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What's Going On In Venezuela (In A Nutshell)
Protests in Venezuela continue (despite President Maduro's proclamation that the nation is in "absolute calm"), with both the government and the opposition holding rallies, leaving several streets and subway stations in Caracas closed. 10 students who were arrested amid violent protests last week have been released, though 6 students remain in custody. Demonstrators do not yet have the numbers or support base to unseat President Nicolas Maduro's administration, but as Stratfor notes, these protests could mark a turning point as the economic situation deteriorates there is a chance that protests like this could begin to generate additional social momentum in rejection of the status quo.
What's going in Venezuela (in a nutshell)
And as Stratfor notes, things could be changing for Maduro...
Relatively large student-led opposition protests convened in Caracas, Valencia, Maracaibo and many other cities throughout the country. Rough Stratfor estimates put the crowd in Caracas at between 15,000-20,000 people based on aerial photos posted on social media. Venezuela's students are very politically active and protests are frequent. However, the relatively large turnout and widespread geographic distribution of this week's protests indicate that the movement may be gaining traction.
The challenge that the student movement will face is in finding a way to include Venezuela's laboring class, which for the most part still supports the government, and relies on its redistributive policies. Their inability to rouse broad support across Venezuela's social and economic classes was in part why previous student uprisings, including significant protests in 2007, failed to generate enough momentum to trigger a significant political shift.
But the situation has changed in Venezuela, and as the economic situation deteriorates there is a chance that protests like this could begin to generate additional social momentum in rejection of the status quo. President Nicolas Maduro has been in office for less than a year, and in that time the inflation rate has surged to over 50 percent and food shortages are a daily problem. Though firmly in power, the Chavista government is still struggling to address massive social and economic challenges. Massive government spending, years of nationalization and an overreliance on imports for basic consumer goods have radically deteriorated inflation levels, and undermined industrial production.
How the government responds will play a key role in the development of these protests going forward. The government cannot afford to crack down too hard without risking even worse unrest in the future. For its part, the mainstream opposition must walk a careful line between supporting the sentiment behind open unrest and being seen as destabilizing the country. Maduro retains the power to punish opposition politicians, and reaffirmed that Feb. 11 when he stated on national television that he intends to renew the law allowing him to outlaw political candidates who threaten the peace of the country. The statement was a clear shot over the bow of opposition leaders, and may foreshadow a more aggressive government policy designed to limit political opposition.
Venezuela certainly does not appear the "absolute calm" the President described it as...
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Goldman Sachs to the rescue!
Interesting, zh goes on and on about US involvement in Ukraine but on Venezula? Total silence including quoting stratfor (us intelligence) verbatim.
Yet the head of the opposition is an alumnus of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_School_of_Government and the anti government protestors are backed by US ally Colombia. Not to menton the US has an unquestioned long history of meddling with Venezula including supporting various military coups attempts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States%E2%80%93Venezuela_relations
Of course its the US. But in Venezuela there is no good guy vs bad guy dilemma. A civil war at Russia's borders, between Ukrainians (russian as well) and Russians would be a dream come true for the State Dep.? We can only speculate...
How come students in Venezuela are fighting against government oppression and here students are fighting FOR government oppression?
"Interesting, zh goes on and on about US involvement in Ukraine but on Venezula? Total silence including quoting stratfor (us intelligence) verbatim.
Yet the head of the opposition is an alumnus of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_School_of_Government and the anti government protestors are backed by US ally Colombia. Not to menton the US has an unquestioned long history of meddling with Venezula including supporting various military coups attempts. "
Wait a minute....is not former bus driver and current president for life Maduro the hand-picked successor to Comrade Colonel and 1992 coup organizer Hugo Chavez? And is not the military turning out in support of Maduro? Which Venezeulan military is the US supporting here?
I thought this type of collapse was just the end game of the Cloward Piven plan?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloward%E2%80%93Piven_strategy
Choomboy is a believer of this nonsense.
now if that would just spillover to the US for some real change...
Amerika lives by the tried and tested if-you've-got-nothing-to-hide rule.
So you see, its the third world Venezuelans who have got their logic backwards.
Ghana is a fart in a Hurricane, but countries the size and scope of Venezuela and Argentina going down, is hugely deflationary: loan write-offs, forced sales, lower oil imports, etc.
I think we will see a major depression first, then the hyper-inflation as the BenYellens of the world panic, and lose it.
Hah!! Fart in a Hurricane. I stealing that one.
This comment desrves a laugh. The Kennedy School of Goverment is an anti-U.S. institution of the first order. There are too many examples to list here, but just Google John P. Holden, Hilary Rantisi or the Dean of the Kennedy School, Stephen Walt, for a sample. Anti-U.S. and anti-Israel ( a U.S. ally, as long as barry doesn't get his way) policy statements and acts overflow from this cancerous institution.
Anti-U.S. and anti-Israel policy statements and acts overflow from this cancerous institution.
The American neo-con mind, paranoid lunacy to new heights - Kennedy school, anti-US & anti-Israel lol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_School_of_Government
Check out #3 on list of alum, though to your mind Ayalon is probably anti-israel and anti-US as well haha
Israel as a US ally.
Tell that to the crew of the USS Liberty. Tell that to Jonathan Pollard.
I don't think the US is an ally so much as a useful idiot.
Tell that to Lyndon Johnson-berg and Admiral McCain who recalled US Navy F-4s to protect the USS Liberty.
Who was the first on the scene to help the USS Liberty? The Russian navy which the Liberty waved off. The US Navy arrived much later.
Attacking Russians is not on, they would just wipe out Israel.
On the other hand, the US donates hundreds of billions of dollars, ever since, or there about. But given they armed al-qaeda with extremely large sums over several decades, as well, especially since 9-11, then I'm not really surprised the US State Department has an even-handed policy of supporting all worthy terrorist organizations, especially ones that consistently bite the US tax-payer, who graciously feeds them and donates their airforce and navy to the cause.
Philanthropy's finest.
It's because they have oil, always has been, the Coca industry is spending cash to the agencies that run it. But like any inflationary situation in an economic downturn; the lack of customers, all those operational costs creeping up, along with the creeping death of the small airplane industry spell out a logistical nightmare this point forward. Plus the other issue with fuel inbound... Anycase, some month in the near future a bean counter is going to notice that they haven't been doing as well as they thought they were.
And it's not exactly a business known for it's flexibility for owing money to, for, against, around, etc. Should be interesting to see how fast everyone capitulates and back peddles once the magic number pops up. <PoP!> Next time they shouldn't play with commodities pricing like idiots and let the true forces of supply and demand dictate the end cost. Can only hide a cost for so long before it becomes many costs later. The old Chiense proverb of don't save money on candles if the results are twins is a good one to use here.
View all things through the prism of oil and the world becomes very much more clear.
Venezuelan oil is about the worst quality on the planet. Worse even than the oil sands in Canada. Don't presume that a rejection of socialism there and bringing in all that much ballyhooed oil investment will make a bit of difference. The Easy Oil Is Gone. There is no magic left.
Wrong-
Look up the OPEC proven reserves report, and see who is #1.
http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/data_graphs/330.htm
And those Saudi numbers are bullshit. They have been stuck at 265 billion barrells for about 30 + years. This is why the Saudis are starting to get thrown under the bus.
You are probably right about the Saudi bullshit numbers. I too have reasons to believe they are inflated.
I have read several OPEC reports that criticize the extraction methods the Saudis have used when they "max out" their production for whatever political or economic reason. These methods essentially ruin deposits and shorten their life spans, leaving vast quantities that cannot be extracted later.
The Saudis may be getting "thrown under the bus", but Israel seems to have taken a shine to them. They are mighty cozy with each other these days...
I don't get the candle proverb.
James, it is much worse than that. The scope of the propaganda is breathtaking in its effectiveness. I am continuously amazed at the amount of otherwise smart people who are totally ignorant about Venezuela and the constant color revolution the US has been running in that country for years.
The clincher?
All the evidence is hidden in plain view and readily accessible to anyone who cares to look.
The U.S. does not force Venezuela's central bank to create 56% inflation.
The U.S. does not force Venezuela to peg the bolivar at 6.2 to the dollar, when the black market rate is 80 bolivars to the dollar.
Venezuela is run by utter incompetents. Maduro is doing a fine job of wrecking his own economy, without external help.
Perhaps so, but the US is more than "helping" the Venezuelan oligarchy regain power so they can return the oil to its "rightful owners" and reclaim their place as Uncle Sam's Satraps, stooges and flunkies.
Do you read Spanish? I bet you don't. That is a shame, because you should read what the press of more than 20 countries reports daily. You will never get those facts in English from the Mighty Wurlitzer.
Here is the news of the destabilization plan that Maduro was talking about the other day. Of course, you and damned near every other American don't know shit about it. It came out about 4 months ago, and has the document attached.
http://actualidad.rt.com/expertos/eva_golinger/view/110489-documento-evi...
Here is a heavily watered down version in English that includes only the first page. http://rt.com/news/golinger-documents-venezuela-destabilization-299/
A large amount of documents have been declassified which explicitly show how the United States has been trying to overthrow the democratically elected and legitimate government of Venezuela.
All you have to do is look. You will find them. It is very dirty business and it is hiding in plain sight.
Oh fuck dude the only thing the US cared about was Chavez was paying Oppenheimer their 13% note. As long as Chavez paid off the NYC bankers everything was good.
Something tells me Oppenheimer pulled out and lost interest, lol.
Interesting, James_Cole goes on and on about US involvement and then uses wikipedia as a source to support his bias?
Stratfor is shit. Venezuela used to have a middle class before Jimmy Carter started verifying Chavez election wins.
Kennedy School of Govt? NWO and Democrats plus NEO-Con RINOs.
Who has always been very active in controlling Latin America? The Rockefellers and their CFR members the Clintons, RINO Newt Gingrich, Geithner, Summers plus 300 Obama Admin people. The Dems and RINOs are infested with CFR members.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/2474-obama-picks-come...
CFR Members in U.S. Government (Pre-Obama Administration) Presidents Vice Presidents Secretaries of StateHerbert Hoover
Richard M. Nixon Henry L. Stimson Dwight D. Eisenhower Hubert Humphrey Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. John F. Kennedy* Gerald R. Ford Dean G. Acheson Richard M. Nixon Nelson A. Rockefeller John Foster Dulles Gerald R. Ford Walter Mondale Christian A. Herter James E. Carter George H. W. Bush Dean Rusk George H. W. Bush Richard Cheney William P. Rogers William J. Clinton Henry A. Kissinger Cyrus R. Vance Edmund S. Muskie Alexander M. Haig, Jr. George P. Shultz Lawrence Eagleburger Warren M. Christopher Madeleine K. Albright Colin L. Powell Condoleezza RiceThey should just call it the snakepit...
Long; yellow, red & blue track suits!
The second picture, with Maduro chuging two mics... que apropos.
Imagine the Bamster getting on TV and appealing for everyone to calm down....but needing the Teleprompter
Not even a hundredth of an ounce of authority/command in the voice of The Teleprompturd.
Once they resort to murdering their own citizens to remain in power, the end can't be far off. Even in the setting of utter failure, they will cling to the throne, and they will happily kill to keep it.
"they will cling to the throne, and they will happily kill to keep it."
As would ALL governments.
I upvoted you but there has to be a few that would not. Maybe Iceland.
anyone have the phone number of the hottie throwing a change up to the plate?
LA Dodgers need to draft her in a hurry!
I'll hold her titties, while she fires that fast ball.
"anyone have the phone number of the hottie throwing a change up to the plate?"
"I'll hold her titties, while she fires that fast ball."
I was thinking the same thing - and then, for some strange reason, I noticed that she looked just like all of the Muslim protesters I have seen in the past.
Weird, covered face and head, and all......
Sounds like the arrogant narcissistic lying illegal alien kenyan muslinm sociopath tactics.
You forgot to mention he's gay...
what the fuck ever. the students, more than likely are socialists who want to overthrow the present socialists so they can install another socialist govt.
same ole, same ole, down south...
Right on. I guess they want more redistribution in their direction, not less.
Still, if they somehow manage to bring down Maduro, that'll be one less socialist :-)
exactly my thought. also they demand freedom and democracy? freedom, democracy and socialism don't mix, period!
He who has the most toilet paper makes the rules.
People can put up with a lot of shit...
But not being able to wipe it off is something entirely different.
DHS might be better off stockpiling toilet paper instead of hollowpoints.
So what are they going to trade Maduro for, crony capitalism? A Mussolini?
All developed countries face the same problem - Central Banks run by Bankers.
The politicians and the politics are the intermediaries, the buffers, the distraction.
If you don't have sound money and a legal system that protects the labor, savings, and liberties of individuals the political system doesn't matter.
Right on, man.
"If you don't have sound money and a legal system that protects the labor, savings, and liberties of individuals the political system doesn't matter."
Total win.
"If you don't have sound money and a legal system that protects the labor, savings, and liberties of individuals the political system doesn't matter."
Better copyright that before ol' Fonestar hijacks that truth and uses it to fluff BitCoin....
Expect a false flag (internal, blaming external) terrorist attack on infrastructure, or an assassination, and then a crackdown that effectively creates a military state.
well,military state, that would be return to basics, and why not military state? military state worked for chile, anarchist military territory machnovstina worked forawhile for ukraine, maybe military state is the future...
i can feed military, if that is the only thing i have to feed
We're talking about Venezuela not the USA.
And what will be the solution? Protest all you want. The math is what it is... the laws of Nature and Physics are what they are...
Either the unfunded liabilties are eliminated or everyone deals with a much lower standard of living, period.
(And if the standard of living has already collapsed, you are way, way, past the point at which protesting does anything to change your situation-people make fun of the French, but they got things right at least once)
The French Revolution was bad news all around. It resulted in much, much suffering and much despotism. "Beware Thermidore." The American revolutionaries got it right.
The other stuff you said was right, however.
I agree with both of YOU.
how can anybody in their right mind say guillotine was bad news?
Sure, revenge is sweet. But it's the ensuing counter-revolution where the real bad guys emerge. It was true also in the Russian revolution.
The French revolution consisted of one bloodbath after another, climaxing with Buonaparte - a fucking Corsican who didn't even speak French at first, declaring himself Emperor. Hundreds of thousands dead.
Is that what you want?
Not me. I want peace. A lasting peace, which can only come from property rights, sound money and enforceable contracts. Not revolutionary courts and summary executions.
it was meant to be /sarc
"property rights, sound money and enforceable contracts" peacefully? let's be realistic.
though you are right, outcomes of revolutions are terrible.
"You can not have a free market for creditors if you don't murder everyone who disagrees."
-- Michael Hudson
Funny how in all the pictures the cops have guns and the people have rocks.
Anyways, what's with the little black outfits for cops? Is every nation's statists shopping at the same "Fascism4Les$" fashion boutique? Are these outfits designed by Mugatu?
Haha funny stuff. Is that frank frazetta in your avi?
Frozen
Correct. "Princess of Mars" by Frazetta.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ew_fBAUpnS0/TyHbkbPabGI/AAAAAAAAA0c/GZfOJDLydR...
They were designed by Joseph Goebbels.
Black is psychologically more menacing that navy blue.
shit has to be as neutral as possible not to be identified with the loving government.
At some point when the government gives away enough free shit, you run out of it.
If this happens in America, the millions of sheep throwing rocks and bottles would make great cover for the millions of patriots with rifles in hand.
What are you saying? If people in the USA finally wake up to the corrupt policies of the US government. I they start to see through the lies and deceit. If they've had enough of the dictator in the White House and start to protest against the garbage in Washington DC, that US "patriots" will stop them!?
I don't think so. Those true patriots will be right behind those protesters. The patriots are also sick of the scum that's running the show.
Oh my. Internal political and social conflicts can be so confusing, at times.
Which side in this Venezuelan unrest shall we root for?
Let's see. Maybe I can simplify it a bit more.
On one side we have the IMF, the EU, the banksters, the USA government, multi-national oil companies, Goldman Sachs, the FED. the CIA. the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, ten thousand years of bowel movements blended and the devil herself.
On the other side we have President Maduro, the PSUV, and ...
GO PSUV!
I hope this made it much clearer.
It may appear much clearer in your simplistic mind, but I'm afraid you have the real situation all wrong.
The IMF, the EU, the Fed. et al, are pro-socialist. The protesters are starting to become disillusioned with socialism and see it for what it is: a completely corrupt, bankrupt system of theft, bribery and graft.
Expect people to wake up all around the world to the truths of socialism, and begin to throw off the yoke of crooked bankers and politicians and embrace freedom.
village idiot
I do believe you may be right. There may be hope.
venezuelan socialist are amateurs and behind the times. ussa is 100 years more advanced. they are protesting for socialism not working. americans will only protest for not having enough socialism(SNAP snap).
USA! USA!
"The protesters are starting to become disillusioned with socialism and see it for what it is: a completely corrupt, bankrupt system of theft, bribery and graft."
Man, you are really informed!
You have drunk deeply from the kool-aid chalice given to you by the media, my friend. Throw in a dash of hatred for socialism and they own your mind.
In the last nationwide elections Just two months ago, on December 8th, the PSUV won 76% of the mayoralties in Venezuela.
76%!!!
Do you really believe the protesters are a mass movement that represents the will of the Venezuelan people?
The latest destabilization plan has been ongoing for awhile now. It is an open secret for anyone who cares to look.
Surely if you do not know about it, it doesn't exist right?
Keep on parroting the party line that you have been taught. You are so well informed...
You forgot to add the NED (lmfao!) and USAID to the usual suspects list...
Many, many, millions of US taxpayer dollars spent on the agenda since 2000.
Revolutions are great when both sides have something to gain... Exterminations are great when only one side has something to gain...
When a socialist runs out of other peoples money the choices are to confiscate the remaining wealth and property or continue to devalue the currency and run the risk of hyper inflation. Either way the end is fatal for the politicians in charge. Venezuela is just the latest example and I hope the people can overthrow these losers that have no idea how to run a country's economy.
But...but...he's a socialist and he knows what he's doing!
He said so; so it must be true.
Thank God we still have...A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
You forgot your <sic>
Where is Sean Penn when they need him most?
Diddlin Charlize's cooze.....with a face that looks like it survived a sand storm...
Besides.....he is into Haitian cooze now...a good contrast to his Afrikaner blonde snatch
One thing to remember about most South American military organizations, the officers must purchase their commissions. You either have to have wealth or an organization with money to get into the officer corp. This is one reason that the middle and lower ranks will turn on an administration that looks like it will be poisoning their chances to get on the gravy train that the current generals have. You get periodic military coups and then the new generals in charge finds out they don't have the knowledge to run an economy, eventually step down for elections of a civil government who do OK for a while then when things get a bit better start buying votes with tax money and "rinse and repeat."
Look up "Praetorianism" in Latin America.
You are a dumbass who does not know jack and your knowledge of South American militaries does not extend beyond wikipedia.
Unfortunately, you have run up against someone who does know more than the average bear about this.
You are spreading falsehoods to the sheep who do not know the difference. They cannot refute your bullshit with facts, because they do not know them, so those ignorant souls defer to you.
Hugo Chavez Frias himself grew up as poor as it gets, and became a Commissioned Officer in the Venezuelan Army (Lieutenant Colonel).
I do not feel like playing nice and letting you weasel your way out of this, you fucking jackass. Show everyone here the proof that he bought his commission, or stick your tongue up your asshole.
No, I will not help you get your head out of your ass. You seem to like it that way...
Answer the question.
I am waiting.
Evil parasites leeching the tax slaves dry, killing the students who will have to produce your future taxes and then what do you have? You evil socialist fucks.
Normally I don't believe in getting involved in other nations affairs, but this situation in Venezuela might be the exeption.
How can a country not go to pieces when the CIA FROM DAY ONE does every possible thing to FUCK any government that does not KOWTOW to American corporations?
Remember Iran in the 50's - when Mossadegh said to the British and US oil companies 'it is our oil we will sell it to whom we please at what price we please - so fuck off'
We all know what happened to him
The problems in Venezuela are self-inflicted unlike the Ukraine. The CIA doesn't need to do anything in Venezuela. Maduro is doing a good job destroying himself and the country.
These Venezualan Chicago Boys are pussies. 10 students arrested! At the G8 in Canada Harpo arrested over 1000.
Venzuela hope and change with another dilusional view of economics and no pain promises on top of corruption.
Those Raza-chiquitas look pretty hot. I love the look, brown skin against the white T's. Just wish it was sans bra.
I zuzspect the School of the Americas is pumping out the ugly pictures of the president of Venezuela.
The media propaganda machine is going full tilt
http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2014/02/16/was-twitter-censored-by-th...
John "Swift Boat" Kerry Speaks-
"The United States is deeply concerned by rising tensions and violence surrounding this week's protests in Venezuela. Our condolences go to the families of those killed as a result of this tragic violence.
We are particularly alarmed by reports that the Venezuelan government has arrested or detained scores of anti-government protestors and issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. These actions have a chilling effect on citizens' rights to express their grievances peacefully.
We join the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, and others in condemning this senseless violence. We call on the Venezuelan government to provide the political space necessary for meaningful dialogue with the Venezuelan people and to release detained protestors. We urge all parties to work to restore calm and refrain from violence.
Freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly are universal human rights. They are essential to a functioning democracy, and the Venezuelan government has an obligation to protect these fundamental freedoms and the safety of its citizens."
John Kerry deeply cares about Venezuelans. Particularly about Venezuelans killed in his State Department-sponsored "protests".
how many dead?..................
3
That is much less than the average number of innocent civilians killed in every single US drone strike (there have been more than 1000) in many countries over the past 5 years.
Think Motherfuckers!!!!!!!!!!