Puppet Masters
Few Latin American governments have ever had a government that represents the majority indigenous people or a president who was not of Spanish descent. Chavez in Venezuela perhaps was the longest lasting indigenous leader. His successor Maduro is also indigenous.
Indigenous Latin American leaders are unacceptable to Washington, because they tend to be reformers who represent their country's people instead of American business and financial interests. Consequently, when a Latin electorate elects a leader who will put them first, Washington overthrows the leader. This is the history of US/Latin American relations.
In the 21st century alone Washington has overthrown the elected presidents of Honduras, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela and overturned the independence of Ecuador that had provided asylum protection for Julian Assange. Washington's coup with the Spanish elite against Chavez in Venezuela initially succeeded. Chavez was in captivity, but before he could be murdered the Venezuelan people and military forced his release.
In response to queries on the situation in Venezuela, India's MEA Official Spokesperson said, "We are closely following the emerging situation in Venezuela. We are of the view that it is for the people of Venezuela to find political solution to resolve their differences through constructive dialogue and discussion without resorting to violence."
"We believe democracy, peace and security in Venezuela are of paramount importance for the progress and prosperity of the people of Venezuela. India and Venezuela enjoy close and cordial relations," the spokesperson pointed out.
Despite President Trump's previous pledge to withdraw US troops from Syria, Washington is considering keeping some troops in al-Tanf, a strategic base in southeastern Syria, to counter Iran's regional clout, according to Foreign Policy magazine.
"Al-Tanf is a critical element in the effort to prevent Iran from establishing a ground line of communications from Iran through Iraq through Syria to southern Lebanon in support of Lebanese Hezbollah," an unnamed senior US military source told the magazine.
In a new batch of papers published on Friday, January 25th. The published files contain data that five employees of the intelligence reserve of Ukraine, who at that time were between 45 and 53 years old, visited the UK from July 6 to July 13, and the year of the trip was not known.
Four of the visitors were "ethnically Russian" and spoke English. Two had previously served in the KGB, and had the rank of colonel, two more led brigades, and the latter "almost certainly" served in the GRU. One of these citizens told about preparations for a long "hundred years war" with Russia.

A Minuteman III ICBM test in 2017. Leaked docs show Integrity Initiative and Pentagon strategists preparing for nuclear conflict against Russia.
With the UK Foreign Office and NATO-backed organization still reeling from previous leaks whose authenticity it has not attempted to disprove, the fifth tranche of internal communications was uploaded to a public server this week under the name of hacktivist group Anonymous.
As before, it features the London-based group clandestinely meddling in various areas of civilian life for the benefit of its own undeclared objectives.
Comment:
- How Integrity Initiative subverts the media and academia by planting state-sponsored propaganda
- MI5's temple of covert propaganda: Integrity Initiative and the scandal of the UK's information war
- UK-funded 'Integrity Initiative' Exposed Infiltrating European Media Through Fake News Factories
- Shock Files: What Role Did Integrity Initiative Play in Sergei Skripal Affair?
- 'They made a mess & are fighting fires': UK academic says Integrity Initiative fatally hurt by leaks

Jenderes village in Afrin Canton in the north of Syria after aircraft and artillery shelling by the Turkish Armed Forces
The Syrian Foreign Ministry reacted to the recent statement by Erdogan concerning the 1998 Adana agreement, accusing Turkey of violating the accord since 2011 by supporting terrorists and occupying Syrian territory, SANA reported, citing a representative in the ministry.
"Syria confirms that it is in compliance with the Adana Interstate Agreement on Combating Terrorism in all its forms and all agreements related to it, but the Turkish regime has been violating the agreement since 2011 up to now by sponsoring and supporting terrorism, training militants and making it easier for them to go to SAR, or through the occupation of Syrian territories with terrorist groups it controls it or directly with the help of the Turkish Armed Forces," Syrian state television quoted a source in the ministry as saying.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Friday the appointment of Elliott Abrams to "help the Venezuelan people fully restore democracy and prosperity to their country." Abrams is expected to coordinate all diplomatic efforts to replace President Nicolas Maduro with the self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido, recognized by the US, OAS and several EU members.
"I left this building 30 years ago this week - last time I worked here - so it's very nice to be back,"Abrams told reporters at the State Department on Friday. "This crisis in Venezuela is deep and difficult and dangerous and I can't wait to get to work on it."
The appointment is an attempt by the US to introduce a direct control of Venezuela as a "future regional vassal," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "Democracy was 'restored' in Iraq. In Libya, too. In Syria they tried but failed, or rather weren't allowed to. And now in Venezuela."
Comment: A shameful turn of events now compounded by even more despicable choices from the US Empire.
See also:
- Notorious neocon Elliott Abrams under consideration for Deputy Secretary of State - Update: Trump nixes Abrams for State Dept. job
- Russian envoy says UN Security Council should look into US attempts for coup in Venezuela
- Maduro: US State Department Has Given Green Light for Coup in Venezuela
- US has been meddling in Venezuelan democracy for 20 years
"The only outstanding question is whether the Democrats want something or nothing," Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted as if to confirm an ambiguous message from Trump an hour earlier in which he said it would be "off to the races" if no deal was forthcoming in the next three weeks.
The president, seemingly hurt by the trending hashtag, pleaded for understanding from his base, reframing his decision to end the longest shutdown in US government history as necessary to put food back on the tables of the "incredible patriots" forced to do their jobs without pay.
Trump signed a bill ending the government shutdown on Friday evening after announcing he would reopen the government for 21 days - enough time, he said, for Congress to work on a more permanent solution to the border security issue. At the end of that period, the government would either shut down again - or he'd finally use those emergency powers he's been talking so much about.
Some of Trump's supporters seemed let down by what they perceived as a capitulation by their hero, though few lost faith entirely - many assuming, as usual, that there was a greater Plan and that Trump had an ace up his sleeve. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a press conference that she hoped the president had "learned his lesson" while her supporters celebrated the victory on Twitter with #TrumpCaved.
Comment: The returns from the public peanut gallery are just what one might expect: each entrenched side has been validated by comprehension bias - something to which Congress is especially susceptible.

Demonstrators clash with security forces in a rally against Venezuelan President Maduro.
In Venezuela though it's a very different story. Here the street demonstrations are a major news event, despite the country being thousands of miles away. Furthermore, the coverage is very sympathetic to the protestors and extremely hostile to the government.
Why are angry street protestors in France bad, but in Venezuela very good?
The answer has to do with the stances and international alliances of the respective governments. It's inaccurate to call President Emmanuel Macron of France the President of the rich. He is, as his predecessor Francois Hollande admitted on French television, the President of the very rich.
Comment: Political shape shifting: The art of twisting and redefining otherwise equal scenarios to suit a particular agenda with programmed perceptions.
Reps Ro Khanna (California), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) and Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) were spotted advocating against US-sponsored regime change in Venezuela, where Washington has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader instead of President Nicolas Maduro.
Comment: Expressing different or opposing opinions are 'risky' when they challenge the groupthink defaults of Congress. Bravo to those who take the risk.












Comment: Debunking the propaganda and getting our facts straight on Venezuela