by Peter Koenig for The Saker Blog
In the early morning hours of 30 April, 2019, the self-declare “Interim President”, Juan Guaidó, launched what at first sight appeared to be a military coup – Guaidó calls it “Operation Freedom” (sounds very much like a Washington-invented title) – against the democratically elected, legitimate government of Nicolas Maduro. With two dozen of defected armed military from the Carlota military base east of Caracas (not hundreds, or even thousands, as reported by the mainstream media), Guaidó went to free Leopoldo Lopez, the opposition leader, who was under house arrest, after his 13-year prison sentence for his role in the deadly 2014 anti-government protests, was commuted. They first called for a full military insurrection – which failed bitterly, as the vast majority of the armed forces are backing President Maduro and his government.
As reported straight from Caracas by geopolitical analyst, Dario Azzelli, Guaidó and López rallied from the Plaza Altamira, for the people of Venezuela to rise up and take to the streets to oust President Maduro. According to them, this was the ‘last phase’ of a peaceful coup to bring freedom and democracy back to Venezuela. The nefarious pair issued a video of their “battle cry” which they broadcast over the social media.
They mobilized a few hundred – again not thousands as pers SMS – right-wing middle to upper class protestors and marched towards the Presidential Palace. On the way, they were confronted by the Venezuelan Civil Guard with tear gas – not even the military had to intervene – and only few protestors reached Miraflores which was protectively surrounded by thousands of Chavistas. And that was basically the end of yet another failed coup.
Leopoldo López was seeking asylum in the Chilean Embassy which rejected him, and now, it looks like he found his refuge in the Spanish Embassy. This is a huge embarrassment and outright shame for Spain, especially after the Socialist Party, PSOE, just won the elections with 29%, though not enough to form a government by its own, but largely sufficient to call the shots as to whom should be granted asylum on their territory. Looks like fascism is still alive in Spain, if Pedro Sanchez is not able to reject a right-wing fascist opposition and illegal coup leader of Venezuela to gain refuge on Spain’s territory.
As to Guaidó, rumors have it that he found refuge in the Brazilian Embassy, though some reports say he is being protected by his Colombian friends. Both is possible, Bolsonaro and Duque are of same fascist kind, certainly ready to grant criminals – what Guaidó is – asylum.
——
What is important to know, though, is that throughout the day of the attempted coup, 30 April, the US State Department, in the person of the pompous Pompeo, accompanied by the National Security Advisor, John Bolton, kept threatening President Maduro in a press round. Pompeo directly menaced President Maduro, saying – “If they ask me if the US is prepared to consider military action [in Venezuela], if this is what is necessary to restore democracy in Venezuela, the President [Donald Trump] has been coherent and clear: The military option is available, if this is what we have to do.” – These threats are repeated throughout May 1 – day after the Venezuelan attempted coup defeat by both Pompeo and warrior Bolton.
Pompeo’s audacity didn’t stop there. He went as far as suggesting to President Maduro to flee to Cuba and leave his country to those that will bring back (sic) freedom and democracy.
Let’s be clear. Although this has been said before – it cannot be repeated enough for the world to understand. These outright war criminals in Washington are in flagrant violation of the UN Charter to which the US is – for good or for bad – a signatory.
UN Charter – Chapter I, Article 2 (4), says:
All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
We know that the White House, Pentagon and State Department have zero respect for the UN, and, in fact, use the international body for their purposes, manipulating and blackmailing its members into doing the bidding for the US. That is all known and has been documented. What is perhaps newer is that this is now happening, especially in the cases of Venezuela and Iran, openly, in unveiled flagrant disrespect of any international law, against bodies and sovereign countries that do not bend to the whims and will of the United States.
As a result of this open violation of the UN Charter by the world’s only rogue state, some 60 UN member nations, including Russia and China, have formed a solid shield against Washington’s aggressions. The group was created especially in defense of Venezuela, but is also there for Iran and other countries being aggressed and threatened by the US. Hence, the blatant blackmailing and manipulation of weaker UN member countries becomes more difficult.
To be sure, the Russian Foreign Ministry has immediately condemned the coup as illegal and warned the US of any military intervention. This is of course not the first time, but just to be sure – Russia is there, standing by her partner and friend, Venezuela.
——
This Guaidó–Lopez attempted coup was most certainly following instructions from Washington. Super-puppet Guaidó, US-groomed and trained, then self-declared “presidente interino”, would not dare doing anything on his own initiative which might raise the wrath of his masters. But would the US – with all her secret services capacity – seriously launch a coup so ill-prepared that it is defeated in just a few hours with minimal intervention of Venezuelan forces? – I doubt it.
What is it then, other than a planned failure? – A new propaganda instrument, for the corporate MSM to run amok and tell all kinds of lies, convincing its complacent western public of the atrocities produced by the Maduro regime, the misery Venezuelan people must live, famine, disease without medication, oppression by dictatorship, torture, murder – whatever they can come up with. You meet any mainstream-groomed people in Europe and elsewhere, even well-educated people, people who call themselves ‘socialists’ and are leading figures in European socialist parties, they would tell you these same lies about misery caused by the Maduro regime.
How could that be – if the Maduro Government doesn’t even arrest Juan Guaidó for his multiple crimes committed since January, when he self-proclaimed being the ‘interim president’ of Venezuela. Arresting him, for the coup attempts he initiated or was party to since his auto coronation to president. That’s what a dictator would do. That’s what the United States of America, would have done a long time ago. Washington and its internal security apparatus would certainly not tolerate such illegal acts – and to top it off – foreign manipulated political illegality.
Why for example, would the media not point out the real crimes of the US vassals of South America, like Colombia, where over 6 million people are internal and external refugees, where at least 240,000 peasants and human rights activists were massacred and many were burned by US-funded paramilitary groups, atrocities that are ongoing as of this day, despite the November 2016 signed “Peace Agreement” between the then Santos Government and the FARC – for which President Manuel Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize. – Can you imagine!
What world are we living in? A world of everyday deceit and lies and highly paid lie-propaganda, paid with fake money – fake as in indiscriminately printed US-dollars – of which every new dollar is debt that will never be paid back (as openly admitted by former FEDs Chairman, Alan Greenspan); dollars that can be indiscriminately spent to produce the deadliest weapons, as well as for corporate media-propaganda lies – also a deadly weapon – to indoctrinate people around the globe into believing that evil is good, and that war is peace.
I have lost many friends by telling them off, by telling them the truth, the truth about Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Syria – mostly to no avail. It’s actually no loss; it’s merely a repeated confirmation of how far the western society has been veered off the path of conscience into a comfort zone, where believing the propaganda lies of reputed media like The Guardian, NYT, WashPost, BBC, FAZ, Spiegel, Le Monde, Figaro, el País, ABC — and so on, is edifying. They are so convincing. They are so well-reputed and well-known. How could they lie? – No loss, indeed.
Let’s stay on track, comrades. Venceremos!
Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a water resources and environmental specialist. He worked for over 30 years with the World Bank and the World Health Organization around the world in the fields of environment and water. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for Global Research; ICH; RT; Sputnik; PressTV; The 21st Century; TeleSUR; The Saker Blog, the New Eastern Outlook (NEO); and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion – An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed – fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! – Essays from the Resistance.
Peter Koenig is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.
“That is all known and has been documented. What is perhaps newer is that this is now happening, especially in the cases of Venezuela and Iran, openly, in unveiled flagrant disrespect of any international law, against bodies and sovereign countries that do not bend to the whims and will of the United States.”
This is what colonies are for. The usa is a tool for massa. And massa is mainly concerned with using that tool, not with how that use affects the tool, so long as the tool remains useable. The israelonazis found the perfect tool for their purposes when they took over the usa, as with the ukronazis in the ukraine.
Excellent analysis by Koenig.
Peter
What an excellent update on the Venezuela situation.
Just one small comment with all due respect…
You suggested that the US was the” world’s only rogue state”…I beg to differ…I say there are two others that qualify handsomely…both Israel and Saudi Arabia are brothers in arms with Uncle Sam and habitually carry on in much the same manner with an extraordinarily flagrant disregard for International Law.
Cheers from the South Seas
Col
Col, to Uncle $cam and little Izzie you can add John Bull and Marianne. Also Sweden, Norway and Denmark. In fact, the entire NATZO parcel of rogue states. Plus Canada, NZ and your own Oz of the 5 eyes.
“O where may the weary eye decline / When gazing on the great?” — Byron, Ode to Napoleon.
Fortunately, for every Napoleon there is a Tsar Alexander, for every Hitler a Stalin, for every Truman a Mao, for every Kennedy a Castro, for every Reagan a Khomeini, for every Obomba a Putin, for every Camoron an Assad, and for every Trump a Maduro.
“Things change, but one thing does not change; / The battle between Good and Evil does not change.” — TS Eliot.
I would add the UK to your list of rogue states. US foreign policy is substantially under the control of the UK, Israel, and Saudis.
An excellent article, although I have to disagree that the coup was a planned failure. That is not the impression which I have. The US traditionally uses the military of Central and South American states to instigate coup d’etats. In Venezuela it openly asked the military to join their clown Guaido. The military did not respond. It therefore tries a coup d’etat using the clown, hoping to attract mass public support and force the military to join Guaido. The attempt failed miserably. In fact a huge public demonstration of support for Maduro ensues.
What next ? The US obviously has no intention of abandoning it’s quest for Venezuelan oil and gold. Yesterday two aircraft carriers, including support ships, left their ports and are heading, most probably, towards Venezuela. It remains to be seen if the US will try a bluff, like it did with North Korea, or if this will be the real thing, an invasion. If it turns out to be an invasion, then we can conclude that Washington has lost leave of it’s senses, as the international repercussions will be immense.
As in the days of Noah – mid-US flooding is already catastrophic with no end in sight.
TPTB know what will happen when the herd stampedes…
These failures give Venezuelal some time to prepare responses.
But the sanctions rob the people of strength.
Is there any reason that normal, moral countries can’t send to Venezuela what the pepole need in terms of medicine, basic food stuffs, etc.?
The US has not actually blockaded the country . . .Yet . . .
Katherine
“As a result of this open violation of the UN Charter by the world’s only rogue state, …”
World’s biggest perhaps, but certainly not the only rogue state that ignores the UN with impunity. The other big one also uses a star on its flag, but of a different shape signifying mythical connections to their alleged divine favour and real estate awards. Venezuela is just the latest symptom of their mutual defiance of international laws governing civilized behaviour. In general, it has quite similar roots and effects on global peace, order and security, not to mention the enormous cost in human lives and suffering.
Looking at the larger picture in historical context, I strongly suspect that both rogues will also share a similar fate in the long run. The only question is whether they’ll drag the rest of humanity along with them. All things considered, it might not be such a bad thing if they did. The long-suffering planet might benefit from a fresh start. Better luck with non-primate evolution perhaps.
In addition to the remark that many ‘Socialist’ leading figures and parties join the Lying Corporate Media narrative on Venezuela, I just watched an interview by an German-iranian alternative news outlet with self-proclaimed erratic Marxist and leading figure of DiEM25 Yanis Varoufakis who parroted nearly one-on-one the US State Departement talking points in regard to the Maduro government and the Bolivarian Revolution. I nearly spat out my coffee when he said that Maduro was responsible for thousand of deaths and the violence in Venezuela. Hopefully, nobody is tempted to vote for this faux-left hypocrite and opportunistic ‘intellectual’ in the upcomming European election.
Varoufakis spouting such nonsense???
That is really disheartening.
OTOH doesn’t he teach at some branch of the U of Texas?
In other words, maybe he has been as infected as so many Americans with the fables told on the American MSM and also on American campuses.
And has completely lost track of the realities of what has transpired in his home country.
Katherine
To a specimen such as Veryfakeis, genuine, principled, and courageous people such as Maduro should be pure anathema.
I don’t think this Gweedo quisling will do anything without consulting Washington and/or Langley. Worse still, I may highly recommend to read this MoA article: https://www.moonofalabama.org/ .
They were duped by Venezolan officials, promising to change sides, and didn’t. They must have fumed with anger in DC.
If Guaido likes to be alive, he’d better surrender. It wouldn’t surprise me that already hitmen are underway to deal with this liability, trying to frame this on the government (and if DC wants to overthrow, they call it a ‘regime’).
That Lopez guy may now get the Assange treatment. Let’s look how long this will last. Spain is in no position of disobedience to the USA now. But, be careful. The USA is forcing legislation to grant payback for lost goods of Cuban exiles, and a large portion (Hotels) are run by Spanish companies. The EU is staggering about this, and has even threatened to do the same with American possessions in the EU (article about this: https://www.voltairenet.org/article206216.html ). Lopez might have chosen the wrong Embassy.
When the killers of Eric Prince are under way, I would advise them to watch the movie ‘Predator’, because that is about the environment that’s awaiting them. Air support is quite useless there. The Colombian army spent many years fighting FARC guerilla’s in such an environment, so the odds of success might be pretty dim.
Just one missile to sink an aircraft carrier is needed. The rest will return at top speed.
The USA looks quite stupid, if they weren’t already. The JCPOA withdrawal already made any agreement null and void, Even worse was the Hanoi debacle with the DPRK. Such summits take weeks if not months preparation under the radar, silent work done by dozens of diplomats and negotiators. The summit itself is just fr the last details and signing it. And there comes Bolton to wipe it completely off the table, work from the department of Pompeo. And Trump wasn’t even capable to handle that?
Who’se in charge in DC, if any? Certainly not Trump, clear for anyone to see. It’s a total chaos. And exactly that makes it so dangerous.
Cheers, Rob
Twitter is weaponized and supporting the Guaido puppet..
https://www.rt.com/news/458183-venezuela-twitter-suspend-verified-guaido/
Lopez running to seek asylum, or protection, or whatever in an embassy looks to me like a big “Oops!”
Now way was it planned for things to turn out this way.
At Moon of Alabama there are interesting comments by William Gruff.
Katherine
Mr. Koenig, thank you for your article. I can feel your anger, frustration. I too have lost friends defending Palestinians, Iran, Syria and so many others. I have no regrets on this, let them go. It’s people like you I need, although we don’t know each other, I know you through your writing and hard work. This means more to me than those that refuse to believe the truth. I read all of your work, you are not wasting your time. Not at all. Thank you.
As Stephen Lendman put it….
“The latest US-orchestrated coup plot chapter was as ill-conceived as what preceded it since January. Not according to the Times, citing Guaido’s Big Lie, claiming calls for a military coup flanked by men in uniform “was a definitive moment in toppling the government.”
A handful of disloyalists couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag, let alone topple a legitimate sitting government — Tuesday events more a tempest in a teapot than anything threatening.”
After that farce even fake left Truthdig got it right:
“Zero Percent of Elite Pundits Oppose Regime Change in Venezuela ”
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/zero-percent-of-elite-commentators-oppose-regime-change-in-venezuela/
But here’s the thing: the whole western “progressives” are muted and/or ignored what really is going on there. If you want to be free of brainwashing you’d be separated not only of MSM but western fake left media too because in west there is no opposition existing at all.
Here in the bad old us of a, the grade A+ machine is dazed and confused as to how their left leaning colleges could have lost control of the narrative and what to do about it. They say they “need to know”.
Guaido supporters stole the military trucks and drove them into crowds of their own Guaido supporters in order to cause outrage and blame it on Maduro’s troops. Very Maidan-ish.
https://twitter.com/Mx_SinCorruptos/status/1123277898398539776
Thank you Peter,
Your last paragraph hits home. I have family and friends who I have lost respect for, and who consider me a Putin puppet.
When I ask them why they think it was ok to go into NK, Vietnam, Iraq, Indonesia, and all the other nations we have distroyed, they all have kind of the same line well this is different.
NO IT IS NOT. My country is run by psychopaths! It has been from the get go, with it,s out right slaughter of indigenous peoples, to the slave trade, to the prison industrial complex, and this is our new slave trade!
My country spends every once of money it has on the dod while our roads and infrastructure,schools, healthcare are all in shambles
US elites in control of the two major parties love and use military spending and wars to take all the air out of the room for any discussion of the pressing but ignored domestic issues.
The US is marching backwards and trying to force the world to go backwards with it.
This, I think, is highly significant.
Russian and US Positions on Venezuelan Crisis are Incompatible – Lavrov
“According to the foreign minister, during their conversation Wednesday, he told Pompeo that the Monroe Doctrine approach to US policy was a sign of disrespect to the people of Venezuela and Latin America as a whole.
Commenting on the possibility of a US military intervention of Venezuela, Lavrov said that Russia plans to create a bloc of countries to counter such plans, with this group already being formed at the United Nations.”
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201905021074648080-russia-us-positions-incompatible/
What is Lavrov saying? To me it sound as if he is saying that a large part of the world will not allow war in Venezuela?
USA needs to get expelled from UNSC…….sanctions declared illegal and must pay reparations…. hit them in the wallet…..and elsewheres….get Venezuelas 30 b gold back for them….declare anyone refusing to hand their gold back to be criminals and sue….find any proof of subversion by USA and associates and publish…. Russia to sanction any countries supporting the usurper.
Great submission by Peter Koenig. The would-be hero of the Liberal Imperialist Establishment should henceforth promote himself as ”Guaidó — Slob for hire as Interim President” Any promising prospects in Ukraine, Poland, or the Baltics?
Small correction:
Clueless kid for hire—blinded by the glare.
Katherine
Quite a display of evil from the sick and decaying empire. I’m afraid their desperation is going to drive them to more desperate measures in Venezuela and on the world stage. Random puppet guy Juan is likely viewed as a liability who is worth more dead than alive. He should be arrested now for sedition and also for his protection so the jackals don’t kill him and use it as a pretext to invade. They will send in some real killers to attempt assassinations of top officials or they will just go directly to the military invasion end game. I feel certain the evil empire has no intention of abandoning any of its plans. Not for Venezuela, or Syria or Iran or North Korea or Russian and China. As the corporate fascist administrator, Trump replied when it was said that Maduro had reached out to him for dialogue: We are already too far down the road. It is too late for that.
Mr. Koenig wrote:
“… If the Maduro Government doesn’t even arrest Juan Guaidó for his multiple crimes committed since January, when he self-proclaimed being the ‘interim president’ of Venezuela. Arresting him, for the coup attempts he initiated or was party to since his auto coronation to president.That’s what a dictator would do.”
I disagree with the last sentence in that paragraph. A dictator would not need to arrest Guaidó; an order would be given to murder him outside the precepts of legal prosecution.
President Maduro would best serve his people by charging Guaidó with acts of criminal behavior under the statutes of Venezuelan law and bring him to trial. A trial of this magnitude and prominence will take several months for the prosecution to gather evidence to convict Guaidó. There will be depositions and interrogatories given by witnesses who have knowledge about what was seen and heard including monies paid by conspirators that are related to this case.
The important thing that must be understood is the Venezuelan system of justice is being seen by the world. Every week we will learn of all the evidence that will undoubtedly tie back to Washington, DC. The U.S. would not dare to attack Venezuela while the trial is in progress. That would be a glaring fait accompli that condemns the U.S. as a criminally syndicated government. That is why I want to see Guaido arrested now instead of allowing him to flaunt Venezuelan law, which politically makes Maduro appear to be afraid of the U.S.
Justice must be preserved regardless of any threats by outside actors who wish to supplant the Venezuelan people’s right to decide for themselves how they wish to be governed under the rule of law.
I agree that Guido should be subjected to the legal processes of the country he tried to usurp.
That would be a most edifying sight for the whole world.
The punishment should fit the crime.
In this case the crime is an attempt to subvert the legal govt. of his own country.
He should be charged with that crime and then forced to work within the legal framework of that govt. and constitution to try to prove his innocence.
Katherine
Excellent article, love it.
The embarassing failure that was this coup attempt is certainly fascinating. Taking note of us officials’ bizzare behavior along with the media propaganda push, it’s kinda hard to guess at the who/what’s behind it. Looks like a failure of the ‘leap and they will follow’ idea via Pompeo and Bolton (and similar creatures). Also looks like the effectiveness of the propaganda machine is very much diminished, as the push was focused on both America’s and Venezuela’s public (which failed badly, on both fronts).
Comparing that behavior to the response of the eastern powers, and the response of Venezuela, is telling also. The east is showing restraint, and speaking plain sense, in the face of provocation. Venezuela seems to be doing the same. I see hope in that fact, and in the fact that this approach is beginning to be effective.
Dear Saker
This guest article called Brazilian dutifully elected President ‘Fascist’. I’m not a supporter of a ‘hater’ of Bolsonaro (I’ll wait to see at least 2 years of his mandate before labelling him or judging his government). I think this treatment is unfair and a ‘ad hominum’ smearing of a person that is far from doing the things Hitler or Mussolini did. Or the Ukronazis in Kiev either. I’m really disgusted and stop reading the rest of the article, even if it has good points because his treatment of Brazilian president makes everything else suspicious also.
I thank God that we at least got elected as president the ONLY candidate against the LGBT agenda and the social engineering via Genre Ideology taught in primary public schools. You are an orthodox Christian, you should perfectly understand why Christians in Brazil are really thanking God. Is Putin a fascist because he does not support the LGBT agenda?????
Dear guest writer… can you please explain what do you mean by ‘fascist’??? – May be it is not what common sense thinks it is.
As the UN charter is essentially a treaty, and legally binding on the U.S. under the Constitution, I’m curious how it can be so publicly and flagrantly violated? Some constitutional attornies speculate it is because the Constitution does not specifically define “Treason.”
T
“I’m curious how it can be so publicly and flagrantly violated?”
Because the usa is a colony. Laws don’t apply in colonies, only the lash and profit margins.
Guaido and Lopez both need to be very careful and fully understand their “partners” in Washington. You see, at some point Washington may decide that Guaido and Lopez are more useful as martyrs to “Operation Freedom” since they seem incapable of leadership.
It’s pretty useful for Maduro’s regime and loyal generals to keep alive the fake news that there are lots of quislings to fool time after time Washington to believe in successful coup. Because if Empire knew there is no hope they will start nasty warfare, bombings and economic 100% torture.
Here’s example. They have successfully managed to fool MSM (especially those having “reliable secret documents”) too believe how close the success of 30 April 2019 was. Let them live in good hope.
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/us-venezuelan-military-had-secret-deal-to-arrest-maduro-reports/
DC embassy protectors force Guaido’s shadow ambassador to flee in failure as coup flops in Venezuela
https://thegrayzone.com/2019/05/02/guaido-vecchio-failure-coup/#more-7766
The US Empire is well and truly dead if it cannot even organise a colour revolution in a Latin American banana republic.
Venezuela is certainly not a banana republic. To the Certified Human Garbage in Washington, this is beyond comprehension. Small wonder their coup flopped, believing their own preposterous assumptions.
A great read on this SaturnDay.
Thank you to Mr Koenig and Saker.
As to the thought that this was a planned failure, it sure is possible, but I wonder…
The political leaders since the days of RayGun and Bushie sure seem to have gotten more vile and idiotic/stupid by the Term, while increasing in their vulgar, demonic, egomaniacal blood lust. Its as if they just do not seem to care, and why not when you have all of the world’s media covering your vile, stupid, posturing and plans/actions.
That is NOT to say their bosses in the “The City” and Vatican are suffering from this same demonic stupidity.
They have all the time and Human resources in the world to continue “The Great Works of the Ages”
This is the 20th and 21st Orwellian Centuries… I suspect world events to get even more perverse, stranger and idiotic.
”The political leaders since the days of RayGun and Bushie sure seem to have gotten more vile and idiotic/stupid by the Term, while increasing in their vulgar, demonic, egomaniacal blood lust.”
Well spotted :-D Two things that cross my mind here:
1) Exceptional and indispensable elected leaders such as these scum are a profoundly accurate measure of the moral fibre of the majority population of the country. Russia and the erstwhile USSR have no similar dregs to show for them.
2) While Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Obama, and Mr. Orange Baboon absolutely come across as vile, idiotic, psychopathic reactionaries, the ”dirty little secret” here is that these are US national traits (as I hinted at under (1)). Looking back, every tenant of the Offal Office has been a warmonger with a significant popular approval. But now that the Empire is biting the dust, its ”pomp and circumstances” don’t impress the way they used to do.