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Related: About this forumTrump's Venezuela playbook is disturbingly familiar: Here's the 12-step American method for regime c
Trumps Venezuela playbook is disturbingly familiar: Heres the 12-step American method for regime change
Vijay Prashad, AlterNet
01 FEB 2019 AT 16:56 ET
On September 15, 1970, U.S. President Richard Nixon and National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger authorized the U.S. government to do everything possible to undermine the incoming government of the socialist president of Chile, Salvador Allende. Nixon and Kissinger, according to the notes kept by CIA Director Richard Helms, wanted to make the economy scream in Chile; they were not concerned [about the] risks involved. War was acceptable to them as long as Allendes government was removed from power. The CIA started Project FUBELT, with $10 million as a first installment to begin the covert destabilization of the country.
U.S. business firms, such as the telecommunication giant ITT, the soft drink maker Pepsi and copper monopolies such as Anaconda and Kennecott, put pressure on the U.S. government once Allende nationalized the copper sector on July 11, 1971. Chileans celebrated this day as the Day of National Dignity (Dia de la Dignidad Nacional). The CIA began to make contact with sections of the military seen to be against Allende. Three years later, on September 11, 1973, these military men moved against Allende, who died in the regime change operation. The United States created the conditions, as U.S. National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger put it, to which U.S. President Richard Nixon answered, that is the way it is going to be played. Such is the mood of international gangsterism.
Chile entered the dark night of a military dictatorship that turned over the country to U.S. monopoly firms. U.S. advisers rushed in to strengthen the nerve of General Augusto Pinochets cabinet.
What happened to Chile in 1973 is precisely what the United States has attempted to do in many other countries of the Global South. The most recent target for the U.S. governmentand Western big businessis Venezuela. But what is happening to Venezuela is nothing unique. It faces an onslaught from the United States and its allies that is familiar to countries as far afield as Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The formula is clichéd. It is commonplace, a twelve-step plan to produce a coup climate, to create a world under the heel of the West and of Western big business.
More:
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/02/trumps-venezuela-playbook-disturbingly-familiar-heres-12-step-american-method-regime-change/?utm_source=push_notifications
Editorials and other articles:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016225554
alwaysinasnit
(5,063 posts)philly_bob
(2,419 posts)In another thread, I oppose America's self-appointed right to declare "regime change" in foreign countries.
What I don't get is that this is a clear case where the prevailing "Russia owns Trump" narrative breaks down. Russia supports Maduro. Trump supports Guiado (sp?).
They have been on the same side on most other international issues: sanctions, Ukraine, etc.
Can anybody shed any light?
Judi Lynn
(160,514 posts)It's in Putin's interests to see the US further alienate the world by wreaking havoc in Venezuela. In the meantime, he seems to bolster the Venezuelans' need for an aly (since the fascists have claimed Brazil, Colombia, Chile (Pinera has been known for a very long time to be a past supporter of the sadistic, torturing murderer and great thief, General Pinochet, who was placed in power by Richard M. Nixon), so seeing the US over-involve itself butting into the internal affairs of a South American country will create greater contempt for the US world-wide, which can only be seen as a victory for anyone interested in using the US history of meddling against it.
That's my belief. Without a doubt you will get some rebuttal hostility to my post, so you will have a chance to see what would represent itself as an "opposite" view from some pro-aggression people who post at this message board created for progressives.
lostnfound
(16,169 posts)Trump is partially following the standard regime change playbook, yes.
Im sure it is shaking up Madura and his allies, making them vulnerable and unsteady and.....
MORE READY TO ACCEPT WHATEVER TERMS PUTIN THROWS AT THEM.
I suspect that the prediction is that standard regime change playbook is being used as a shakedown, to weaken Maduro, but it will leave Maduro in place. In the meantime, Putin is probably negotiating terms for control of Venezuelas oil production and/or contracts of which Russians are part owners.
Putin will have far more influence in South America than in the past, thanks to Trump..
philly_bob
(2,419 posts)JL: Misalignment of Trump and Putin on Venezuela is because Putin knows US intervention would weaken US standing in South America.
LNF: It's a good-cop/bad-cop shakedown that will leave Maduro in charge and more beholden than ever to Putin.
DB: What is surprising is how many people and countries are pro-intervention. Britain? Canada? Meanwhile, Clinton and many Democrats have been silent.
This has been an interesting exchange on a serious subject.
I'm sure we all agree, incidentally, that the suffering of the Venezuelan people is devastating and must end. The question is how it's fixed, coup or election?
Here's a Superbowl matrix of possibilities (Pick one):
WHO IS HEAD OF VENEZUELA IN 2020?
Guaido or Maduro?
WHO CONTROLS VENZUELAN OIL IN 2020?
US or Soviet Oil Companies?
HOW WILL VENEZUELAN ECONOMY BE FIXED?
Coup or election?
My guess is Maduro/Soviet Oil Companies/election
The discussion leads back to an issue that has been on the agenda for nearly two decades: how can our civilization certify fair and timely elections?
My answer is take election decision-making out of the hands of interested parties, use hand-counted paper ballots and an independent observer at every polling place.
denverbill
(11,489 posts)We don't care if it's a dictatorship as long as oligarchs run it. But if any country dares to actually try socialism, it's boycotts, destabilization, and coups.
It doesn't surprise me that Bolton and Trump and a lot of other right wing nuts favor this. What i don't get is how few people are against it. Canada is Ok with it? Britain? I've heard nothing from Obama or either of the Clintons. I actually had hopes Obama might reconcile with Chavez early in his first term but Obama completely blew him off. Who is left in this country that actually supports democracy over capitalism?
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)Trump didn't plan to win the Presidency. It was just grandstanding. That's why he never ended the Trump Tower Moscow negotiations. He even planned for Trump TV in case of a defeat!!! He thought this is just one big game, while the Russians and Wikileaks did everything to catapult their useful idiot into a position of power.
Trump didn't plan to bring coal back.
Trump didn't plan to come up with a better healthcare-plan than the ACA.
Trump didn't plan to overhaul infrastructure.
Trump didn't plan to build the wall.
Trump never had a plan for anything.
GatoGordo
(2,412 posts)Now, we are supposed to believe he can orchestrate regime change in Venezuela?
Sorry, Judi, but Chavismo is doing all of Trumps "hard work" for him. Regime change is coming, but it is internal.
EX500rider
(10,832 posts)....even if there is no proof because CHILE 1973!!!