Dems Against the Trump Regime’s Coup Plot in Venezuela
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Few in Congress dare challenge Washington’s geopolitical agenda, notably not one-sided support for Israel, US wars of aggression, color revolutions, or coup plots like what’s ongoing in Venezuela.
Going against consensus entails risks. Big money is certain to back challengers in future elections. Campaign funding is likely to be hampered. Choice committee assignments may be denied, major media criticism supporting wrong over right certain to be harsh.
That said, several Dems challenged the Trump regime’s coup plot to topple Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, its democratically elected and reelected president.
They refuse to recognize usurper in waiting Guaido, a convenient Trump regime stooge with no legitimacy, a traitor to his nation belonging in prison doing hard time longterm, hopefully his eventual fate.
Con man Bernie Sanders isn’t among the select few supporting Bolivarian social democracy. He largely backs Washington’s imperial agenda - expressing hostility toward Russia, China, Iran, Syria’s Assad and Venezuela’s Maduro.
He lied saying Maduro “has been waging a violent crackdown on Venezuelan civil society, violated the constitution by dissolving the National Assembly and was re-elected last year in an election that many observers said was fraudulent.”
He endorsed the Trump regime’s Trojan horse PR stunt “humanitarian aid,” unrelated to helping Venezuelans, part of his regime change plot.
Short of endorsing imposter Guaido, he failed to denounce his illegal power grab - along with saying nothing about US war on Venezuela by other means, the main factor behind its troubled economy.
Compare Sanders to Tulsi Gabbard, saying “(t)he United States needs to stay out of Venezuela. Let the Venezuelan people determine their future. We don’t want other countries to choose our leaders. So we have to stop trying to choose theirs.”
Separately, she said “(e)very time the United States, and particularly in Latin America, has gotten involved in regime change, using different tools to enact that regime change, there have been both short and long-term devastating impacts.”
“If there are ways that we can work with surrounding countries to try to get humanitarian aid in to people there, then we should be doing that.”
“But for the United States to go in and choose who should be the leader of Venezuela, that is not something that serves the interests of the Venezuelan people. That’s something that they need to determine themselves.”
Along with strong criticism of Israeli apartheid persecution of Palestinians, Ilhan Omar said “(i)f we really want to support the Venezuelan people, we can lift the economic sanctions that are inflicting suffering on innocent families, making it harder for them to access food and medicines, and deepening the economic crisis. We should support dialogue, not a coup!”
“A US backed backed coup in Venezuela is not a solution to the dire issues they face. Trump’s efforts to install a far right opposition will only incite violence and further destabilize the region. We must support…peaceful dialogue.”
Last month, Omar challenged the Trump regime’s point man for toppling Maduro Elliot Abrams, saying:
“In 1991, you pleaded guilty to two counts of withholding information from Congress regarding your involvement in the Iran-Contra affair, for which you were later pardoned by President George HW Bush,” adding:
“I fail to understand why members of this committee or the American people should find any testimony you give today to be truthful.”
She pressed him further on earlier calling the December 1981 El Mozote massacre of up to 1,200 Salvador civilians “a fabulous achievement,” adding: “Do you still think so?”
“Would you support an armed faction within Venezuela that engages in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide if you believed they were serving US interests as you did in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua?”
Perhaps Omar above all others in Congress is courageous enough to oppose Washington’s imperial agenda - supported by the vast majority of others, taking plenty of flak for her courage.
Ro Khanna said the following: “(T)he US should not anoint the leader of the opposition in Venezuela during an internal, polarized conflict.”
“(C)rippling sanctions and threats of military action are making life worse for ordinary Venezuelans, and the US stands alone in its decision to impose economic sanctions against the Venezuelan government.”
“Let us support Uruguay, Mexico, an the Vatican’s efforts for a negotiated settlement and end sanctions that are making the hyperinflation worse.”
“I plan to circulate a letter to my colleagues…urging them to immediately change course (on the Trump regime’s) policy toward Venezuela.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez repeated Khanna’s remark on Venezuela, saying “the US should not anoint the leader of the opposition in Venezuela during an internal, polarized conflict.” She urged a negotiated settlement and end to sanctions war.
Rashida Tlaib called the Trump regime’s recognition of Guaido a “US-backed coup.” Most all other congressional members either back the plot or failed to denounce it.
Politics isn’t for the fainthearted. Few profiles in courage ever exist in Washington. It takes a thick skin and resolve to support what’s right regardless of polar opposite consensus and harsh criticism.
Few rise to the challenge. The bold and brave deserve popular support.
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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
