Friday, May 2, 2003 By ALEXANDRA OLSON <a href=www.napanews.com>Associated Press Writer

HAVANA -- Fidel Castro accused the United States of wanting to attack Cuba, speaking at a May Day celebration on Thursday that aimed to defend the island's socialist system against criticism from abroad.

"In Miami and Washington they are now discussing where, how and when Cuba will be attacked," the Cuban president told a crowd of hundreds of thousands gathered for the celebration in Havana's Plaza of the Revolution.

"I want to convey a message to the world and the American people: We do not want the blood of Cubans and Americans to be shed in a war," he said.

The crowd responded with cries of "Whatever it takes, Fidel!" while waving handheld Cuban flags. One group hoisted an effigy of President Bush that read, "Bush: Don't mess with Cuba."

Castro spoke for less than two hours -- brief for the 76-year-old president. He said U.S. officials "provoke and encourage" attacks like the recent hijackings of Cuban planes and boats.

There was no immediate response from the U.S. State Department. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said recently that "there are no plans for military action against Cuba."

May Day events were also held elsewhere in the world and some turned violent:

• In Germany, youths set cars alight and pelted police with stones, bottles and fireworks Thursday in a Berlin neighborhood famed for its May Day clashes after some 5,000 protesters staged a peaceful march in support of a variety of leftist causes. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse troublemakers.

• In Venezuela, gunshots rang out at a rally against the government of President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, leaving one dead and one wounded, officials said. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators angered by the shooting. The Opposition is seeking a referendum on Chavez's rule, accusing the leader of attempting to amass too much power.

• In Moscow, diverse Russian political forces marched in competing rallies. About 15,000 people gathered at the Communist Party's march, calling for the government's resignation. During the Cold War, tens of thousands of Russians flooded Red Square on May 1 in rallies meant to demonstrate loyalty to the communist state and solidarity with workers abroad.

• In Asia, thousands of people in Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines celebrated May Day by protesting for higher wages, shorter work weeks and political change.

The gathering in Cuba came two weeks after the firing-squad executions of three men convicted of terrorism for trying to hijack a Cuban ferry full of passengers to the United States. No one was hurt in the hijacking -- one of at least four over a few weeks.

The Bush administration -- along with other governments and international human rights groups -- condemned the quick trial and execution of the men.

Castro said the executions were necessary to halt the hijackings and stem a growing migration crisis.

But he said he respected the opinions of Pope John Paul II and some of his longtime supporters, including the New York Rev. Lucius Walker Jr., who have asked him to abolish the death penalty. The Cuban leader said he would consider their arguments.

"Cuba, you are a world leader in human rights and respect for human life," Walker told the crowd earlier in the morning. "The death penalty demeans that."

Walker, pastor of Salvation Baptist Church in Brooklyn, and executive director of New York-based Pastors for Peace is among Cuba's best-known American supporters.

"The day will come when we can accede to the wishes for the abolition of this penalty so nobly expressed here by Reverend Lucius Walker," Castro said. "A wave of hijackings had been unleashed and was already in full development -- it had to be stopped."

Cuba also faces stern criticism for sending 75 dissidents to prison on charges of collaborating with U.S. diplomats to destabilize the socialist regime. It was the island's harshest crackdown on opponents in decades, drawing condemnation even from leftist intellectuals traditionally sympathetic to Cuba.

Castro said he was disheartened with "those friends of Cuba" -- such as Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes -- who have "attacked Cuba unjustly."

He warned they would "suffer infinite sorrow" if Cuba were attacked and "they realized their declarations were shamelessly manipulated by the aggressors to justify a military attack."

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

Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 21:32:45 -0700 (PDT) From: Carol A. Carlisle gritzle@yahoo.com To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: Venezuela Suggests Free Trade Zone for Latin America

Dear Editor: I think this would be an excellent idea. Latin America has been at the forefront of some of the most interesting farmers' cooperatives and liberation movements anywhere.

I guess that who better than they who have had to live with so much US exploitation would know how to set up a free trade block.

Until the United States regains its soul as a country and chooses to become a morally responsible country that chooses to participate with other nations for a better world, then I think other countries should feel free to go their own way and set up blocks where they want to work cooperatively.

Sincerely yours, Carol A. Carlisle gritzle@yahoo.com

<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

By IPS Apr 30, 2003, 8:35 pm

• Venezuelan president stands tall for the Black and Brown
• Poor stand with Venezuela's president, despite country's hardships
• Latin America, Looking Backward (BlackElectorate.com)
• 'Proof of US involvement in Venezuela Coup Attempt' BBC News

Pres. Hugo ChavezCARACAS, Venezuela (IPS)—Who said that raised fists at a political rally were out of style?

Representatives from the whole spectrum of the Latin American left gathered in Venezuela recently to mark the one-year anniversary of President Hugo Ch‡vez’s return to power after being overthrown by a short-lived coup.

A "red sea" of tens of thousands of "Chavistas," who wore their trademark red berets, formed on the central Bol’var Avenue in Caracas to cheer on their leader and president.

Amidst the Venezuelan flags were some Cuban banners, posters of South American independence hero Sim—n Bol’var and portraits of Argentine guerrilla leader Ernesto Che Guevara, icon of the world left.

Alongside Pres. Ch‡vez at the rally were Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage, former Nicaraguan president and Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, and El Salvador’s Shafik Handal, leader of the guerrilla movement-turned political party Farabundo Mart’ National Liberation movement (FMLN).

"The time has come for a new continental wave of independence. We have no alternative but to unite in struggle. This is the globalization of the revolution," Pres. Ch‡vez told the crowd.

He asserted that the coup against him on April 11, 2002, "had and continues to bear the stamp of imperialism. It was cooked up outside the borders of Venezuela." Mr. Chavez was returned to power on April 13, 2002, by his civilian and military supporters after the 48-hour coup led by business leaders with the approval of the United States.

The president slammed the "reactionary oligarchy" of Venezuela that preceded him in power, the "savage neo-liberalism" of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and the International Monetary Fund, and declared "Venezuela is not for sale."

Also present were Evo Morales, Bolivian indigenous and coca farmer leader; Ecuador’s Blanca Chascoso of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities; Chilean communist leader Gladys Mar’n; Colombia’s Gloria Gait‡n, daughter of assassinated politician Jorge EliÎcer Gait‡n; and Argentine activist Hebe de Bonafini, of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.

The street rally marked the end of a series of seminars that drew figures from the left and the anti-globalization international movement, among them former French socialist minister Jean-Pierre ChÎvÎnement, Spanish Euro-parliamentarian Pedro Marset, and U.S. activist Margaret Prescott of Global Women Strike.

And there were prominent Marxists, including Chilean resident of Cuba Marta Harnecker, the filmmakers Tarik Ali (Pakistani-British), Alex Cox (British) and Fernando Solanas (Argentine), and sociologists, such as James Petras of the United States.

Journalists also made their presence felt, with Argentina’s Stella Calloni, Italy’s Luciana Castellina, Briton Richard Gott and Spaniard Ignacio Ramonet, editor of Le Monde Diplomatique, participating in the events.

The foreign visitors shared panel discussions with leaders of the Venezuelan political parties that support Pres. Ch‡vez, like the Fifth Republic Movement and Fatherland for All, and with military officials who played key roles in the "counter-coup" that put Mr. Ch‡vez back in power, including Gen. Jorge Garc’a Carneiro, then head of the Caracas regiment and now commander of the army.

In between the various events, groups of the foreign guests met with residents of the poor districts of western Caracas, where organizations like the Tupamaros are camped, sympathizers of the president that have emerged from older radical leftist groups.

Cuban Vice-President Lage said in his speech, "There are sectors of the opposition that are afraid that the Venezuelan revolution is going to be ‘Cubanized.’ They can relax. The real danger is that the Cuban revolution will ‘Venezuelanize.’"

"All of our solidarity is with the suffering people of Iraq, with the children, men and women, innocent victims of the bombings," stated Pres. Ch‡vez.

Salvadoran Handal commented that there is "no single path for revolution. The lesson of Venezuela is that it has opened the political-electoral route."

American activist Prescott told the gathering, "The people of the United States are with you. Ch‡vez has marked a milestone."

In 1992, Mr. Ch‡vez, as a lieutenant-colonel paratrooper, led a failed coup, for which he spent two years in prison. Later, he turned to electoral politics and won the presidency in December 1998.

The next year, he pushed for a new Constitution, which was ultimately approved by a plebiscite, and in the new institutional system he was elected in 2000 to govern the country until 2006.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 By: Oscar Heck

VHeadline.com commentarist Oscar Heck writes: The USA appears to be sticking their nose (again) into Venezuelan internal affairs … and Vicente Rangel is saying that the Venezuelan government doesn’t give a damn about what the USA thinks (and rightly so) ... and that Venezuela is not (and will never be) a colony of the USA.

In Iraq, apparently, at least a million Shiite Muslims (the Iraqi majority) took to the streets to celebrate a religious ceremony recently. Meanwhile, they also apparently expressed their desire to establish an Iran-style religious government now that Saddam and gang are gone.

The USA does not agree...

The USA wants a “democratic” government ... better said, the USA wants a USA-style and USA-dictated “democratic government that will allow for USA financial (and exploitation) interests to proliferate without question (under threat of military superiority).

In the last few days, again in Iraq, there have been Iraqi-led demonstrations asking for the US military to leave Iraq. It is reported that in one of these demonstrations, 13 people were killed and over 75 injured after the US troops opened fire on the demonstration. The dead and/or injured included children (to make it clearer, not USA children, but Iraqi children).

What does Iraq have to do with Venezuela?

A lot … principally about oil and who wants to control it, but with a twist called SAIC.

After having done some research, SAIC is: Science Applications International Corporation ... SAIC is 60% owner of a company called Intesa, a joint-venture established in 1996 between PDVSA and SAIC which controls and operates all information systems at PDVSA, and has, according to some reports, an estimated 3,000 employees (40% of Intesa is apparently owned by PDVSA).

Who or what is SAIC?

SAIC was founded in 1969 and is one of the major USA defense and intelligence contractors. According to some ... 55% of their contracts are from USA military and intelligence agencies. The board of SAIC (as well as several lead employees and advisors) is comprised mainly of ex USA military and intelligence heads, including some formerly (?) from the CIA, the FBI and US defense agencies.

According to La Red, a Venezuelan scientific news publication, PDVSA is trying to find a way to buy out the 60% share ownership from SAIC. According to Intesa’s website, Intesa will be dissolved ... and according to another report, it is being dissolved amicably at the request (imposition) of SAIC.

The first question is: Who in his or her right mind would enter into a minority control joint-venture agreement with a USA company specialized in intelligence and defense contracting … and that allows the joint-venture majority owner (SAIC) to control all data and information of a government owned Venezuelan enterprise (i.e., owned by the Venezuelan people)?

I suspect that the joint-venture was approved by the PDVSA Board of Directors at the time.

What were they thinking?

I am not in the petroleum business, but it seems quite evident to me that such a decision (regardless of possible positive economic impacts) is completely irresponsible and anti-Venezuelan.

The next question is: Why is Intesa being dissolved? Perhaps the Chavez government is getting too close to the fire? Was/is SAIC involved (through the 60% ownership of Intesa) in conspiring or in aiding and abetting in the attempted coup against the Chavez government and in the sabotage of PDVSA?

According to SAIC website, some of Kent Greenes’ clients also include, in addition to PDVSA, the US Navy and the US Department of the Defense and according to The Guardian's investigative reporter Duncan Campbell, there are allegations that that the US Navy aided the abortive Venezuelan coup on April 11 with intelligence from its vessels in the Caribbean.

Coincidence?

In addition, as per the SAIC website, the Corporate CKO (Chief Knowledge Officer) of SAIC, is Kent Greenes, formerly a 17-year employee of British Petroleum.

Petroleum interests? Coincidence?

SAIC, being one of the major USA defense contractors was also possibly (and probably) involved with the invasion in Iraq, whether directly or indirectly and/or with the establishment of the USA military high-tech operations base in Doha many months before the invasion. Could it be that SAIC is/was also involved indirectly or directly in the attempted coup against Chavez or in an eventual planned invasion of Venezuela?

SAIC is also deeply involved in the USA “Homeland Security” projects … and there is also a USA-based anti-Chavez and pro-ex-PDVSA-employees group preparing to present a proposal to “Homeland Security” insisting that the present Venezuelan government is a “terrorist” threat … according to them on the same footing as Saddam Hussein!

Coincidence?

CIA’s SAIC ? (palindrome)

Oscar Heck oscar@vheadline.com