"The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 was a direct and dangerous confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War and was the moment when the two superpowers came closest to nuclear conflict." U.S. president Kennedy and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev came within a push of a button in performing a global nuclear holocaust.
It would be nice to imagine that kinder, humanistic, and gentler world leaders exist....and that their primary objective would be to save the lives of the 7.5 billion human beings on earth....instead of focusing their egotistical bravado and number one priority to have power and control over everyone.
In one of my prayers I ask for peace on earth....without soldiers, bombs, guns and without killing. However, I know that there is only one place we can find total peace and that is in Heaven.
Here on earth we must understand that in terms of human behavior.....the more things seem to change.....the more they remain the same. It is all written in man's history. And we can be sure that man's history will repeat itself over and over again.....until the end of man.
It would be nice to imagine that kinder, humanistic, and gentler world leaders exist....and that their primary objective would be to save the lives of the 7.5 billion human beings on earth....instead of focusing their egotistical bravado and number one priority to have power and control over everyone.
In one of my prayers I ask for peace on earth....without soldiers, bombs, guns and without killing. However, I know that there is only one place we can find total peace and that is in Heaven.
Here on earth we must understand that in terms of human behavior.....the more things seem to change.....the more they remain the same. It is all written in man's history. And we can be sure that man's history will repeat itself over and over again.....until the end of man.
"Jailings Raise Fears of Dictatorship? On what planet have you been living? Venezuela has been a dictatorship since Chavez. And what are we doing to get rid of Madurese? We put sanctions on any assets he has in the US (probably none). We are too afraid to put sanctions on Venezuelan oil imports, probably because Venezuela is our second largest supplier of foreign oil and (heaven forbid) we don't want to cause any disruption to oil refiners in the southern US who process this oil. Let's get real. Stop all oil imports from Venezuela, sanction companies who do business with Venezuela oil production and freeze all Venezuelan oil company assets (principally cash) in the US.
2
The confluence of marxist hegemony, incompetence and corruption has proven to be a devastating combination. Even so, the US must tread lightly in any effort to steer Venezuela toward a liberal democracy.
Shouldn't this be in Caracas not Bogota, Columbia?
While we may be looking at a democratic putsch - how do you hold an election when the opposition refuses to participate and insists on holding their own ? What it would seem we have in Venezuela is a government that has been in power for almost two decades 'legislating' itself into remaining in power to 'uphold' the social advancements made for and by the poor of the country, while being called-upon to return power to the 'elite' who formerly governed Venezuela for over a century for themselves and their own interests. And opposition that is claiming that socialist policies have destroyed the country.
Unfortunately while so much 'world opinion', led by the USA and western media is against it, the Maduro government still seems to have the support of the majority of Venezuelans and control of the civic power.
Unfortunately while so much 'world opinion', led by the USA and western media is against it, the Maduro government still seems to have the support of the majority of Venezuelans and control of the civic power.
2
With calls to "Lock Her Up" during and after the presidential campaign, the Trump administration's reaction, remarkably limited, to the arrests of anti-Maduro dissidents in Venezuela rings hollow. In little ways and in big ways the Trump administration itself is in a stealth war against the American constitution--the firing of Robert Comey, threats against those investigating Trump campaign collusion with the Russians, attempts to reduce the Justice Department to a bunch of presidential puppets, kind and admiring words from the Trump White House for Putin, Erdogan, Duterte, and other anti-constitutionalist authoritarian strong men--with and without shirts--calls for roughing up arrested citizens, a special voter repression presidential commission--even the clearly partisan appointment of Gorsuch to the Supreme Court over established Senate procedures--all this makes the Venezuelan events a warning for us all.
2
It is going to be a long struggle. As the Supreme Court is packed with loyalists,it is no wonder when it said that Mr.Ledezma violated the terms of his house arrest by issuing a statement in the form of a video (a medium) before he was taken away by the forces. Cannot a citizen have this right - how can the Supreme Court put this condition? A modern dictator has emerged . Venezuela is rich in oil resources. If used judiciously,the economy of the nation can be put on the right track. The global community has to do more to help Venezuelan people. Why cannot the UN intervene to save Venezuela's democracy?
1
Americans, please do not thing that this could not happen here. This is how authoritarianism happens, little by little (so people don't notice or pay attention) and then all at once.
We need to be vigilant in these troubled times and make sure that our democratic norms are followed.
We need to be vigilant in these troubled times and make sure that our democratic norms are followed.
1
Ledezma's video was accurate in asking the parlament to be firm and act for the Venezuelan people who voted for them.
Taking only Ledezma was going to bring all the attention to what he said on the video, so Lopez paid collateral damage to distract the attention from Ledezma's convincing and inspirational message.
Taking only Ledezma was going to bring all the attention to what he said on the video, so Lopez paid collateral damage to distract the attention from Ledezma's convincing and inspirational message.
1
It's rather unconscionable that anyone could support Maduro, out of the fear that "right wing" opposition will somehow take over the country. What could the opposition do that Maduro is not already doing? He has already cancelled elections on a whim, ignored the law of the land, called up a constituent assembly without the will of the people and against the constitution that Chavez himself (popularly) wrote and enacted. Maduro and his gang have stolen billions from Venezuela while the infant mortality rate has skyrocketed (more than 10-fold increase since Chavez died), inflation skyrockets (average salary less than $10 US dollars a month), and people everywhere go hungry. The average Venezuelan is worse off now than they were 18 years ago. All the progress under Chavez has been eliminated, and worse, under 3 years of the incompetent rule of Maduro, which he seeks to cement. The only thing worse than Maduro is civil war. He should allow elections, but he will not, and he will become a dictator in name as well as de facto.
1
It would appear that the majority of Venezuelans, then, have no conscience?
The headline “Jailings Raise Fears of Dictatorship in Venezuela” suggests that the existence of a dictatorship in this country is still somewhat ambiguous. Any lingering doubts disappeared early last year when the regime took away the two-thirds majority of the opposition in the National Assembly and dragged its feet and at year´s end arbitrarily canceled the recall referendum of the president.
1
Yet the US continues to buy its oil, while the people are starving and there are no drugs in the hospitals. Apparently politicians are only interested in democracy when it doesn't interfere with oil supply.
1
Jailings raise fears of a dictatorship? We are in a dictatorship! I wish the international press would stop whitewashing what is taking place in Venezuela through reporting ambivalence. Perhaps it is done to soothe the feelings of left-leaning readers who still believe Chavez and Maduro are socialists. They are nothing but criminals. How do you justify the millions they have deposited abroad? When will the global order establish standards for what a viable government is in any individual nation? The only standard should be the happiness of the people. Anything else is propaganda.
1
Apparently (sanctions) steps are being taken to retrieve their foreign deposits, or sequester them. Mexico to-day reported that Maduro has no holdings in that country.
I'll preface this by stating that I am fully aware of the flack this will conjure up.
But if people think that this could never happen here in the US, then they have not been paying much attention to the trump regime lately. While the beginnings of a dictatorship here are extremely small, and slow to arise, they are indeed arising -- and the situation in Venezuela is a perfect blueprint.
When people are denied the vote, when regulations and laws are ignored, when districts are gerrymandered, when every cabinet office is packed with those who would destroy their own departments, when police are told to "be rough", when certain groups of people are denied government or military service because of who they are, when every word from the white house is a point blank lie, then the markings are there.
Take note, guys -- it's coming here unless we act. Wake up.
But if people think that this could never happen here in the US, then they have not been paying much attention to the trump regime lately. While the beginnings of a dictatorship here are extremely small, and slow to arise, they are indeed arising -- and the situation in Venezuela is a perfect blueprint.
When people are denied the vote, when regulations and laws are ignored, when districts are gerrymandered, when every cabinet office is packed with those who would destroy their own departments, when police are told to "be rough", when certain groups of people are denied government or military service because of who they are, when every word from the white house is a point blank lie, then the markings are there.
Take note, guys -- it's coming here unless we act. Wake up.
1
Trump won, you lost. You'll have 7 and a half more years to get used to it. It's not a dictatorship just because you don't like it.
Same in Venezuela. The old petro-thief oligarchy that stole Venezuela's oil wealth for three quarters of a century has been overthrown, and the American oil thieves and their Venezuelan accomplices are out of power and of luck. The oil wealth is now going to the Venezuelan poor, and the US-sponsored regime change effort to reverse that is being thwarted by Chavismo movement. This report, like almost everything in the Fakenews Western propaganda press, distorts the reality in service to the regime change effort.
The reality is that Venezuela's oil wealth now goes to feed, educate, and provide health care for native indigenous Venezuelans at the expense of the formerly-privileged European immigrant upper class.
There's your reality for you.
Same in Venezuela. The old petro-thief oligarchy that stole Venezuela's oil wealth for three quarters of a century has been overthrown, and the American oil thieves and their Venezuelan accomplices are out of power and of luck. The oil wealth is now going to the Venezuelan poor, and the US-sponsored regime change effort to reverse that is being thwarted by Chavismo movement. This report, like almost everything in the Fakenews Western propaganda press, distorts the reality in service to the regime change effort.
The reality is that Venezuela's oil wealth now goes to feed, educate, and provide health care for native indigenous Venezuelans at the expense of the formerly-privileged European immigrant upper class.
There's your reality for you.
We need the equivalent of the Magnitsky Act for Venezuela. Freeze the assets of Maduro, members of his government and the members of the constituent assembly that are now engaging in an auto-coup. Deny them entrance in any other country unless they are leaving Venezuela in exile. These narco-traffickers have billions of dollars abroad, starting with the Chavez family.
3
Should anybody be surprised? Mr. Murdo wants to stay in power no matter what the cost.
1
Venezuela is going through difficult times. But Nicolas Casey continues to fall back on old tropes while substituting ideological assertions for analysis. In Casey's world, the country is teetering towards authoritarianism and the government is staging self-coup to maintain itself in power at any cost. Maduro sounds here like Alberto Fujimori in 1990s Peru, Somoza before the Nicaraguan revolution, or even Trujillo in the Dominican Republic before his assassination in 1961.
This is lazy analysis. Venezuela made an enormous effort to open up its democracy to the poor and excluded since the rise of Hugo Chavez in the late1990s. Chavez great failure was not "socialism" but rather his failure, like all of his predecessors during the last 100 years, to diversify the nation's economy beyond oil. When prices collapsed, as they inevitably would, Venezuela was left unprepared.
Yes, the Constituent Assembly vote was misguided and perhaps even unconstitutional. But most protesters in the streets equally reject the politics of Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledesma.
Nicholas Casey was expelled from Venezuela not because he spoke truth to power but rather because his reporting represented a desperate attempt to turn the corrupt opposition into heroes. Despite his attempts at self-aggrandizement, he is not a martyr. He is just a clueless journalist who prefers empty swagger to the hard work of reporting.
This is lazy analysis. Venezuela made an enormous effort to open up its democracy to the poor and excluded since the rise of Hugo Chavez in the late1990s. Chavez great failure was not "socialism" but rather his failure, like all of his predecessors during the last 100 years, to diversify the nation's economy beyond oil. When prices collapsed, as they inevitably would, Venezuela was left unprepared.
Yes, the Constituent Assembly vote was misguided and perhaps even unconstitutional. But most protesters in the streets equally reject the politics of Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledesma.
Nicholas Casey was expelled from Venezuela not because he spoke truth to power but rather because his reporting represented a desperate attempt to turn the corrupt opposition into heroes. Despite his attempts at self-aggrandizement, he is not a martyr. He is just a clueless journalist who prefers empty swagger to the hard work of reporting.
7
Maduro is a thief. Chavez was a thief. Diosdado Cabello is a thief. The problem was and still is an institution, which is socialist, that throws opposing voices in jail, censors the news, murders Venezuelans in the streets, and leaves everyone else starving while Chavez and Maduros families live with the riches stolen from the people. There's a reason why they all have stolen and stashed money in the "imperialist" countries that they supposedly despised. They did nothing good for Venezuela. Simon Bolivar must be turning in his grave. Go spread your propaganda somewhere else.
1
This is what truth sounds like.
1
If you take something away from somebody else you're a thief. If you have something taken from you you're an 'owner'. Apparently somebody owned all the oil under Venezuela. They still want it back.
1
I'm always struck by our nation's ability to have hypocrisy, duplicity, and ethics, peacefully coexisting to support our national identity and ambitions. Because for those who weren't born "last night" know that, historically, we have not only interfered in the internal politics of Venezuela but had them on "the list" according to Gen. Wesley Clark, Sr. (YouTube) So my question is in the face of all our illicit invasions, coups, Guantanamo, and the Patriot Act, how can we with a straight face whip ourselves into a frenzy about a now "dictator we don't like"? Why is it we don't like him?
So now we've exacted sanctions on Maduro, and others, but not on Citco! (oil) Why? especially given the fact that Yemen is a killing field for the Saudi's. But that's okay. We like them.
Thus, my only message is that this tragic trajectory we seem bent on maintaining is NOT sustainable! for the principles of democracy are based upon Law and cannot be abridged at the end of our shores. And thus, if we are not able to jettison this delusion that America can impose being first among Cosmic Equals to support the infinite growth model of capitalism, no amount of deceit, nor weaponry, will save us! for a Sphere has too many incomprehensible pathways to bring us down. So if we truly ever believed in democracy, we should abide by its Universal Template and allow the people of Venezuela to determine their own fate just as the American colonies of 1776 determined theirs.
So now we've exacted sanctions on Maduro, and others, but not on Citco! (oil) Why? especially given the fact that Yemen is a killing field for the Saudi's. But that's okay. We like them.
Thus, my only message is that this tragic trajectory we seem bent on maintaining is NOT sustainable! for the principles of democracy are based upon Law and cannot be abridged at the end of our shores. And thus, if we are not able to jettison this delusion that America can impose being first among Cosmic Equals to support the infinite growth model of capitalism, no amount of deceit, nor weaponry, will save us! for a Sphere has too many incomprehensible pathways to bring us down. So if we truly ever believed in democracy, we should abide by its Universal Template and allow the people of Venezuela to determine their own fate just as the American colonies of 1776 determined theirs.
5
The ethical business men of the Colonies determined our fate for the century before Bi-Polar King George III.
1
Should those Venezuelans opposed to Chavez from the start, the smaller middle & upper classes, ever regain power, they had better not resume ignoring the large poor majority or they will have these problems again.
6
Now it looks like the United States itself may face similar problems with Donald Trump trying to shut down America's social services net and putting his big money friends in control.
1
Do many (North) Americans have an inkling of why Chavez was voted into power? Do they have an inkling of why Chavez was so anti-US?
It seems few in the USA follow foreign policy much.
It seems few in the USA follow foreign policy much.
7
Stifle dissent? After months of having its courthouses, hospitals, supermarkets bombed, people burned to death by the violent opposition terrorist groups, seen scores of national guardsmen, police and even army personnel attacked and killed with impunity, I don't think you can say the Venezuelan government is "stifling dissent". That is not dissent anywhere, that is vandalism. Had the same taken place in the US. this country would have declared martial law. Yet, this has not taken place in Venezuela. Police and soldiers may be attacked, but they can not use bullets ,only tear gas and rubber bullets at the most. Most of the media is vociferously antigovernment, anti-Maduro and unconditionally pro-opposition. These same opposition leaders have been urging their followers to revolt, the army to stage a coup d'état and foreign countries, particularly the US, to militarily intervene and put them in power. They refuse to recognize any democratic institutions, including their country's Supreme Court. They feel "encouraged" by Trump's threats and sanctions against their country. They seek power at any cost. Should they get it, Venezuela will become a bloodbath and an ever-ending civil war will follow. They even rejected the Pope's mediation and hurled insults at him. No, Venezuela is not Turkey, a US ally, where a real stifling crackdown has taken place. Yet, the US is not putting sanctions on Erdogan nor calling for regime change there.
12
Do you sir, have daily conversations with the citizens of Venezuela to support your sweeping conclusions regarding the "constitutionality" of the Maduro government? I do, and they are at severe odds with your one-sided support of the Maduro autocracy. Perhaps you discuss your conclusions with some of my friends and colleagues currently residing in that hellhole named Venezuela before offering your opinions.
1
What are you talking about? What supermarkets were bombed? Who was burned to death by opposition politicians?
And yet do you deny the 7 million people who voted against the Constituent Assembly, which goes against the constitution of Venezuela (which demands the people request and vote on a Constituent Assembly)? (This is NOT what the vote on Sunday was.)
The opposition leaders have non-stop urged non-violent protests, they have been extremely careful to do so and not to urge their followers to violence, despite the Maduro government's own inability to follow the rule of law. Why cancel the recall election? Why never normalize the 2 AN members from Amazonas? What is the legality for the Supreme Court saying the AN is invalid? And then what is the legality for Maduro to say "the Supreme Court cannot say that, reverse your decision", which is equally bad?
It is ironic for you to say the AN refuses to recognize the "democratic "institution of the Supreme Court, which was packed with additional judges by the outgoing AN prior to the 2015 elections. Every law passed by the AN after the opposition took control AFTER DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS has been annulled by the Supreme Court. What is the legality for that farce?
Why are you so suddenly so involved in "blue lives matter", but not the lives fo the elderly and children choked by tear gas directly into buildings by the National Guard? Why are you not worried about people being dragged out of their home by SEBIN in the night, without a warrant, but you suddenly are worried when one of those SEBIN is hit with a molotov?
The opposition leaders have non-stop urged non-violent protests, they have been extremely careful to do so and not to urge their followers to violence, despite the Maduro government's own inability to follow the rule of law. Why cancel the recall election? Why never normalize the 2 AN members from Amazonas? What is the legality for the Supreme Court saying the AN is invalid? And then what is the legality for Maduro to say "the Supreme Court cannot say that, reverse your decision", which is equally bad?
It is ironic for you to say the AN refuses to recognize the "democratic "institution of the Supreme Court, which was packed with additional judges by the outgoing AN prior to the 2015 elections. Every law passed by the AN after the opposition took control AFTER DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS has been annulled by the Supreme Court. What is the legality for that farce?
Why are you so suddenly so involved in "blue lives matter", but not the lives fo the elderly and children choked by tear gas directly into buildings by the National Guard? Why are you not worried about people being dragged out of their home by SEBIN in the night, without a warrant, but you suddenly are worried when one of those SEBIN is hit with a molotov?
And what was one of the rabble rousing antics that Mr. Trump campaigned on in regards to his opponent, Mrs. Clinton?
"Lock Her Up, Lock Her Up, Lock Her Up..."
I find this move to put sanctions on Mr. Maduro, although warranted, the epitome of hypocrisy from the Trump Administration.
They just keep reaching new lows, seemingly effortlessly.
Michael Bain
Glorieta, New Mexico
"Lock Her Up, Lock Her Up, Lock Her Up..."
I find this move to put sanctions on Mr. Maduro, although warranted, the epitome of hypocrisy from the Trump Administration.
They just keep reaching new lows, seemingly effortlessly.
Michael Bain
Glorieta, New Mexico
12
This is what would happen after a couple of terms of Bernie Sanders, crumbling socialist government doing anything to hang on.
5
And this is your well researched opinion?
2
You mean the same way Denmark and Sweden are falling apart. Its good to see how united our American friends are under the leadership brilliance of Trump. Actually that is not true, most Canadians sympathize with our American neighbours under the rule of a right wing huckster.
3
While in democratic socialist Denmark, it's people are said to be the happiest.
4
Where is the OAS (Organization of American States) as this crisis deepens? Isn't the destruction of Venezuelan's political structure worth its close attention, even if the regime's destruction of this otherwise rich country's economy and the increasing destitution of its people hasn't? An emergency meeting is certainly called for and joint action required.
3
Please do not insert your ignorant comment in the lives of people who are suffering. This has nothing to do with socialism, but with autocratic, fascist and dictatorial tendencies that can take any political garb, from the left or the right. It is people like you, without any capacity for critical thinking, tolerance or compassion that make these political tragedies happen. Be careful that the US does not fall into a similar tragedy now that the American Hugo Chavez, that is Donald Trump, is destroying the American democracy like Chavez destroyed the Venezuelan democracy. Shame on you.
1
Obviously you have not been following events in Venezuela. The OAS or, as it has been appropriately called, the US ministry of colonies, has been trying for a ;long time to intervene in Venezuela's political process but has been defeated by the solidarity of other honest Latin American countries who do not take orders from Washington. The Venezuelan opposition has been creating chaos in the streets on a daily basis, shooting, burning alive government supporters, destroying public and private property, etc. The two men recently sent back to prison were among the intellectual leaders of such crimes. This country does not accept any Latin American country,s efforts to control their own economy and redistribute wealth. I suppose you remember Chile in 1973, and Guatemala in 1954. The government of Mexico is actively concerned about what is happening in Venezuela. This turns attention away from their infernal chaos.
1
According to the hallmarks, Venezuela is now one if the most singularly democratic countries in South America. The will of the people is what keeps Maduro in power - not the protests of the opposition, or American interests.
Maduro has a strong resemblance to a young Stalin
5
The Venezuelan people are living the worst of two worlds.
A dictatorship mimicking the Cuban revolution in its early years but without a skillful leadership of the Castro brothers. Venezuela is now ruled by Maduro, a corrupt buffoon, and former union leader.
The hellish situation of the Venezuelan society today has a genesis on the unbridled corruption of the old ruling elite.
Billions of public petrodollars were stolen by the two dominant political parties when oil prices peaked in the 70s and early 80s.
A political elite and a small urban middle class thrived while the majority of Venezuelans remained poor, uneducated and without future.
Then, charismatic Coronel Hugo Chavez took power and everything changed. A Cuban model society was built to 'protect and serve' the poor.
The Venezuelan society is deeply divided. The majority poor support Maduro and do whatever it takes to defend his regime while wealthy Venezuelans are now living in Miami.
Regime change might happen in Venezuela not by an American-led invasion but by a civil war.
A dictatorship mimicking the Cuban revolution in its early years but without a skillful leadership of the Castro brothers. Venezuela is now ruled by Maduro, a corrupt buffoon, and former union leader.
The hellish situation of the Venezuelan society today has a genesis on the unbridled corruption of the old ruling elite.
Billions of public petrodollars were stolen by the two dominant political parties when oil prices peaked in the 70s and early 80s.
A political elite and a small urban middle class thrived while the majority of Venezuelans remained poor, uneducated and without future.
Then, charismatic Coronel Hugo Chavez took power and everything changed. A Cuban model society was built to 'protect and serve' the poor.
The Venezuelan society is deeply divided. The majority poor support Maduro and do whatever it takes to defend his regime while wealthy Venezuelans are now living in Miami.
Regime change might happen in Venezuela not by an American-led invasion but by a civil war.
11
There was also a lot less armed resistance and 'revolution' - aside from at the ballot box.
Venezuelans don’t want an American-led invasion or a civil war. The Venezuelan opposition in an amalgam of patience, fear and wisdom is opting for a peaceful solution however long that might take. The regime is heavily armed and would win a civil war; all of Venezuela would lose in an invasion. Clearly there are other options.
An uninformed reader might deduce from Uzi’s letter that corruption disappeared after the regime´s rise to power. Nothing could be further from the truth. Former regime minister Giordani denounced that $300 billion was embezzled in Venezuela in the last decade. At the official DICOM rate that is the equivalent per person in Venezuela of more than ten years of the minimum wage.
The poor must be kept poor to maintain their dependence on the government, according to Hector Rodriguez, a regime minister. That policy has worked, more Venezuelans are poor now than 17 years ago when Chavez came to power. But because of the prevailing corruption many of the poor are starving. Thus the majority of the poor do not support the regime. As Uzi states, Venezuelan society is deeply divided, but a very clear majority supports regime change.
An uninformed reader might deduce from Uzi’s letter that corruption disappeared after the regime´s rise to power. Nothing could be further from the truth. Former regime minister Giordani denounced that $300 billion was embezzled in Venezuela in the last decade. At the official DICOM rate that is the equivalent per person in Venezuela of more than ten years of the minimum wage.
The poor must be kept poor to maintain their dependence on the government, according to Hector Rodriguez, a regime minister. That policy has worked, more Venezuelans are poor now than 17 years ago when Chavez came to power. But because of the prevailing corruption many of the poor are starving. Thus the majority of the poor do not support the regime. As Uzi states, Venezuelan society is deeply divided, but a very clear majority supports regime change.
It might be better if the United States kept a very low-profile in situations like these nowadays. Not going to help.
3
Not exactly......
The latest round of 'North Korea' (the squabble has been going on since 1945) started when BushCo the Second decided what Clinton had done was 'stupid', and reneged on a disarmament agreement. The Norks rushed to build a bomb before he 'went kinetic' on them.
Just like the disarmament agreement with Iran that TrumpCo wants to dump.
Just like the disarmament agreement with Iran that TrumpCo wants to dump.
North Korea used two nuclear bombs to massacre hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians? Interesting. I always thought the only country to carry out such monumental evil was the US.
You look at this & people comment critically & make statements about Trump ambitions.
I have just one thing to say: the US should be ashamed of it's voter turnout. EVERYONE needs to / MUST get out & vote. This likely not that audience but for God's sake just look at the current deconstruction of our democracy! The swamp isn't getting drained its getting a resupply! If only more people had voted. We have a shameless Administration.
I have just one thing to say: the US should be ashamed of it's voter turnout. EVERYONE needs to / MUST get out & vote. This likely not that audience but for God's sake just look at the current deconstruction of our democracy! The swamp isn't getting drained its getting a resupply! If only more people had voted. We have a shameless Administration.
14
Why bother eh? There was really no choice last time round. So why not let Putin decide? Then we can blame him?
Wait. You want MORE Americans to vote??!!?! Have you learned nothing after a half century of electoral catastrophe?
We need to distinguish between left, right, and authoritarianism. This is an authoritarian power grab. It has merely used its leftist messages as an excuse. Democracy invites and integrates all voices. Are we the next Venezuela? In the US, there is no forum for expressing your opinion with those who disagree. It's become culturally verboten. I've been insulted in my own home for even showing curiosity about how someone came to his viewpoints. The minute you get this type of intolerance - right or left - it's an invitation to dictatorship.
10
The fact that they were taken by masked agents makes me fear they will be executed and no explanation ever given. Not that one is needed. The world knows exactly what is going on in Venezuela.
12
This used to happen in right wing dictatorships all the time, in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile and the US said nothing.
1
One of them was ordered released (by the courts) a couple of weeks ago -
under house arrest and under the condition he behave himself. He didn't and the release was rescinded.
under house arrest and under the condition he behave himself. He didn't and the release was rescinded.
Masked police are no stranger in America, either. Face-cover is now part of any decent tactical rig.
VENEZUELA Has the world's largest petroleum and natural gas reserves. There is absolutely no need for the chaos, destruction and devastation that the mindlessly violent ruling junta pursue. And where is Trump in all of this? He's making political speeches to underage Boy Scouts, exploiting children emotionally. For the time being, Trump's war is bloodless. But for how long?
4
Yes, Venezuela has vast oil reserves, but the price of oil has plummeted, that is part of what caused this crisis. Chavez, then Maduro, did not cultivate any other industries, and based Venezuela's entire economic future on the theory that oil prices would only go up.
There is is if you don't 'own' that oil anymore. Just ask Exxon.
This must have Trump salivating. Exactly what he would like to do here.
10
This is socialism on parade.
1
In Nazi Germany it was called the Night of the Long Knives.
5
The powers that our President Trump must dream about every night.
6
Cubans are the masterminds behind the Maduro regime. They are desperate. This is it for them. Their last chance to keep the government at home afloat. They will do anything to hold complete power over the people. Venezuelans are facing a ruthless adversary.
9
Navigator, you need to read more about Venezuela's recent history. This really doesn't have anything to do with Cuba. Yes, Chavez and Castro were allies, but Maduro is just your typical dictator who was able to seize power and now wants to hold it at all costs.
Take a long look at Venezuela and see where leftist politics inevitably leads. It's very easy to take wealth from the rightful owners little by little and use it to buy votes, but it's a slippery slope indeed. Bernie Sanders isn't as far from Chavez or Maduro as one might think.
11
'It's very easy to take wealth from the rightful owners'. And if the money is not rightfully theirs?
2
This is not true. It happened with the Nazis, with Franco's Spain, with Pinochet and Videla in Chile and Argentina--i.e., right wing regimes. It is a matter of autocratic and dictatorial tendencies, which are simply a form of sociopathy. All dictators are psychologically sick, and the peoples that embrace them also fall prey to a collective psychosis . It may be happening here among the duped Trump voters.
2
That is delusional and exactly wrong. What is happening in Venezuela is much more akin to a right-wing takeover. If you want to see where leftist politics inevitably leads, look at Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Holland, France, Canada, Australia, and Belgium. There the tenets of liberalism are triumphing. Maduro is an authoritarian, not a leftist. And your view of Sanders is laughable. When has he ever attempted to thwart democracy? Hurry back to your Fox News; you might miss something important.
3
These two men will probably never be heard from again.
The Venezuelan people need to arm themselves and form civilian militias to fight the thugs that have taken over the country. Demonstrations are not going to do the trick. The government is in power by force of arms. It will take force of arms to dislodge them. If the people take up arms and wage a real resistance, friendly countries will come to their assistance.
The Venezuelan people need to arm themselves and form civilian militias to fight the thugs that have taken over the country. Demonstrations are not going to do the trick. The government is in power by force of arms. It will take force of arms to dislodge them. If the people take up arms and wage a real resistance, friendly countries will come to their assistance.
2
In the United States we don't lock up political opponents.
That's for fascist states.
So, umm, why were all those people at the Republican convention about a year ago shouting "Lock her up!" with malice in their faces?
Lock someone up without due process of law?
I guess those weren't Americans at that convention.
Clearly ignorant of our system and custom.
I think Mueller will let us know whom to lock up for actual crimes. We have a system of laws and that will guide us.
That's for fascist states.
So, umm, why were all those people at the Republican convention about a year ago shouting "Lock her up!" with malice in their faces?
Lock someone up without due process of law?
I guess those weren't Americans at that convention.
Clearly ignorant of our system and custom.
I think Mueller will let us know whom to lock up for actual crimes. We have a system of laws and that will guide us.
11
But we did elect a president who made the chant "lock her up", referring to his political opponent, an integral part of his campaign.
This is what prosecuting political enemies looks like and it isn't pretty.
3
End result when a 'populist' movement led by corrupt fools and frauds, adhering to a warped ideology, disconnected from reality, replete with attacks on the free press and self aggrandizing conspiracy theories, supported by the uneducated to "deconstruct the system" reaches its final stages.
9
you have perfectly described the current American presidency.
Venezuela (under Hugo Chavez and his successor), Saudi Arabia, and Russia have this much in common: trying to use profits from their huge reserves of petroleum to maintain otherwise unsustainable social and economic positions -- Venezuela's socialist benefits, Saudi Arabia's medieval religious social structure and Russia's determination to remain a military power. I hope Venezuela regains its democratic footing.
5
To oppose Moduro's dictatorship in Venezuela, the US should reduce its importation of oil from Venezuela by at least half.
For the month of May 2017, the US imported 23,764,000 barrels of oil from Venezuela. Would it really be much of a sacrifice to bring that volume down to 12,000,000 for the month of July 2017? Perhaps the US could even bring that volume down to zero within the next 6 months with the demand to release all political prisoners. Then one will see how willing Moduro is to continue to put his opposition into prison.
WEB: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MTTIMUSVE...
For the month of May 2017, the US imported 23,764,000 barrels of oil from Venezuela. Would it really be much of a sacrifice to bring that volume down to 12,000,000 for the month of July 2017? Perhaps the US could even bring that volume down to zero within the next 6 months with the demand to release all political prisoners. Then one will see how willing Moduro is to continue to put his opposition into prison.
WEB: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MTTIMUSVE...
7
Venezuelans, Americans, what difference does it make? Power is taken, people pee, and go back to work after a few weeks of unrest. No problem. The Venezuelan people are going to lose just as the American people are going to lose: two men standing up is not enough. The nation must stand up; the nation must come to a stop; all business must cease; soldiers must be stoned and killed; their families found out an attacked; then find Maduro and cut his throat; then hang him, his wife, and children upside down in the public square. Then come to America.
1
I thank god everyday that i was born in a country where the idea of freedom and liberty is my birthright. Never ever take your liberty and guaranteed human rights for granted. In Venezuela they have been dealing with dictators and military rule for generations, they know no other way, its sad. There is plenty of oil there, the people who put themselves at the top of the food chain will make Billions....as always, follow the money.
4
And best for all of us now in this country to do everything we can to keep those ideas alive
6
That's not true Thomas. Venezuela was a thriving democracy with a solid middle class from 1958-1998. The problem stems from corruption and mass poverty.
Also, as Ledezma said, too many people were asleep at the wheel as Maduro seized power bit by bit.
Also, as Ledezma said, too many people were asleep at the wheel as Maduro seized power bit by bit.
If you devoted some time to study the history of the American continent, north and south, you will see how those dictators : the Ubico, the Somoza, the Batista, CatilloArmas, Trujillo, so many others, were put in power by your government so that you could have relative peace and stability here.
Terribly cruel, and illegal. These are political prisoners, who have already served a long period of time in prison, for no reason other than they oppose Maduro's dictatorial takeover of Venezuela's democracy.
6
Maduro and Chavistas must be removed by any means necessary.
4
I once asked an intelligent and cultured Cuban exile, with whom I respectfully disagreed, if he was considering moving to Florida, and he responded: "Florida? To live among those people? (meaning other political exiles), I left Cuba to live a comfortable life but I am not an idiot."
Place a blockade around them and tell them how easy it is to get it lifted. If they don't listen they can live with it. In the US, largely due to T-Rump, we tend to forget that flea bag dictators are, all to often, the rule and not the exception. Does the US really want to let this guy and his gang continue to rule? Is the OAS worth anything? In the long run Maduro and his ilk do the US and the OAS no good.
4
This is not a question of left versus right. This is a question of freedom versus dictatorship.
My heart goes out to the Venezuelan people.
My heart goes out to the Venezuelan people.
47
This is a travesty! The American government should immediately stop the importation of Venezuelan oil. It is hypocritical to continue to purchase oil from a rogue state that does not believe in democratic principles.
24
Good idea. But let us start with Saudi Arabia.
3
such a beautiful country. so sad - all because Modura cd not share power - at all, could not share power. and he says nothing - if you listen carefully to what he is saying it has nothing to do with dealing with huge problems addressing the country - lack of food medicine etc. no - its all about HIM, its all about staying in power in defense against THEM - as if them are not his countryman, and he sees absolutely nothing wrong with destroying multi-party government - at all, democracy only exists with his head. this will not end. police are going to be swept into civil war --
4
When is Latin America going to come together and help each other out? Together you are stronger. Alone, things like what happened in Cuba and is happening in Venezuela is the result. There is no excuse for what is happening in Venezuela, the problem is that humans like to wait until things hit rock bottom before realizing how they need to act. Form a coalition Latin America! and swear to protect and support each other so chaos like this doesn't happen in any other country again. This will help your own lands from getting invaded by a whole new country looking for help. Nobody wants to leave their homeland, but when you are forced out to survive you'll do whatever it takes. Form a colation!
3
Maureen, Latin America does have a coalition, it's called the Union of South American Nations. (Last treaty signed in 2008.)
Other countries cannot overthrow a dictator without going to war, the world is a far more complicated place.
Other countries cannot overthrow a dictator without going to war, the world is a far more complicated place.
I'm surprised by some of the comments that I've been reading after this article. Venezuela is in dire straights financially. People are struggling. President Maduro knows that when oil prices were higher he and his predecessor were free to enact social programs aimed at their base of support, the poor and disenfranchised. Then the oil prices dropped and so did the Venezuelan economy. What Maduro is doing is re-writing his country's constitution to make him dictator.
20
The so called opposition is not just anti Maduro. In fact, they are against any form of wealth distribution that would jeopardize the wealthy elite's power. Look at the rest of Latin America and it's clear to see that any form of nationalism is attacked by anti government media. Years ago, the dirty work was done by the military. The struggle is always the same. Haves vs have nots. Powerful vs. Powerless.
11
Which Russian republic are you from?
4
Your analysis was true when Chavez was first elected. And-yes-those oligarchical attitudes still exist within Venezuela and the oligarchs are part of the opposition. But the ground has since shifted. Maduro hardly has the poorer classes in mind when he engineers a way around the democratic processes that have reduced his authority and ostensibly empowered an opposition that now consists of the majority of the people in the country. The later years of Chavez and now Maduro have overseen a sharp decline in the already lesser status of the majority--after initially there was much promise, probably owing to the temporarily high oil revenues. A Maduro dictatorship is not the answer.
My heart weeps for the people of Venezuela. May god be with you.
14
Too bad the citizens are unarmed, unable to protect themselves from a tyrannical government. Main reason why the 2nd Amendment is in existence.. not for hunting, not for self defense against criminals, unless you call the government the criminal. It's to protect the citizens from government. The Bill of Rights is all about citizens protection from the government. These people have no rights, no protection... very sad.
3
So are you defending the voting rights of citizens in your state that your Republican politicians are dismantling? Did you go up to Michigan and resist the state government there as it dismantled democracy under "emergency powers," and then conveniently poisoned the water in Flint?
1
oh, and I assume, then, you're inclined to defend, with arms if necessary, Hillary Clinton against the current regime's calls to "lock her up," because 30 years of conspiracy theories, tax-payer investigations and now Russian assistance hasn't produced anything more than that she's an American politician who has become an "enemy" of this "president?"
1
There are no shortage of arms in Venezuela. I lived there and worked there for several years. Please educate yourself.
2
This isn't a left or a right thing. This is a dictatorship.
51
This is totally, completely a left thing.
5
Wrong. It is the inevitable consequence of Marxist government. Look everywhere it has been tried - Soviet Union, Cuba, China, Venezuela, N. Korea. It is the concentration of all economic and political power in the hands of a few.
8
This is exactly why I chose Clinton over Sanders.
I do believe Trump would love to do that to all those who don't worship him and do his bidding.
28
These are two criminals. López agitated for violent demonstrations that killed innocent people. Ledezma and the rest of the privately owned media in Venezuela regularly print racist slanders against the government. They violated the terms of the house arrest. So they got rearrested. They deserved it.
5
The Venezuelan government, with the help of Cuban security and intelligence forces, is depriving all but its closest supporters of basic food and medicine and shooting others down in the street and yet it appears some in the US are aiding that violent government in its oppression. Amazing, really.
9
President Maduro is the criminal.
6
Are you seriously denouncing the Venezuelan opposition for killing innocent people, when the government has murdered thousands through forced starvation, deprivation of medicinal supplies, and outright incarceration? And "racist slanders against the government"? Have you heard of that little thing called "freedom of speech"? You should try it sometime, it feels good. Hitler had his apologists, too, and they mostly suffered his same fate.
25
Not your business. Stay away from Venezuela, it's not like Ukraine.
Indeed, Venezuela is not Ukraine. It's so much closer so we do have a critical interest in that unfortunate nation under its current oppressive regime.
11
Very true. Venezuela is not like Ukraine. Ukraine has food and free elections.
2
Trump is thinking, "This Maduro is a strong leader."
39
so sad - I was born and raised in Venezuela of North American parents - my Dad worked for Esso (now ExxonMobil). The Venezuelan oil industry was nationalized in early 70's and we moved to Aruba - where we had a refinery to process the Venezuelan oil.
Somewhere deep down I always supported those that want to be independent of mother countries and or mother companies. And I hoped that Venezuelan leaders would appreciate the gift they have in Venezuela - huge oil reserves, the Andes, the Amazon, the Caribbean.
But no matter how hard I hoped, this beautiful, rich, cultural oasis (the orchid is their national flower) keeps slip sliding away.
Here's a good summary from a TV show I used to host where we covered this topic frequently.
http://wrmnyc.blogspot.com/2016/10/oct-26-venezuelan-revolution-begins.html
I have three hopes today:
1) President Trump doesn't do something stupid to distract us from himself,
2) my friends and relatives in Venezuela don't suffer further, and
3) Mr. Lopez and Mr. Ledezma are released unharmed.
Join me in hoping.
Somewhere deep down I always supported those that want to be independent of mother countries and or mother companies. And I hoped that Venezuelan leaders would appreciate the gift they have in Venezuela - huge oil reserves, the Andes, the Amazon, the Caribbean.
But no matter how hard I hoped, this beautiful, rich, cultural oasis (the orchid is their national flower) keeps slip sliding away.
Here's a good summary from a TV show I used to host where we covered this topic frequently.
http://wrmnyc.blogspot.com/2016/10/oct-26-venezuelan-revolution-begins.html
I have three hopes today:
1) President Trump doesn't do something stupid to distract us from himself,
2) my friends and relatives in Venezuela don't suffer further, and
3) Mr. Lopez and Mr. Ledezma are released unharmed.
Join me in hoping.
59
In tears.....
Thank you.
Thank you.
1
America can exert some pressure but the real pressure on Maduro must come from Latin and South America. Will they take a collective stand? The real Simon Bolivar moment for South America.
11
New York Times: please exercise some objectivity when you write about Venezuela. This article links to a previous NYT article for the assertion that the new constituent assembly grants "virtually unlimited power" to the leftist ruling party, and the linked article talks about expectations that it MIGHT give unlimited power to the ruling party, when in fact as you surely know the election itself was all about who would be elected to be part of the new assembly. So any power granted to the assembly by its members is being done through the election itself, which had the highest turn out of any election in many years. So your logic is wrong and your biases clear. Obviously, democracy in Venezuela is suffering in many ways, but writing blatantly biased and inaccurate pieces about that democracy is not helping things at all.
12
"The highest turnout of any election in many years?" Where are you getting your information? Pravda? Granma? Fox News?
3
Except that 1) there was no choice on if to have an assembly to begin with and 2) voters could only choose from pro-regime candidates.
Lock up the opposition.
Demonize the media.
Lie for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Totalitarianism 101.
It could happen here.
Demonize the media.
Lie for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Totalitarianism 101.
It could happen here.
69
Not everything in this work is about you.
1
That's the situation in a nutshell, w The NY Times taking the side of Lopez and the CIA riff raff. Shameful!