Puppet Masters
Between the afternoon of March 8 and the early morning of March 10, Venezuela was the victim of a new sabotage attack, the biggest in its republican history, this time on the Guri hydroelectric plant, which left at least 80% of the population without electricity, with the aim of undermining any attempt by the Venezuelan government to stabilize the economy and curb the insurrectionary context the United States and its minions, like Juan Guaidó, are trying to bring to fruition in the country.
1. Preparing for shock
Prior to the sabotage that shook the entire National Electric System, leaving much of the country without electricity during the last two days, several moves and pronouncements announced that they would resort to such an action of brute force.
Guaidó's false epic return lasted less than expected on the front pages; with the arrival of the "interim president" there were no critical defections in the Armed Forces (FANB) that together with widespread social revolt would install him in Miraflores to get hold of power. That round of recovery (his glorious arrival in Maiquetía), after the defeat on February 23, the day on which he took for granted the entry of "humanitarian aid," had no effect beyond the temporary media frenzy. As a result, Guaidó returned to the uncomfortable starting point of two months ago. Worn out by the February 23 defeat and without concrete actions of presidential command that would catapult him domestically, the orchestration of the following operations would be entirely run by the United States.
In a letter address to Congress Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked for $500 million of "appropriate resources" in next year's budget for the Department of State to "respond to the crisis" or "support a democratic transition" in Venezuela.
Venezuela has been hit with several large blackouts in the last week, the first and largest of which caused power loss in 18 of the country's 23 states, Sputnik reported. On Tuesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said, "We have apprehended two people who attempted to sabotage the communications system at the Guri Dam in order to impede the process of [power supply] restoration. They are being questioned." He further identified the cause of the Guri Dam power failure last Thursday as being a cyber attack by the United States.
Speaking at a briefing for foreign military attaches, Shamanov recalled that Hitler had begun preparing Germany for war just two years after coming to power. "Trump has been at the helm for two years, and we see the parallels," he said.
The general, who is head of the lower house's Committee on Defense, also warned non-nuclear nations that participation in US-led nuclear drills could make them the target of a retaliatory strike by Russia in the event of conflict.
"Along with regular weapons, Americans could stock you with nuclear ones," he explained. "We have to take it into account and you could become our priority strike targets, you have to be aware of it." The "eagerness" of some European countries to deploy military assets on their territories "raises eyebrows," Shamanov added.
Comment: Even Russians aren't immune to Godwin's law! President Trump is merely the latest leader that has been compared to Hitler. Others include: George W. Bush, Saddam Hussein, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Angela Merkel, Hillary Clinton ("Hitlery") and Barack Obama. But at least in Shamanov's case, he's making a connection that has some historical validity. Remember, while the Russians won WWII, it was at the cost of some of the greatest losses of the war, tens of millions dead. For the past 20+ years, the U.S. has expanded its influence in Europe, bringing NATO to Russia's doorstep, breaking promises, and for all intents and purposes acting as if it wishes war and the destruction of Russia - just like Nazi Germany. So the Russians are understandably defensive, especially after the recent US pullout from the INF treaty.
And as Shamanov observes, by allying themselves with the Americans, allowing American troops and weaponry on their soil (aimed at Russia), the Europeans are putting themselves on the frontline of any potential war with Russia, seemingly willingly. Perhaps they think they are protecting themselves from some mythical 'Russian aggression', but if that's the case, they are delusional and only making the situation worse - to their own disadvantage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin aims a sniper rifle at a meeting focused on new arms programs.
"We have tested 316 models of modern weapons", the minister told the lower house of the Russian parliament.
Shoigu also stated that since the beginning of the Russian campaign against terrorists in the Middle Eastern country, the military has carried out at least 166 strikes with long-range cruise missiles.
The Russian military has been supporting the Syrian Arab Army in its fight against terrorism since 2015 at the request of Damascus. Addressing the operations in the region last year, the Russian Defence Ministry stated its forces have killed more than 86,000 militants and 830 gang leaders of various jihadist organisations, including Daesh.
Comment: Testing weapons in realtime war conditions not only validates the caliber and effectiveness of Russian innovation in military tech, it boosts Russia's reputation as a trusted arms provider and garners higher profits for its defense industry. The U.S. may continue to be the world's biggest arms seller, but more nations are turning to Russia for weaponry, because it works. Meanwhile the U.S. is stuck selling garbage like the F-35. It's only a matter of time before countries start buying for quality instead of special relations with the Americans which turn out to be very one-sided.
From AP, 9/19/2018: Putin says Russia perfected weapons based on Syria campaign
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the military's combat experience gained in Syria has helped develop new weapons systems. The Russian military has used the conflict to test its new jets, cruise missiles and other weapons in combat for the first time.Comments from President Putin in Task & Purpose, 7/31/2018:
Speaking at a meeting focusing on military industries, Putin said that new Russian weapons excel their foreign equivalents. Putin singled out the new Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Su-57 fighter jet, the S-500 air defense system and the Armata battle tank, which are set to enter service in the coming years.
Putin said: "All of the new equipment was combat tested there. This has led to the improvement of modern strike systems, including missile systems. It is one thing to have them, and quite another thing to see how they fare in combat conditions.
"When we started to use these modern weapons, including missiles, whole teams from our defense industry companies went to Syria, and worked there on-site-it is extremely important for us-to finalize them and figure out what we can count on when using them in combat conditions."
After surviving several assassination attempts by French partisans of Algérie Française, Charles de Gaulle in March 1962 signed a peace agreement ending French sovereignty over Algeria. The war for Algerian independence had been long and vicious, marked by terrorism and torture. Everyone who mattered in French politics believed in 1954 that Algeria was an integral part of France, to be defended at all cost. But by 1962, their view had changed. With cold realism, de Gaulle remarked of the conflict, now in its seventh year, "As for France, it will be necessary for her now to interest herself in something else."
France did fine after granting independence to Algeria. Algeria less so. The Algerians who had taken the side of France, fought in its army, or served as administrators of the Algerian government fared terribly - many suffered appalling deaths at the hands of the vengeful victors. According to Alistair Horne's Savage War of Peace, 15,000 were killed in the summer after the March armistice.
An important reason de Gaulle broke with his conservative army supporters and became determined to negotiate Algerian independence was that he thought the French and Algerians were fundamentally different peoples. For him, Algérie Française, the "France of a hundred million" supplemented by Algeria's population and vast reserves of oil and gas, was total fantasy. His colleague Alain Peyrefitte quoted him as saying privately in 1959 that you could mix Arabs and French together, but like oil and vinegar in a bottle, after a while they would inevitably separate. He worried that an Algérie Française would lead inevitably to his home village of Colombey-les-Deux-Églises being transformed into Colombey-Les-Deux-Mosquées.
Comment: Relations between the French and Algerians are at a difficult juncture. France must decide whether to: 1) embrace the current trend of a growing Algerian/Islamic presence within France that portends irreversible changes to its society and way of life, or 2) endorse French nationalism at the expense of its friendly and lucrative relationship with Algeria and its people. Given current trends, two things seem certain: Change is coming and both options have serious drawbacks. Does Macron comprehend what is at stake? Does he have the leadership capacity and finesse necessary to meet the challenges and steer the way forward? The iceberg is there; where is Macron?
See also:
- After weeks of protests, Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika announces he will not seek a fifth term
- Algerian citizens surround French President Macron, demand French visas
- 'Colonization was a crime against humanity': French presidential favorite Macron sparks firestorm
According to Page's testimony, which was made public on Tuesday, the FBI considered charging former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with gross negligence under 18 U.S. Code § 793 for her alleged handling of classified information.

A relative reacts to the lifeless body 15-year old Palestinian boy, Azzam Hillal (Owidah), at the family home during his funeral in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, April 28, 2018. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says a boy has died a day after being shot in the head by Israeli soldiers.
The 22-page document has been condemned by the Israeli government, as there is talk of Israel being brought to the International Court of Justice and tried for war crimes and violations of International Law against demonstrations that "were civilian in nature".
The commission conducted 325 interviews and meetings with victims, witnesses, government officials and members of civil society, from all sides, and gathered more than 8,000 documents, including affidavits, medical reports, open source reports, social media content, written submissions and expert legal opinions, video and drone footage, and photographs."Here are the most important points concluded in the report:
Comment:
- Human Rights Watch calls to 'rip up old playbook' & investigate IDF actions in Gaza for war crimes
- IDF kills wheelchair-bound Palestinian with no legs during Gaza protest
- AP photographer shot while covering Gaza protest
- UN report condemns bloody response to Gaza protests: Corbyn renews calls to end UK arms sales to Israel
- 'Likely targeted, but unlikely killed': Israeli journalist attempts to whitewash IDF sniper's murder of Palestinian medic Razan al-Najjar
- Reporters Without Borders requests ICC investigation for Israeli war crimes against Palestinian journalists in Gaza
- Israel's policies in Gaza are categorically genocidal
- Killing Gaza - a documentary

A charred truck that was part of a humanitarian aid convoy attempting to cross into Venezuela sits parked on the Francisco de Paula Santander international bridge in Cucuta, Colombia, on Feb. 23, 2019, on the border with Venezuela.
This was exactly the tactic used on February 23, when the narrative shifted radically in favor of those U.S. officials who want regime change operations in Venezuela. That's because images were broadcast all over the world of trucks carrying humanitarian aid burning in Colombia on the Venezuela border. U.S. officials who have been agitating for a regime change war in Venezuela - Marco Rubio, John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, the head of USAid Mark Green - used Twitter to spread classic Fake News: they vehemently stated that the trucks were set on fire, on purpose, by President Nicolas Maduro's forces.
Each of the trucks burned by Maduro carried 20 tons of food & medicine. This is a crime & if international law means anything he must pay a high price for this. #23FAyudaHumanitaria https://t.co/IrGzrOUX09
- Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019
Masked thugs, civilians killed by live rounds, and the burning of trucks carrying badly-needed food and medicine. This has been Maduro's response to peaceful efforts to help Venezuelans. Countries that still recognize Maduro should take note of what they are endorsing. pic.twitter.com/KlSebd2M5a
- John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) February 23, 2019
.@SecPompeo: We denounce Maduro's refusal to let humanitarian assistance reach #Venezuela. What kind of a sick tyrant stops food from getting to hungry people? The images of burning trucks filled with aid are sickening. https://t.co/zzFNYVly2c
- USConsulateFrankfurt (@usconsfrankfurt) February 24, 2019
#Maduro ordering the firing on and burning of trucks filled with humanitarian aid & attacking volunteers is unconscionable. I condemn the killings & human rights abuses committed by Maduro. Violent attacks against life-saving aid for #Venezuela is despicable. #EstamosUnidosVE https://t.co/BOSuVP1mTL
- Mark Green (@USAIDMarkGreen) February 23, 2019
Comment: See also:
- US repeatedly caught lying about Venezuela, yet Pompeo accuses RT of 'disinformation'
- Four mistruths about Venezuela's humanitarian aid showdown debunked
- Venezuelan FM: Photos show 'aid trucks' carrying nails and wire for barricades
- Burning Aid: A US Warmongering False-flag on Colombia-Venezuela Bridge?
"Mr. Sloan, why was the bank involved in the caging of children and financing the caging of children to begin with?" the freshman House Democrat and economics major asked Wells Fargo CEO Timothy Sloan.
"Uh, I don't know how to answer that question because we weren't," Sloan replied.
Speaking briefly with Fox News on Capitol Hill, the congresswoman was asked if she considers Obama to be the same as President Donald Trump.
"Absolutely not. That is silly to even think, and equate the two," Omar said. "One is human, the other is really not."












Comment: See also:
- Trump regime's electricity war in Venezuela more serious than first believed
- The War on Venezuela is Built on Lies
- Trump betrays MAGA over Venezuela
- BoE refuses to return Venezuela's $1.2 billion in gold, US intends to use it to fund illegitimate Guaido
And check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal: US Regime Change Operation in Venezuela - This Time It's Legit?