Trump Regime Coup Plotters Not Quitting in Venezuela
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Trump regime hardliners didn’t plan and implement the anti-Bolivarian coup plot in January to quit — no matter how futile the effort short of direct US military intervention.
Everything thrown at Maduro and the Bolivarian Republic failed, including the tempest in a teapot Tuesday insurrection by a handful of soldiers, most or all deceived about what they’d be involved in. More on this below.
The plot to replace Venezuelan social democracy with fascist tyranny will likely continue as long as hardline extremists control the Trump regime’s geopolitical agenda — Tuesday events the latest chapter of the coup plot, lots more sure to come.
Addressing the nation on Tuesday, President Nicolas Maduro affirmed support by Venezuela’s military for his leadership and the Bolivarian Republic.
He explained that the plot to gain control over the La Carlota military base failed, a futile effort. Hoping to gain support from its commanders and rank and file soldiers never materialized.
Maduro slammed the aim of Venezuelan fascists in cahoots with Trump regime hardliners to “impose an illegitimate government and subject the country to a neocolonial model,” adding:
“Today was a contrast of peace and violence in Venezuela, a coup d’etat, delivered to foreign interests and the gringo empire.”
Those responsible will not go unpunished, he stressed, what’s going on clearly orchestrated in Washington, Maduro adding:
“I have spoken to the attorney general, and he has appointed three national prosecutors who are questioning everyone involved in this event, and they are tasked with investigating and filing criminal charges.”
Dirty CIA hands no doubt are involved. Coups are a Langley specialty since replacing Iran’s democratic government with fascist tyranny in 1953 during the Eisenhower years.
At the time, the NYT called toppled leader Mohammad Mosaddegh “the most popular politician in the country.” Despot Reza Shah Pahlavi replaced him.
A generation-long reign of terror followed, what Trump regime hardliners have in mind for Venezuela, wanting Bolivarianism extinguished by eliminating its leadership and supporters.
In 1954, the CIA struck again, ousting Guatemala’s Jacobo Arbenz Guzman. Eisenhower implemented what Truman authorized in 1952 before leaving office.
Paramilitary subversion and psychological warfare forced Arbenz out. Fascist Carlos Castillo Armas replaced him. Death squad terror followed. So did decades of genocide.
Wherever the US shows up, mass slaughter, destruction and human misery follow, what’s planned for Venezuela, Iran, and other countries on the US target list for regime change.
Russia and China are prime targets, the only nations able to effectively challenge US hegemonic aims, especially united for a common aim.
It’s key for Russia especially to step up to the plate in defense of Venezuela’s sovereign independence — why I strongly urged Vladimir Putin to send peacekeepers to the country.
The UN defines their mission as “a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace” according to international law.
Taking this step is the most effective way to defeat the Trump regime’s coup plot in my judgment.
US, UK, French veto power prevents Security Council authorization. Russia should act independently to help preserve and protect Venezuela’s sovereignty from rapacious US aims — as long as Maduro consents to the mission.
Russia’s intervention in Syria at the behest of Damascus turned the tide of battle, preventing the country from becoming another US imperial trophy, isolating Iran, ahead of a similar scheme to topple its government.
The same thing applies to Venezuela. The US seeks control over the country, wanting it colonized, its resources looted, its people exploited. Russian intervention for regional peace and stability can foil the Trump regime’s best laid plans.
The imperial prize its seeks is gaining control over Venezuelan oil reserves, the world’s largest, along with other valued resources, including timber, iron ore, copper, diamonds, lead, zinc, bauxite, nickel, tin, mercury, gold, silver, manganese, chromium, platinum, titanium, tungsten, and phosphates.
How the State Department long ago described Saudi oil reserves as a “stupendous source of strategic power, and one of the greatest material prizes in world history” applies to Venezuela.
Its oil reserves likely way exceed what lies beneath Saudi sands. The US Energy Department once estimated Venezuela’s heavy and extra-heavy oil resources at up to 1.36 trillion barrels — a prize Washington long coveted, why Trump regime hardliners are going all out to topple Maduro.
On Tuesday, Venezuelans turned out en masse outside the presidential palace in Caracas, supporting Maduro and Bolivarian social democracy they want preserved.
In his Tuesday address, Maduro called for a “massive mobilization” on May day to commemorate workers’ day and “defend peace.”
Through his spokesman on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres failed to condemn the latest chapter of the Trump regime’s coup plot, instead saying:
He “urges all sides to exercise maximum restraint, and he appeals to all stakeholders to avoid any violence and take immediate steps to restore calm” — a shameful statement.
The same goes for EU political chief Federica Mogherini, urging “restraint,” along with opposing “any form of violence.”
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani supports the Trump regime’s coup plot, tweeting in translation from Spanish to English:
“Today # 30abr marks a historic moment for the return to democracy and freedom in Venezuela, which the European Parliament has always supported,” adding:
“The liberation of the Sakharov Prize @leopoldolopez by military to the order of the Constitution, is great news. Let’s go free Venezuela!”
According to Venezuelan Foro Penal NGO head Alfredo Romero:
“We confirm the information on 83 arrests for participation in demonstrations today” — mostly in Zulia state and Caracas, small numbers elsewhere.
Coup plotter Leopoldo Lopez reportedly took refuge in the Spanish embassy to avoid arrest. Elements involved in Tuesday’s violence were reportedly armed with M4 Colt assault rifles, likely flown in from south Florida, smuggled in cross-border. Venezuelan soldiers use AK-103 assault rifles.
Pompeo turned truth on its head, claiming Maduro “was ready to leave (Venezuela) this morning (for Cuba) as we understand it (sic), and the Russians indicated he should stay (sic)” — a bald-faced Big Lie.
On Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova issued a statement, saying the following:
“We have been saying since the beginning of the crisis in Venezuela that the threat to use force, Washington’s aggressive rhetoric…and actions that the world is watching are unacceptable because they led to the deterioration of the situation,” adding:
“(I)n Washington, politicians…do not see the catastrophic situation that they put the country into. The situation is deteriorating.”
“Russia has always been taking the position of non-intervention in domestic affairs of (other) government(s), avoiding regime change, especially using force for this” — what the US does repeatedly worldwide.
The Trump regime’s plot to topple Venezuela’s legitimate government is the latest example of what the scourge of imperialism is all about — threatening everyone everywhere.
Tuesday events and whatever follows have no chance to succeed, suggesting two possible aims — to get Guaido arrested or killed, the latter perhaps by a CIA assassin, as a pretext for US military intervention.
He’s expendable and replaceable, others no doubt trained by the US for the role he assumed, directed by his handlers in Washington.
Tuesday events upped the stakes, lots more no doubt planned and coming. As long as Venezuela’s military supports Maduro, the Trump regime plot to topple him will fail — short of US military intervention that’s unlikely but possible, given extremist hardliners controlling events in the country.
What’s going on in the Bolivarian Republic is a developing story, more on it in follow-up articles.
A Final Comment
Maduro congratulated Venezuela’s military for “defeating” Tuesday’s coup attempt.
According to Telesur, “80% of those soldiers who were brought along for the coup had been tricked into it…(T)hey were told they were carrying out another operation, but as soon as they saw (coop plotter) Leopoldo Lopez and opposition leaders, they left.”
Dozens were injured on Tuesday from violence stoked by the coup plotters, including five soldiers and two colonels, no one killed.
So-called “Operation Freedom” is all about the Trump regime’s coup plot — a diabolical aim to eliminate Venezuelan social democracy US hardliners abhor everywhere, especially at home.
Viva Chavez! Viva Chavismo! Viva Bolivarianism! Viva Venezuela! Valor y fuerza (Courage and strength)! Hasta la victoria siempre (Onward to victory)!
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