Venezuela DU Links - Think we should be paying more attention

[Synnical]

To this subject?

We know the Shrub Administration hates leftist Chavez and will do just about anything to remove him - including an attempted coup. Venezuela is the third largest provider of oil to the US (correct me if I'm wrong) and BushCo just cannot allow some socialist thinking person to have that much control.

I've noticed many posts of late about Chavez/Venezuela and thought I'd try to string some of them together and maybe determine if there is more going on down there in terms of covert operations and political intrigue than is being paid attention to by the Corporate Media.

I don't mean this to be all-inclusive. Just trying to focus my own thoughts.

This is the LBN simple search, using the words Venezuela, Chavez, and oil. (A Google news search turns up a ton of more hits.)

April 5 - Venezuela's Oil Minister Says OPEC Running Out of Spare Production Capacity
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1370279

April 5 - Wanted Chávez foes flee to South Florida
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1369397

April 5 - Greenspan sees oil-price spike as short-lived (Marketwatch)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1370228

April 5 - Lawmaker wants list of companies exporting US oil (Wyden-Dem)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1370394

April 4 - Oil Reaches Record $58; OPEC Supply Is Inadequate for Gasoline
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1367630

April 3 - Posada's presence would rally exiles, perplex U.S.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1365492

April 3 - Venezuelan readies military reserve defend the to country
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1365726

April 3 - NYT/Reuters: Oil Strikes New Record ($57.59/barrel, 9:33 p.m. EDT Sun.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1365605

April 2 - Venezuela Wants Better Washington Ties: U.S. Senator
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1363977

April 1 - U.S. Continues to Push for Containment of Venezuela’s Chávez
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1361924

April 1 - Venezuela's Indigenous Protest Against Coal Mining in Their Lands
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1361834

April 1 - At OAS, Venezuela's draft of rights charter irks U.S.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1360153

April 1 - US calls on help to contain Venezuela’s “destabilizing role”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1360067

April 1 - Venezuela moves to stop U.S. dollar sale
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1360473


This is the Editorials and Other Articles simple search:

April 5 - Good Things Happening in Venezuela
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=117807

March 31 - New Democrats: Hugo Chavez Out of Control
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=116696

March 31 - Well aware that the US government is on a rampage to discredit Chavez
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=116780

March 30 - US Aggression Towards Venezuela:Black Propaganda & Dirty War Tactics Again
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=116538

March 30 - Bush mounts counter-offensive asking Kirchner to help contain Chavez
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=116491

March 29 - Venezuelas Chavez: "Oil is a Geopolitical Weapon"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=116252

March 27 - Same Shit, Different Hemisphere
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=115702

March 27 - Latin-American arm race has to be stopped now
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=115595

March 25 - The Revolution Will be Televised
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=115403

March 24 - Open Letter to El Nuevo Herald and the Miami Herald-Hands Off Venezuela
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=115144

March 22 - The Nature of CIA Intervention in Venezuela-Philip Agee
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=114679

[Synnical]

1. It took me a long time to put together

And I know it takes a long time to read

So I'm kicking this.

-C.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

2. Thank you Synnical

I think with all the other crap going on, people tend to forget about things... it all moves so quickly around here. I fear for Chavez - that we might be readying the troops (or CIA or IRI) to go in and try to topple him again. x( I am bookmarking this thread ... I think it's going to come in handy.

At the time, all the major U.S. democracy-promotion groups were active in Venezuela, including both IRI and NDI. But documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that while NDI worked with parties across the political spectrum, IRI staffers spent much of their time cultivating the opposition. IRI worked closely with Acción Democrática, a group that, IRI’s own documents acknowledge, “refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Chavez presidency.” IRI also tutored opposition figures, including Caracas mayor Alfredo Peña, an outspoken Chavez critic, on how to create a political party. And despite a warning from the National Endowment for Democracy not to take sides in Venezuela, IRI also used its own money to bring opposition figures to Washington, where they met with top U.S. officials.

In April 2002, a group of military officers launched a coup against Chavez, and leaders of several parties trained by IRI joined the junta. When news of the coup emerged, democracy-promotion groups in Venezuela were holding a meeting to discuss ways of working together to avoid political violence; IRI representatives didn’t attend, saying that they were drafting a statement on Chavez’s overthrow. On April 12, the institute’s Venezuela office released a statement praising the “bravery” of the junta and “commending the patriotism of the Venezuelan military.”

That drew a sharply worded email from NED president Carl Gershman, a copy of which was obtained by Mother Jones. Gershman wrote: “By welcoming -- indeed, without any apparent reservations—you unnecessarily interjected IRI into the sensitive internal politics of Venezuela.”

At roughly the same time that IRI issued its statement, Reich announced that Chavez had resigned -- though he had not -- and said the United States would support the new government in Venezuela. But within a day, Chavez was restored to power by popular demonstrations, the presidential guard, and segments of the army. At least 40 people were killed in the violence surrounding the coup.

More at link: http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2004/11/11_401.html

[rockedthevoteinMA]

3. Kick for the morning crew....

The drumbeat seems to be there...

[sarahlee]

4. Great Job - thanks

Agree that the US interactions and what Chavez is doing are important topics for us all to watch. Gotta say I am amazed Chavez is still alive.

[LimpingLib]

5. Rice tells us to fear the Cuban-Venezuelan "alliance" on health care .

It endangers our national security ya know.

Cubans getting economic relief from Venezuelans low price oil in exhange or Cuban medical tainning.Heaven forbid Latin Americans actually trade with each other without Uncle Sams approval.

LOL most DUers might be offended by the low cost oil part but that aside.................lol.........

[Synnical]

6. More - Just trying to keep up with the news . . .

For what it's worth . .


April 5 - LBN - Rumsfeld blasts Spain's decision to sell planes, boats to Venezuela
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1371836

April 6 - LBN - Cuban militant to seek U.S. asylum (Orlando Bosch's terra partner is here)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1372892

April 5 - Editorials - Overview: The Great Energy War
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=117899

-C.

[paineinthearse]

7. There are so many distracting trees in this forest

I missed this (and who knows how many other) REAL posts.

Sorry I missed the 24 hour "greatest" window.

[Robbien]

8. Many times if more than one Venezuela thread is up a day they get merged

:shrug:

There are also plenty of Venezuela threads over in Foreign Policy.

[Synnical]

9. And More

(Edit to add another link and correct typo)

Note: Many of the articles I've linked to seem to originate from this site:

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/

And here is ZNet's Venezuela Watch page:
http://www.zmag.org/venezuela_watch.cfm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LBN:

April 6 - YMCA cancels students’ Venezuela trip
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1374937

GD Politics:

April 7 - Is Washington planning a bloodbath in Caracas?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1710539

Foreign Affairs and Defense:

Apr 2 - Chevron to Develop Venezuelan Oil Field
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=116&topic_id=9747

Mar 31 - Q&A: Sweig on U.S.-Venezuela relations
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=116&topic_id=9722

March 31 - Venezuela, Frustrated by the U.S., Turns to Containment
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=116&topic_id=9731

Editorials:
March 21 - Venezuela: The Great Anguish of George W. Bush
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=114297#114474

[Al-CIAda]

10. BBC Newsnight –

BBC Newsnight – 'The poor marched on the city centre'
Greg Palast takes a look at the failed coup attempt by the US, in the world's fourth largest oil exporting country, Venezuela

real player
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1985000/video/_1985670_ven22_palast_vi.ram

====

Nice link compilation, thank you.

[seemslikeadream]

11. Here's a great thread

Chavez calls for the creation of a world defense network
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1041164#1041822

I like post 13!

Thanks Synnical :hi:

[Al-CIAda]

12. kick