Because of its world’s largest oil reserves, Venezuela is a jewel in the Latin American crown the US seeks dominance over—Brazil the other jewel, the region’s largest economy, the world’s 8th largest.
Washington under Republicans and undemocratic Dems is hellbent to recolonize Latin and Central America entirely, wanting all sovereign independent governments eliminated—notably in Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
James Petras explained that “[n]ot since the US pronounced the Monroe Doctrine proclaiming its imperial supremacy over Latin America, nearly 200 years ago, has a White House regime so openly affirmed its mission to recolonize Latin America.”
Maduro expressed similar views, saying, “We are faced with the strongest imperialism of the last 200 years, with economic, political and diplomatic aggression, with internal aggression, with sabotage, with attempts to disrupt the life of the country.”
Trump regime tactics include anything goes, notably political, economic, financial, and sanctions wars—intensified by brute force as needed, including possible direct military intervention if other tactics fail.
If ordered against Venezuela, it’ll be the first time US troops invaded a Latin or Central American country since Franklin Roosevelt withdrew them from Haiti in 1934.
During February Senate Armed Services Committee testimony, SOUTHCOM commander Admiral Craig Faller lied calling Venezuelan President Maduro “illegitimate,” adding, “We are prepared to protect US personnel and diplomatic facilities [in the country militarily], if necessary”—despite no threats facing them except invented ones. They’re free to come and go as they please, leaving the country unobstructed if they wish.
Faller is part of the sinister Trump regime plot to topple Maduro and eliminate Venezuelan social democracy.
He lied saying he’s “starv[ing] [Venezuelans] by using food as a weapon, while corrupt generals are rewarded with money from illegal drug trafficking, oil profits and businesses, all at the expense of the population and the rank and file military,” adding, “[W]hen our neighbors are threatened, we are threatened.” Regional threats exist only under US-supported fascist regimes, exploiting their people to serve privileged interests—in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Paraguay, Chile, and elsewhere regionally.
The Trump regime’s Plan A to topple Maduro failed, things not going as planned. Hardliners Pompeo, Bolton, and Abrams are scrambling for alternative tactics—unlikely to be more effective than ongoing ones, short of direct military intervention, strongly opposed by regional countries and the vast majority of Venezuelans.
If ordered, all bets are off. More likely is a Contra-type proxy war, using armed anti-government regional mercenaries, risking deadly mass slaughter, destruction, and chaos.
For now, escalated economic, financial, and sanctions war is likely. On Wednesday, John Bolton issued a statement, saying the following: “The United States strongly supports the democratic transition in Venezuela [sic] led by interim president Juan Guaido [sic] and the National Assembly [sic] and is pursuing several new diplomatic and economic initiatives in support of that transition,” adding, “The United States is putting foreign financial institutions on notice that they will face sanctions for being involved in facilitating illegitimate transactions [sic] that benefit Nicolas Maduro and his corrupt network [sic]. We will not allow Maduro to steal the wealth [sic] of the Venezuelan people.”
Based on bald-faced Big Lies, Bolton’s threat upped the stakes after the US “confiscated” $30 billion from Venezuela, according to Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza.
On the same day, the Trump regime revoked visas of 77 Venezuelan officials and family members. Days earlier, dozens of others in the country had theirs invalidated.
Germany’s envoy to Venezuela Daniel Kriener was declared persona non grata for “repeated interference” in its internal affairs, given 48 hours to leave, expulsion of other anti-Bolivarian ambassadors perhaps to follow, representing fifth column threats to Bolivarian social democracy.
Responding to Kriener’s expulsion, Guaido termed ludicrously the action “a threat against Germany.” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Arreaza explained why the order was issued, saying, The Bolivarian Republic “is free and independent, so the actions of diplomatic representatives which support intervention in matters of exclusive competence of the people and the authorities of the Venezuelan state, are not and will not be accepted.”
European, regional, and other nations allied with the Trump regime’s coup plot support replacing democratic governance in Venezuela with US-controlled fascist tyranny to their shame.
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Bolton threatens sanctions on banks doing business with Venezuela
Posted on March 8, 2019 by Stephen Lendman
Because of its world’s largest oil reserves, Venezuela is a jewel in the Latin American crown the US seeks dominance over—Brazil the other jewel, the region’s largest economy, the world’s 8th largest.
Washington under Republicans and undemocratic Dems is hellbent to recolonize Latin and Central America entirely, wanting all sovereign independent governments eliminated—notably in Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
James Petras explained that “[n]ot since the US pronounced the Monroe Doctrine proclaiming its imperial supremacy over Latin America, nearly 200 years ago, has a White House regime so openly affirmed its mission to recolonize Latin America.”
Maduro expressed similar views, saying, “We are faced with the strongest imperialism of the last 200 years, with economic, political and diplomatic aggression, with internal aggression, with sabotage, with attempts to disrupt the life of the country.”
Trump regime tactics include anything goes, notably political, economic, financial, and sanctions wars—intensified by brute force as needed, including possible direct military intervention if other tactics fail.
If ordered against Venezuela, it’ll be the first time US troops invaded a Latin or Central American country since Franklin Roosevelt withdrew them from Haiti in 1934.
During February Senate Armed Services Committee testimony, SOUTHCOM commander Admiral Craig Faller lied calling Venezuelan President Maduro “illegitimate,” adding, “We are prepared to protect US personnel and diplomatic facilities [in the country militarily], if necessary”—despite no threats facing them except invented ones. They’re free to come and go as they please, leaving the country unobstructed if they wish.
Faller is part of the sinister Trump regime plot to topple Maduro and eliminate Venezuelan social democracy.
He lied saying he’s “starv[ing] [Venezuelans] by using food as a weapon, while corrupt generals are rewarded with money from illegal drug trafficking, oil profits and businesses, all at the expense of the population and the rank and file military,” adding, “[W]hen our neighbors are threatened, we are threatened.” Regional threats exist only under US-supported fascist regimes, exploiting their people to serve privileged interests—in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Paraguay, Chile, and elsewhere regionally.
The Trump regime’s Plan A to topple Maduro failed, things not going as planned. Hardliners Pompeo, Bolton, and Abrams are scrambling for alternative tactics—unlikely to be more effective than ongoing ones, short of direct military intervention, strongly opposed by regional countries and the vast majority of Venezuelans.
If ordered, all bets are off. More likely is a Contra-type proxy war, using armed anti-government regional mercenaries, risking deadly mass slaughter, destruction, and chaos.
For now, escalated economic, financial, and sanctions war is likely. On Wednesday, John Bolton issued a statement, saying the following: “The United States strongly supports the democratic transition in Venezuela [sic] led by interim president Juan Guaido [sic] and the National Assembly [sic] and is pursuing several new diplomatic and economic initiatives in support of that transition,” adding, “The United States is putting foreign financial institutions on notice that they will face sanctions for being involved in facilitating illegitimate transactions [sic] that benefit Nicolas Maduro and his corrupt network [sic]. We will not allow Maduro to steal the wealth [sic] of the Venezuelan people.”
Based on bald-faced Big Lies, Bolton’s threat upped the stakes after the US “confiscated” $30 billion from Venezuela, according to Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza.
On the same day, the Trump regime revoked visas of 77 Venezuelan officials and family members. Days earlier, dozens of others in the country had theirs invalidated.
Germany’s envoy to Venezuela Daniel Kriener was declared persona non grata for “repeated interference” in its internal affairs, given 48 hours to leave, expulsion of other anti-Bolivarian ambassadors perhaps to follow, representing fifth column threats to Bolivarian social democracy.
Responding to Kriener’s expulsion, Guaido termed ludicrously the action “a threat against Germany.” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Arreaza explained why the order was issued, saying, The Bolivarian Republic “is free and independent, so the actions of diplomatic representatives which support intervention in matters of exclusive competence of the people and the authorities of the Venezuelan state, are not and will not be accepted.”
European, regional, and other nations allied with the Trump regime’s coup plot support replacing democratic governance in Venezuela with US-controlled fascist tyranny to their shame.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.