[This interview was made for the Unz Review]
I am continuing to try to understand what is really happening in Venezuela by talking to those who actually know that and, following my interview with Michael Hudson, it is today it is my immense privilege and honor to present you with a full interview I made with His Excellency Mr. Jorge Valero, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Permanent Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.
I am immensely grateful to Ambassador Valero for taking the time to answer my questions in extenso just a few days away from what might well turn out to be a US false flag or even invasion of Venezuela (promised to all by Trump and Guaido for the 23rd of February). May God grant him and the Venezuelan people the wisdom, courage and strength to defeat the Empire!
The Saker
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The Saker: My first question is about you personally. There is a Wikipedia entry under your name (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Valero) but since Wikipedia is, at best, a hit-and-miss kind of source, what could you tell our readers about yourself which they ought to know before we turn to the issue of the current situation in Venezuela?
Ambassador Valero: I was born in Valera, State of Trujillo, Venezuela on November 8th, 1946. I graduated from the University of Los Andes (ULA, for its acronym in Spanish) as a historian. I did my graduate studies at the University College London, in Latin American Studies. I am an expert in diplomatic archives. I was an undergraduate professor and the University of Los Andes and a graduate professor at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV, for its acronym in Spanish). I was elected as a Congressman to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Trujillo, and later Congressman to the National Congress. I was Venezuela’s Ambassador to the Korean Republic. When, President Chávez, was elected in 1998; he appointed me as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. I presided the Presidential Commission appointed by President Chávez, which was in charge of organizing the II OPEC Summit, in Caracas on September 2000. I have been Ambassador – Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the OAS; the UN – New York and currently to the UNOG. I have written a literary work in various genres. More than 20 essays; poetry; diplomacy and social-political analysis. Dozens of national and international conferences.
The Saker: One of the major efforts of Hugo Chavez was to establish a number of multi-lateral frameworks and agreements like the ALBA, CELAC, UNASUR, and projects like the SUCRE, the Petrocaribe, TeleSUR or PetroSUR. How effective have these frameworks and projects been in supporting the Venezuelan struggle against US imperialism? Do you feel that these entities are playing a helpful role or not?
Ambassador Valero: Hugo Chávez was a paradigm of Latin American and Caribbean integration. In this regard, he was a key factor in the creation of ALBA, UNASUR, CELAC, PETROCARIBE, and TELESUR. Chávez reclaimed the integrationist ideology of our Liberator Simón Bolívar, who prosed the creation of “La Patria Grande, Nuestroamericana” (Great Our American Homeland), to defend the interests of our peoples and face any foreign threat raising the flags of unity, peace, sovereignty and self-determination of the peoples. PETROCARIBE is a solidary initiative in favor of developing countries, notably, the countries of our Caribbean surroundings that benefit from an oil bill with discounts and with long payment terms. Chávez has also been a paradigm in the promotion of a multi-polar world, where foreign affairs are founded by sovereign equality of States, overcoming the decaying North American Empire unilateralism. Thus, the Empire’s fury has been unleashed against the Bolivarian Revolution: coups d’état, oil sabotage, the promotion of violence and terrorism against the Venezuelan people. Henceforth, the continuous coup d’état promoted by the supremacist-racist-xenophobic and war-mongering government of Donald Trump that aims to impose a governing puppet and the threats of a military invasion in our homeland, which are part of the above-described context.
Hugo Chávez advocated for a new type and renewed multilateralism. Respect for the founding principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Multilateralism is disrupted by Trump’s government, which has disregarded universal agreements on climate change; withdrawn from both UNESCO and the Human Rights Council; disregarded the agreement on the peaceful use of atomic energy with Iran, signed by USA, Germany, France, United Kingdom, China and the European Union; retraced the path to normalizing the bilateral relations with Cuba; unleashes a commercial war against China, and threatens the Russian Federation with an atomic war in his dispute to control outer space. Vis-à-vis those reckless and aggressive policies that threaten human existence it is necessary to raise the flags of multilateralism even higher.
The Saker: The Empire has created the so-called “Lima Group” which is just a typical trick to bypass the UN or legitimate regional organizations. This is exactly what the USA did with the so-called “friends of Syria,” and the goal is the same: to overthrow a democratically elected legitimate government and replace it with a vassal puppet regime. Yet countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru all agreed to participate in this anti-Venezuelan farce. How do you explain such a betrayal by so many of these Latin American countries? Does their agreement to betray Venezuela and serve the Empire’s interest not show that these states have no real sovereignty or foreign policy and that they are all de-facto US colonies?
Ambassador Valero: Certainly, the self-proclaimed “Lima Group” is a cartel made up of satellite governments of the imperial government to break Latin American and Caribbean unity, and, due to the failure of using the Ministry of the Colonies, which is the OAS to isolate Venezuela in this organization. The empire and its minions couldn’t approve Article 20 of Inter-American Democratic Charter of the Permanent Council of the OAS and resort to the United Nations Security Council, where they also failed. The creation of puppet governments by the US is not new. It has happened in Iraq, Iran, Libya, and Syria. The puppets imposed in those countries where supported by armed terrorist groups, including, mercenary armies trained and financed from abroad.
Nevertheless, in Venezuela, the puppet has no support from the people nor the military, since in our country there is a consistent and patriotic civilian-military alliance, which guarantees and will guarantee -come what may- the defense of the sovereign and sacred jurisdiction of Simon Bolivar’s homeland. The US satellite governments against Venezuela are a minority even in Latin America and the Caribbean. Of the 193 countries that make up the United Nations only 34 support the puppet, which translates into 17.6%. For example, a single country in Africa and there are 54. One in Oceania and there are 15. One in the Middle East and there are 16. 15 countries in Europe, and there are 50. And 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and there are 35. You are right, the satellite countries that follow the Empire’s orders have no autonomous and sovereign foreign policy. Some of these governments, particularly, in Latin America are presided by people that have a criminal background: drug trafficking, corruption, genocide, paramilitarism, sexual offenses. Some are the result of a coup d’état.
The Saker: Another interesting initiative was the creation of Petro-cryptocurrency. Now with the inflation making the Bolivar almost useless, how effective do you believe this alternative currency is to 1) bypass US sanctions, and sabotage and 2) serve as an alternative currency to help the Venezuelan economy recover from its current plight?
Ambassador Valero: The Petro-cryptocurrency was created to free us from the tyranny of the US dollar in the international financial market. Therefore, Trump’s government has established Draconian measures to block the flow of this cryptocurrency. Incidentally, the economic war and the unilateral coercive measures bring about galloping inflation, migration and relocation of people abroad. We are blocked from accessing the capital markets. They rob the Venezuelan State’s property in the US. They kidnap the Venezuelan State’s bank accounts in that country. The unilateral coercive measures and the sanctions cause, as expressed by the former UN Independent Expert, Alfred de Zayas, death and suffering. Measures against international law and the Charter of the United Nations and deny the Venezuelan people their human rights. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures, Idriss Jazairy acknowledged this.
The Saker: Russia and China have been working on an alternative to the SWIFT. Is that something the Venezuelan government is also looking into?
Ambassador Valero: Experts from China and Russia provide expert advice to the Venezuelan State to successfully overcome the financial blockage and criminal sanctions of Trump’s government.
The Saker: What can you tell us about the current state of the Venezuelan petrochemicals industry? Now that the US has stolen 7 BILLION dollars belonging to PDVSA, how can the PDVSA continue to operate after being robbed from such a huge sum of money? At what levels is Venezuela currently producing and refining oil?
Ambassador Valero: The damage caused to the Venezuelan economy surpasses 35 billion dollars in the blockade of assets and accounts. They try to rob the Venezuelan peoples from the company CITGO that operates in Dallas, Texas that distributes gasoline and fuels to thousands of gas stations in the US East Coast. The Bolivarian government will undertake all the necessary legal actions to avoid that the Trump government steals the national patrimony. PDVSA, our national oil company, is completely deployed to guarantee the production, distribution, and commercialization of our crude oil. We have found new partners in the hydrocarbon’s market in the world, mainly, China, Russia, India, and Turkey.
The Saker: Since the US-backed coup attempt by Guaido, there has been remarkably little actual violence in the streets of Venezuela, and all the signs point to the fact that Guaido does not have the support of a majority of the people. Yet he sure does have enough support within some sectors of the Venezuelan society (the kind of folks who go and protest against Nicolas Maduro while carrying US flags). How did the government succeed in preventing that minority from doing in Venezuela what was done in Libya and Syria: instigate enough violence to justify a “humanitarian” foreign intervention? In Kiev, there were snipers shooting at both the security forces and the protestors (which also happened in Caracas in 2002 I believe), and I was expecting that to happen in Caracas, but it did not (at least so far). How do you explain this?
Ambassador Valero: Since the National Constituent Assembly was elected peace reigns in the republic.
The puppet that the US aims to impose has neither the people nor the military’s support to disrupt public peace. In general, in Venezuela, there is peace and tranquility. The Venezuelan people love peace. Peace is an essential part of State policies. Nevertheless, terrorist and violent groups financed from abroad, especially, the USA and Colombia act in popular districts in some cities in the country. The puppet and the puppeteer, Trump’s government try to disrupt public peace. They call to destroy the democratic rule of law and justice in Venezuela. They refuse to dialogue and promote intolerance and violence. The puppet asks the puppeteer to send US troops to invade our homeland. Infertile calls since our people remain presto to defend our participatory and protagonist democracy, as well as, the democratic institutions.
Trump’s government tries to reproduce the format that the Empire used in Syria and Libya: a parallel transition government. Prepares mercenaries in neighboring countries to foray in the national territory. They aimed to use the OAS and the Human Rights Council. Remember that Libya was expelled from the Human Rights Council through a Resolution, which was later confirmed by the UN General Assembly immediately after a Resolution was approved in the Security Council, which approved the creation of a no-fly zone. What followed is well known: cask missiles against Libya that caused thousands of deaths and destruction in civilian and military infrastructure. Trump’s government wants to implement the same strategy against Venezuela. He has called upon the Security Council to validate his objective for a military invasion in Venezuela. Fortunately, for both world and regional peace, the governments of Russia and China declared that they would use their right to veto in the UN Security Council to block such criminal objective.
Peace in our region is crucial. CELAC proclaimed Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace. A military invasion from Trump’s government in Venezuela will have continental and worldwide consequences. President Nicolás Maduro affirmed that a Yankee invasion would create a new Vietnam.
The Saker: Does Venezuela feel sufficiently supported at the UN in general and at the UNSC specifically by Russia and China or do you feel that Venezuela needs more help from these countries?
Ambassador Valero: Russia and China are Venezuela’s strategic allies. With these two military, commercial, and technologic powers we have cooperation agreements in many fields. Likewise, Venezuela has abundant solidary backing and support from most of the countries in the world.
On January 26, 2019, Trump’s government indented to condemn Venezuela in the Security Council. They ran off with their tails between their legs, since no resolution was approved against our country. Most of the permanent and non-permanent members of this Council rejected the interventionist objective, and, contrarily approved to promote dialogue among Venezuelans. We are in a condition to overcome motu proprio our challenges. The dialogue between the government and the opposition, without preconditions, is the path to follow. Henceforth, our government has enthusiastically supported the “Montevideo Mechanism” proposed by the governments of Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia and the member countries of CARICOM.
The Saker: It is pretty obvious that Mr. Guaido has committed a number of violations of the Venezuelan law ranging from calling for an illegal demonstration to being involved in an anti-constitutional coup attempt. In a normal situation, that man ought to be legally charged and prosecuted for his crimes (including, in my opinion, subversion and treason). Yet the USA threatened to go to war against Venezuela (aka “serious consequences“) if Guaido is arrested which, by itself, is a gross violation of international law and of the UN Charter. What can, in your opinion, the Venezuelan government do to do what any other government would do and restore law in order without risking providing a pretext for a US invasion?
Ambassador Valero: The puppet has continuously violated the Bolivarian Constitution. Likewise, he disregarded the fundamental tenets of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The Venezuelan State is made up of five powers. If something has characterized, the Bolivarian government is being a devoted defender of the independence of each of those powers. It will be the National Constituent Assembly and the Public Ministry who will make the necessary decisions. And you are right: these are crimes of subversion and treason. Breaking democratic legality and wrongfully usurping functions should not be tolerated.
The puppet’s permanent calls for violence and destabilization, his self-proclamation in a street in Caracas, and his call for a foreign military intervention place him against all nation and international law. Makes him a criminal that should be punished with the force of the Venezuelan laws.
The Saker: Speaking of a possible US invasion – do you believe that these are just the usual empty threat of Donald Trump or do you think that there is actually a real risk of overt US military aggression against your country? How about the covert aggression already taking place? What can you tell us about US/Colombian (some say Israeli?) covert operations against Venezuela?
Ambassador Valero: Donald Trump’s threats are not empty. The aggression is in full swing. Trump is the bombastic spokesman of war and foreign intervention. His threats are part of the Empire’s recolonizing goals. The government of Uncle Sam’s nation and its allies and lackeys impose neoliberal policies on the peoples of the world. Trump dusted off the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary. Recruits and trains mercenaries in its military bases in Colombia. Prepares his arsenal to wage war against Venezuela. This is why we should turn a blind eye to provocations. The governments of the US and Colombia are experts creating false positives.
We insist: the threat of a military foray by the empire is a possibility that should not be ruled out. Both our people and our National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB, for its acronym in Spanish) are prepared to react with heroism and determination in case of such an event. Patriotism has rekindled as never before in history. We are ready to guarantee our definite independence.
Venezuela became the subject of discussion in the whole world. Our natural wealth, our geographic location in the American hemisphere, our political tenet of building a model of society where social justice prevails, our relations of solidarity and cooperation with the other countries of the world, our firm decision of being a free and sovereign country, emancipated from all sorts of domination make us –as people say- the crown jewel.
The Saker: It is pretty clear that the Israelis have never forgiven Hugo Chavez for speaking up for Palestinian rights and for openly denouncing Israeli policies. As far as you know, are the Israelis currently involved in anti-Venezuelan activities including economic sabotage, political subversion, covert operations, etc.? How relevant is Israel in what is going on today?
Ambassador Valero: The Israeli government has nothing to forgive us for. Our condition of sovereign country grants us the right to decide how we relate to other countries in the world. Defending the Palestinian cause is in the center of our foreign policy. We denounce in multilateral for Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people. Demanded the cessation of the cessation of the occupation of the Gaza Strip, to end the extermination policy of Israel against Palestine and the Occupied Arab Territories. We recognize Palestine as a free and sovereign country with which we hold strong bonds of cooperation. There lies Israel’s hatred against the Bolivarian Revolution. It is no news that this government is involved in the interventionist plans against our country. The Israeli government bets on the overthrowing of President Nicolás Maduro, by Donald Trump’s government. It has recognized his puppet.
The Saker: Finally, what is your guess as to what will happen in the short-term to mid-term future? Do you believe that the Guiado coup has already failed or do you believe that this was only a temporary setback for the Empire and that now we will see more and further attempts at crushing the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela and the rest of Latin America?
Ambassador Valero: The civilian-military union is categorically defeating the coup d’état. Nevertheless, the empire will not stop in its destabilizing and coup-mongering pretentions against the Bolivarian Revolution. As it has been demonstrated our people are inspired by the legacy of our liberators and the supreme commander Hugo Chávez Frías. And at the avant-garde of the fight for our sovereignty and self-determination is President Nicolás Maduro. Chavismo is the new face of being Venezuelan.
The Venezuelan people will resist with heroism and patriotic spirit the constant siege of Trump’s government. The Bolivarian Revolution conceived a new nation project, which aims to obtain happiness, equality, equity, freedom, and brotherhood of all Venezuelans. These are inherent principles of our democracy and the Venezuelan way of socialism.
The Venezuelan people have resisted with dignity and stoicism the terrible conditions it has been subjected to due to the imperial pretensions of impeding the advance of our revolutionary process. No foreign power and its domestic pawns will be able to stop the triumphal march of the Bolivarian Revolution.
The Saker:Your Excellency, thank you for granting me this interview!
A very important and clear interview with a major figure in Venezuelan reality.
I expect it will be reproduced throughout the world of free blogs and news sources swiftly.
Excellent questions, Saker. Touched all the nerve endings of this hemispheric pre-war situation.
We are observers of a grand theft in process as the Hegemon steals the vast banked wealth of the Venezuelan people and attempts to install a traitor as puppet in order to steal all the oil, gas and gold of this troubled nation.
Remarkably timely and relevant interview. The Vineyard is leading the way providing information first hand.
(I expect to see this in Colonel Cassad shortly . . . )
Bravo! Bravo! Scoop! Scoop!
But more seriously, the Hegemon has a fight on its hands. And Venezuela has more friends than enemies.
In such circumstances kudus to Maduro in keeping the streets of Venezuela calm and keeping the population calm. If he can do that, that is the first win!
How long can this siege last? That is a big speculation and we will have to weigh up the resilience of the Maduro Government and friends against the knuckleheads in charge of pushing through the coup. We may have another Syria on our hands but with less overt warfare and much more covert destabilization. The coop makers are also deeply destabilized in their own country – so I would reason that many puzzle pieces are in play here to consider, in order to do clean analysis.
Viva Venezuela!
But more seriously, the Hegemon has a fight on its hands.
Right now it is really 50/50 so I cannot hazard any prediction, but my pure gut feeling (which might be wrong) is that Trump will cave in again. Because if they do enter/invade or whatever else they are planning for Feb. 23, they are going to have a much better time entering/invading than they will trying to take the situation under control or, even less so, fixing it.
When is the last time the USA invaded a country which then did better than before the US invasion?
Also, if they take it, then they will own it. That will cost the US taxpayer billions of dollars and bring no positive result whatsoever.
In fact, IF the US does invade, I hope that Venezuela will do for all of Latin America what the Ukraine did to Russia: become a huge eye-opener about the real intentions/capabilities of the AngloZionist Empire. As I often say, it is much easier to break something than to fix it.
So, for all these reasons, I hope that this is all hot air again.
But, alas, with Trump’s insane comments about the Venezuelan officers who remain loyal to the Constitution “losing it all” and about “all options are on the table” I am afraid that these idiots will paint themselves into a corner and that they will be *forced* to attack.
We shall find out very soon.
Cheers,
The Saker
You may be right Saker. However I am having great difficulty seeing how Trump and co could make a direct assault on Venezuela sufficient to impose their will without it turning into their own political suicide. Both domestically and internationally. I don’t see how they can see how to make it work for themselves politically. Particularly now as Bernie Sanders is now coming at them with lots of allies in an election.
This reveals itself to me in their constant misreading of political realities. A coup that is already a laughing stock now hitting a brick wall in the form of a people-army alliance, with superpower tech support. It feels to me like the empire is now dying too fast for them to have the sustainable juice to make this imperialist fantasy really come alive. Are we seeing much more than the panicked barking of a dying dog as the world spirit grows stronger? But hey, who knows. Just my thoughts.
Snow Leopard: agree with your comment. The ‘panicked barking of a dying dog’ indeed. These psychopaths are fully addicted to power and control and greed S.L, they are not going to peacefully give up their power, hand out flowers and sing Kumbaya. They are literally insane. How much more damage can they do in their ever desperate attempts to save the Empire?
The Saker
I fully agree with you that we are looking at a 50:50 probability of the US invading Venezuela. The risks for the US are enormous. From the military point of view, the Venezuelan military, 300.000 strong, can inflict a heap of casualties to the US military, in men and material. The US could probably invade the country. However, could it hold it peacefully ? Highly unlikely. It would probably get another Vietnam. Then, of course, there is the political aspect of the invasion. The repercussions would be immense, as nobody would believe any infantile nonsense that the US was installing “democracy” in the country, when the real target is oil and gold.
Will the US invade ? Finances will dictate. As one analyst has stated, the US is avoiding a debt bubble burst only because of it’s aggressive foreign policy, like in 2003, when Anglo-American oil companies grabbed some 82 % of Iraqi oil. However, this aggressive foreign policy cannot last for ever. On the other hand, Trump will probably do as ordered by the Deep State, which cares little for foreign reactions, thinking only of it’s personal gratification.
You do understand, Saker, that 23 February is an anniversary that is historic.
That day, this coming Saturday, is the five year anniversary of the salient movement to oust the orcs from Sevastopol and Krimu, that is the day the citizens in a 50 and more thousand strong meeting in Nahximov Square in City Center elected A. M. Chalyi as the Peoples Mayor and ousted the orc government. It is a day heavy with meaning.
Perhaps, if Foggy Bottom makes their move that day, the result will be the same massive defeat administered to them as in Sevastopol on that fateful day. We will be at the anniversary ceremony at 35th Battery for the entire day.
Thank you Saker for a good interview.
Another important point about the 23rd is Guaido had 30 days to have elections under the constitution – he therefore will no longer be a (self-appointed) interim president. That is why there was so much haste/pressure by the US and its allies. So there will be a provocation instead.
It is also interesting that China and Cuba sent nearly 1,000 tonnes of aid/medical supplies last week and Russia is delivering 300 tonnes of medical supplies/aid tomorrow. The corporate MSM is silent on this as it defeats their narrative about the US “humanitarian” aid:
http://tass.com/world/1045313
It may be 50/50 that the American military can defeat the Venezuelan military and force the legitimate government out of Caracas and put the puppet into power.
It is 0/100 that the Americans can subdue the Venezuelan people and make this stick. They have not been able to do this in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Libya after achieving the initial military victory. The Iraq case study, with the US military driving to Baghdad, but then having to fight a long counter-insurgency war against the resisting people is a possible close model for the Venezuela fight. Except, the people of Venezuela are much stronger in support for their legitimate government than Saddam Hussein could have ever dreamed of. And the people are a stronger and more united revolutionary people who I would imagine have no intention of returning to the poverty and repression of life of an American puppet government.
Not to mention that Trump is already ruling as a dictator at home, having to declare emergencies and decrees to get what he wants. He can’t possibly sustain a long and unpopular war with body bags coming home from Venezuela. Add trade wars with China and Germany and the stock market collapse and recession that would result, and Trump appears to be in an even more impossible position. Trump has to begin giving ground at once on multiple fronts to maintain any sort of government. But Trump appears psychologically incapable of giving ground at all. If Trump was at all sane, he’d know that a war in Venezuela is the last thing he needs.
There is a myth among rulers that war always unites the people, but if a ruler has a bad war at the wrong time, they can end up fleeing in a helicopter to avoid the fate of the Czar who made similar mistakes.
The Tsar (not “Czar”) of Russia simply abdicated power in March 1917 after the German offensive in late 1916, after Russia had been doing very well in a war that Tsar Nicholas II never wanted. (If only the Germans had attacked westward with 3,000,000 artillery shells instead of eastward, World War I would have had a totally different result.) This could be analogous to Nixon resigning in August 1974 and what was his “fate”?
The only reason Tsar Nicholas had any kind of ” fate” was that England refused him and his family asylum for their own evil reasons, and than the Communists executed him when he was in captivity after they had overthrown the ELECTED GOVERNMENT that followed in April 1917, when the Bolsheviks were almost all outside the country!
If true, does this article by F.William Engdahl change the US cost of war/fiscal prize equation?
“The real prize is the ultimate control over one of the best-kept secrets in the oil industry, the huge oil reserves of a disputed area straddling Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. The region is called Guayana Esequiba. Some geologists believe the Esequiba region and its offshore could contain the world’s largest reserves of oil, oil of far better quality that the heavy Orinoco crude of Venezuela”
https://journal-neo.org/2019/02/17/what-s-not-being-said-about-the-venezuela-oil-war/
Could it just be about bringing Venezuela to ruin….then just waiting to pick up the pieces in some pretence name of humanitarian concern….which is why the “aid” is being piled up on the borders….yup the V military could lose everything because with a bust economy how are such things as military pensions to be payed…and retirement savings will be valueless…
…like the intention was to ruin Syria it will take decades to rebuild the economy and infrastructures…and to devastate Russian culture and life in Donbass then Cheney and Co pick up the oil , fracking opportunities and industry and black lands out there….
…the intention and message is….that complete ruin will come your way….join us in our illusory kind of ruin where we will pillage your very soul or you will have absolute ruin in your own hell and still be subject to a bloodsucking USA to the last drop…..
Dear Saker and friends.
I don’t believe in a true invasion. Donald “lame duck” Trump don’t have nowadays – in my modest opinion – political and military power to do so risk operation. I believe this situation will end at the same form like North Korea. Where’s the fire and fury today? For me, all this is a smoke curtain for other much more important questions.May you consider this:
Why, just now all this roar about Venezuela,at the same time when the world’s eyes turned for France and the Yellow Vests?
The stablishment is in panic! They need to create a distraction for world’s public opinion, to make the people forgot the true nowadays question:
Power for who?
May, between all this roar Macron and French elite can solve the massive protests in all France, by carrot or by the stick.
Remember us all; the craddle of people’s power is France.
And this is the worst nightmare for world’s elite.
I heard a very interesting idea from a Q follower. He proposed that, like Syria, Trump is ‘playing at bellicose’ in order to expose deep state operatives in his own power structure. Many don’t realise that after the Syria missile strike, more than a few embedded neo-cons were fired from their positions after they were exposed as a result of the strikes and bellicosity.
Apparently Trump knows Ven situation is contrived and is using it to once again expose the elements within that conspire against his policies.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps, but an interesting concept.
I applaud the Saker for this very valuable interview!
The establishment’s fig leaf is coming off, military intervention will take this leaf off completely and it also will rip off whatever it’s hiding.
Fig leaf?? They are absolutely freakin’ buck skin, bare assed, naked!!!!!!! Fig leaves fell off over Iraq, Lybia, Syria………..Ukraine…………Yemen…………Syria again………….and, yes, Ukraine again!!!! Watch the Shrews(The View), if you can stomach it, vile voimit barfed up daily by howlin’ hags, mind bogglingly sick bastards, and thats just their women. Imagine that harping at you all day……………..cnn arf arf. No wonder their men in uniform need Viagra and diapers.
”Trump is the bombastic spokesman of war and foreign intervention. His threats are part of the Empire’s recolonizing goals. The government of Uncle Sam’s nation and its allies and lackeys impose neoliberal policies on the peoples of the world. Trump dusted off the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary. Recruits and trains mercenaries in its military bases in Colombia. Prepares his arsenal to wage war against Venezuela.”
An excellent, actually timeless, outline of what’s inside the Offal Office — I take a bow for Jorge Valero and express my solidarity with Venezuela and its President Nicolas Maduro. Again, we can see here that sacrifice and struggle breed dignity in people. The West will end up devouring itself as it has no moral compass; only dumbed-down rotten filth from all walks of life. Serves it right.
Personally, I don’t think this imbecile Guaido or his sponsors will stage anything on February 23rd. Bluster and bluff as outward manifestation of inner weakness in general and accelerating mindrot in particular.
Excellent interview, Saker, succinct and in depth. While I hope that Venezuela survives this blatant attempt of subversion and outright destruction, my thoughts are this will be a very long, and sadly bloody, fight. It seems that Uncle Sam does not know how to get what he wants with the hand of friendship, he seems to only understand how to get his hands covered with the blood of innocents yet again.
However, like with Syria, Novorossiya and Krimu/Sevastopol, methinks the denizens of Foggy Bottom (for the uninitiated, that’s Washington DC) have yet again miscalculated. This mistake will be paid for in blood by the citizens of Venezuela and the blood of the mercenaries FB sends (don’t think for a minute I feel the slightest compassion for those who sell their sword, they have no honor and a man without honor is not a man) but I think, knowing some folks there, that Foggy Bottom may have yet again tried to bite off more than it can chew. Sadly, time will tell.
I have conversed with an old friend who has lived for decades in Venezuela and his opinion is while Uncle Sugar (again for the uninitiated, ‘Uncle Sugar’ is Uncle Sam) may or may not have some initial success, his thoughts are that in the end Venezuela will make the debacle of Vietnam look like a kindergarten tea party. He has not sent his wife, children and grandchildren out of country.
Auslander
Author
An Incident On Simonka https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERKH3IU March 2014. NATO Is Invited To Leave Sevastopol, One Way Or The Other.
Never The Last One https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZGCY8KK A deep look in to Russia, her culture and her Armed Forces, in essence a look at the emergence of Russian Federation.
At some point, the nations that believe in and abide by the Charter of the United Nations need to expel the nations that flagrantly violate it on a frequent basis.
Adopting the treaty of the Charter of the United Nations is something a country has to do to be allowed to join the United Nations. Thus, it is logical that nations that violate that charter after becoming members should be expelled. Accepting and abiding by that charter is the condition to be a part of the United Nations. Expelling violators should not be done lightly, and it should not be done over a single incident. But, when a nation has violated the charter frequently and almost constantly since at least the war against Serbia in the 1990’s and is in flagrant violation today causing great harm to people and to the general peace of the planet, then the violators must go.
Excellent point. But the UN missions from the other nations still like travelling to New York, apparently.
After all, it’s one thing to verbally spar over international incidents, but quite another if forced to give up one’s favorite kosher deli.
If the other nations had much will (i.e. any guts) at all, we wouldn’t even be in this mess.
Indeed, the other nations must like the US scene… has any one of them ever offered or insisted upon a different venue, even just for a fair change ?
It would be great for an US representatives to actually have to live in Sochi, or Cuba, or Lebanon, or one of the “Stan” countries for a while. It might open their eyes that others are actually human beings, too, not to mention they might not be so loud if they were a guest instead of the host (doubtful, but we can dream).
Sigh. Well, your point is great. But sadly it won’t happen as long as the other nations keep their rubber spines and a weakness for US culture, which only feeds the beast even more.
For what it’s worth, Hafez, it’s on my Spirit that:
1) The same folks who eliminated JFK are going to do the same to Trump, and in the same way.
Don’t forget, JFK was elected in 1960 and eliminated about a year before he could run for re-election.
If Trump makes it through the deep state minefield to the 2020 election, it will be a surprise.
2) If (when) Trump is JFK’d (not to be too crass about that), American Civil War 2 will break out.
3) When that happens, the UN will become a danger zone.
4) When that happens, the UN representatives from the nations will hightail it back to their own for a while.
That’s about the only way anything or anyone will ever be “expelled” from the UN.
Let’s face it: UN representatives, for the most part, like their comfy New York surroundings. They are not like you or me, but are treated more like royalty. Do they ever have to touch a vacuum cleaner ? Do a dish ? See the inside of a grocery store ? Cook their own meals ? Wash their own clothes ? Make a bed ? Doubtful. They get paid to pontificate and debate, and verbally joust to see who wins the game of one-upsmanship that day.
And then… hey, what is that over there ? A new restaurant ? Let’s go !
They can pretend to hate each other – even in animated ways – when the spotlight is on, but they all know they have it easy, and therefore have no incentive to leave, or kick out others in their club, or do any such thing. Why wreck their own party ?
This is why you or I could stand right in front of Secretary-General António Guterres and scream, “Don’t you see ? Don’t you care ?” about any given topic, and would expect a vanilla, diplomatic, but do-nothing answer, perhaps with a shrug of the shoulders with slightly raised hands and a head nod… right before clapping his hands, rubbing them together, and saying, “Ok, who wants to go to Saul’s Place for corn beef knishes ? It’s on me !”, as they all laugh knowingly that not a nickel of it will come from his personal pocket. Or theirs.
But as they ignore trouble long enough, and the US government goes ever-further off the rails, the peasants are getting angrier. And in the US, the pitchforks have been replaced by guns that outnumber the people.
Scary times, my friend, scary times. I’m glad I don’t live there, but I feel sorry for those who do.
Ambassador Valero is trumpeting the usual lines and narratives of the ‘oficialismo’ we’ve been hearing for years from Caracas. No remorse, no self-criticism to admit that a lot of the disastrous political and economic policies of the last decades have gotten Venezuela to a point of absolute vulnerability vis-a-vis the empire. It wasn’t the US that led to a constant decrease in oil production from a peak of over 3 mio b/b day, to just shy of 1 mio. these days. It wasn’t the US that imposed a disastrous monetary policy that crippled the Bolivar by keeping it overvalued and starving small and medium sized businesses of foreign cash, thereby promoting the very hyperinflation the country has been suffering from.
The sanctions imposed on Venezuela still are much less severe than what Iran is and has been enduring for many years, yet somehow we are to believe that all the misery and suffering of the Venezuelan people is due to these sanctions. Well look at Iran and its domestic situation?
Of course Valero sounds like some Soviet leader in the late 80s parroting the lines of a never ending Bolivarian revolution and the full support of the citizens behind Maduro, never mind reality on the ground. I know Venezuela, have been there and have spoken to plenty of ordinary people about their government that don’t happen to be on the pay-check of PDVSA or the army. I am not talking just out of the back of my mind here.
I thank you Saker for your attempt to shed light on the situation on the ground, but for someone who studied the fall of the Soviet empire and general disintegration of the eastern bloc and surely read more statements of officials from those days than I have, before it all collapsed, you must know how objective Mr. Valero’s statements are. I genuinely hope and pray Venezuela can avoid a bloody civil war, such as what befell Syria even if it means the poor government of Maduro remains in power for longer. I would have liked to see Venezuela succeed with a high degree of autonomy and independence to help all of South America on a more independent trajectory. But we need to come to accept, also in the alternative media/blogger sphere, that the world is not white and black. And defending the enemy of my enemy just for sheer spite, does not usually bring us closer to an objective truth.
Yours Respectfully!
@Alexander P
Sorry, but Jorge Valero is very much on point. Could you kindly tell to me what’s wrong with the following assessment of his?
”Trump is the bombastic spokesman of war and foreign intervention. His threats are part of the Empire’s recolonizing goals. The government of Uncle Sam’s nation and its allies and lackeys impose neoliberal policies on the peoples of the world. Trump dusted off the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary. Recruits and trains mercenaries in its military bases in Colombia. Prepares his arsenal to wage war against Venezuela.”
@Nussiminen
Why should my remark above refute Mr Valero’s statement? Claiming that the US is interventionist is easy and plain to see for almost anyone that deals with international affairs. Trump, and I do not wish to defend the man, has for various strategic reasons at least allowed a rapprochement with North Korea and is seeing the benefits of a troop withdrawal in Syria and Afghanistan.
My criticism relates to his statements about Venezuela’s domestic affairs and blaming it all on the US. The Venezuelan government hasn’t learned a thing. The US is of course using the weakness of Venezuela, same as it used the weakness of the Soviet Union to bring about its demise. Yet I doubt you would attribute the fall of the Soviet Union to US meddling alone, would you? Take Iran or Cuba, two countries that have endured Anglo-Zionist pressure far longer than Venezuela. The difference being that both managed to keep internal order and genuinely try to better the living standards for their people. This is the only way to go about if you want to resist the US long term, and the military in Venezuela running the country have done none of this. So tell me how exactly is Mr Valero on point other than when he lashes out at well known US-foreign policy history?
Please refrain from attacking H.E. Ambassador Valero – breaks moderation policy. Mod.
This book-length examination of the economic war that has been waged against Venezuela may be helpful:
Te Visible Hand of the Market – Economic Warfare in Venezuela
http://www.15yultimo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/THE-VISIBLE-HAND-OF-THE-MARKET.-ECONOMIC-WARFARE-IN-VENEZUELA.-PASQUALINA-CURCIO-C.pdf
Former UN Rapporteur Alfred de Zayas gives his opinion on who is responsible for the economic suffering of Venezuela:
Venezuela crisis: Former UN rapporteur says US sanctions are killing citizens
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/venezuela-us-sanctions-united-nations-oil-pdvsa-a8748201.html
The opinion of Peter Koenig, an economist who has advised the Venezuelan government, on the situation:
Venezuela – The Straw that Breaks the Empire’s Back?
https://thesaker.is/venezuela-the-straw-that-breaks-the-empires-back/
“The puppet has continuously violated the Bolivarian Constitution”
Which must be why Trump likes him, because exactly the same thing can be said about Trump and the US Constitution.
— Trump has violated the portion of the constitution that clearly gives the Congress control over the nation’s purse. No money can be spent by the US government except in accordance to a congressional authorization.
By this violation, Trump is running roughshod over the whole concept of separate branches of government and checks and balances of the powers between them. The writers of the Constitution clearly put this into place to prevent a President from going out of control. There are firm limits on Presidential power, including that he only gets to spend the money that Congress gives him for specific projects.
— Trump has violated the War Powers portion of the constitution, that says quite clearly that only Congress can declare a war. Trump violated this with his missile strikes on Syria. Trump has violated this by invading Syria with “boots on the ground.” Trump is on the verge of violating this again in Venezuela if he follows through on his Twitter boasting.
This is also another key check and balance that the writers put into the constitution to restrain a President.
And of course, Trump is in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the constitution, which says that treaties ratified by the Senate are the highest law in the land. When Trump violates the UN Charter, which is such a ratified treaty, he is violating the constitution of the US.
In the last American Presidential election, the top levels of the Democratic Party denied the nomination from the party members’ choice, Sen. Bernie Sanders. They did so via corruption, collusion and rigging the process against him. Polls consistently showed that Sanders would have defeated Trump in the general election. Given an actual free and fair election process, Sen. Sanders would today be President Sanders.
With Trump in flagrant violation of the Constitution, why shouldn’t countries move to recognize Sen. Sanders as the legitimate President of the United States? It would be at least as legitimate are recognizing Guarddog Guido as President of Venezuela, wouldn’t it?
The Trump govt by blocking Venezuela’s assets and property thru illegal measures is telling the rest of the world that the US does not respect private property. Many countries will exit US and UK financial markets. The actions of the trump Administration are not only immoral but undermining the rule of law. If USG can do this to Venezuela today, tomorrow they can denounce Nord stream and start seizing German assets.
There are a lot of Hispanics in the US military and people friendly with Hispanics, so unlike in Iraq or Afghanistan, the military can not be as ruthless as usual. Since they only know how to fight by using mass firepower to obliterate targets, a Yankee invasion will quickly turn into a fiasco.
Saker asked important questions and understandably the ambassador did not reveal how they will fight.
It also appears that even liberals in Venezuela is disgusted by this and/or took some hints from what happened in Ukraine to the people who come together in big numbers.
So, popular uprising is out, the only remaining solution seems to be bribing (or more likely threatening) soldiers in key positions so they they would allow infiltration from Colombia.
Excellent interview, Saker, and very informative answers from the Ambassador. I also really liked President Maduro’s video appeal to the public here in the US. Both President Maduro and the Ambassador explain the facts well, and their words come from the heart.
I sure hope the aggression against Venezuela will be stopped in its tracks. The Empire is falling, but will it fall soon enough? We can only hope.
Una vez mas, la postura que se pudo ver del entrevistado esta completamente coordinada con la del gobierno, el politburo o nomenclatura. No hay ningun apice, ninguno, de un pensamiento logico y propio que reconozca la realidad de los venezolanos, este señor debe estar bien acomodado y con esto no quiero dar ningun ataque, sino mas bien ser realista.
Saker, agradezco la entrevista como venezolano chavista, y es totalmente entendible que por salvar un proyecto politico mal manejado, desviado y tergiversado, no quede de otra que reponder lo mismo de siempre, que si el imperio, que si las sanciones, etc. Si para ocultar los errores en el manejo de las politicas y de la economia de la nacion, del destino de los venezolanos, se recurre a esas excusas, que no es que no sean ciertas, entonces ya estaba todo predispuesto a perderse desde el principio del gobierno de Maduro, un chavista como muchos pero que ha demostrado ser inutil en la administracion del pais.
Habia una guerra economica desde EEUU, por supuesto, pero eso no obligaba al gobierno a arreglar el salario de los venezolanos en 6 dolares, solo eso al mes, y luego pueden buscarse reportajes sobre la gente comiendo de la basura. Un desconocimiento total de la economia nos ha llevado a esto, a estar en bandeja de plata y oro, que tenemos bastante, ignorando ademas los consejos de antiguos ministros de Chavez y recorriendo a etiquetarlos como traidores, porque ademas de ser ineptos los del politburo tambien son soberbios y ciegos.
El embajador se equivoca cuando habla de la paz y tranquilidad. Como va a haber paz y tranquilidad en medio de una guerra economica, es contradictorio e irrespetuoso para el pueblo que no consigue adecuadamente a su bolsillo un misero kilo de carne o pollo, ni hablar de una racional canasta de alimentos, sin hablar de los demas bienes basicos.
Los venezolanos estamos en el hambre. Y nada de lo que sanamente se pueda decir oficalmente en un mitin, cadena nacional, o una entrevista, lo tapara.
Google translation:
Once again, the position that could be seen by the interviewee is completely coordinated with that of the government, the politburo or nomenclature. There is no apex, no, of a logical thought and own that recognizes the reality of Venezuelans, this gentleman must be well accommodated and with this I do not want to give any attack, but rather be realistic.
Saker, I appreciate the interview as Venezuelan Chavista, and it is totally understandable that to save a political project mismanaged, diverted and distorted, there is no other than to answer the same as always, if the empire, if the sanctions, etc. If to hide the errors in the handling of politics and the economy of the nation, the fate of Venezuelans, we resort to those excuses, which is not that they are not true, then everything was predisposed to be lost from the beginning of the government of Maduro, a chavista like many but that has proved to be useless in the administration of the country.
There was an economic war from the US, of course, but that did not force the government to fix the salary of the Venezuelans in 6 dollars, just that a month, and then they can look for reports about people eating from the garbage. A total ignorance of the economy has led us to this, to be on a platter of silver and gold, which we have enough, also ignoring the advice of former Chavez ministers and going to label them as traitors, because in addition to being inept politburo also They are proud and blind.
The ambassador is wrong when he talks about peace and tranquility. As there is going to be peace and tranquility in the midst of an economic war, it is contradictory and disrespectful for the people who do not adequately get their pocket a kilo or kilo of meat or chicken, not to mention a rational food basket, not to mention the rest basic goods.
Venezuelans are in hunger. And nothing that can be said healthily in a rally, national chain, or an interview, will cover it.
You are completely missing the point. It is not to evaluate the policies of Nicolas Maduro or Hugo Chavez, it is to prevent your country from becoming a US vassal again. The point is not Maduro, but the Constitution of Venezuela. If the Venezuelan people agree with you, they ought to be able to vote for whomever they want. But being invaded by the US, Colombia, Brazil and Israel is hardly a “solution” for Venezuela.
You are, in effect, cheering for subordinating your country to the Empire.
That makes you a traitor by any definition.
How do you live knowing that you are cheering for a Yankee invasion?
Was 2002 not enough to open your eyes?
The Saker
A: 2+2=4
B: 2+2=4
C: Once again, the position of B is completely coordinated with that of the A, the ugly A or the dirty A. There is no apex, no, of a logical thought and own that recognizes the reality of mathematics….
The interviewee’s position is completely “coordinated with that of the government” because he IS part of the government. He is the representative of Venezuela at the UN in Geneva.
I would have been a little worried if he had started to criticise his boss and his country, especially now when they are under siege…
Sotillo, there was a Michael Hudson interview which discussed the economic management of Venezuela. You will find a very interesting discussion there.
Saker, what a scoop to have been able to interview this high profile official. I hope it brings lots of new people to this site who are fed up with the MSM!! Well done!
Saker this guy is not chavista at all. You can tell by the way he speaks that this man is pretty much an agent for the invasion who is disguised as Chavista to confuse us.
I’m very critic of Maduro’ s policies or lack of them to begin with but I will never support an military intervension for my country.
How i am calling for an invasion? You do have a nerve for calling me out like that. In any part you get me talking like that, you are becoming too much radical.
These people and the vassals pushed all of us into this situation, as in every part of my country the venezuelans think objectively like this, in the streets and homes, that the government does not work at all. That is not cheer for anything.
If it is treason then you would be a traitor to Russia for being against the soviets during its confontation with the Empire, andyou man know thats not true.
Ive seen every year how the incompetence of all of them has get us here and i am not going to shut myself up because the military intervention is looming, especially when on your side against the empire you have bufoons and rats like the politics, not the people that is resisting the starving since 3 yers ago. Give me a break.
As for election I supported always chavistas, but i cannot be blind of the country in this period, i am not bringing the Chavez ones here, in wich everything got worst. And if you put into notice that the real winner of the last elections was no voting, you got that the majority of venezuelans agreed in being with no side. Both of them put the country in jeopardy, its both fault.
Now. that doesnt mean i will cheer for invasion, I LIVED 2002, i saw how the people went and save the country from the coup and Chavez from getting killed, the very same empire got him in Orchilla island, and then came the armed forces.
And i saw how the opposition behaved like cocroaches in all that time, fleeing the presidential palace from getting arrested by the population.
And I was just a kid.
If its a way to fight this war is to be prepared and know your disadvantages, and thats why i include all the internal trouble, and the weak side of the government.
The solution is ours to make.
How i am calling for an invasion? You do have a nerve for calling me out like that.
By focusing on the mistakes/errors/sins of the Chavez/Maduro rule you are shifting the discussion away from what ought to be its focus: the sovereignty of Venezuela and the respect for the Venezuelan Constitution.
If your criticism of the Chavez/Maduro rule had come at any other time, it would be fine. But when the USA/Colombia/Brazil and assorted Israeli mercenaries are literally at the doorstep of your country, and when they are announcing that they will breach the border such talk as yours is objectively aiding and abetting the invading force.
The sovereignty of a country, any country, is by definition its most precious characteristic. Once this is lost, everything is lost.
Now is not the time to make an inventory of the Chavez/Maduro past mistakes. Once the menace of an invasion recedes, then that will be the time to discuss them. But right now, days away form a possible invasion, such talk is objectively aiding the enemies of Venezuela. For a Venezuelan national to aid in any way, fashion or form the AngloZionist coalition forces is, indeed, treason.
The Saker
Sotillo is absolutely not advocating military intervention from abroad There is nothing in his comment that allows us to infer this, as you do, Saker, somewhat too hastily – and, possibly, as a result of the dreadful Google translation (the interview itself, by the way, is also very poorly translated). Sotillo is simply saying that Venezuela’s difficulties cannot be attributed solely to sanctions, US interventionism, etc. Economic incompetence and mismanagement, in his view, have also played a role. Personally, I tend to believe that the main factor has indeed been (and still is) US interventionism/imperialism, but mismanagement (including poor decisions, excessive bureaucratization/centralization of decision-making, dilly-dallying, indecisiveness and, possibly, corruption) may well be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back, i.e. the extra factor which, though not significant in itself, tips the balance. It is also worth remembering that economic mismanagement and hubris on the part of an entrenched ‘nomenklatura’ played a decisive role in the demise of the Soviet Union and subsequent tragic events… Let us hope that Venezuela’s allies (including the RF) can provide the counry’s legitimate government with some valuable economic (and political) advice at this moment of crisis – and let us hope that the advice is heeded.
A solution to avoiding the US dollar in international trading:
http://time-to-time.zohosites.com/the-ADOL.html
It might not be for Venezuela… it’s just put here for whatever its worth.
Sorry, spoke too soon… it IS for Venezuela, especially the part about how nations who have had their assets stolen by the US can now retrieve them easily.
So if Venezuela wants their $35 billion USD back, they should read the link above. It’s not a joke.
Excellent interview of the Ambassador by Saker, and everyone is doing their revolutionary duty in favor of national sovereignty and the end of Empire and the New World Disorder.
Bravo!
But please don’t be too shocked if Trump actually knows what he’s doing in this case (and one or two others …like N Korea….which may be the model for this strategic deception…) concentrating mostly on the attempted coup against himself and not being at all committed to his half-hearted “effort” and neo-con pleasing statements in regard to the one down south.
I know that degree of deception is extemely difficult for most to even conceive of and we have to keep defending Maduro.
In that regard, I disagree with Alexander P on two counts:
1) Whatever mistakes the Venezuelan government may have made are up to Venezuelans to correct….and NO ONE else to punish, that has not been harmed by Venezuela…and who have they harmed? So mistakes or not, their government and their people must be supported in their right to work out their own issues their own way……and I don’t think Gusano …or whatever his name is ….decreeing himself president quite qualifies in that regard.
and
2) As difficult as it may be for Alexander P and the majority of others here, I think the short and long term interests of the New Multi-Polar World Order require Some Begrudging….Minimum…. Defense of DJT against the Much, Much Bigger and More Globally Impactful Attempted Coup…in Washington D.C…….and NO, not the cited one by DJT “against the Constitution” but the one against himself and his base…..by the REAL enemies of Venezuela.
Simply because his enemies are Pure Evil…and he is NOT. He’s a “mixed bag” at a minimum…. as shown by the clear evidence that the DJT Demolition Service…has been doing a decent job, against the longest odds of wrecking the power base of the NWO crowd in both parties and quite possibly bankrupting major chunks of the Fake News Cartel….within his first term.
Don’t be surprised if almost all of this is pure theater.
Layer upon layer of ambiguity, nuance, deception,etc.
Unless DJT really is so stupid as to want half his base to give up on him in disgust.
That is possible, I suppose. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
And I for one am totally disgusted with the continual meme that Mr Trump is so clever and so nuanced and so strategic that it is not possible for any one of us plebs to actually understand the sheer brilliance of his moves. The argument posited here that at most Mr Trump is only a ‘little evil’ compared against ‘his enemies that are completely evil’, is just nonsense.
Looking at the recent past – It is very difficult in the case of Venezuela to apportion blame as to why the country is in economic travail. There are 3 main factors looking at the past. Either the country suffered too much under sanctions and other economic control systems, or Chavez (who started economic diversification and food security programs under his watch but literally died too soon) was just an idiot, or Maduro is a gibbering monkey in terms of economic affairs. You cannot choose one of these. It is a combination of all. But we have to ask what could have happened economically in Venezuela if they did not have continual destabilization and sanctions to contend with in a difficult period. Would they be in the same place economically? I guess we have to say no to that question if we are halfway honest.
Most people commenting about hunger in Venezuela without saying that Venezuela has price controls on basic foodstuffs to avoid price gouging, are only commenting on half of the story and leaving out another half. Most people commenting on hunger in Venezuela should open their eyes and look around their own countries to see the level of hunger right there. There is hunger all over the world and this is a big subject as to why. But more so-called austerity measures does not change hunger. Giving your country away to a colonizer does not change hunger. The Venezuelans wanting to do this should be ashamed of themselves. You should look at what Venezuela actually did for Cuba for example to help keep Cuba to withstand Empire. The French are out in the streets because of austerity policies that create more hunger than what it pretends to solve. Guaidó is already talking neocon economic austerity. Is this what you want for your country? Have the damn courage of your convictions and vote Maduro out, but this love affair with empire will bring you no good. Empire has never been a savior in our modern history. They create untold misery and leave behind broken countries.
Venezuela implemented a system that looks socialist to most. Initially, it went well, when the oil prices were high and the country had money. Then, oil price fell and the cracks that this caused was this invitation for Empire to widen those cracks because they are interested in exploiting the riches of another sovereign country. Empire could not do it without regime change, and thus they are intent on regime change and has been intent on regime change for years. This is stated policy and there is no nuance of clever posturing here.
There is nothing nuanced or clever about threatening the families of Venezuelan military to pressurize them to chance their allegiance to their constitution. It is not subtle, it is not clever, it is not only a little bit evil. It is sheer unvarnished colonialism and reconquest. Trump is not concerned about North Korea for example. His interest is clear. North Korea can be an economic powerhouse, he says. What he does not say, is that MAGA can benefit if the Empire starts exploiting the potential.
This empire does not care about hungry people. Show me one country where the neocon policies of ‘austerity’ created peace, people that are not hungry, old people with sufficient resources, and young people with the ability to peacefully become functioning members of humankind – There are none.
Looking to the future – Both Russia and China made investments in Venezuela which could lead to an economic upliftment. Of course Russia has real experience in dealing with lower oil prices in a fragile economy. And they are not trying to change the Venezuelan constitution for the Venezuelan people. They have more respect than that. Of course, before any of these measures could take effect, Uncle Sam was in there, before someone else could use the resources to benefit the country which is the constitution of Venezuela. I would remind you of Mr Trump’s words talking about Iraq. We should have taken their oil, he stated.
So, now to oil. There has been rumors that Venezuela has sweet crude or something really much better than their thick oil from the Orinoco basin. William Engdahl did the work here. It would be good if this can be included in the thinking about Venezuela. I remember in the news, it must have been 5 or so months ago, the Venezuelan military chased away some ExxonMobil oil exploration vessel. At the time I mused to myself … mmmm, looks like other oil reserves exist.
So, Engdahl comments: “It doesn’t take much imagination to realize that the geopolitical stakes in the Venezuela crisis go far beyond issues of legitimacy or democratic elections and far beyond the borders of Venezuela. And this is only the oil. ”
http://williamengdahl.com/englishNEO17Feb2019.php
This Venezuela adventure has nothing to do with hunger of the people, bringing them democracy or economic empowerment so they they can become functioning again on this level, upliftment of people with their own resources, or any such high-minded ideals. We have to look back at what is being done for MAGA. MAGA is an international asset grab where-ever Empire can grab assets. Take a look at Engdahl’s essay.
Venezuela to all freedom loving people is a big canary in the coal mine as to the ability of Empire to continue full-spectrum dominance. We are all working on a global basis to support and to lift the yoke of Empire from Venezuela and from ourselves, whereever we are. Venezuela, most of you are doing your part. Now for the ones voting for austerity, get on the stick and start doing your part and take responsibility for your internal affairs instead of trying to help Empire change your country for you.
Amarynth, it’s all 15-D chess according to the Trump supporters, but unfortunately as we are mere 3-D mortals, we are not “getting” it.. ( and to think I was actually happy when he beat Hitlery. .)
Regarding the *escalation* of the current American war on Venezuela, the thing to remember is that the Americans are military cowards at base.
They love to hide behind the skirts of their Coalitions of the Killing or so-called “International Community” when they attack yet another country, but they afraid to go it alone when it comes to fighting and dying–especially since their world historic defeat in the Vietnam War.
America’s oh-so-brave drone operators can sit in some air conditioned Nevada airbase, hopped up on amphetamines, while bombing peasants and wedding parties in Afghanistan, but let’s see how long the Americans last when they have to put massive numbers of US soldiers on the ground for endless urban and jungle warfare against a determined resistance composed of millions of armed Venezuelans ready to kill these American colonizers.
So look for the United States to rely upon its suckers … I mean… “democratic allies” (like Columbia, Brazil, or Blackwater-style mercenary outfits) to do most of the fighting and dying, while America will do what it does best: Hi-Tech Terror bombing from a conveniently safe distance.
The United States is Militarily Encircling Venezuela
https://libya360.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/the-united-states-is-militarily-encircling-venezuela/
An excellent interview, thanks very much.
For Ambassador Jorge Valero: Venezuela and Hungary as free countries have common historical roots. Hungary is the only European country which has its national currency issued with the effigy of Simon Bolivar. Please see Spanish / English language website: http://www.mirandabudapest.org
Ok, this is an interview with Jorge Valero and I very much appreciate that members of the Venezuelan government are given the occasion to defend their point of view.
However, in the comments, the question of the probability of an open military US-aggression is discussed. From my point of view, one has to consider the contradictions inside the US government. I think, the aggression against Venezuela is the baby of Pence. Trump agrees if the regime change in Venezuela can be done easily. But it is not the baby of Trump. He is interested in the discussions about “his” wall. And concerning Venezuela, he likes to use it as a possibility for criticizing “socialist politics” (which would be much more difficult after an open military aggression). By these reasons, it is quite improbable that Trump votes in favour of an open military aggression.
By the way, why Trump has just now initiated the idea of receiving the Nobel peace prize? This makes no sense at all if he plans to openly invade Venezuela.
This being said, of course, Venezuela has all reasons to prepare for a military aggression.
”By the way, why Trump has just now initiated the idea of receiving the Nobel peace prize? This makes no sense at all if he plans to openly invade Venezuela.”
Blunt, honest answer: Precisely for this reason. Last time I checked, Norway is a founding member state of the Nazi American Terror Organization. Its ’Peace Prize’ are given on principle to people promoting Western imperialism.
Here is a young American youtube maker that truly gets it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=AIRTQpXLmGU
ok I understand that he will defend his country against the aggression of the Empire
but that does not mean the US evil empire will not succeed. It is one thing to be idealistic it is another to be diplomatic and dreamy. The Diplomat did not give us any info on what is really going on behind the scenes
My take on Venezuela is that we may be in for a long tug-of-war, deliberately setup by the empire, a purpose Juan Guido is being employed for right now especially with his recognition by the empire’s minions. Trump is a capitalist and as someone has rightfully said when he thinks of Venezuela he sees oil and dollars, as a successful businessman he knows when not to rock the boat of a long term investment plan, he cannot afford a drawn out war for now because it will for obvious reasons affect his chances for another term and that is a mistake he will never commit.
The way I see it, the most important policies ( if his irascibility can be termed as such) to Trump are those that will bolster his chance for the 2020 elections, so right now it is all about cosmetic fulfillment of his electoral promises; ending perpetual wars, draining the swamp, stopping illegal immigration by building walls and #MAGA. However, after deceiving the sheeples by feigning attempts to achieve all these, with a second term secured, the empire/neocons will come back for Venezuela like a pack of wolf.
So Venezuela still have between now and 2020 to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Most nations of the world are still entangle in defeatist mentality and nations that are not have tonnes of there own problems mostly created by the empire to contend with. So Venezuelans should approach this war expecting little from their allies and prepared for a long hot seasons.
Should Venezuela be invaded, Donald Trump would be in the position of “you broke it, you bought it.”
Americans have always been callous about civilian deaths overseas. Perhaps this is a racist thing: people in Asia have funny eyes and certainly don’t look like us and thus deserve no consideration. If opponents happen to look similar, then it is just a matter of agitprop from msm and most of us can dismiss them also. {sarc}
The US now has a substantial Hispanic population. Any party in power that instigates a war against Venezuela is going to lose big time at the polls. My guess is that gritty political profit and loss analysis is going to count for more in stopping the murder of millions than compassion or Sunday School appeals to the golden rule.
Is it far-fatched to suggest that given the strategic depth of both Russia and China (of particular significance when it comes to nuclear war), the Monroe Doctrine has become more relevant than ever — even though it replaces east-west depth with north-south?
Saker the best way to get an assessment of the real Venezuelan situation is on the ground. Here in Colombia we have been witnessing the terrible humanitarian crisis every day during the last years, we can see in our roads and streets the consequences of the corruption and mismanagement of the so called ‘Venezuelan people’s revolution’. Thousands of hungry and sick Venezuelans crossing into Colombia everyday in search for food and medicines, hundreds of Venezuelan women giving birth in our hospitals, or people badly hurt because accidents or the rampant Venezuelan violence being treated in our hospitals, their children going to ours schools because their schools were closed long ago because the teachers left their jobs to flee the country and I can go on and on describing the crisis, but the international socialist movement that only see the terrible things the ‘evil empire’ is doing to mankind it just turn a blind eye to the Venezuelan crisis and pretend that the tragedy is the consequence of the American blockade and in a blatant way ignore the misdoings, corruption of mismanagement of a failed project.
Sotillo is absolutely spot on in his observations and Saker when you said “you are completely missing the point. It is not to evaluate the policies of Nicolas Maduro or Hugo Chavez, it is to prevent your country from becoming a US vassal again”. What do you mean? Are not the policies of Maduro’s regime the main cause of the whole tragedy of the Venezuelan people and the root of the crisis?
No, in fact, they are not. Their policies have NOTHING to do with what is going on. Just like genocide had nothing to do with the US/NATO war on the Serbian people, WMDs had nothing to do with the invasion of Iraq or human right with the invasion (via proxy) of Libya and Syria. That is my beef with such arguments – they completely obfuscate the REAL causes of the current conflict.
The Saker
The same way the corrupt Venezuelan oligarchy and the US Corporations put Chavez in power, that same way this failed and corrupt revolution will put that oligarchy back in power again this time with a terrible lesson learned. When I spoke to the Venezuelan refugees in Colombia most of them admitted having vote for Chavez and being profoundly repented of such mistake, all they want is the Venezuela they knew come back again and put an end to this nightmare and I can assure you, most of the Venezuelans right now gives a damn become in a “US vassal again” as long as they can return to their normal life again.
What an unavoidable nightmare that has been perpetrated against Venezuela. It’s bad enough that the U.S. took the lead on this, but the fact that this anti-democratic coup is also backed by Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Great Britain, Brazil, Colombia, and others is horrifying.
This is a world now totally devoid of international law and order, that being, mutual respect for governments of sovereign nations. Actually, if they could just stop the coups, that would be a first step.
The leaders are evidently fearless to the point of stupidity and full of hubris, unfamiliar with the saying, ” There but for the grace of God go I.
Richard Branson wondered why we can’t end poverty if we can send people to outer space. Because of economic sanctions by control freaks, and the international banking and war cartel. More butter! Less guns!
Meant to say an avoidable nightmare!