Venezuelans misled by the largely pro-USA opposition leaders
www.vheadline.com Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 By: Oscar Heck
VHeadline.com commentarist Oscar Heck writes: A few days ago I was at Atlanta Georgia International Airport (passing through), and was aghast at what I saw on the television at the little bar at D-9 where I could finally have a cigarette.
Although no one appeared to be listening (maybe since they were mostly interested in smoking), the television reports on Fox sounded like pure war propaganda. The images were headlined by phrases such as "Axis of Evil" and "Fox News Alert!"
The newsperson repeated (in an aggravated alarmist fashion and with a tone of impending doom) "North Korea is pumping up the heat," and ... out of context ... "Chirac has stated that Iraq has not cooperated enough with UN arms inspectors." The newsperson then went on to talk about the USA finding evidence that Iran is involved in weapons manufacturing.
Beyond being discouraged at the fact that our world seems to be repeating history again ... a build up to another "world" war, I was stunned by the similarity of this "Axis of Evil News Alert" to what I had been hearing on the privately-owned TV stations in Venezuela for the last 3 months ...especially Globovision.
A thought then came to mind. Who will the USA integrate next into their "Axis of Evil" concept? First it was Bin Laden, next Saddam, then North Korea, now Iran, and tomorrow ... who ...Venezuela?
Most people who support the opposition to Chavez (and its deliberate attempt at destroying Venezuela) also support or "admire" the USA and its supposed "civilized" ways.
Is this what Venezuela needs? Admirers of the USA's "war" policies to re-take the reins of Venezuela? (By the way, I am not exaggerating by saying "admirers." Many of the anti-Chavez websites are USA-based and many anti-Chavez people have embarked on a mission to discredit Chavez by stating that he is linked to Saddam, Bin Laden and Khadaffi ... but with absolutely no evidence. Sound familiar?)
I am saddened by the fact that I find the need to mention the USA once again. I am quite sure that most Americans are not in support of the USA's "war" policies. Many may even be embarrassed ... but I am seeing scary trends in Venezuela.
A few days ago, I was speaking with a family in Venezuela that are/were anti-Chavez and staunch supporters of the opposition. They all signed at the El Firmazo. Now they have discovered (through some Venezuela news sources) that the USA is quite intent in "forcing" their "war against drugs" onto Venezuela, apparently "infiltrating" some Venezuelan territory.
It also appears that the USA wants to set up US military bases along the Venezuela-Colombia border. This is a scary subject ... especially for many Venezuelans who have been misled by the largely pro-USA opposition leaders. The family is now having second thoughts about having signed in support of the opposition. I suggested to them that when election time comes, to seriously consider that some anti-Chavez politicians will probably invite the US military into Venezuela ... as Colombia has done. They showed great concern.
(It is now "common knowledge" in Venezuela that the opposition is seeking USA support to oust Chavez: "Oh! help us, Mr. Bush ... save Venezuela, etc...
Question: Is the "war" against drugs an excuse for the USA and the Venezuelan opposition to have American military units ready to attack Venezuela in the event that Chavez is re-elected? (I predict that Chavez will be re-elected.)
All these issues bring back memories ... I worked in Kuwait during the Gulf War and am today re-living certain feelings. While in Kuwait, I used to watch CNN and was disgusted by the manipulation of information about the Kuwait situation, the propaganda, the "News Alerts" and the amount of American "hero" rhetoric that was being propagated regarding the US military.
Perhaps some people do not know that USA fervently propagated the notion that they went to "help" in the conflict ... which is a false notion. The USA did not go "help" in the conflict. Shortly after the war, I worked in Saudi Arabia and had the opportunity to speak with several members of the Royalty ... the USA was paid to do the job, paid by the Kuwaitis and by the Saudis. The USA was paid.
Here is another example of what could have been considered far-fetched, but is apparently true. According to an article by Robert Russo, "FBI spied on Trudeau for decades" one Florida-based organization stated:
"Most Americans would be shocked to be told that Pierre Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, is a Communist, who adores Mao Tse-tung and wants to make Canada over into a Red Chinese-style communist slave state."
Trudeau was also a close friend of Fidel Castro and apparently admired several elements of the Cuban Revolution ... it seems that the USA was not very happy with Trudeau.
It seems that the USA is not very happy with Chavez either.
I hope that Venezuelans will agree with the Chavez government's stance against foreign intervention ... USA or other ... in Venezuela's internal affairs.
I also hope that the opposition will come to realize the great risk in which they have put Venezuela by asking the help of the USA and others in their effort to discredit and oust Chavez from power.
Oscar Heck oscarheck111@hotmail.com