For the Saker Blog – a translation collaboration between Deena Stryker and our own amarynth with Deena doing the first rough translation and amarynth doing the subsequent heavy lifting. While this is a quick translation in the interests of time, and not word for word, it represents fairly the content and the context of the Defense Minister’s rejection. This was an excellent speech and we did not do it full justice in translation, as it was felt that after Mr Trump’s speech, to get this out fairly accurately and quickly was more important than fine adjustments. To illustrate the flow, I have added headers to the different sections. These bolded headers are mine (amarynth), and not those of the Venezuelan Defense Minister.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez rejected President Donald Trump’s call to revolt against his president, Nicolás Maduro, the commander-in-chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB). He stressed that this institution always acts in accordance with the law and with respect to Human Rights. He recalled that the US president intends and seeks to impose “their will in the world through force and domination”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeN027tTj_g
Comments on Trump’s Florida Venezuela Speech
We’ve been aware of all the threats against us, and have presented our military plans, within the limits of the law, always respecting the Venezuelan people, taking into account our constitution. Yesterday we observed and heard a speech by Trump in Florida. We are astonished by the arrogant, bullying tone of this speech, against our laws and institutions. which approved of terrorists in our country, specifically a personality who engaged in acts of visible terrorism, who commandeered a helicopter from the body of State Security and opened fire on kindergardens, (infantile installations) and robbed arms.
They (the US) see socialism as their main enemy and believe that the whole world thinks the same way, pretending that the world thinks in this unique way. There is no debate of ideas, there is no discussion, there is no dialectic, only their own single belief which they want to impose on the world through force, domination and coercion – on the world and the planet.
Here in Venezuela, we have a constitution (which you ignore), which states political pluralism, not elitism. It is the theory of participation of the diverse and various forces that make up political power and the constitution states the mechanisms to be used.
Furthermore Trump talks about supposed humanitarian assistance, but puts that aside to create a public opinion internationally against the people of Venezuela as well as that our armed forces will confront the people of Venezuela. This is a string of lies and manipulations which are a psychological propaganda campaign against Venezuela to gain political power. The most serious issue that we have seen is that Trump gives himself the possibility of commanding the Venezuelan armed forces and institutions, giving them orders. This is insolent. His advisors need to educate him or give him a roadmap. One has to be of Venezuelan birth before you can give orders to Venezuelan military forces. You have to born on this land. You have to be of our blood and born a national and then make your career in politics in Venezuela. You of course have to be elected and get a majority of votes. After you gain the majority of votes, the people will have freely expressed their voluntary willingness. Indirect elections occur in the United States. In Venezuela, we have direct elections according to the procedures of National Electoral Council.
Mr Trump, to boast of giving orders to the National Bolivarian armed force, you have to follow this roadmap and it is preferable to tell the world that the campaign against Venezuela is not the string of manipulations and psychological campaign that you undertook but all the effort is to obtain the political power in Venezuela. That is the reality.
About Venezuela
We had elections. We elected President Maduro. After making him president with the strength of the popular vote, the military of Venezuela recognises President Maduro as the Commander in Chief.
This recognition is derived from the people and is the will of the Venezuelan people. We have a President and Commander in Chief, in the person of Nicholás Maduro. By the same token we say to those who claim to be Presidents here in Venezuela, that this is how you do it and any other way will not be able to penetrate the patriotic spirit of the men and women of the armed forces.
The country is calm, the government is working, civil, civilian, and Bolivariano. The people are working, forging their own happiness. There is a government that is fulfilling its constitutional functions, there is national armed forces today more than ever conscious of their military duties to the citizens. There is a civil consciousness in the armed forces, profoundly democratic and deeply Bolivarian. It is important to let our country know that the world knows what the role of our armed forces is. The armed forces are in the center of the debate and in the center of the seriousness. Trump’s intention is to break this unity of the armed forces and to offend the armed forces because when a president of another country comes to pretend to give orders to the armed forces, they are underestimating and disrespecting the consequences. It is extreme disrespect to ask our armed forces to put themselves outside of the law of our constitution and institutions. This would be totally aberrant behavior.
About Colombia – a subtle reminder that there is a joint responsibility for peace in the region
For example, for the Colombian president to call on our armed forces, shows his ignorance of our history. To call on the Colombian army would be a lack of respect toward them, they have to do their job of preserving peace in Columbia. Listen to the President of Colombia. He makes a call to our armed forces as a Minster of popular power for the defense of the people, and gives order to the Colombian armed forces, who do not know who their commander in chief is and who obey the paramilitary groups of Álvaro Uribe or align themselves with guerrilla groups of an organization with a different political policy.
We will not get involved in this. We are respectful of the internal issues of states. Each state has their government and corresponding legal mechanisms with the responsibility to carry out the corresponding processes as defined by the legal mechanisms in their mandate. For example if I had to call on our brothers in the Colombian armed forces, it would be a lack of respect for the military forces of the Republic of Colombia. It would be an underestimation of our compañeros in the Colombian military who are called to play the role of preserving peace in the region, a responsibility which we both have, towards the Latin Americans and the Caribeños.
Maintaining peace is our responsibility. But if we have to, we can reverse that against any nation or government that in this moment seeks to attack us with their false diplomacy and their actions outside international law against our people and our homeland. We in the armed forces have a resilient character, a strong patriotism, we are Bolivarian and have always been anti-imperialist, since we were born. This is not momentary, it is historical. It is inherent since the creation of the armed forces as a liberating army in our country.
Back to the issue and the role of the Venezuelan Defense Forces
They will not be able to use their pretenses, with their methods of coercion, blackmail, manipulation of sanctions and offers of amnesty to our leaders. If there is one thing that characterizes us, and this is known by the world, it is dignity. We fly the flag with national dignity. They will not be able to win with tricks on our dignity. They can sanction us but will not succeed. We will hear them, but we remain with our country. This is a political, even personal attack on Venezuela. If there is no respect for the nation, its laws and authorities, it is a jungle.
The attempt of coup is increasing and has placed the armed forces in the center of the debate. We observe in yesterday’s speech an act of extreme arrogance and terrible folly on the part of the President of the United States. Donald Trump referred to our country in a tone and in the content of his declarations we see a very dangerous attitude of one who wants to direct the actions of a military power that with their limitless imperial desire is orchestrating an interventionist plan against our nation. It is imperative to reiterate to the world that we are in the presence of an escalation of a hybrid war to suffocate our economy with economic and financial sanctions to generate chaos and anarchy. Know well that their true purpose is none other than to appropriate the wealth of the nation. It is unusual to flagrantly violate the norms of international law by imparting orders to the Venezuelan military, promoting and encouraging confrontation with our compañeros and co-nationales under the pretext of humanitarian help. Any attempt to change government must follow our rules and must happen according to our roadmap. We will defend our nation, and I am certain will win.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez
Thanks to the translators, Deena and Amarynth for this speech in English. Well done.
The Minister made it very clear that the military will hold with the Constitution, protect the People and the borders, maintain Peace and obey Maduro, duly elected as President.
In the face of the Hegemon’s sulphuric voice and avaricious machinations, this is courageous.
I suspect tens of thousands of non-Venezuelans will come to aid the nation if attacked. Latin Americans abhor intervention and Yankee greed.
Meanwhile, the hybrid war will get worse before it is recognized as another CIA-State-NSC failure.
That leaves SOUTHCOM to decide if it wants to wage a war like CENTCOM has done in many nations of the Middle East and South Asia.
If there are really 15,000 Cubans, hundreds of Russian PMCs and Hezbollah fighters available to assist the Venezuelans, I doubt the US will want to take on that alliance.
A hundred or so Cuban construction workers held off Delta Force and Seal Teams at Grenada airport for days.
Imagine what a few regiments of them would do to the invaders.
Caracas could make the Bay of Pigs look like a sunny day at the beach.
Yes, I believe that there will be other fighters if this becomes a fighting arena – to help and to hinder. I think they will come from every true freedom force out there. Really pragmatic, (and I cannot believe I am saying this being anti-war), fighting forces need to train and this costs money. If there is a real war going on, the training becomes cheap and very effective. I think it was a masterstroke for the Defense Minister to have highlighted the different loyalties in Colombia. He is in effect saying that there is no unity there, so, there is no way that Colombia can act as a concerted force against Venezuela. In listening to the speech in Spanish, it almost seemed as if he was inviting the real Colombian military, the ones that have a military soul, to do their job for Venezuela. It was subtle, but it was there – some type of appeal to fraternal unity is the best I can come up with in words.
In Colombia and in Brazil things are not so rosy – Roger Waters again speaks the unvarnished truth.
Roger Waters: Lula Was Only Jailed Because He Would Have Won
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Roger-Waters-Lula-Was-Only-Jailed-Because-He-Would-Have-Won-20190220-0029.html
I feel a couple of thank yous are required of me.
First is to thank the translators. Since my poor, capitalist education only included English, those who translate other languages on this (and other) sites are doing me a great favor by making available to me that which I would not otherwise be able to understand. Thus, a very big Thank You!
Also, thanks for the link to the Telesur article about Roger Water’s recent statement. I’d seen that earlier, as now Telesur is one of the daily sites I visit to get news that isn’t US propaganda. But its wonderful to find that someone has beaten me to it!
Thus, the two big Thank you’s that I felt I owed. Its funny, as I get older, I more and more appreciate just the simple, basic acts of kindness in saying please and thank you. They are important in a world where people are always being encouraged to hate each other.
Larchmonter445
I wonder if Washington understands how much damage it has done to itself by demanding the removal of Maduro, an elected President. The coup against him is not going too well. The US is now contemplating an open invasion of the country, which will cause it even more damage in the eyes of the world. What ever happens, this Venezuelan episode will have eroded the little esteem the US left, while at the same time boosting the image of Russia and China. Even worse for the US, it’s imperial policy towards Venezuela has convinced US allies in Europe that America is living in the past and is incapable of accepting changes. Today I am reading that EU countries are beginning to regret having followed Washington’s policy towards Maduro. This will contribute to Europe moving even more towards Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union. The following statement says plenty:” Germany is not the 51st state of the US”, the chairman of the German-Russian Chamber of Commerce, Matthias Schepp, said in Berlin on Thursday.
Thank you for the translation.
I imagine the Defense Minister wanted to address only two words to Trump, the second of which was “off”, but being polite he delivered a refined speech – though the meaning was clear.
What is it in “Yankee Go Home” that these imbeciles don’t understand?
What is still depressing is the number of poodle states in South America that parrot the Yankee line. Don’t they realise they are next? At least some of the Europeans are starting to locate their balls.
Go it, Venezuela, Syria has shown the way; the AZC empire forced to retreat. From SyrianPerspective:
“Igor Bundy #287379
Among its [Syria’s] enemies were the most powerful and the richest in the world, spanning from but not limited to: the United States, UK, France, Germany, Turkey and the rest of NATO, Israel and its lackeys Saudi Arabia and Qatar and their own other lackeys.
They spent hundreds of billions of dollars, Saudi Arabia and Qatar alone spent US$ 137 Billion, to recruit half a million if not more suicide terrorists who came from all sides of the world, smuggled into Syria by all its neighbors, and provided state of the art satellite communication systems, remote controlled sniper rifles, NATO spying ships and listening stations off the Syrian coast, in Cyprus, and around, and in the skies of Syria and above the sky.”
The boasted “irresistible armed might” of NATZO forces were defeated by the solidarity of the Syrian people and the power of its freedom-loving Allies — Hezb’Allah, Iran, Russia and China. Venezuela can join this illustrious club, as Cuba and Vietnam already have done.
And this forced retraction from the British propaganda corporation BBC likewise shows the Anglo Zio Empire in retreat:
“anti_republocrat #287371
BBC has finally allowed its producer to announce that the BBC allegation of a 2018 chemical attack by the Syrian Government in Ghouta was an elaborate hoax. Are they trying to get out ahead of an imminent OPCW report with a limited hangout? Here’s Vanessa Beeley’s Patreon post:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/real-obscene-how-24830519?utm_medium=post_notification_email&utm_source=post_link&utm_campaign=patron_engagement
Actually, I suspect the leadership in Venezuela are reading Erdogan’s Turk script.
I’ve heard from sources that were right in the past that Saturday the 23rd is the day for action. I pray that their efforts will eventually be fruitless like the ones against president Assad, but I’m deeply worried.
When Venezuela’s state-owned Citgo was aiding poor Americans with a ‘fuel for heating systems’ program
http://bit.ly/2N2AI2i
I’ve seen pictures of when Danny Glover brought Hugo Chavez to the Lower East Side (Harlem) the crowds, the heros welcome, they love’d Hugo, why? Because he supplied them with free heating oil during the cold NY winter months.
I started thinking about this Venezuela issue, and put two and two together. Koch brothers refine, as it is called in some circles, “junk oil”. Koch’s father was a chemist who invented a method to refine heavy oil which was dirty but the method he had was suitable to create clean usable oil/gas and profitable to boot as it was cheap, disregarding, of course all the side effects of refining it.
In the 20’s and 30’s and to this day pollution control was by dilution in the atmosphere, free dumping into the air and rivers. When Koch Sr. came out with the method of refining heavy oil, he was sued for patent infraction by big oil companies. He did not have any money to fight this, so he backed off.
US, in isolation at that time, allowed Russians to knock on Koch Sr’s door. Stalin invited Koch Sr to USSR. Where he helped build heavy oil refineries. Stalin, called himself a communist, just like many dictators do today so business, like today, goes where the money can be made.
When the purges started Koch’s cohort in Russia wound up in Siberia and Koch became enemy number one of Stalin . He supported every organization that said anything negative about Communism. His support in the US including the Birch Society.
When the Sr Koch died, I think, in the 60’s, his four sons took over the company. The elder Koch at 32 years of age became the boss. They built I think three heavy oil refineries in US that refine junk oil and there is one Venezuelan refinery in Cisco Taxes that Trump stole recently. Not surprised this is what they do in every corner of the globe. .
Koch’s have huge holdings in Alberta Canada and the royalties are very low 1% and up to 4% if the oil price is above $50 per barrel. Royalties in Alaska 34%, oil companies pay higher royalties to manty regimes around the world whose governments have an abysmal human Rights records, Norway royalty is 70%
The production of heavy oil (Tar Sands) was a fraction of what it is today due to Koch involvement and holdings of leases in Alberta. Koch’s want their oil to refine but Trans Mountain through BC and Keystone are not being built so the alternative steal it from Venezuela.
Koch brothers had a family fight and much of their dealings became public in court records, including their support of pipelines and dealings in Alberta as well as Venezuela.
Alberta is in trouble, Trudeau is in trouble, Koch’s want their $2 billion loss in profit so what to do but be Nazis and attack the competition or steal their oil. This is what Hitler did when he was cut off from his oil supplies. Rommel was unable to break through to the Middle East oil fields, the British navy bottled up the German maritime fleet, so the German strategy was to attack someone that had oil. USSR.
In 1941 they attacked the Eastern neighbor Russia. Same problem for Trudeau, Koch, and Alberta situation what to do with public opinion in Canada and US? Divert it by throwing in your hat with the HAWK Liberals and kill Venezuelans so that the Koch Brothers buy Canadian oil. This way Canadians can have jobs. JUSTIN is an “asshole” unlike his father who was not a HAWK but a reasonable man that was not intimidated by the likes of the Koch and Trump cabal and he would have never been a party to this Fascist Lima Group that portrays itself as Latin America. What can you say about the Lima group its leader is Christia Freedland who loves Nazis as her grandpappy was one in Ukraine.
You are right on the money. I live in southern alberta. I wrote a letter to our local paper pointing out how outraged I was that Justin was visiting the Azov battalion and photographed giving the nazi salute. I said his father would be turning in his grave. It was refused publication. I posted it a while ago in this cafe.
Many people in alberta know what freland and Justin are doing I would think but are most likely afraid to speak truth. Thanks for explaining the Koch angle.
am I wrong here about Pierre Elliot Trudeau give the Canadian dollar to the Rothschilds in 1974 under the noisy repatriation of the British North America Act, the towel he used to blindside the Canadian people to that betrayal
how was Trudeau senior not as traitorous as his son is? isn’t this a case of like father like son?
however I give thanks to the translators..my Spanish is rusty and long unused. the Bolivarian military made my week so far. but I will not relax just yet. that mentioned date of Feb 23 looks mighty concerning to me. the Americans may decide to pull out all the stops here. if they back out of this one they are just about done as hegemon
Vuki: Thanks for the very informative post re the Koch Bros and Canada.
Thanks to the translators of the excellent speech. Sure puts our goons to shame.
Inspiring! I am relieved to know that the Ven. military is standing firm behind Maduro.
I too am very worried about what will happen on Feb. 23 around the bridge.
Will the concert goers be exploited as “mules” to carry stuff across the bridge?
The involvement of Richard Branson in this fake “freedom fest” should open quite a few eyes.
Well, it opened mine. What a bum. What kind of “star” is Branson trying to be?
He is not better than Trump, intervening in a country’s domestic affairs and politicizing entertainment in a scurrilous fashion. If he really wanted to help Ven. he could arrange a concert in Caracas and jsut make it free, no political strings attached. Or, give the proceeds to the Ven. Govt to pay for meds or whatever.
What does he gain by supporting the Gweedo golpistas? Seems to me he is making Virgin a target for a boycott.
Suddenly the name “Virgin” for an airline looks incredibly stupid.
“Puppet” or “Poodle” sounds more appropriate. Or maybe, “Whore.”
Katherine
Katherine
Royalty on Venezuelan oil was 1% prior to Chavez.. Chavez came to power and boosted the royalties to 30%. Alaska Royalties are 34% and Norway 70% but no regime change when Norway spends oil royalties on the people.
Chavez spent the Countries oil wealth on its people. The integrity of the voting system is beyond question. Ask Jimmy Carter who said it was the fairest he monitored. Chavez has shown in the past that he respects democracy when decisions go against him. The rich were angry because they could not buy the election or dominate the airwaves as they do in Canada and US
.
Sounds like a stand-up guy to me. Or we have the current State of the US. elections. Fraud, lies and from the past Privately run voting machines. Lockdown counts in Ohio, rejected votes in Florida, massive voter purge of the African American voters , rich buying our politicians and dominating the airwaves. Our wealth is spent on wars and corporate welfare. In Canada the biggest welfare bums are the rich. Here is a very interesting link that tells it a it is.
https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1098282209834950657/video/1
.
Trudeau Sr was not allowed to enter us until he became PM of Canada.. Reason? He traveled and got to know the world from inside a Bedouin tent rather than the Taj Mahal. He retraced the Long March route in China. His ideas were on the far left . The difference between the father and the son, the father was a lawyer, intellectual, and activist, while the son was a drama teacher with sparse liberal education. The father was influenced by Nikolai Berdyaev, not religion but politics” particularly his book “Slavery and Freedom”.
Trudeau Sr saw nationalism and separatism as a disease . He was a Keynesian and a close friend of Fidel Castro. Castro was a pallbearer at his funeral.. He helped establish Cuba’s cattle and Dairy Industry. He also promoted trade between the two countries.
Look at Trudeau Sr’s legacy: Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Peace Keeper rather than war maker like his son. Opposed the Vietnam War and worked to bring Latin Americas as a trading partner. Young Justin has done everything that his father would be ashamed of
.
all that PET achievement is good..sure. but 50 years ago Canada could and did build up great shining infrastructure that pushed the country into the first ranks…at no interest charges to the Canadian people. such construction declined from 1974 to a paltry state currently.
nothing much has been built for a long time now. there is no money to build and maintain much…the cost is too great. Canada now is all about borrowing its own money at interest charges and the build-up of massive debt
https://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/transportation/details-released-on-the-state-of-canadian-infrastructure-roads-bridges-tunnels/1003407954/
heres Russia
https://russia-insider.com/en/putin-russia-finally-getting-proper-roads-progress-impressive/ri26314
You might ask why is Canada in deep trouble with its infrastructure. Why are the roads in some cities like logging roads with deep cracks and ruts. This is all due to privatizing borrowing. Up to 1970 public borrowing Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments borrowed from the Bank of Canada at rates just to cover the cost of paperwork. This was privatized and borrowing transferred to Chartered banks. Some 60% of our debt is interest. Debt to GDP is 53 –for every dollar 53 cents goes to service the debt. Which is now at 690 billion. Add to this provincial debt its $1,1 trillion
on a side note, Bernard Henri Levy seems triggered with the situation in Venezuela, so expect him to be there very soon, coopting the putchists like he did in Libya/Syria/Ukraine in the past few years.
If is he is going there then it wil mean that they’re for real and that he still our officious vice FA ministry since a few presidents now….
Media blackout of economic siege of Venezuela
Venezuela has resisted US economic and military expansion for 20 years, landing it in the crosshairs
of the United States, but this fact is absent from most media coverage of the country,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R_giv40OgU
Trump: End socialism and Maduro’s reign in Venezuela
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOTyf4prJSU
George Galloway on Venezuela (subtitulos en Español)
George Galloway live-streamed this address on 31 January 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsci1IJpG5M
Sanctions of Mass Destruction: America’s War on Venezuela
American economic sanctions have been the worst crime against humanity since World War
Two. America’s economic sanctions have killed more innocent people than all of the nuclear,
biological and chemical weapons ever used in the history of mankind.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/02/01/sanctions-of-mass-destruction-americas-war-on-venezuela/
Venezuela: US/Canadian Attempted Coup Not About Democracy – Paul Jay (Pt1/2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH_z6KeUV0A
bthebest’s comment:
In Canada we are under siege by the very government that supports u.s. intentions on
Venezuela. We Canadians don’t support any coups abroad. We Canadians do support
regime change here in Canada.
I took Trump’s speech as a threat to cancel or overturn elections in America. He apparently ranted on about how he would not allow ‘socialism’ to be ‘imposed’ on America. The leading Presidential candidate, who should have won the last election if the system wasn’t rigged against him, openly calls himself a Socialist. This candidate announced his campaign officially this week to a flood of support. Thus, I took this speech as an open threat that if Sen Sanders wins the election, that Trump would not allow this.
After all, Trump is already ruling by emergency decrees. For such a dictator, the usual next emergency is that they cancel elections and stay in power.
Former Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson ….
“Trump now poses a fundamental challenge to our democracy: Does Congress have the essential power of the purse that the Constitution gave it, or can a president at his whim declare a national emergency and spend what he wants on what he wills? This is the line between a constitutional republic and a presidential autocracy.”
and closes with ….
“Many people treated Trump’s posturing over the wall as a diversion, a low-rent, off-color vaudeville act used to rouse his audiences. The racial and ethnic slurs that he spread always made it more poisonous than that. Now his declaration of a national emergency has turned it into a direct assault on our democracy.
Now we will see who stands with the Constitution, and who does not.”
https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/02/21/trumps-fake-national-emergency-moves-america-closer-to-an-autocracy/
Donald Trump in his Miami speech …. “To those who would try to impose socialism on the United States, we again deliver a very simple message: America will never be a socialist country.”
Note the language. Trump does not say that next year he will wage an election campaign with the message that America should not embrace even a very weak form of socialism. No, the President, who is already now in flagrant violation of very key constitutional principles such as the elected legislature having the power of the purse, is openly saying that he will not accept it if the American people vote against him.
I’m just adding this to the commons of knowledge as this fellow seemingly is focusing on Venezuela from a military perspective first.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC442mL8T74
Please call the White House and request that President Rockefeller and Vice President Netenyahu call off the scheduled Guaido coup similar to supporting the White Helmets, and lift the sanctions and embargo against the democratically elected Maduro government.
It used to be official American policy not to incite regime change, though it was illegally done behind the scenes, starting with Mossadegh, but if you will recall, during the Iraq-Kuwait, Desert Storm war, which we entered at the request of Israel, according to The Israel Lobby authors Mearshemeir and Walt, because Sadam Housein was developing nuclear energy reactors for peaceful purposes.
George H.W. Bush cited U.S. and international law as the reason for not removing Sadam Housein, that coming from a former CIA director, is a testimony to how far America, and the west has evolved into an anarcho-fascist state of lawlessness and corruption!
Its a minor quibble, but American regime change operations began before Iran in the early 1950’s.
There were for example operations in Greece to make sure the King who had supported the Nazi’s during the war was in power over the resistance to fascist rule that had developed during the war. The CIA was rather obvious in promoting the King. There were more subtle efforts to rig elections to make sure the popular resistence could never come to power in western Europe.
And, one of the most famous books that you are never, never, never supposed to read is “War Is A Racket” by Maj Gen Smedley Butler. General Butler wrote this book in the 1930’s after seeing first hand the American regime change operations in places like the Dominican Republic.
And of course, there is still the all time leader of the Yankee regime change operations, now known as the American Civil War, which occurred when the southern states objected to the Yankees violating the Constitution and exercised their right to break away and form a new government.
Thank you very much for the information.I was unaware of the situation regarding America’s involvement in Greece, and should put Smedley Butlers War Is a Ravket on my list of books to buy, but have read a little about him.
No need to send any money to the capitalist pigs. The book is available free online.
“War Is A Racket”
https://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html
Thanks you’re correct, it is now in tge public domain, how it s that Amazon can charge people for e-books that are no longer under copyright is mind boggling and illegal, but actually, I prefer real books. Thanks though!
Can you please provide information n the CIAs involvement with Greece? It appears that many countries, excluding the U.S. were involved, a source and list of incidents would be helpful.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece
One indeed can go back to the 19th century to find examples of American regime change operations.
In addition to the Civil War, as you mentioned, many people don’t realize that Hawaiian was once an independent nation before the US staged a coup to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.
One decent book about American regime change ops is Steven Kinzer’s _Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq_.
https://yaleglobal.yale.edu/overthrow-americas-century-regime-change-hawaii-iraq
Kinzer’s book, however, is by no means comprehensive in terms of documenting all of America’s coup d’etats.
William Blum’s work provides a more detailed overview of the regime change ops that American has engaged in throughout the 20th century. There are so numerous as to make your head spin.
U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II
https://williamblum.org/books/killing-hope
I recommend David Ray Griffin’s:
The American Trajectory: Divine or Demonic.
Chapter and verse on the protean transformation and use of the concept of exceptionalism from the very first days of the republic.
Generally for the purpose of justifying the USA going into some other country and grabbing its resources and changing its “regime” if that was needed to execute the grab. All in the name of the great and good as epitomized by the USA (We only do good).
Of course, the USA is never described in terms of being a regime—but I think that may be changing.
Trump becomes more terrifying by the day.
I can’t help wondering if it had to be this way. Has the Russiagate comedy had an effect on Trump? Is he doing what he is doing now to prove the Russiagater wrong? Or to outdo them in sabre rattling?
Or are we now seeing, with the ouitrageous threats against Ven. and the veiled threat against the USA itself, the “real” Trump?
Katherine
In a move that must have surprised foreign observers, the head of the armed forces, Vladimir Padrino Lopez delivered a speech that modulated the tone and message of Fidel Castro.
It had been a long time since Latin America had heard the language of elevated revolutionary commitment, and Padrino’s declaration suggests that Maduro will be succeeded by a true Chavista.
Padrino warned the President of Columbia that allowing his military to be involved in an attack on Venezuela would betray their neighborly relations.
Bringing back the Castro cadence and lyricism, but also his irony, Padrino must certainly have reassured Venezuelans that their Bolivarian Revolution is not over. Stay tuned: this man has a future.
Yes indeed! Thanks for the Translation!
Above we read of Bay of Pigs FUBAR for Imperial ambition and actually a powerful buttress for the Cuban Revolution – Che himself said thanks for the BoP attack campaign as it guaranteed the Revolution’s success.
The nazis maybe ought to bear that in mind… And recall that the cathode/anode flow is to the anode…electrons being negative… I seem to remember something about Chavesta Militia getting hundred of thousands of rifles… These are “electrons”…
About the Koch boys old father… I used to work the wheat harvest as a boy, and once worked with a man from Texas, an old fella – 67 years old in 1970 I think – This man told me that he had been with Koch the elder in USSR building those refineries. His stories accord exactly with the comment above.
This said, the nazis cannot retreat… Military force is about as sure as sunrise.
( Good that Saker stated the url> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeN027tTj_g
I myself would like to read the Spanish, and intend to at least listen to the full speech in the Spanish original.
I am not good at Spanish, German, or French – but my illiteracy in these languages is not complete. The times now are polyglot and increasingly so…I even discover that I can read a word here and there in Russian! )
Excellent translation work of a dynamic speech by the Defense Minister. Hopefully, Trump will recall the Outlaw US Empire’s strike force that’s really no more than a sacrificial lamb as it’s far too weak to do anything but fail with huge casualties. Venezuela has the means to defend itself as this situation’s been anticipated since 2002.
It’s all true. If Trump gets FULLY sucked into the British Ploy ….he’s done and we get left wing Goy Soy Toy Boy Bernie Sanders in exchange for washed up Q+ Goy Toy Soy Boy Donald J Trump who blew himself up hitting a geopolitcal mine in Caracas Bay….set by Her Majesty Herself.
The Overview, however is not from the Caribbean:
“……………..The speech by Putin — his annual state of the union to the Federal Assembly — and by Xi — a speech to the scientists and engineers who placed the Chang’e 4 on the far side of the Moon — conveyed an optimism and a vision for the future of Mankind which reflected the ideas and the passion of Lyndon LaRouche over these past fifty years. Both speeches are excerpted below. If not for the frantic British coup attempt against President Trump, his stated commitment to such optimism and scientific progress would be lifting the US out of the Western morass, to join Russia and China in the New Silk Road, in cooperation in space, and in building a new global financial system to replace the broken gambling casinos in London and on Wall Street.
Trump is so far sticking to his intention to pull the US out of the colonial wars in Syria and Afghanistan. With Asia and the Mideast moving towards peace through development within the geometry of the New Silk Road, the British are throwing their full weight behind dragging Trump into a contrived war in the Americas. While Russia and others are sending aid to Venezuela, neocon fanatic Sen. Marco Rubio is in Columbia, trying to provoke regime change, and perhaps even all out war. As of now, Trump has been echoing the regime-change line, but he must be freed from the British operations and urged to follow the kind of approach exemplified by the Singapore Model that is working so well with North Korea.”
https://larouchepac.com/20190221/vladimir-putin-and-xi-jinping-demonstrate-why-british-fear-them-and-why-trump-right-be
…..Friends With Both…
or stupid enough (????) to play a minor role in a part orchestrated by the Queen, Sir Richard Deerlove, Christopher Steele, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and the rest of the EMPIRE……….. that also ran with some script about him being Putin’s “bitch” because of being filmed frolicking nude with Russian Prostitutes in a Yellow Rain Skit in a moscow hotel suite????
IF….IF…. IF.
I think it is a big IF that DJT is that stupid.
We’ll soon see!
I am quite proud that I have had the opportunity of voting for LaRouche in elections …. and Refused!
Thanks indeed for this article. I enjoy reading what the actual leaders of other countries have to say for themselves. The Defense Minister makes some very good points. Also, I notice that he has not expressed any hostility towards anyone with this statement. He has not suggested aggression towards anyone either. The facts that have been cited by him seem to be objectively observable as well.
Yes, what you say is true. I read the English and listened to the speech in Spanish. However, in conflict, as always, ethics and even Law becomes especially subject to circumstances…and the Minister made an oblique reference to a possibility that the Satraps in the region should listen to…that their own domestic power might also be weakened by their own latent Bolivarian Socialist peoples… inter alia “insurrection” in Colombia might become a potent factor. It was polite and non-threatening…but the implication was clear to my eye, and to my ears. And what Satrap is not afraid?
Within Colombia there is the potential for conflict…
I expect that as the military actions against Venezuela proceed some cathodic and unintended manifestations of internal conflict will develop in nearby Satrapies.
“I expect that as the military actions against Venezuela proceed some cathodic and unintended manifestations of internal conflict will develop in nearby Satrapies.”
This looks very likely.
I mean, it would highly *unlikely* that an attempt to overthrow Maduro militarily will *not* have unpredictable knock-on effects. Maduro seems to be implying that the Ven. military is more solid and less prone to internal schisms than perhaps the Colombian, and for this reason maybe the Colombian minister of defense should “cool it” and not make the wrong person’s day.
Katherine
Trump’s Miami speech threatening Venezuela is the voice of a certifiable lunatic…mind you if you surround yourself with foaming at the mouth warmongering neocons like Bolton, Abrams, Pompeo, and Haley etc, then it is hard not start acting like one yourself.
Sadly
Col
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2019/feb/19/donald-trumps-direct-appeal-to-venezuelan-military-to-back-opposition-leader-juan-guaido-video
Trump’s policy concerning Venezuela shows that he is in the firm control of neocon warmongers. They will not succeed in Venezuela except to create chaos and more suffering, death, and destruction. Too many in Venezuela have their eyes open for the US to have any kind of victory.
What if their ‘kind of victory’ is just ‘to create chaos and more suffering, death, and destruction.’ Same as in libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq……
Conjecture
You nailed it!
Russia with help from other countries has hogtied the US’s mayhem creation and perpetual war in the ME and North Africa. It looks like Washington’s new focus will be much closer to home and will begin with ‘saving’ of Venezuela, Nicaragua, and maybe Cuba [Bolton has been itching to destroy Cuba for years]. A huge part of the US economy is the MIE and this monster has to be fed. Perhaps they think they can continue their agenda of destruction with less interference when it closer to home? The fact that much of the world is seeing the world’s bullying hegemon for what it really is means that Trump might find it is not all plain sailing at all.
Trump gave us some early clues that it was business as usual for the war machine and the Neocons when he signed off on the increase in the US military budget that actually exceeded the entire annual Russian military spend.
Aso another clue was the obscene personal glee he exhibited when Saudi Arabia agreed on the $110b purchase of US arms. The fact that these weapons would likely be used against Yemen to continue their destruction of the poorest country in the region and the creation of yet another humanitarian crises was apparently of no consequence to Trump whatsoever.
These two actions early on in Trump’s tenure were a very early and salient warning for me.
Cheers
Col
It would be easy to think that the entire western world plus 5 eyes vassals like Australia and defeated nations like Japan have all become either power lusting greedy corporate satellites or pitiful US slaves cringing from the US boot while desperately hoping for a heel of bread.
The utter hypocrisy of the attempted Venezuela coup by the nasty lot of them is mind boggling in its unconcealed clarity -unlike other coups like Ukraine that were false-flagged and surreptitiously funded.
Why anyone believes western media is beyond me; I must suppose that once a certain level of drowning propaganda and brainwashing is exceeded there is no longer any ability to surface again. The narrative innoculates against truth.
PCR has underlined perfectly the Venezuela coup and the suppression component of mass media:
“Trump’s surrender to the neoconservatives makes it impossible for an informed person to support him. He has signed off on the coup against democracy in Venezuela, and he has placed all life at risk by pulling out of the INF treaty with Russia. Putin has publicly announced that the consequences of Washington’s reckless and irresponsible decision to junk the INF treaty will be the targeting of the missile sites in Europe and also of the American command and control centers. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/51130.htm As I write there is nothing on the BBC or CNN websites or anywhere else in the US print and TV media about the President of Russia’s clear statement. Trump has allowed the crazed neocons to raise the likelihood of nuclear Armageddon to near certainty, and it has gone unreported by the presstitutes.”
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2019/02/21/if-truth-is-politicized-all-is-lost
I dont know if this have been brught up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr-iMLluTlw&t=0s
FBI’s McCabe Accidentally Tells Truth About Venezuela
This coup was planned wll in advance as all thinking people understood
Possibly a trivial question, but what right does Branson have to use the name “Live Aid”?
This name belongs to Bob Geldorf.
Has Geldorf agreed to this use of the name?
Is Geldorf still alive???
Katherine