Tulsi Gabbard v. Bernie Sanders on Iran and Venezuela
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Republicans and undemocratic Dems target both countries for regime change – because of their sovereign independence, opposition to US imperial wars, support for Palestinian rights, and wanting control over their vast oil reserves, among other reasons.
Gabbard and Sanders are hostile to Iran while supporting the JCPOA nuclear deal. Ahead of its adoption, Sanders said “(i)t is imperative that Iran not get a nuclear weapon.”
He called “prevent(ing) Iran from getting a nuclear weapon…an absolute imperative” – ignoring the Islamic Republic’s abhorrence of these weapons, wanting them eliminated everywhere, while failing to condemn nuclear armed and dangerous Israel, willing to use these terror weapons if threatened.
Separately, he lied saying “Iran’s behavior in so many ways is something that we disagree with, their support for terrorism (a bald-faced Big Lie), the anti-American rhetoric” for good reason he failed to explain, adding:
He opposes establishing diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic, showing hostility toward the region’s leading proponent of peace and stability, combatting terrorism, not pursuing or supporting it like the US, NATO and Israel, Sanders failing to condemn their hostile actions.
Tulsi Gabbard supported the Iran nuclear deal with reservations, saying she voted for it “not because it’s a great deal, or even a good deal” she likely never read or understands its principles, adding:
“I voted for it because I could not find a better alternative. There are two main alternatives—both of them bad,” showing hostility toward and ignorance about the Islamic Republic.
Without the JCPOA, “Iran would very likely go full speed ahead to develop a nuclear bomb, with no monitoring,” she falsely claimed, adding: “Nuclear experts (sic) believe it would take Iran just 2-3 months—plenty of time for Iran to build a nuclear bomb.”
The above remarks are unacceptably hostile and untrue, no evidence suggesting otherwise.
Gabbard opposes military action against Iran now, not necessarily later, saying if it’s “required in the future, we will be in a stronger and more effective position having implemented the present agreement because of the unprecedented access and significant intelligence advantage that we gain through this deal.”
The above statement sounds Trump-like – disturbing and unacceptable.
Sanders is unequivocally hostile to Venezuela – instead of supporting the hemisphere’s preeminent democratic state.
He lied saying “Maduro…has been waging a violent crackdown on Venezuelan civil society (sic), violated the constitution by dissolving the National Assembly (sic), and was re-elected last year in an election that many observers said was fraudulent (sic).
“Further, the economy is a disaster and millions are migrating (sic)” – ignoring illegal Trump regime sanctions and other hostile actions, adding:
“The United States should support the rule of law, fair elections and self-determination for the Venezuelan people. We must condemn the use of violence against unarmed protesters and the suppression of dissent.”
Venezuelan elections are scrupulously open, free, and fair, polar opposite the US sham process Sanders endorses as an undemocratic Dem presidential aspirant.
He’s hostile to Russia, China, and other nations on the US target list for regime change, supporting illegal sanctions war on these countries – instead of forthrightly denouncing what’s going on against these and other nations.
To her credit, Gabbard opposes interventionist US wars for regime change, wanting money for belligerence spent for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other social programs.
She opposes Trump and “neocon war hawks that surround (him).” They “have made no secret about what their intentions are to further this regime change effort both in Venezuela as well as in Iran. So we are hearing these war drums beating,” she said, adding:
Trump “is acting not with our interest in mind, not with the American people’s interest in mind and moving forward with something that’ll prove to be very, very costly.”
“We do have a situation with a cabinet full of neocon war hawks whose history is very well-known in leading our country into one regime change war after the other and to great expense in American lives, to trillions of dollars coming out of our tax payer’s pockets as well as the lives and the suffering at the devastation of the people in the countries where we waged these wars.”
“The 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.”
“It’s about the oil.” Bolton admitted it. It’s also very much wanting the hemisphere’s leading democracy eliminated.
Asked if she opposes recognition of Guaido as Venezuelan president along with other views expressed above, a spokesperson responded saying: “All of the above.”
Sanders is a longstanding con man, most always voting like other undemocratic Dems, revealing the true measure of the man – a figure to oppose, not support.
Saying one thing, doing another shows he can never be trusted. He’s part of the problem, not the vitally needed solution.
Gabbard’s record is mixed. She, too, largely votes along party lines, including support for illegal sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
She opposes US military involvement in Syria “without adhering to our constitutional requirements.”
She supported war criminal/racketeer/perjurer Hillary for president in 2016 after becoming Dem standard bearer.
She backs the phony US war on terrorism while advocating noninterventionism, saying:
“The pro-war propaganda of regime change is the exact same mentality that got us into the disastrous war on Iraq, Libya and now Syria, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in the Middle East, the deaths of thousands of American soldiers and costing American taxpayers over $6 trillion dollars.”
She accused the CIA of “funneling weapons and money through Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and others who provide direct and indirect support to groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.”
In January 2017, she spent a week in Damascus, Aleppo and Beirut, witnessing firsthand the impact of war on the Syrian people.
There are no so-called moderate rebels involved in the conflict, she said, adding: “That is a fact.” They’re all terrorists, “trying to overthrow Assad.”
She met with him in Damascus, on return expressing “even greater resolve to end our illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government.”
The US is a one-party state, the war party, Republicans and undemocratic Dems two sides of the same coin.
No declared Dem presidential aspirants are worthy of the nation’s highest office.
They’re on the wrong side of too many important issues to compensate for voting the right way on others.
Whoever triumphs in 2020 won’t change a thing. Dirty business as usual will continue like always.
It’s why the only solution is popular revolution for governance of, by, and for everyone equitably. Nothing else can work.
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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."
