USA intelligence agencies revealed in plot to oust Venezuela's President

If people start to see this as the coup it is, Bush could delay this until the war in Iraq starts so the media will be looking elsewhere...

This article is pure B.S. put out by an outfit, VHeadline, that disappeared from the web quick as Chavez did in the April coup attempt. They are not an objective news service, but largely pro-Chavez.

I was at Altamira Plaza last Friday night and the coordinated Chavez attack and the drive-by shooting in the early hours of the morning before it and the capture of the two assasin wanna-be's that came later Saturday morning, were mostly all MVR card carrying members and two were govt DIM agents. The press there has been telling it like it is, Chavez and this fellow quoted here in the article, just don't like it. Go see/read my on the ground report here and decide for yourself... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/802763/posts?page=1,50
-Shane

"Clearly, no country in South America holds more promise for being a strong and effective ally and supporter of the USA, perhaps none better in this entire Hemisphere, *when* Chavez is gone and remnants of his regime are fully rooted out."

wow, that sort of says it all about this article.

"Duped by the anti-government media"? As someone who has met VHeadline's Roy Carson in person, I can tell you that he can be labeled as opinionated rather than objective. If anything, the Venezuelan government has been busy trying to whitewash their image abroad.

Sadly, the Chavez government does not practice what it preaches and has been guilty of human rights atrocities. The Human Rights Commision of the Organization of American States has recently issued a strong statement urging the Venezuelan government to do more to stem the worsening human rights situation.

Ooooh .. the OAS ... an organization formed by the USA to bend small Latin American countries to its will ... now THERE's an impartial voice ....
(snicker)

Within the OAS, all member states have equal voting rights. Can a particular country's votes be influenced by others? No doubt this is a possibility. Several Caribbean and Central American countries get preferential treatment from Venezuela when buying crude oil and refined products.

If we were to look at this from a somewhat cynical perspective, it would not surprise me to discover that Venezuela's current government might try to "bend small Latin American countries to its will" (to quote a recent anonymous poster) as well, attempting to use oil for geopolitical leverage.

Hugo< must be very popular with the majority of the people, quite under-standable ,the right wing has robbed the peoples .in that country far to long now we have a real leader ,who make more equitable i hope the cia is not behind this, they usualey are thank- you Hugo.

"This article is pure B.S. put out by an outfit, VHeadline, that disappeared from the web quick as Chavez did in the April coup attempt. They are not an objective news service, but largely pro-Chavez."

Coming from a guy who posts his shit at Freak Republic, that is funny as hell. AS if Freak Republic is anything more than a Right Wing propaganda forum. YOu and other Right Wingers are nothing more than pathetic mouthpieces for the American Empire and its anti-democratic rule around the world

"I was at Altamira Plaza last Friday night and the coordinated Chavez attack and the drive-by shooting in the early hours of the morning before it and the capture of the two assasin wanna-be's that came later Saturday morning, were mostly all MVR card carrying members and two were govt DIM agents. The press there has been telling it like it is, Chavez and this fellow quoted here in the article, just don't like it. Go see/read my on the ground report here and decide for yourself... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/802763/posts?page=1,50
-Shane"

Who the hell are you Shane? How did you happen to be at the Altamira Plaza just as these shootings occurred. More importantly, your account of events is contradicted by reports which suggest that the shooter involved is tied to an anti-Chavez general. Not to mention the strangely similar staged shootings in April 2002 in which *Pro-Chavez* protestors were the ones predominantly shot--by whom one can only surmise.


http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=221925&group=webcast

Yes, I know the govt claims the oppostion did it to itself, what else would you expect them to say, admit that they did it!?!. Fact is, and TV there reports it, and is reason why this opposition has expanded so greatly and Chavez is now under 20% support, is that the local police are often catching these guys doing the violence and they are largely being tied right back to the Chavez MVR party. They show and publish their ID's for all to see, but we don't get that on CNN, just the Chavez govt line from there. Two of these guys were even card-carrying govt DIM (Division de Intelligencia Militar) agents. I know, cause I saw all this unfolding, and it's clear who the 'good guys' and 'bad guys' are there.

BTW, for those who say he was fairly elected, thus anything goes for holding his power and all opposition are automatically branded fascist or some other baloney, explain this...

His mentor, Luis Miquelena , who taught him politics when he wasn't thinking past just his first coup attempt, and who also became his first Vice President, and Minister of Interior & Justice, and Head of the Commission that wrote the new Constitution of 1999, is an elderly gentleman who lives around the corner from where I stayed there, and has now come out vigoursly against him this past spring. In fact, last Saturday, he was on TV again denouncing him. That tells me Hugo Chavez either changed along the way or fooled everyone all along, either way he's not today what most folks who voted for him thought he was going to be.

-Shane

Props to you man, are you from Venezuela, or where you visiting and got caught in the mess? I'm glad someone else is seeing it from the inside too. I said it before and I'll say it again, the only people pointing their fingers around at others calling them "right-wingers" and defending Chavez are the people that have no clue wtf a government with truly commie tendencies feels like, they only read about it and assume it's a great idea. They sit behind their keyboards punching away enjoying their right to say what they please on their shiny new computer, employing the latest capitalistic Pentium technology that noone is going to take away from them to give to the poor. Both the far-right and the far left suck, period.

Men are to be judged for what they do not for what they say. After almost for years in power and after spending more than 100 billion USD , unemployment and poverty are higher than ever in Venezuela modern history.
Besides Chavez has destroyed all democratic institutions in Venezuela following the advice of his role model Fidel Castro.
We believe Venezuela is actually being governed by Fidel Castro.

No matter how one perceives the effectiveness of Chavez's policies, there is no justification for removing him through any means that are not democratic. His approval rating could be at 2%, and that would not justify an illegal removal.
The Venezuelan economy is also being "locked out", much like its workforce - foreign investors and the U.S through its institutions is holding out capital until Chavez is removed from power. The fatties who live off of the oil wealth there just don't want to share it with the rest of the country, democracy be damned.

I'd like to see him removed legally, under their current constitution, the next administration really needs that legit start. BUT, what do you do when the President is clearly acting UNconstitutionally, everybody knows it cause many with him previously have come out 'spilling the beans' with documentation and proof, AND now 20 valid cases against him, any of which would have him removed from office, have been sitting stalled at the Supreme Court that he has packed so obviously that many other justices have quit in protest, just like his top military has now. What do you do?

Just what they are doing now, legally refusing to work to shut down everything to hopefully force him to resign...which is totally legal and a tactic Chavez praised when it suited him in the past! - Shane

BTW, for some who have asked, I've been there three times this year on business, this last time is the first time I openly supported iether side, and it was an easy choice when I saw first-hand the faces, attitudes, and resolve of the people in their peaceful & civil marches, strikes, work stoppages, and especially at the Altamira Plaza. From housewives to elderly couples to many single young people to families with children, yes, rich & poor and plenty in between, all coming together in groups that looked more like a 4th of July celebration with all the flags and singing and whistle blowing and, unique here, pot & pan banging. Honestly brought tears to my eyes to see these good people that were shot at by snipers and assasins to then re-group at the Plaza not 40 minutes after the last shot of the Friday night massacre, with the blood still wet around the Plaza where they stood, and defiantly proclaim to Chavez that they would not be deterred by his hired henchmen. This display of flag waving, National Anthem singing loud crowd, even when more gunfire was possible and actually did occur later on that night, both stunned and impressed me deeply, I admit it. Also, combined with when I saw first-hand the shenanigans and easy violence Chavez unleashed upon unarmed civilians and media, yes, it was a no-brainer for me who the 'good guys' are. I don't know what the US is or isn't up to down there, but I hope they are supporting the opposition to Chavez as eagerly as I would hope they'd of supported the protestors at Tieneman(SP) Square China.

"BUT, what do you do when the President is clearly acting UNconstitutionally"

My God! Bush wasn't even f---ing ELECTED for chrissake! And you're talking about CHAVEZ??? Do you even *know* what Catherine Harris's office did to the voter rolls in Florida???

Bush has the US in violation of every UN resolution in the book, breaking treaties worldwide, and calling for nuclear first strike. He has people convicted of *felonies* and *lying to congress* making huge decision in the alterations of our government. He himself is riddled in scandal as well as Cheney, and they're bascially looting the country for their own profit by dragging us into war . . .

And you're worried about CHAVEZ???

Please take your medication AS DIRECTED.

Thought we were discussing Chavez and Venezuela here, that's what/why I was giving my comments. Don't assume I give Bush/republicans a pass just cause I support the opposition in Venezuela against thier dictator Chavez.
-Shane

The comments by Shane, Ricardo, and other Coup supporters on this thread cannot contain nor hide the increasing desperation of the situation faced by their Undemocratic stooges in Venezuela.

As this analysis suggests, much of the hysteria and hype being generated by the Coup Plotters in both Venezuela and here in America are born of a sense that their thinly disguised attempts at reversing Democracy in Venezuela are failing. The Employer lockout (aka strike) is limited to the Wealthy and elite neighborhoods, the Oil shutdown has not prevented a shipment of 550,000 barrels of crude oil to the US, and the transparent destabilization attempts, provocations and staged shootings formented by America are being unmasked.

Now, the illegitimate American regime of George W. Bush is more transparently revealing its naked support for its Undemocratic Fellow-Travellers in Venezuela with this most recent press release
hypocritically calling for early elections in Venezuela.

Might we suggest that America look at itself first and implement the same measure?

********************************************
Bush’s Desperate Venezuela Statement
Read Between the Lines: The Coup is Falling Apart

By Al Giordano
December 13, 2002

Today's Statement by the Press Secretary of the White House that “Calls for Early Elections” in Venezuela inadvertently reveals the Bush administration’s efforts against democracy in that country, and its fears that the total collapse of its foreign coup attempt is only days away.

Kind reader: “I’m from Washington, I’m here to help you,” is one of the proverbial three biggest lies whether addressed to South Dakota or to South America. Only the most gullible – or intentionally dishonest – person would claim to believe it.

The White House statement reveals that Organization of American States secretary general Cesar Gaviria is not an authentic “mediator” in Venezuela, but, rather, a biased pro-coup agent of Bush administration efforts to destroy yet another democracy in our América. It is another example of why the discredited Gaviria should leave Venezuela immediately.

There is zero chance that Gaviria will have the credibility with the Venezuelan public to broker any kind of agreement. But that’s not the true motive for his presence: Gaviria has been installed in Caracas to destabilize the situation and bolster the false portrayal by commercial media that there is a “general strike,” of which there is not. The majority of stores in Venezuela are open. The subways are moving, air traffic is moving, and despite the concerted actions of executives of the Venezuelan oil company to lock out workers and sabotage refineries, oil is flowing again.
We urge you to read between the lines.

When the White House says:

“We note the Secretary General's recent public warning on the need to negotiate soon, in the next few days, or risk further polarization that could erupt into violence.”

The White House really means:

“Gaviria has followed our script, but we only have a few more days of being able to sustain the false media image of a ‘crisis’ or ‘national strike.’ In three days a tanker with 550,000 barrels of crude oil that left from Venezuela yesterday will arrive on United States shores, proving that the ‘strike’ was a media myth. Gaviria only has a few more days left of isolated disturbances by an exhausted upper class to use as an excuse to destabilize Venezuela. The coup is falling apart. The clock is ticking and we are trying to revive it.”

When the White House says:

“The United States is convinced that the only peaceful and politically viable path to moving out of the crisis is through the holding of early elections.”

The White House really means:

“Six elections in the past four years in Venezuela, all of them won by President Hugo Chávez and his supporters, all of them deemed fair and free by national and international observers (including by delegates of the U.S. Republican and Democratic parties who were present to observe them), are not enough. We need a Seventh Election in four years because we don’t like the results of the first six. We, in the Bush administration, are deeply offended that Venezuelan law awards the presidency to the candidate who won the most votes. That’s not how we did it in the U.S. We will only be happy when a minority of citizens can impose a president. If we allow Venezuela’s majority decisions to stand, they might start exporting democracy to the United States. In any case, we insist that Catherine Harris be allowed to count the votes, and Jeb Bush should print the ballots, next time in Venezuela.”

Court Appointed President George W. Bush has no moral or legal standing in Latin America to insist on a seventh election just because he didn’t like the results of the previous six.

The call for “early elections” is also deceptive, because the Venezuelan Constitution already provides for a Presidential recall vote in August 2003 – sooner than any national elections will happen in the United States. President Chávez has publicly welcomed that vote, just nine months away. What the White House, in fact, is urging is a violation of the Venezuelan Constitution.

Kind reader: Doesn’t the fact that Bush is in such a hurry – “in the next few days,” he insists – reveal that the jig is up? The Big Lie of a “popular strike” in Venezuela is crumbling, as all lies crumble eventually. This one just happens to be crumbling faster than most, because of the heroic efforts of the Venezuelan majority, and its wisdom to have not been fooled by media simulation. Kudos also belong to the 19 members of the United States Congress who called the administration’s bluff yesterday with a public letter of protest – you can add your signature by clicking here – thus forcing the White House to play its hand more transparently today.

All these eight months, since the coup attempt last April, the Bush administration has claimed it favored constitutional and democratic solutions in Venezuela, and has denied its involvement in coup attempts. Today, the White House took off its mask and admitted for the first time that it was never in favor of Constitutional rule in Venezuela. Its agenda has always been unconstitutional. Today’s statement was meant only to give oxygen to the dying “strike of the spoiled brats,” a desperate maneuver that should and will fail.

The United States Congress should call immediate investigations and public hearings into the now-transparent behavior of the executive branch in manipulating a coup d’etat in Venezuela.

And as for President Chávez and the Venezuelan majority, they should stay the course, meet their opponents at the ballot box next August as planned, and defeat them fair and square, the American way, with a majority vote, as they have six times already.

You only support democracy 'conditionally'?

I do support revolution when it's necessary. But revolution has to happen on it's own, not with other countries stepping in and taking over. That's not revolution for democracy, that's something else entirely.

If there are so many against Chavez, and he has such low support, and the people want to overthrow the person they ELECTED over and over, then it will happen.

The US is now supporting something which is not democracy and is not revolution. Why aren't we supporting democracy? Isn't that what the flags are all about? Or are those 5000 Afgans dead for nothing?

If Chavez has to have an early election, so should every elected leader out there, Bush, Blair, etc., whenever some portion of the people want it.

Early elections for Bush! Now that the economy is sinking, Bush needs to get re-elected to stay in office! Chavez and Hussein can call press conferences on how they support early elections for Bush!

Why do the opposition feel the need to oust Chavez now, rather then wait. The Venezuelan constitution allows every elected official to be withdrawn half-way through thier term ( how many other states including the US have such measures of accountability). Remember this constitution was approved through referendum. Also remember, how when the opposition were in power (for a whole 48 hours before the people replaced the newly installed DICTATOR), the forces of the opposition abolished the consititution, dismissed the congress and the supreme court...... oh yes..... thats democracy alright, opposition style. The democracy of a holy alliance between the financial oligarchies and military fascists....oh and i nearly forgot the "objective" media as its mouth-piece.

So lets not forget how the opposition revealed thier brand of democracy when they got into power... also remember, the opposition to Allende also claimed they were fighting for democracy..... sometimes i forget how it works... in order to protect democracy from those evil communists we have to destroy democracy and hand it over to the fascists. Perhaps we should say, in order to protect capitalism from those eveil communists we have to destory democracy, that seems the more logical statement.


So lets see why the opposition refuse to allow the democratically approved constitutional law to take place. The constitution states that in order for the elected official to be removed, 1/5 of the eligible population must sign the petition to have the official removed(Around 2.4 million) . 1/4 of the eligible population must take part in the refferendum (around 3 million). Next the amount of votes needed to oust Chavez needs to be more than the amount that voted him in which was 57% of the previous election (around 7 million people at least). When you take into account the social base of the opposition is in the middle and upper classes and the social base for Chavez is in the poor (which make up around 80% of the population) - thus a win for the opposition is a big ask and the leaders know it. Even if they won and there were general elections, their is no unity behind one leader in the opposition, making an electoral win even harder. No onew knows this better than Chavez and the opposition.... thats why Chavez wants to the follow the road of the constitution and the opposition is sabotaging the economy and inciting instability in the vain hope Chavez will resign now or hold early elections next year. The other scary prospect for the opposition is that there can only be one attempt at the referendum to remove Chavez, after that they must wait until the next elections........ ooooh just imagine that....


The other reason why the opposition do not want to allow the democratic process to take place is because a whole set of democratic reforms such as land reform and reorganisation of the oil industry come into effect at the beginning of 2003. The nationalised oil company is riddled with corruption and the oil-soaked oilgarchies are afriad Chavez will change that. In 1974, the company started with 80% profit and 20% "operation costs", in 1990 the ratio went to 50%-50% and currently it is around 20% profit and 80% "operational costs". When Chavez reorganises this company and starts delivering the oil wealth back to the people, not only will this deprive the wealthy managers of thier stolen income but it may double or even triple the amount of money Chavez will get from oil (oil makes up 50% of government revenue currently so imagine what two to three times this amount will do) which will enable the government to ease the economic crisis (in reality economic sabotage by the financial oligarchies) and it will give him the resources to continue the social policies of the "Bolivarian Revolution".

This is what the opposition are once again ignoring the democratic process and are trying to overthrow Chavez.

Now in Venezuela, what to believe.

I arrived in Venezuela from Canada a few days ago. Am now in one of the Caracas barrios (slum-neighborhoods) at one of these wonderful little internet places.

This morning on TV, the media is spending a lot of time on gasoline delivery truck "accidents", implying that it is because the people driving the gasoline trucks (who according to the media are replacing drivers who are supporters of "el paro") are inexperienced, drunks and inept.

Reporters just "happen to be there" to report on the accidents as they occur. They interviewed one of the drivers who responded to them that he had been driving for several years.

Later, after the "live" reporting, it seems that the news people suggested that the driver may have been drunk.

Oh yeah, sure!

Suddenly there is a series of "accidents" involving gasoline trucks that are attempting to re-stock the gas stations so that people can go on with their lives.

On another note, the "acaparadores" (hoarders) have started their activity (apparently several days ago). In the barrio where I am, (one of the large ones), all stores are open, internet places, restaurants, cabinet makers, mechanics, etc.

The same hustle and bustle as usual.

The only immediate difference is that we cannot buy certain things: Polar beer in small bottles, 'Malta en botella' (soft drinks bottle), cigarettes and sodas.

Isn't that funny!

Easy for the opposition to hoard some basics, and blame it on "el paro." (the strike).
Of course, they own or control most of the the industries such as Polar ... they are also the instigators of "el paro."

(Rumor also has it that Harina Pan ... maize flour, the basic Venezuelan staple, may also be pulled off the market.)

People in this barrio (and I suspect that in most barrios it must be similarly so) are saying that they are open for business as usual because they HAVE to work ... this is the best time of the year for them business-wise, allowing them to make a little extra money to better enjoy this Xmas season.

According to most people I have been talking to, only the people who HAVE money (such as much of the opposition and conventional media operators) can afford to "not go to work". They can also afford to stock up on 'Harina Pan.'

Yesterday we ate 'arepas con queso y cafe guarapo.' Nine people living in a 4-room home. I bought some 'Malta en lata' (soft drink cans) for us since I can afford it; Bs.3,000 ($2.31) for 6 cans. Also bought 2 whole BBQ chickens at Bs.5,400 ($4.16) each (the minimum wage around here is under Bs.200,000 ($154.14) monthly -- figure it out -- and some, such as my friends here are not getting full salary due to stoppages).

Yesterday I reserved an airplane ticket with Aeropostal (to travel within Venezuela) for a friend, while at the same time the media was announcing that Aeropostal had joined "el paro", and everyone we talked to told us that it was useless to even think about it since it is being announced in the media that all or most of the transportation sectors are shut down. My friend left this morning with no problems.

When I asked about bus travel between cities, EVERYONE here told us not to bother since there is no inter-city bus travel, since there is no more gasoline and since many of the bus lines have joined "el paro." I called ... many lines are open, and I'm picking up my tickets later today, for travel early next week.

A little note: As far as I know, in many countries "acaparadores" would be heavily fined in proportion to the social damage caused by such abuses.

Go on, those that can afford to stock up, and let your minimum wage earners suffer the effects of your support for "el paro."

Oscar Heck
oscarheck111 [at] hotmail.com

The Constitution also allows a referendum, why shouldn't we have it? Remember also, that Mr. Cahvez has been in power for longer than the half term of three years through an interpretation of the Supreme Court. The problem is there is no Governemnt, there is state-sponsored terrorism, which in Eurpo they call genocide, but I dont understand why it does not apply in thei case. Tonight Chavez told the military not to obey any order by any Court that goes agsint any of his decrees. You knwo what that is: Dictatorship, He is the LAW!!

Bullshit!!! Chavez is not a democrat, there is no way anyone can argue otherwise. He has violated the rights of reporters, human rights organizations and regular people. He has been condenmed by the OAS Huamn Rights Commission. Read my other comment below.

Look at the numbers. Last night, 1.5 million people in acity of 3.5 million, mostly adults, took to the streets to ask Chavez to leave. There is no comparable movement pro-Chavez. Indeed, there were rumors the 1.5 million would go to the Palace and Chavez' supporters called on the people to surround the palace, 400 showed up!!!

Once again, the referendum that two million venezuelans signed for is in the Constitution. The Chavez administartion has gone TWICE to the Supreme Court to block it without success. Solution: Dont give the electoral commission money. What a great democratic act. I assure you that if Hugo Chavez stays, teher will never be elections again here, except one like the one in which Saddam Hussein received 100% of the vote.

Talk about democracy and Constitution:
-This week 8 of 20 of the Supreme Court Justices said they refuse to work until the Government stops pressuring and persecuting the.
-The national Assembly does not recognized the Chavez-named Electoral Council, despite the fact that the Supreme Court (named by Chavez too!), has ratified its validity twice.
-This summer the Supreme Court said that the Generals who refused to follow orders from Chavez in April were not part of the coup. Cahvez said that decision was a piece of shit!!
-Our Constitution establishes the principle of separation of powers, Chavez' Government took over the municipal police two weeks ago with teh military.
-Opposition marches, peaceful ones are met with tear gas often. Government demosntrations are only met with tear gas when they use bullets. Nice people.

Youmay want to look for all the documentation on this in my webpage:

http://blogs.salon.com/0001330/

The true facts are that venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez doesn't have the support of the poor population. More than 80% of venezuelan people wants him to leave, because he has brought the country to a poor economical situation, he has armed violent people for killing the population and many unlegal orders has been given. Two days ago, only in caracas more than 1.6 millions of venezuelan people, rich, poor from the 4 sides of the city, joined in the biggest protest ever seen. And at the same time, everywhere in te country, happened similar protest against him and his goverment. I know the tv and newspapers say the truth. I live here. And i know what i say. We are living a nightmare, with no human rights, no laws, no respect for the property... A nightmare... is the best word for describing the situation.

This is unbelievable. Where are all these "Venezuelans" coming from. Last April, when these rich thugs briefly toppled Chavez, nnary a peep. Now, suddenly, they are all over Indymedia. Amazing. I guess Otto Reich had more time to hire spinmeisters. I, personally, think they are full of shit. Venezuala's had six elections since Chavez gained power. Six. All received the stamp of approval by the foreing community. Enough already.

These same thugs last April, incidentally, installed a business man puppet, dissolved Congress, the Courts, and the Constitution, and repealed the land reform and royalty increases that foreign companies payed for oil. All be fiat. Not very democratic.

Of course, Chavez outwitted these rich fuckers. Maybe this time too. If he is ousted, get ready for Pinochet style repression, right wing style. Has Chavez disappeared or killed 30,000 opponents? Have the Soccer stadiums been converted to concentration camps? Why is the opposition allowed to control industry and the media? Doesn't seem like much of a dictator, if you ask me. Especially when you look at the prior Venezuelan thugocracies, and other US installed puppet governments. He's a pussy cat compared to the US installed psychopaths that ran Guatemala, El Salvador, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, et al.

"Riot police have been deployed and have used teargas to disperse demonstrators in at least one instance."
- BBC

One instance? There's been worse than that even up in Little Beruit when Bush came to town. Does BBC even have a reporter there? Do any reporters even exist anymore? Or do they just huddle in groups at the embassies and record statements from there?