesterday. Full article can be reached trough the link bellow.
"The US flatly denies any interest in military confrontation, but the Venezuelan government continues with the rhetoric to fire up its supporters." BBC
"The more he ( Chavez) destroys the country, the more he creates conditions that will allow him to achieve his aim - to keep himself in power " Gen. Raul Baduel Former defence minister
"The exercise shows how serious Venezuela is about defending itself" BBC
Under a burning tropical sun, a group of Venezuelan generals stare through binoculars as two Navy patrol boats begin manoeuvres.
TV cameras watch the boats from the tiny Caribbean island of La Orchilla. Viewers are told enemy boats have been spotted in territorial waters and the Navy has been given the order to move in.
Soon afterwards, a missile is fired at the target and a squadron of Russian-built Sukhoi fighter jets roar over the island, almost too fast to track.
This is Operation Socialist Fatherland - a military exercise designed to show the strength of Venezuela's combined forces.
President Hugo Chavez says Venezuela is fighting a war of resistance. He warns his supporters on a regular basis that the US is ready to attack.
Crucial time
"We're not threatening anyone," Vice-Admiral Zahim Ali Quintana Castro, the commander of the navy, tells me.
"But ither will we allow ourselves to be threatened. We will never let anyone take away our spirit of liberty and independence."
The week-long exercise shows just how serious Venezuela is about defending its socialist revolution.
The US flatly denies any interest in military confrontation, but the Venezuelan government continues with the rhetoric to fire up its supporters.
This is a crucial time for Venezuela. President Chavez is pushing forward his socialist revolution and his opponents are continuing to fight against it.
Looming regional and local elections have increased the tension in this politically divided nation.
Saturday morning and thousands of the president's opponents have gathered in Caracas to show their anger at a ruling they say is aimed at undermining them.Nearly 400 people have been barred from running in November's elections.
The government says they are all being investigated for corruption and are therefore ineligible - but 80% of the names on the list are from the opposition.
"The constitution is clear," says Leopoldo Lopez, one of the best-known politicians on the list.
"None of us are legally disqualified. We will fight on the streets to make sure Venezuelans have the right to choose who they want."
He says the government has barred them "because they know we can win".
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June 28, 2008 at 10:16 am by Luiz Castro, 1118 views, 47 comments
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Comments (47)
- reply
zichiat 11:57 on June 28th, 2008
lfcastro, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Iraq was invaded for oil why not Venezuela? Its nearer to home and should be a little easier and the troops can refuel in Cuba.... and top up with cigars which aren't illegal in Venezuela....
at 13:34 on June 28th, 2008
Well Zichi being an American let me know were the oil is so I can get some because Americans haven't seen a drop of it. In fact the corrupt UN oil for food scam got it's hands on quite a bit of Iraqi oil if I remember. People seem to forget that the US military uses oil payed by Americans to protects countries like say Japan who if I remember at one time wanted to destroy America. Painting America as this horrible entity attacking people to get their oil is a talking point that is so worn out. America is the #1 scapegoat for the worlds own dysfunctions.
- reply
zichiat 14:38 on June 28th, 2008
I am not Japanese, actually British ol' man! and I'm not anti-American especially with my mother being American, my brother, my niece, my aunt, my uncle, my nephew. My family have been in America for more than 200 years. What about yours? You don't have a right on opinions we are all entitled to have them! The UN food for oil was a disgrace, but the UN is all we have at the moment. I don't know why you mentioned it because I didn't? Its also a disgrace how many construction dollars in Iraq have gone missing many into the coffers of certain American companies.
The British ol' man are the biggest friends you have but I suppose next you'll tell me you saved us from Hitler! But so did the Russians and 25 million of them died doing it.
As for Japan, the majority of Japanese nationals would be happy for the American military to leave because too many have raped children and killed the women, but not having a vote I have no say on that. Personally, I'm happy America is here, but they are using less oil because all the 'forward' ships are being replaced with nuclear, but too many still remember that you dropped some very evil bombs on them. It takes time to get over something like that. The few survivors I have met from that hell harbor no hatred toward America and in fact blame their own military government of the day. Most people do not have ill feelings to Americans, but they do with President Bush who has made a mess of things.
How far back in history do you want to go? Like you stole that country from us and we didn't even receive compensation.
In my opinion, America attacked Iraq for the oil, and some Americans believe that too. I don't think America will invade Venezuela because America can not afford it, current public debt is already 60.8% of GDP. They could use more dirty tactics though like you did in the past in other democratic South American countries, Chile, Peru.
I for one would be very happy if Americans stopped thinking we need a 'World Police' we can get along without you playing that role
at 15:06 on June 28th, 2008
How can you say that this dysfunctional World can get along without the US military protection? I wish they could so my tax dollars can be better spent. But there is not one country that depends on the US for survival that wants the US to redeploy. I also do not fall for the guilt trip some want to saddle Americans with. It is counter productive. Good day chap...
at 17:04 on June 28th, 2008
Painting America as this horrible entity attacking people to get their oil is a talking point that is so worn out.
For the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have died and their loved ones, I doubt the talking point is worn out.
Are you tired of talking about the 3000 who died on American soil on September 11 2001?
at 11:51 on June 28th, 2008
lfcastro, I like this story. It's good stuff. Oh great that is all we need another Grenada!
at 12:16 on June 28th, 2008
lfcastro, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 12:50 on June 28th, 2008
The US flatly denies any interest in military confrontation...
Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.
As a person who has been taught to learn from experience, I would say Chavez has reason to be concerned.
Source: guardian.co.uk
lfcastro, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 12:42 on June 28th, 2008
lfcastro, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:13 on June 28th, 2008
Thank you all for the flags and comments.
at 13:30 on June 28th, 2008
If castro, may I bring to your attention there is more to Citizen Journalism than mere copying news from traditional networks. A little research could have improved this selective reprinting of a BBC article. Furthermore, this selective reprint of the BBC article is biased. It omits some favourable remakes on Chavez and his political style.
Readers should be aware this military exercises are the result of an illegal American incursion on Venezuelan air space on 19 May 2008 over a military base in Orchila Island: Venezuela denounces US invasion of its air space at Caribbean Islands (updated). Please be aware this BBC article refers there is a demonstration on Saturday morning. However, there is none here today at Caracas. Maybe it is an old article printed recently as there was a demonstration on Saturday 7 June 2008. I wrote a story on that occasion which you kindly marked as good stuff: Venezuelan opposition demonstrates against political exclusion (updated).
May I bring to your attention again that bold text in this BBC article reprint does not warn readers it is your own. As you know that is is ethically wrong. In addition, it is appropriate to recall that those barred from political participation in the coming local elections are from both sides of the ideological life in Venezuelan politics. 80% is a disputable figure. These administrative sanctions are common practice. The Comptroller General has been issued them for a long time now. A prominent government official Mari Pili Hernandez who was vice foreign minister for American and Multilaterals Affairs was asked to step down two years ago. She was punished for mismanagement as a local authority at the beginning of Chavez´s administration.
Furthermore, the BBC reprint fails to acknowledge that members of the opposition did participate in local politics during Chavez´s administration but were sanctioned for being corrupt. For any clarification, readers may peep at the following story: Corruption and Venezuelan opposition: a dangerous liaison.
Finally,this reprint fails to cite some current events. Chacao Major Leopoldo Lopez faked an immigration incident at Caracas airport on Wedenesday and stated it was due to political exclusion. As airport footage showed how he cheated TV audiences, Lopez has been now under investigation.
at 17:06 on June 28th, 2008
Given the fact that the Chavez government acted with extreme restraint after the 2002 coup, I to find the 80% figure dubious.
Source: hrw.org
at 15:49 on June 28th, 2008
Rahul, I already told you I respect your CREDO and yourself as a propagandist of the Chavez regime. I like to read your "official" point of view. I hope you can respect that no everyone in the world will agree with your "trues". About your point on research and 'citzen journalism" I don't get payed to write here, I try to do my best using my spare time. Do you have a salary to work as a Chavez propagandist?
at 22:53 on June 28th, 2008
Ifcastro. As requested before, could you please stop making it personal and pay attention to ethics when reporting? It seems that personal attacks are your only way to either answer clarification requests on your poorly researched stories or make updated improvements to them. Could you please be aware that baptising me as a "propagandist of the Chavez regime" adds little to the quality of your Citizen Journalism. Furthermore, your personal attacks only show strong leanings towards militarism or intolerant fascism. In the past, your cited views on Democracy have also shown a rather faulty theoretical foundation, which seem unable to grasp events in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Latin America. I did point this out to you before for the betterment of your stories and views on Latin America and Democracy a whole. If I may, I would ask you to just ponder for a minute and do some research before embarking in reprinting main media content. By citing various sources and many points of views, stories could be greatly improved. In addition, such contributions would be most appreciated. Finally do keep expressing your points of views and those of many others different from your own.
at 23:12 on June 28th, 2008
Rahul, don't you ever drink a beer? Again, it is Saturday night and you still worring about the caudillo regime of Chavez. Give me a break.Are you a full time Chavez employee?
Before I forget, isn't Chavez and Fidel ( his master) the one who uses uniforms, are you reffering to that kind of dictators when you talk about me? I want to let you know I will never support any totalitarist regime and communism is something as old as dinossaurs to me.
at 13:50 on June 28th, 2008
Rahul are you on the Chavez payroll? Do you speak for that Government? I have noticed that most of your sources of information come from Government controlled entities. I think is is ethically wrong to peddle Government propaganda as fact. You rely on Granma the Cuban Communist news agency like if this was a credible source of information. If you want to find the Citizen Journalists in Cuba most of them are under house arrest in jail or dead.
at 14:08 on June 28th, 2008
Mpress, thanks for your comments. I do invite you to read my stories as they cite plenty of sources from the Venezuelan opposition and the government. Thre are many for readers to get a balanced view. As opposed to your posted stories on Venezuela that mostly use Miami Herald articles, my stories have tried to cover as many points of views. It would ethically wrong to do otherwise or suggest that independent thinking is tied to only one side of the story or ideological interpretation. Your refusal to acknowledge tihe existence of other interpretations of sources could be interpreted as intolerance.
at 15:15 on June 28th, 2008
Yes Rahul I am intolerant of Communist propaganda. And I believe the intolerant are those who jail Journalists. And as far as I know the Miami Herald is not a government paper. It is a paper which employs journalists who are free to express their information and opinions. Is there a problem with that in your circles?
at 23:12 on June 28th, 2008
Mpress. Just try citing more sources. Even those you consider inappropriate. It does not mean you that by citing them you endorse political or ideologies different from your own. May I bring to your attention, there are cases such sources are the only or first hand provider of information on an event. For instance, FARC stands on hostages release are first published in gramma than Miami Herald which opposes Castro. Please remember that On 8 September 2006, Miami Herald Chief had to fire three journalists who were paid by US government to write anti Cuban propaganda. Finally, please be aware that my personal views on Miami Herald were already expressed in a story I wrote few weeks ago. I do invite you to read them.
at 14:14 on June 28th, 2008
Mpress, you wrote: I have noticed that most of your sources of information come from Government controlled entities
I had a look at Rahul's sources from the articles he linked to in his comment....
El Universal, Globovision, Unionradio, VTV, YVKE, Telesur, BBC, Yahoo News, CNN, El Comercio, El Pais.es, Global Research, El Nacional, NYT, Pr-Inside, Prensa Latina, Aljazeera,
Mpress, I think is is ethically wrong to peddle....
at 15:43 on June 28th, 2008
Mpress, I believe some people takes Marxism as a credo, I have posted an article about that.
Thanks for your comments.
at 13:52 on June 28th, 2008
lfcastro, Chavez may not be far of in the thoughts on America - On 4.24.2008 The U.S. Reestablishes the 4th Fleet, which was disestablished in 1950.
"Reconstituting the Fourth Fleet recognizes the immense importance of maritime security in the southern part of the Western Hemisphere, and sends a strong signal to all the civil and military maritime services in Central and Latin America," said Roughead. "Aligning the Fourth Fleet along with our other numbered fleets and providing the capabilities and personnel are a logical execution of our new Maritime Strategy." "U.S. 4th Fleet was original established in 1943 as one of the original numbered fleets, and was given a specific mission. During World War II, the U.S. needed a command in charge of protecting against raiders, blockade runners and enemy submarines in the South Atlantic. U.S. 4th Fleet was disestablished in 1950 when U.S. 2nd Fleet took over its responsibilities."
via: U.S. Navy
Here's more:
The “message” began to be transmitted just weeks after Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia came into sharp conflict over a border provocation caused by the Colombian military’s bombardment of an encampment of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrillas inside Ecuadorian territory.
The Fourth Fleet will begin operations on the first day of July out of the Mayport US Naval Station, a nuclear facility in the state of Florida. The fleet, which will operate as part of the Pentagon’s Southern Command, will be comprised of various ships, including aircraft carriers and submarines, and will operate from the Caribbean to the southern tip of South America.
via: wsws.org
This is interesting considering these new areas of interests to protect or watch over on an already limited military with two wars already.
at 14:22 on June 28th, 2008
The U.S. Reestablishes the 4th Fleet, which was disestablished in 1950. This is an ominous sign...la historia se repita...
at 13:53 on June 28th, 2008
lfcastro, keep up the good work
at 14:04 on June 28th, 2008
lfcastro, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:57 on June 28th, 2008
lfcastro, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Good story as always ....and dare I say it...a pretty objective source. But clearly not everyone agrees.
at 15:15 on June 28th, 2008
I am glad to see that debate here. Thank you all for your opinions.My goal on posting that was start a debate, and I am glad that is happening. I just want to make clear to everyone that I just brought this article from BBC, and until now I had not expressed my own opinion.
at 15:16 on June 28th, 2008
This is turning into one of the best talking-point articles of the day.
Issues of "regime morality" aside, world leaders would be crazy to ignore any hegemonic overtures from the US after what happened with Iraq. While I do not endorse the pre-emptive strike doctrine, Washington has proven itself willing to take it there, as it were, so anyone who's on the other end of the sabre when it rattles would do well to have at least some sort of plan in case words turn into fists. It's just rational self-interest, and no nation should be without it.
Concurrently, Chavez should probably look across the sea to Zimbabwe- that's what happens when power stagnates: irrational self-interest, wherein you hold something so tightly you break it.
at 15:26 on June 28th, 2008
Thanks for you flag and well balanced opinion.
at 15:31 on June 28th, 2008
Jordan, Chavez doesn't have to look as far as Zimbabwe. Cuba has been having those one party elections longer than Zimbabwe. It's just that the liberal Journalists look at Castro as a hero. In fact Mugabe is a child of Castro and Che as is Chavez. But now the focus all of a sudden is on the new bad man Mugabe...