Venezuela cuts ties with Panama, calling country a 'lackey' for the United States

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Venezuela's President severed diplomatic relations with Panama Wednesday, accusing the Central American nation of being a "lackey" for the United States in a conspiracy plot against his government.

"There are maneuvers by the U.S. government plotting with a lackey government that has a right-wing president who is leaving in the next few months, who is not worthy of his people, who has been working actively against Venezuela," President Nicolas Maduro said in televised remarks.

He accused Panama of pushing for regional organizations to intervene in Venezuela. As a result, Maduro said he was cutting off diplomatic and political ties and freezing trade relations with Panama's current government "in defense of the homeland's sovereignty."

Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said in a Twitter post that he was surprised by Venezuela's decision.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/americas/venezuela-panama-diplomatic-ties-suspended/

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I've always preferred Flunkies myself; they're as useful at Lackeys, but they have fancier uniforms...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Panama is a lackey of the U.S. It's been bought and is owned. nt

[smokey775]

7. ?????

[Sarah Ibarruri]

15. Yeah well, its history is very interesting. U.S. property. nt

[smokey775]

16. What property do we own there now?

Certainly not the Canal or the military base the used to border the Canal.
Last I heard, the Chinese were moving in and making deals with the Panamanian govt.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. What I said was that it has a history of being wholly owned by the U.S.

Tiny Panama, controlled by Americans, and with the Americans training (via the U.S.' School of the Americas) even Manuel Noriega, a dictator (isn't that the sort of leader the U.S. always does regime change in Latin countries with?), is still a tiny country, which has been pretty stomped by the U.S.

[smokey775]

20. But that's not the case now, is it?

So for Maduro to say Panama is a lackey of the US is an out and out lie, right?
It would seem that Maduro is blaming everyone else for the poor conditions in Venezuela rather than himself and his corrupt govt.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

22. That's much like the right wing attitude toward blacks as a nation...

You crush something till it has no self-will, then assume it's powerful and strong and can do anything within nanoseconds after you "liberate" it. mmhmm

[smokey775]

23. It's been more 14 years since the revolution and things have only gotten worse,

how is that nanoseconds?

A country that sits on the worlds largest oil reserves should have by now, pulled itself up and have a thriving, robust economy, instead, there's 56% inflation, crime rate out of control, govt suppression of legitimate protests, which, by the way, are being joined by the poor, the poor that are supposed to be represented by the socialist govt in Venezuela.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

28. If it had, and if it had elected a democratically-elected govt UNFRIENDLY to having the U.S.

manipulate it, we'd be seeing the same regime-change sh*t. Fact is, since The Monroe Doctrine, the U.S. has not extricated its control from Latin America, and it does so by making sure to keep its oligarchy in its back pocket. Not that oligarchy requires a hell of a lot convincing. If you're the 1% and are there by exploiting the rest (how else?), and the U.S. comes along and says, "We like what you're doing, let's be pals," it will not require much. In fact, the oligarchy in these countries often seek out the U.S. and collaborate with them in subverting any democratically-elected government which doesn't kow tow to the oligarchy, and doesn't bow to corporate control.

[smokey775]

29. IOW, all you have is "it's the fault of the US"?

None of this is the fault of the Venezuelan Govt? It's all the fault of the US.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

30. "Cria fama y echate a dormir"

That's a saying in my country. It means: "Get yourself a nasty-ass reputation, and you may as well go to bed, because you're going to have a hell of a time changing it."

That's the U.S. They've spent so much money, so much time, so much effort doing regime-change of democratically-elected leaders, causing coups of leaders that are not pro-U.S. or not pro-corporate, financing dictators friendly to the U.S. and corporate entities, and LYING ABOUT IT, and playing poor innocent victim, that now, automatically, people go on red alert when a democratically-elected leader is ousted.

However, in this case, it's finally coming out that the protestors were nicely organized and financed by the U.S. and E.U.

So, cria fama y acuestate a dormir.

Until the U.S. stops its criminal activity, it will not be believed or trusted, and as seen by Ukraine, it shouldn't be believed or trusted.

[laurent]

37. +1

[Zorra]

18. Our noble and blameless country would never work with RW Governments in Latin America!

But I could be wrong about this.

The right-wing governments in Mexico, Panama, Chile, and Colombia have closer relations with the U.S....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America%E2%80%93United_States_relations

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. Never! The U.S. would never dedicate millions and train dictators to crush Latin America!

How dare anyone even suggest that!

[smokey775]

21. Because every thing that goes wrong in latin america is the US's fault.

[Zorra]

31. Well, it's not really our fault; we were just doing our job, workin' for da man.

[Mika]

32. Fault? Huh? Its all going right ...

... according to OTI, CIA, NED, IRI, USAID, etc, etc, dept of state plans.

[jakeXT]

2. .

[Laelth]

3. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Hee.

I don't think he's wrong.

[geek tragedy]

5. childish move. Mad Maduro is putting any country that offends his delicate sensibilities

on the "ignore list."

[Laelth]

8. You might find this thread interesting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110827379

On the other hand, you might not.



-Laelth

[geek tragedy]

11. I did find it interesting. Venezuela is definitely a more complex situation

than one finds in either the US or Venezuelan media.

There's always a delicate line between advancing social justice vigorously against oligarchic interests and turning to authoritarianism wherein the resentments of the less privileged are exploited to keep the ruling party in power.

I think Chavez stayed on the good side of that line, and I think Maduro jumped over it with both feet.

The Chavistas have banked a good deal of support amongst the poor over the past decade. But, at some point, a government has to be judged on its ability to lift people out of poverty. if the middle class get declared the enemy of the poor, there's really no hope for progress

[Laelth]

13. Nice post.

So long as we remain open to new and different evidence and are willing to change our minds if our pre-conceived notions are proven to be false by said new information, then I think we're being good liberals and good people.

Kudos.

-Laelth

[smokey775]

6. I guess it's Panama's turn to take the blame for the royal fuck ups of Maduro.

I just wonder who'll be next, the Virgin Islands? No? Benghazi? Ukraine?
It's getting to where I can't keep up with this guy on who's to blame for the effed up conditions in his country.

[Laelth]

9. You might find this thread interesting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110827379

On the other hand, you might not.



-Laelth

[smokey775]

10. I commend the Govt. for arresting those that shot the protesters,

but that still doesn't excuse Maduro govt. from the heavy handed tactics to try to suppress these legitimate protests about the conditions inside Venezuela and Maduro constantly blaming other countries for what he is responsible for.

[Laelth]

12. As long as we, in the United States, are willing to accept our share of the responsibility ...

... then I don't disagree with you.

And the link I provided shows that we're partially responsible for, once again, fomenting a revolution in a sovereign state.

-Laelth

[smokey775]

14. In the words of Captain Barbosa.....

Aye, we have an accord.

[snooper2]

24. I'm sure that will stop the 10's of thousands of students protesting in the streets

Ol' Maduro is running out of boogie-men to blame...


Next he'll blame posters on DU

[brooklynite]

25. Maybe they'll schedule a referendum on joining Russia.....

[Comrade Grumpy]

34. It looks like it's petered out. You're 10s of thousands is now "scores."

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/04/27/venezuela-unrest-continues-as-scores-march-against-government-ruling-limiting/

Venezuela Unrest Continues As Scores March Against Government Ruling Limiting Protests
Published April 27, 2014Fox News Latino

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AP) – Scores of opponents of President Nicolas Maduro marched in Caracas on Saturday, vowing to remain on the streets in defiance of a high court ruling limiting protests.

Student organizers at the last minute decided against marching downtown to avoid a confrontation with security forces in the government-controlled district. Instead they concentrated in the wealthier, eastern neighborhoods that have been the hotbed of unrest since February.

Demonstrators carried signs on Saturday blasting a Supreme Court ruling this week that gives police the right to disperse protests that don't have a permit. Opponents say the ruling is the latest attempt by the socialist government to muzzle dissent amid widespread discontent with 57 percent inflation and record shortages.

Protests that the government blames for more than 40 deaths have lost some of their momentum in recent weeks in the face of a government crackdown and an attempt at dialogue by some members of the opposition.

<snip>

[bitchkitty]

26. Good for him. n/t

[hrmjustin]

27. Maduro doesn't seem like he is ready for prime time.

[Pterodactyl]

33. Maduro is an ass.

[EX500rider]

35. At least Venz. will still have it great friends: Syria, Iran, Cuba, China & Zimbabwe

Awesome company there. I guess North Korea will be the next buddy.

[RedCloud]

36. Give Panama back to Colombia, freaking rough riders!