More evidence on USA involvement in Venezuelan internal affairs?

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, May 02, 2003 By: Oscar Heck

VHeadline.com commentarist Oscar Heck writes: CSIS is the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank linking people from the US government, US congress, US business communities, intellectuals, etc. to other countries, including Venezuela.

CSIS does this particularly through a program called the “South America Project” and “is intended to upgrade US government, congressional, and private sector understanding of, and relations with, the countries that make up this region.” The person who apparently heads this program is Miguel Diaz, who in the early 1990s worked as an economist for the Central Intelligence Agency.

The person who heads CSIS is John J. Hamre, formerly deputy secretary of defense. CSIS “ … is guided by a board of trustees chaired by former senator Sam Nunn and consisting of prominent individuals from both the public and private sectors.”

Others on the management are former CIA and US defense people.

In an article by Miguel Diaz (quite a balanced report) dated December 10, 2002, he says, “The US' political and economic national security interests in Venezuela alone are important enough to command Washington's full attention.”

He also says, referring to the AFL-CIO (a major USA union group), “It supported Ortega's fight to be recognized as the duly-elected leader of the CTV in both the United States and international forums, and extended the red carpet treatment to him as they shepherded him through Washington when Ortega visited earlier this year.”

The AFL-CIO website mentions, on December 05, 2002: “Recently, the AFL-CIO has supported the CTV's process of internal democratization and its defense of freedom of association against the attacks of the Chavez government. From the moment he took office in 1999, Hugo Chavez led an assault on the freedom of association, attempting to weaken or eliminate the principal institutions of Venezuelan civil society, including the unions.”

It also mentions, “The assistance included: the printing of election materials, the training of CTV election committees and the sponsoring of forums, which brought labor, business, human rights and religious leaders together in defense of freedom of association. All of the AFL-CIO-Solidarity Center's funding for Venezuela went for this purpose.”

And, “The AFL-CIO will continue to support the CTV and condemn actions by the government of Venezuela, or any other government, that restricts workers' freedom of association in violation of international law … , there is no evidence that the CTV or its leaders went beyond the democratic expressions of discontent.”

From a transcript dated 19 April 2002, “Powell Calls for Dialogue and Reconciliation in Venezuela “: Powell says, apparently referring to the Chavez government, “There is no justification for any government to prevent its citizens from exercising their fundamental rights.”  He goes on, “Democracies do not remain democracies for long if elected leaders use undemocratic methods.” and, “And we urge all democratic forces in Venezuela from political life, civil society, the business community, and labor, to participate in that national discussion.”  He also mentions, “Venezuelans themselves must resolve their problems, but they need our support.” (In this sentence, it is not clear if he is referring to the USA or to the OAS)

From another Colin Powell speech on January 24, 2003: Powell says, “Tragically, however, the situation in Venezuela grows worse by the day. Venezuelans of all stripes see their democracy and their hopes for prosperity growing ever weaker.” And, “We are here to underscore our strong support for the people of Venezuela and for the democracy they have cherished for over four decades.”

Some comments and observations:

1. I do not doubt that CSIS has perhaps some honorable intentions such as facilitating business-to-business interests … “soft power”(?). However, as in the case of SAIC, it is rather disturbing that some of the leaders of CSIS projects and endeavors are former US defense and intelligence people.

2. Apparently, CSIS (as in the case of SAIC) is also a major “information provider” to the US government.

3. It appears that the AFL-CIO has been (or had been) duped by Carlos Ortega and the CTV into believing that the Chavez Government has/had restricted “freedom of association”. It is unfortunate, since the AFL-CIO apparently has at heart the real interests of its members, unlike the CTV who has real interests in “getting rid of Chavez”.

4. Unfortunately as well, the AFL-CIO appears to be convinced that, “… there is no evidence that the CTV or its leaders went beyond the democratic expressions of discontent.” (Carlos Ortega is hiding from the law in Costa Rica, charged with several criminal acts such as sedition and treason!)

5. Now, with respect to Colin Powell (signee at the PNAC, a US organization with the intent of “ruling” the world), it is quite evident that he has little regard for Chavez and gives the distinct impression that the Chavez government is acting in undemocratic ways. (Which is quite the contrary. The present Venezuelan Government is the first Venezuelan government in years to be truly democratic, unlike the uncivilized opposition people and its supporters who have acted in very undemocratic ways: e.g., the stoppage, the blocking of streets and the sabotage of PDVSA.)

6. It is also worth noting that Powell advocates “strong support for the people of Venezuela and for the democracy they have cherished for over four decades.” This, to me, is clear evidence that he is willing to support the Venezuelan “elite” … those that have, for at least 4 decades, “managed” the affairs of Venezuela through rampant corruption and irresponsible-without-conscience actions such as death threats, death squads, repression, speculation, monopolies, media control and censorship … and more recently, sabotage, treason and sedition.

The above appears to add to the proof that the USA is more deeply involved in Venezuelan internal affairs than what the USA is willing to admit. CIA, SAIC, CSIS, PNAC and many more US and Washington-based organizations have vested interests in Venezuela, not only in an economic sense, but also in an ideological sense (see the PNAC website, for example).

Note: I do not see how Colin Powell can dissociate himself from PNAC principles when speaking about US interest in Venezuela.

Finally, I and many others do not believe that Venezuela needs external “support”, as so “humbly” stated by Powell.

Oscar Heck oscar@vheadline.com