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Venezuela: Who You Gonna Believe, the New York Times or Your Lying Eyes?
Written by Mark Weisbrot
Saturday, 15 March 2014 19:25
Todays report from the New York Times trashes the government for combative tactics and cracking down on protesters, but if you watch the accompanying video, all you see are protesters attacking police, and the police without venturing forward, defending themselves with water cannon and tear gas.
One can criticize the decision of the government to block the march from going to hostile territory, but given the continuous presence of violent elements among the protestors, and that Venezuela is a country with a very high homicide rate and many armed civilians, it could have been the prudent thing to do. The government also believes, with some justification, that these protests seek to provoke violence in order to de-legitimize the government. Their stated goal is to overthrow the democratically elected government, and given that the vast majority of the country is against the protests, this really is their only chance of getting anywhere. And the government also knows that the media (both national private and international) will generally blame them for any violence.
In the United States, and especially here in Washington DC, you have to get a permit for marches like this, and they are often denied or re-routed; and if you try to defy this the police will generally beat you and throw you in jail. And these are actually peaceful protests here.
More:
http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/the-americas-blog/venezuela-who-you-gonna-believe-the-new-york-times-or-your-lying-eyes
Marksman_91
(2,035 posts)And there's plenty video and photo evidence of GNB acting like delinquents alongside armed civilians (obviously maduristas) and absolutely zero evidence of protesters who identify themselves as anti-government with any firearms, unless you count the "arsenal" that some of the government leadership has presented "evidence" for, which has turned out to be nothing more than a bunch of airsoft guns of which they didn't even bother covering the orange tips that indicate they're not real guns.
And that video shown on the NYT article? All you see are students screaming at the GNB and throwing a couple of rocks at them, nothing that should warrant using teargas or beating defenseless protesters up. Did you forget about this little jewel?
MADem
(135,425 posts)I guess they only "enforce" it if you're protesting for--not against-- the Dictator In Charge.
The poor widdle National Guard--not just the police--are going into homes without warrants after shooting teargas and beanbags into them, to take out suspects who are carted off to prisons and tortured.
So, there's that, too.
The excuses this guy uses are hilarious. He sounds like Nixon. First, it's these "others"--in this case, wealthy "elites" who are behind this. Then, it's "foreign forces." Now, it's violent n'er do wells.
It's students, is what it is. Students who started out pissed off because an assault of a woman on a college campus was blown off by police. Student who are asking for change. And for their trouble, they are being shot at with steel pellets, rubber bullets, beanbags, and all manner of teargas.
These students are leading the movement. They are the "adults in the room." They are saying things that MAKE SENSE, and the politicians--as well as the people--are paying attention to them. Old ladies are saying "God bless you" to them and bringing them sandwiches. Working class people agree with them and march with them.
And what do onlookers and pundits who don't bother to pay attention do? They tell falsehoods--blatant ones, too-- they put it all down to politics, when it's not about politics--it's about daily life. People of all ages from all walks of life--not just those "aristocrats" some keep yammering on about--want a decent, safe life with food on the supermarket shelves, an inflation rate that isn't out of control, and a crime rate that isn't amongst the worst in the world for murder.
delrem
(9,688 posts)You'll have to be satisfied with the coup your team delivered to Honduras.
MADem
(135,425 posts)And it will be Diosdado Cabello who pulls the trigger.
Maduro is already frightened of a coup from the left--he's saturated the GNB with CUBANS.
Whassup with that, hmmmmm? I'm sure you can't answer, because you don't have a grasp of the actual situation on the ground.
delrem
(9,688 posts)Esp. the recent victory of Maduro's gov't.
Right-wingers/whack-jobs frothing about a 'coup from the left' are... Well, I can't help you there, either. You'll have to look in the mirror to square that circle, MADem.
MADem
(135,425 posts)and READ this. Maybe, just maybe, you'll learn something and get off that absurd "Everyone else is in favor of a coup (or your favorite word, "putsch" 'cept MEEEEEE" litany that you keep shopping.
And calling me a "right winger/whack job" is rude and disruptive. It also makes you look really bad when you engage in that kind of behavior. I urge you to stop name-calling, and grow up.
Here's the link--read it carefully, now, and learn what is really happening in VZ:
The Frank Underwood of Venezuela
Behind the daily scenes of anti-government protests, another power struggle is underway.
?n20loh
Diosdado Cabello sits behind Nicolas Maduro during a state of the nation address. (Reuters/The Atlantic)
...In recent weeks, Venezuelas political crisismass protests in response to a flailing economy, rampant scarcities, soaring crime, and ideological polarizationhas been portrayed in international media primarily as a struggle between a monolithic government and the embattled remnants of the nations traditional middle class. But this narrative is superficial; several storylines, both personal and social, are playing out below the surface. And these include a bitter clash between Hugo Chávezs successor and almost-successor for the soul of his party and the future of the country...In other words, as Venezuela marks the first anniversary since Chávezs death, the struggle between Cabello and Maduro is becoming more pronounced. And Cabello appears to be winning.
Diosdado Cabello began his political career as one of Chávezs junior comrades-in-arms from the military, during a failed putsch against the government of Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1992. The plot miscarried, and Cabello was briefly jailed for his participation. After his release, he assisted Chávez during his first successful presidential bid in 1998, and was singled out early on for his toughness and efficacy.
His political trajectory since has been remarkable both for its duration (Chávez was quick to sideline potential rivals) and its variety. His posts have included stints as the minister of planning, justice, the interior, public works, and housing, along with stretches as a state governor, the head of the National Telecommunications Commission, and Chávezs chief of staff and presidential campaign manager. Following the collapse of a bloodless coup in 2002 that briefly ousted Chávez, Cabello, then vice president, even assumed the presidencyan ephemeral tenure that lasted mere hours until Chávez himself could be located and constitutional order (or at least what passes for it in Venezuela) restored. Ten years later, with Chávez ailing, many suspected Cabello might be anointed his heir, but he was instead passed over for the countrys current president, Nicolás Maduro.
...In a region of the world where charisma is king, Cabellowhose first name, Diosdado, translates to God-givenis something of an oddity. He amasses his influence not as a mesmerizer of crowds, but as a master manipulator of those around him. Artfully leveraging his position and alliances, he mercilessly crushes enemies, lavishly rewards friends, and even helps fill government offices with members of his own family. His wife is a member of the National Assembly, his brother is in charge of the nations taxation authority, and his sister is a Venezuelan legate to the United Nations.
In these ways, Cabello has accumulated clout among crucial constituencies such as wealthy businessmen and the armed forces, where 36 generals are from Cabellos graduating class at Venezuelas military academy. Cabellos tendrils are even rumored to extend to shadier realms, including alleged ties to narco-trafficking syndicates and criminal organizations. A Wikileaked U.S. Embassy cable from 2009 characterized Cabello as a major pole of corruption within the regime, describing him as amassing great power and control over the regimes apparatus as well as a private fortune, often through intimidation behind the scenes. The communiqué likewise entertained speculation that Chavez himself might be concerned about Cabello's growing influence but unable to diminish it.....While the two men have been publicly supportive of each other since then, the relationship may be far tenser than they let on. In April 2013, after Maduro eked out a contested electoral victory over Capriles, Cabello tweeted to his nearly 1 million followers that the government should engage in profound self reflection about why it had performed so poorly relative to Chávezs last election. As the latter race had taken place mere months before, against the same opponent and with the same regime advantages, the implication of Cabellos message was clear: Maduro is a liability.
... much more at the link.
The coffee is perking, you might wake up and smell it, instead of firing off weak insults and shopping tired old themes straight out of Maduro's propaganda arm, Venezuelanalysis.
delrem
(9,688 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,429 posts)and saw the following short but sweet reference:
Daniel Lansberg-Rodriguez is a columnist at the Venezuelan daily El Universal and has written for The New York Times, The New Republic, and Foreign Policy
It's sad, when one remembers the owner of El Universal, Andres Mata, was one of the owner/publishers who conspired together in the offices of Gustavo Cisneros, George H. W. Bush's "fishing buddy" during the planning of the coup in 2002. (He also immediately huddled up with Bush at the resort owned by Cuban "exile" sugar barons, Pepe and Alfi Fanjul, in the D.R. immediately after the coup was thwarted by the Venezuelan people.)
He has ALWAYS been known, since that time, as one of the coup plotters of the armed kidnapping of the Venezuelan President, which was most likely planned to be far, FAR worse, had the people themselves not broken through the news blackout and learned what the "news" people were hiding, thereby rescuing the beloved President of the Venezuelan people.
I have absolutely no doubt the original plan was to claim Hugo Chavez had grabbed a gun and tried to shoot his way out and had to be brought down, thereby unfortunately having to legally assassinate him. Beyond all doubt they had conspired to kill him once they worked it out.
Anything these clowns say is oddly comical, and yet pathetic.
MADem
(135,425 posts)If you think Diosdado Cabello and Nicky Maduro "get along,"--and I don't care WHO reports on it--then Chris Christie has a bridge to sell you at a deep discount!
When Diosdado Cabello, or his hand-picked successor, becomes the next head of Venezuela, how will you justify that?
Will of the people?
One more time--any "coups" that happen will come from the LEFT, not the right.
delrem
(9,688 posts)I repeat: the Maduro gov't won an election less than a year ago, and civil elections throughout the country since that time have strengthened that win. Winger anti-Maduro ravings remind me of Winger anti-Obama "Muslim loving Marxist Dictator" ravings authored by "pundits" for Freedomworks and co. Whack-job craziness like that, whether aimed at a recently elected democratic leftist Venezuelan gov't or against the recently elected gov't of Obama, is worthy of Michele Bachmann and the like, it's intended to foment hatred and rage, but isn't worth taking seriously on its own merit as some kind of rational argument.
MADem
(135,425 posts)YOUR team (and apparently you care more about them than the people) will retain power--meet the new boss, more hardline than the old boss.
Watch. And learn.
Diosdado Cabello knows how to play it. He's playing you brilliantly. Last November, he rather adroitly handed Maduro the method of his own demise--absolute power.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-25012076
Until next November, everything that goes wrong in VZ can be laid smartly at el Presidente's feet.
Look at the SMILE on that man's face. The one on the LEFT, I mean. Frank Underwood got nuthin' on him!!!
Venezuela's National Assembly has given final approval to special powers for President Nicolas Maduro.
Under the measures Mr Maduro will be able to govern without consulting Congress for 12 months.
After signing the bill, he promised to keep prices down and conduct a "ground-shaking" anti-corruption offensive.
The president says the aim of the new powers is to tackle the economic crisis. However, critics fear he may use them against the opposition.
Venezuela is facing shortages of food and other essential goods, as well as power cuts and about 54% inflation.
Let's see...prices have gone up yet again....corruption is as rampant as ever. The electricity doesn't work, the water doesn't run, the lines are a mile long, and what good are ration cards when there are no "rations" on the shelves? How's that inflation rate?
Heckuvajob, Nicky! When the "failed state" fails but good, it will be CABELLO--not anyone on the opposition, who will pick up pieces with the help of his 36 general classmates, from his days in the Army with his late friend Hugo Chavez.
delrem
(9,688 posts)The left-wing gov't you hate was democratically elected less than a year ago, it has a mandate.
The whack-job right-wing talk is just that -- batshit crazy. How'd you fall down that rabbit hole, anyway?
MADem
(135,425 posts)What Maduro is doing has nothing to do with "democracy." It has everything to do with DICTATORSHIP.
That's not a Doctor Seuss book he's holding, there...
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-25012076
That's a "Dictator For a Year" prize that his good buddy, Diosdado Cabello, has put in his over-eager hands.
Everything from November of last year to November of this year is now "Maduro's fault."
Won't that be a useful truth for someone who graduated with 36 guys who are now generals in the Venezuelan Armed Forces, don't you think?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely, doncha know...
delrem
(9,688 posts)I esp. like how you're now explaining that the right-wing opposition has nothing to do with the violent demonstrations that you revel in.
sheee.
Now tell us again how you aren't slavering for a right-wing fascist putsch to overthrow Maduro. I like that line.
delrem
(9,688 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,429 posts)I thought it was so telling when these slimy beasties got wind Hugo Chavez was, unfortunately for the human race, dying, and IMMEDIATELY started their attacks on Maduro, weeks before President Chavez succumbed to his cruel illness.
It was so conspicuous they felt they'd better get busy tearing down the image of the next one. Now they are gnawing away like frenzied semi-aquatic rodents, having kicked off their campaign with a strange childish reference to his tresses. Isn't that a strange starting place?
It's as if they said, "We gotta get started, but right now, we got nuthin'!" As we see, it appears they make it up as they go, adding things to their chain as they conceive them, or get them from fellow trolls, always being careful to stress the latest slur before moving onto new charges. So endearing!