Havana. February 20, 2014

Maduro reiterates that Venezuela has a firm, stable government

CARACAS.— Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, said here February 19 that, although the opposition continues its coup attempt strategy, “The government remains stable and working.”

Maduro reiterates that Venezuela has a firm, stable government During a Council of Ministers meeting, he castigated opposition leaders who have remained silent in the face of violence generated by their supporters.

“Political leaders are meant to act; not hide,” the President said, as he denounced the actions of several individuals who attacked installations of the national communications company CANTV, in the state of Lara.

Maduro reiterated his call for peace, for calm, to control fascist bands who attempted to take the streets last week.

He displayed several visuals capturing the opposition’s violent acts.

Delcy Rodríguez, minister of Information and Communication, denounced destabilization efforts in Valencia, in the state of Carabobo, including disturbances in which a member of the National Guard was injured.

More here - http://www.granma.cu/ingles/ouramerica-i/20febrero-maduro.html

Background --

Who is jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López?
Patricia Clarembaux | AFP
18 hours ago

CARACAS, Venezuela – Leopoldo López, a Harvard-trained politician and ardent opponent of Venezuela’s socialist government, is seen by enemies and supporters alike as the face of recent street protests against the regime.

López clasped the hand of his wife, Lilian Tintori, and exchanged a few quiet words with her before turning himself in to authorities at a tumultuous rally in Caracas on Tuesday.

A former mayor of the wealthy Chacao borough of Caracas, López had been targeted as public enemy number one by the government, as it hit back against the latest round of high-stakes protests this week.

President Nicolás Maduro ordered López’s arrest on charges of homicide and inciting violence, holding him responsible for tumultuous street clashes in Caracas last week that left three people dead.

López, for his part, said he was turning himself in after several days as a fugitive from authorities in a gesture of sacrifice for the public good.

More here - http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/02/20/who-is-jailed-venezuelan-opposition-leader-leopoldo-lopez

Christopher Helman, Forbes Staff (I'm based in Houston, Texas. Energy capital of the world.)

Cheap Gasoline: Why Venezuela Is Doomed To Collapse

Riots in the streets. Killings of protesters. Shortages of consumer staples like toilet paper and flour. Power outages. Confiscations of private property. Capital flight. Inflation running at more than 50%. The highest murder rate in the world.

The situation in Venezuela has grown so terrible that we could very well be witnessing the waning days of the Chavez-Maduro regime.

But don’t hold your breath. Despots propped up by revenues from natural resources have had a surprisingly robust track record over the past 100 years. Saddam Hussein survived through ruthlessness and handouts to Baath party loyalists. Khadafi perfected the same model in Libya. The Saudis and other Gulf sultanates and emirates have survived by paying off tribe members. Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe is still around thanks to his trade in blood diamonds ...

Much more here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2014/02/20/cheap-gasoline-why-venezuela-is-doomed-to-collapse/




In each case, the big boss keeps his head by paying off everyone who matters.

Christopher Helman, Forbes Staff (I'm based in Houston, Texas. Energy capital of the world.)

Cheap Gasoline: Why Venezuela Is Doomed To Collapse

Riots in the streets. Killings of protesters. Shortages of consumer staples like toilet paper and flour. Power outages. Confiscations of private property. Capital flight. Inflation running at more than 50%. The highest murder rate in the world.

The situation in Venezuela has grown so terrible that we could very well be witnessing the waning days of the Chavez-Maduro regime.

But don’t hold your breath. Despots propped up by revenues from natural resources have had a surprisingly robust track record over the past 100 years. Saddam Hussein survived through ruthlessness and handouts to Baath party loyalists. Khadafi perfected the same model in Libya. The Saudis and other Gulf sultanates and emirates have survived by paying off tribe members. Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe is still around thanks to his trade in blood diamonds ...

Much more here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2014/02/20/cheap-gasoline-why-venezuela-is-doomed-to-collapse/




In each case, the big boss keeps his head by paying off everyone who matters.

There is so much wrong with this that it's hard to know where to start. The litany of complaints against Venezuela is a compendium of distortions, exaggerations and lies. In fact the economy is improved, crime has been reduced, the protesters are petit bourgoise revolting against their coming loss of status and the pity is that there is not more confiscation of private property(the means of production).

Confounding these regimes which resist the domination of global capital with the oil princedoms, thoroughly embedded in global capital, ain't nothing but an appeal to xenophobia. Iraq, Libya, Syria all provided their citizens with a superior material sustanance compared to the region. They did this in part at least by developing their economies without the predatory interference of global capital, that is their real crime. For the capitalists to rail agianst corruption is absurdly disingenious, 'corruption' is part and parcel of their system and the only crime is getting caught. Venezuela is struggling to disengage from the vile global system, that is their crime and if any recrimination is due for Chavez it is that he did not move decisively enough. As for Robert Mugabe, I have not heard that accusation before and expect it is made up. His real crime is expropriation of the means of production, the only unforgivable crime to capitalists.

Yes, these governments were/are guilty of "paying off" everyone who matters, but those are the masses, if you can call that "paying off". Yes there is/was garden variety corruption, abuses of power, same as our so-called allies and client states, but the sole reason that they are targeted by 'Western Democracies' is their resistance to the capitalists of those countries.

In the 1980s it was El Salvador. Resources are desired, and then they are looted (with the top 2% of the population at best being paid the bounty) and then they march on to the next country. Only the location changes, the story is always the same.