Pompeo in Latin America
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
From April 11 – 15, his visits to Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Colombia are all about hardening the Trump regime’s coup plot against Venezuela’s Maduro and Bolivarian social democracy.
It also aims to counter growing Sino/Russian influence in the country and region. Along with Venezuela, the Trump regime wants sovereign independent governments in Cuba and Nicaragua toppled.
According to the State Department, repressive regimes in Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Chile are “models” for what Trump hardliners have in mind for Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, wanting them transformed into US vassal states – along with Russia, China, Iran, and other sovereign independent governments.
Ahead of Pompeo’s Friday arrival in Santiago, Chile, opposition MPs drafted legislation demanding President Sebastian Pinera formally reject US military intervention in Venezuela.
Friday on Chilean television, Pompeo repeated the threat of US military intervention in the Bolivarian Republic, saying “every single tool, every single option remains on the table,” meaning possible military intervention if other tactics fail – despite strong regional opposition to the Trump regime going this far.
Pompeo turned truth on its head, accusing Russia of involvement in Venezuela “without authority…without the consent of the Venezuelan people” – ignoring a bilateral 2001 agreement.
Russia is involved with Venezuela cooperatively, a mutually beneficial alliance US unacceptable demands to leave the country won’t change.
The Trump regime intends introducing a Security Council resolution recognizing imposter Guaido as Venezuela interim president – the measure sure to be vetoed by Russia, likely by China as well.
On Friday, the Treasury Department illegally sanctioned four companies and nine ships involved in legally transporting Venezuelan oil to Cuba.
On Monday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said his government will “fulfill its commitments” to Cuba despite illegal US sanctions trying to block them, adding:
“When the conventional power of capitalism attacks you, you have to know how to respond through non-conventional means, always respecting international law.”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced Trump regime sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector, calling the actions “economic piracy.”
Separately, Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez accused convicted coup plotter under house arrest Leopoldo Lopez of involvement in a terrorist group called Cocoon 2.0 – part of the Trump regime’s aim to topple Maduro and eliminate social democracy in the country.
He’ll likely be re-imprisoned, where he should have remained, sentenced to a 14-year term, placed under house arrest in 2017 for health reasons.
He remains actively involved with opposition groups wanting Maduro toppled, earlier saying “(i)f that means that I must return to a cell in Ramo Verde (military prison) then I am prepared to do it.”
Release of Lopez to house arrest was criticized by grassroots Chavistas, warning his unlawful activities would continue.
Conditions of his release weren’t announced, likely prohibiting his involvement in political activities, clearly what he’s done, in cahoots with internal and Trump regime coop plotters.
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