VIDEO: Pro and Anti-Venezuela Coup Protestors Face Off in Front of White House

UPDATED: Demonstrators for and against regime change in Venezuela converged on the White House on Saturday and there were some angry scenes as D.C. mounted police took their positions in Lafayette Park.

Updated to include video of the entire anti-coup rally below.

By Joe Lauria
in Washington
Special to Consortium News

Rising tensions in Venezuela boiled over in front of the White House on Saturday as a protest rally against U.S. intervention to overthrow the elected government in Caracas was met by counter-demonstrators who asked Donald Trump, at home in the president’s mansion, for help in overthrowing the government of Nicolas Maduro.  

Washington’s open support for self-declared president Juan Gauidó has so far failed to dislodge Maduro from office as the Venezuelan military digs in and U.S. officials strongly hint that American military intervention could be next. After a week of nation-wide power failures blamed by the Venezuelan government on U.S. cyber attacks, American Airlines abruptly cancelled all flights into and out of the country.

Among the speakers denouncing Washington’s attempted coup were activists Cindy Sheehan, Medea Benjamin, Lee Camp and Brian Becker, who called the Trump administration’s moves a naked grab for the world’s largest oil reserves in Venezuela.  The anti-coup protestors, numbering about 2,000, later marched through the streets of the capital, stopping in front of the Trump International Hotel, where Becker denounced the billionaire president for serving billionaires’ interests while ignoring those of the Venezuelan and American people.

“This is what Trump really wants: the triumph of wealth over people,” Becker said. “Donald Trump: that is a fantasy. The coup is rejected by the people of Venezuela. “

The protestors then marched to the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church where they were addressed via Skype by Pentagon Papers whistleblower Dan Ellsberg and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, as well as by activist groups who traveled to Washington from around the country. 

The following 17-minute video by Consortium News Editor Joe Lauria shows confrontations by protestors from both sides and then moves from the counter-demonstration to the anti-coup rally, which is addressed by journalist Max Blumenthal. 

Watch the entire anti-coup rally here (1 hour, 38 minutes):

Watch the anti-coup protestors converge on the Trump International Hotel (3 min.):

70 comments for “VIDEO: Pro and Anti-Venezuela Coup Protestors Face Off in Front of White House

  1. March 21, 2019 at 15:48

    Guaido has just been given an honorary membership as part of the old Monty Python cast.

    An utterly ridiculous figure.

    But then look at the people promoting him.

  2. Paul G.
    March 20, 2019 at 14:38

    Good to see the whole video of the rally; this story keeps getting updated for the better.

  3. Alan Ross
    March 20, 2019 at 09:58

    Considering all the hurtful actions carried out by our government to do in Chavez then Maduro and all the suffering we have caused you have to marvel at the endurance of the Venezuelan people, including the army, on insisting on keeping the leaders they chose. While, anyone who insists on Juan Guaidó is the legitimate President of Venezuela is, to be polite, delusional. The only regime change that we must carry out is in getting rid of the Republicans and establishment Democrats who run our country. How long we will endure these servants of a murderous small group of oligarchic families who think little of destroying countries who do not support their efforts to own the world?

  4. Abe
    March 20, 2019 at 01:25

    Venezuela: The Trump Coup And Our Next Oil War
    By Greg Palast
    https://www.gregpalast.com/venezuela-the-trump-coup-and-our-next-oil-war/

  5. Abe
    March 20, 2019 at 01:20

    “Minds are turning to military intervention.”

    What a Military Intervention in Venezuela Would Look Like: Getting In Would Be the Easy Part
    By Frank O. Mora
    https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/venezuela/2019-03-19/what-military-intervention-venezuela-would-look

    Mora is former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs (2009-2013), one of the three components of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs.

    Mora was a Professor of National Security Strategy and Latin American Studies at the National War College, National Defense University (2004-2009), and currently teaches in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University.

    • OlyaPola
      March 20, 2019 at 07:05

      “Minds are turning to military intervention.”

      What a Military Intervention in Venezuela Would Look Like: Getting In Would Be the Easy Part
      By Frank O. Mora
      https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/venezuela/2019-03-19/what-military-intervention-venezuela-would-look””

      Thank you for the link the “publication” and place of “publication”of which is not unexpected.

      Mr. Mora has chosen to limit his framing to “Latin America” with particular focus on Venezuela.

      However others would suggest not restricting the framing to “Latin America” would be more illuminating particularly in respect of “regime change” consequences and opportunities, although doing so would likely incur greater entrenchment/resistance from some of the “audiences”.

      Among the opponents, in broad terms:

      1. Politicians are immersed in derivatives of domino theories with a lesser assay of commercial reasons and a low level of perception of possible consequences through an amalgam of hubris and lack of rigour in evaluation.

      2. Commercial interests are immersed in derivatives of commercial reasons with a lesser assay of derivatives of domino theories and a restricted level of perception of possible consequences through limited framing.

      3. Practitioners with experience in military and strategic matters like Mr. Mora are immersed in derivatives of “how to” with a less restricted level of perception of possible consequences through less limited framing.

      Among the opponents in broad terms:

      The politicians tend to have more experience and resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation.

      The commercial interests tend to have less experience and resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation.

      The Practitioners with experience in military and strategic matters like Mr. Mora tend to have the least experience and resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation, although this is not homogeneous given the varying roles of, motivations of, and contexts within which the practitioners
      practice.

      The present Gordian knot under consideration is:

      “Installing him (regime change) would create opportunities of increased perception and agency in respect of class wars not restricted to Venezuela, which if acted upon wisely could help “average” people through lateral regime change not restricted to Venezuela, aided by the opponents who regularly fail to perceive possible outcomes as a function of their hubris, doubling down being facilitated by their resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation.”

      The present question under consideration is “How to solve the conundrum of the Gordian knot”.

      “Minds are turning to military intervention.”

      As frequently illustrated the headline is not a distillation of content but a misrepresentation of content.

      Enjoy your journey.

    • Abe
      March 20, 2019 at 16:28

      The sentence I quoted from the first paragraph of Mora’s article in Foreign Affairs is not a “headline”, a “distillation” or a “misrepresentation” of content.

      The six word sentence highlights the reality that behind US “regime change” economic and political invention in “Latin America” and elsewhere, military intervention looms large.

      “Practitioners” like Mora get paid to insist that “regime change” has something to do with “restoration of democracy and the rule of law”. The United States does indeed have a “clear objective in Venezuela”: restoration of US dominance by any means necessary.

      I agree with mike k that “OlyaPola” prodigiously hurls “pseudo-intellectual gibberish to obfuscate a simple issue”.

      • OlyaPola
        March 21, 2019 at 05:44

        ““Practitioners”

        OlyaPola
        March 20, 2019 at 07:05

        “The Practitioners with experience in military and strategic matters like Mr. Mora tend to have the least experience and resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation, although this is not homogeneous given the varying roles of, motivations of, and contexts within which the practitioners
        practice.”

        Practitioners have varying roles, motivations and contexts within which they practice.

        “The United States does indeed have a “clear objective in Venezuela”: restoration of US dominance by any means necessary.”

        Some opponents perceive Venezuela in a wider context and hence not all are only considering a military intervention and hence “The United States of America” is neither united, nor America, nor has a “clear objective in Venezuela”, nor a clear “strategy” of how to achieve such in Venezuela or elsewhere, although some opponents have hopes based upon their methods of analysis and “strategy” formulation/implementation/monitoring/modulation which have regularly been “disappointed”.

        Hence:

        “The present Gordian knot under consideration is:

        “Installing him (regime change) would create opportunities of increased perception and agency in respect of class wars not restricted to Venezuela, which if acted upon wisely could help “average” people through lateral regime change not restricted to Venezuela, aided by the opponents who regularly fail to perceive possible outcomes as a function of their hubris, doubling down being facilitated by their resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation.”

        The present question under consideration is “How to solve the conundrum of the Gordian knot”.”

        This is illustrated through links including those cited below as a small sample which can be tested individually and in correlation all of which for differing reasons are flawed.

        http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176540/tomgram%3A_william_astore%2C_the_death_of_peace/#more

        https://audioboom.com/posts/7207217.mp3?modified=1553057485&source=rss&stitched=1

        https://audioboom.com/posts/7207172.mp3?modified=1553053147&source=rss&stitched=1

        ““Minds are turning to military intervention.”

        As outlined above this is a misrepresentation through ommission and hence is a “headline”, a “distillation” and a “misrepresentation” of the content of Mr. Mora’s article, and may have been a function of perceiving and/or expecting “simplicity” in emulation of “We the people hold these truths to be self-evident”.

        “I agree with mike k that “OlyaPola” prodigiously hurls “pseudo-intellectual gibberish to obfuscate a simple issue”.”

        The opponents tend to encourage an aversion to complexity and doubt which facilitate outcomes of “disappointed hopes” requiring derivatives of “lets-move-onism” and resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation in attempt to maintain
        prevailing social relations.

        These hypotheses can and maybe tested subject to considerations of ““How to solve the conundrum of the Gordian knot” undertaken by many not restricted to “The United States of America” thereby adding a level of complexity not perceived by some.

      • Abe
        March 22, 2019 at 18:52

        Thanks for the links to Mssrs. Astore and Cohen.

        Nevertheless, you haven’t “outlined” anything, OllyPolly.

        Enjoy your gibber.

  6. dean 1000
    March 18, 2019 at 23:03

    If Venezuela ends up with a dictator it will be bc the Trump administration and its allies were able to install the unelected Gauido.

    Apparently capitalism, at least US capitalism, is afraid it can’t compete with its Siamese twin Socialism. I refer to the ancient religious figure who damned capitalists and socialists as the mountebanks of materialism. Well, on this side of evolution materialism will always be ahead of whatever is in second place.
    Does fear of competition explain why capitalism too often tries to murder its Siamese twin brother socialism? I’m asking.

    There is more to this caper than grabbing Venezuela’s oil and other natural resources. It is also about forcing a system of government on the people of Venezuela they don’t want.

    If the administration, Senator Rubio, et al are willing to sabotage electricity going to Venezuelans, will they sabotage your electricity if they don’t like your politics? Yes and hell yes if they can get away with it.

    Now we know that centralized production of electricity, by the state or a corporate creature of the state, is the most interruptible, interdictible, costly means of producing electricity. When imperial power can overthrow elected governments, energy independence is a prerequisite of liberty and political freedom. Roof top solar anyone?

    • OlyaPola
      March 19, 2019 at 06:00

      Threats are forms of fiat the potency of which reduce with interaction except for those who resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation.

      https://www.globalresearch.ca/map-objectives-war-energy-venezuela/5671839

      “It is also about forcing a system of government on the people of Venezuela they don’t want.”

      Some conflate attempt with achievement.

      To avoid this self-delusion perhaps your sentence would benefit from being expressed as:

      “It is also about attempting to enhance and sustain interactive practices which an increasing sum of the world’s population do not want, which through attempts at implementation increases the sum of some of the world’s population who do not want enhancement and/or sustaining of these interactive practices, whilst facilitating opportunities of transcending these interactive practices including but not restricted by renewable energy”.

  7. March 18, 2019 at 14:38

    If we can not fight off the globalists in our own country how will we fight them off in Venezuela or anywhere else?

  8. Paul G.
    March 18, 2019 at 11:45

    Yes , seems my somewhat critical and supportive comment disappeared along with two supporting me. If this is not an accident, it is a is a poor reflection.

    • DW Bartoo
      March 18, 2019 at 12:06

      One certainly hopes that such disappearance is accidental, Paul.

  9. GMC
    March 18, 2019 at 10:53

    Great videos – Gracias Consortium. It’s good to see that people care about the Venezuelan people, and that should be their rights, to a decent living in Venezuela – just as those living in the Estados Unitas. I live in a place that is sanctioned , but the country is strong enough to work around them. We are 100% behind the people of Venezuela and yes Maduro has made some mistakes but – His people should not be divided and conquered for the Globalists, that refuse to make ordinary international business contracts, in order to help those people with their nationalized natural resources. Spacibo

  10. john assort
    March 17, 2019 at 18:29

    Cough….Feather….Bullturds…lol

  11. dhinds
    March 17, 2019 at 14:19

    The vast majority of the Anti-Maduro Venezuelans OPPOSE US intervention.

    That is an important detail that deserves attention.

    • WDQK
      March 18, 2019 at 12:12

      What a joke. Supporting the US puppet and pretending to be anti interventionist.

  12. Yahweh
    March 17, 2019 at 12:20

    Protestors at the White House. Now that’s an original idea lol !

    Whom and where is the voice of tyranny and propaganda ? Bingo!! This is where you peacefully protest…

    Lets ask about private money funding. Bingo!! This is where you peacefully protest those who finance…

    Now, what about little Marco Rubio who happens to be one of the main leaders of the takeover. Marco Rubio is a nobody. But he is being groomed and financed to be a future POTUS. The question is who is doing the financing?

    Always follow the money and learn how to protest effectively, legally, and peacefully……

    • Brian Murphy
      March 18, 2019 at 07:46

      See Greg Palast. The Koch brothers placed an order for regime change. They own the only refinery capable of processing Venezuela’s heavy crude. Venezuela has been charging the Koch Brothers a premium for the crude, taking advantage of the fact that the Koch brothers want to run their refinery at full capacity. So, the Koch brothers have got the entire US government working to grant them a price discount from Venezuela, is what this boils down to.

  13. Al Pinto
    March 17, 2019 at 09:15

    Since when demonstrations, like this one, have any effect on the US foreign policy? Since the Vietnam War protest, there has been no impact on the foreign policy.

    I recall marching down on 6th Avenue to protest against the pending Iraqi war, that had no impact. Well, actually, people at work ridiculed me for being part of the protest that I took in pride. On the other, couple of years later my fellow workers admitted that I was right. There’s that, but we are still in Iraq among other countries.

    Seemingly, there’s nothing that would change MSM, MIC, etc., to end wars in pretty much all continents…

    • Paul G.
      March 17, 2019 at 09:37

      Yes it is very discouraging, especially in DC, there are so many demonstrations that to the powerful it is just another day. I’ve been inside Congressional office buildings with a demonstration outside; business as usual, the weather would have been noticed more.
      However, demonstrations show the public there is an issue people care about and points out the problem to a blasé world. They are also invigorating and provide emotional support to the participants many of whom are activists. They are a platform for further action.

    • Eddie S
      March 17, 2019 at 11:45

      Yes, AP, I feel a lot like you. I too marched a couple of times in against the Iraq War-crime back in 2003, along with the ~2M protestors world-wide, to no discernible results. However, I believe a lot had to do with the zeitgeist, and back then much of the normally apathetic US public was still in shock from 9/11 and — in their fight-or-flight response —- they were mostly OK with blind aggression against anyone who could even remotely be connected to Arabs (even if it was just physical proximity). It appears that this attitude is slowly subsiding, and while the default US greed is supplanting much of it, there is also some dormant US idealism that is slowly also coming to the fore, so hopefully we’re entering an era of some progressive enlightenment…

    • dhinds
      March 17, 2019 at 14:09

      “Seemingly, there’s nothing that would change MSM, MIC, etc., to end wars in pretty much all continents…”

      Nothing?

      You consider yourself nothing?

      I don’t.

      The senseless and tragic Regime Change Wars and sabatage must stop.

      Bring All the Troops Home Now!

      Support Tulsi Gabbard for POTUS!

  14. John C Durham
    March 17, 2019 at 08:56

    Where’s Tulsi?

  15. March 17, 2019 at 00:13

    I remember pro-Sandinista and pro-Contra demos squaring off against one another like this at 24th and Mission at the end of the 70s and early 80s.

  16. Ashraf
    March 16, 2019 at 22:38

    Kick that bastard Trump and change the regime in the US. The terrorist regime.

  17. Joe Lauria
    March 16, 2019 at 22:30

    Unfortunately you do not appear to understand news or what Consortium News is about. Showing the counter-demonstrators is in no way an endorsement of them. Our function is not public relations or promotion but to report a news event and the confrontations between the two sides were clearly newsworthy.

    • Paul G.
      March 16, 2019 at 23:41

      I am well aware of journalistic standards, used to be one. My point is the amount of time devoted to the so called confrontations, which were fairly mild and that devoted to the main demonstration and its speakers. I would have covered both but reversed the proportions as that would represent the significance of each. The pro coup folks signs were all US/CIA talking points.
      Coverage of the talks inside the church would have been more enlightening, that’s when it got really interesting. It also was an unique ending to a march that was a tool for further organizing. On April 19th and 20the there will be more, tune in then.
      Don’t get me wrong, Consortium has been one of my top two sources for years, you are great .

      • Joe Lauria
        March 17, 2019 at 00:00

        You don’t understand journalistic principles at least as I do after more than 30 years in this business and still in it. You wanted a promotional video about your side, not news. This video is not an edited package of the whole day it is a one take view of both sides of the demonstration at a tense moment.

        • mike k
          March 17, 2019 at 06:31

          A little touchy about criticism of your work Joe? Paul’s points are valid, and deserve consideration, not what comes uncomfortably close to an ad hominem attack. Relax, and give us some space to differ from you in a friendly way.

        • March 17, 2019 at 08:38

          I probably should stay out of a minor debate between two journalists but the news does appear to be people speaking out against regime change and that would suggest greater emphasis on the protest while including the counter protests. Important that the protests were covered by CN which it did. Would that CN’s integrity rub off on our major media.

        • Dave H.
          March 17, 2019 at 12:35

          I’ve worked in the US media for over 30 years, and I agree with the criticisms that Paul G. made here. And Joe Lauria talking down to him as if his opinion is more important is not a good look.

  18. Deepthroat
    March 16, 2019 at 21:59

    Perhaps this is the reason behind the attack in New Zealand. Get some no name cutout to shoot up a mosque in a 5 eyes country, and this dominates the news cycle for a few days, effectively obscuring coverage of other things they don’t want us to see. Plus you get another chance to not only smear the rigjt wingers but also push to disarm the population. All three goals of the deep state are satisfied so ita a win/win/win and the only people who pay the price are muslims that the govt doesnt care about anyway

  19. Mary Vogt
    March 16, 2019 at 19:45

    Also, Venezuelans begging the US to take over their country have no idea what they are in for.

    • Ian Brown
      March 17, 2019 at 13:15

      One has to be really naive to believe that installing an unelected president, supported by a minority of the people, on behalf of hostile foreign governments, who promises to get rid of public housing, cut public spending, and give away all the national resources to foreign corporations, is going to IMPROVE human rights and democracy in Venezuela.

      • Cecilia Neher
        March 18, 2019 at 04:01

        As a Venezuelan I can say that I don’t like the participation of US (least of all of Trump) in my country, but you are mistaken if you think Guaido is supported by a minority of people. A hug majority wants what he is offering: independent and transparent elections. As for him promising to “get rid of public housing, cut public spending, and give away all the national resources to foreign corporations” I have no idea where you got this from. Do you have a credible source for this info? Because it is definitely not true. What is true though is that to rescue Venezuela from the deep economic hole the chavismo put us in and to rebuild our productive infrastructure is going to require very hard measures and it won’t happen overnight. It will take years and millions of dollars.

        • Skip Scott
          March 18, 2019 at 07:58

          Read “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man” by John Perkins for some very credible back round information.

          Read this article to find out the history of Mr. Guaido:
          https://consortiumnews.com/2019/01/29/the-making-of-juan-guaido-us-regime-change-laboratory-created-venezuelas-coup-leader/

        • March 18, 2019 at 08:10

          Did chavismo or did the USA put you in a poor situation.

          Chavismo raised millions out of poverty even though oil facilities were being sabotaged by….. WHO?

          If the USA cares why are they not helping rather than attacking?

          Because Guaido affiliates with a nation, condemned by the International Court as a terrorist state for its support of Contra terrorists, a nation which routinely invades and destroys nations, a Plutocracy, the USA and because Guaido represents a minuscule party in Parliament and his 30 day mandate has expired, he is not a viable option to Maduro.

          And who is cyber attacking the electrical grid?

        • March 18, 2019 at 11:46

          Typical ignorant bourgeois comment. Couldn’t care less about the poor. The vast majority.

      • March 18, 2019 at 10:41

        Those agitating for US intervention only seek to advance Human Rights and Democracy™” for a select minority, the way things were pre-Chavez.

    • Drew Hunkins
      March 17, 2019 at 14:29

      You have to remember that those are relatively wealthy Venezuelans, so they know exactly what they’re in for. They are the class of the comprador elite (or their professional sycophants and administrators, etc.) who are connected to Western profit making. It’s why they despise Chavista reforms and are resolutely anti-Maduro.

    • Helga Fellay
      March 18, 2019 at 23:19

      Venezuelans begging the US to take over their country know exactly what they are in for. They are the privileged, wealthy, White oligarchs, descendants of Europeans who ruled over the indigenous Venezuelans and those of mixed race like aristocrats over slaves. Then came the revolution, and with it, majority rule and democracy. The majority are of mixed heritage, and poor to middle class. Their president is one of them. And the White Elite resents it. They know that with Guaido installed as US puppet they will return to the “good old days”, where, just like in the US, a small wealthy ruling Elite will have all the wealth and all of the power.

  20. JC
    March 16, 2019 at 19:36

    Also jewish orgs in France are cryng foul ..apparently the YELLOW vests see the zionist as an enemy to

  21. Mary Vogt
    March 16, 2019 at 19:36

    Thank you for this very important coverage! It is sad that people who are for regime change have been poisoned by US propaganda, coupled with the neoliberal supporters of Guaido in Venezuela. They don’t mind Maduro being removed, since it doesn’t hurt their bottom line. One wonders what Guaido promises them. Installing him sure won’t help the average Venezuelan.

    • Ma Laoshi
      March 17, 2019 at 00:39

      “Helping the avereage Venezuelan” doesn’t seem to carry much sway with this crowd. Pre-Chavez governments were more interested in dispossessing the average Venezuelan, and one may safely assume that those days are remembered fondly by the counter-protesters. You talk as if people have been brainwashed by the US (and there may be some of that), but let’s not rob the latinos of their own agency. There are deep divisions in all societies there, and the good people of Latin America have done much worse to each other than mere dispossession–and still do.

      All the evidence I’ve seen is the anti-Maduro crowd knows exactly what it’s doing. If the CIA can help them achieve their goals, then godspeed.

    • OlyaPola
      March 17, 2019 at 05:43

      “It is sad that people who are for regime change have been poisoned by US propaganda”
      “One wonders what Guaido promises them.”

      Your assertion/statement and question is predicated on immersion in the opponents binary subject/object assigning agency to the opponents including Mr. Guaido (subjects) and limited/no agency to people (objects).

      To engage in assertions is to seek to bridge doubt by belief to attain confirmation thereby limiting agency, perception and strategic options – an example being Mr. Guevara and disciples in Bolivia in 1966/7 with contemporary forecast/achieved outcomes which subsequently informed practices such as in Angola and other locations of the Portuguese Empire during the 1970’s.

      Some of the demonstrators are likely motivated by objective self-interest as they were in Chile in 1972/3 and Ukraine in 2014; not “false consciousness”.

      “Installing him sure won’t help the average Venezuelan.”

      Seeking to describe/evaluate a lateral process by a moment in the lateral process is to seek to deny time ( a synonym of change and process).

      Installing him would create opportunities of increased perception and agency in respect of class wars not restricted to Venezuela, which if acted upon wisely could help “average” people through lateral regime change not restricted to Venezuela, aided by the opponents who regularly fail to perceive possible outcomes as a function of their hubris, doubling down being facilitated by their resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation.

      • mike k
        March 17, 2019 at 06:35

        Pola – Your remarks are a hilarious use of pseudo-intellectual gibberish to obfuscate a simple issue.

        • Tiina
          March 17, 2019 at 10:29

          You said it!
          Been a long time since I’ve read nonsense oft this caliber.

        • Eddie S
          March 17, 2019 at 10:30

          Exactly mike K — I’m just not sure IF he’s ‘pranking’ us, is not conversationally familiar with English, or has some mental condition (schizophrenia?), but I now ignore his mostly unintelligible remarks.

          • Skip Scott
            March 18, 2019 at 11:53

            I have wondered if OlyaPola is even human. Could it be some kind of AI bot?

        • OlyaPola
          March 17, 2019 at 13:43

          “a simple issue.”

          Those who think war is simple and/or self-evident generally end up dead like Mr. Guevara and hence it is possibly fortunate that you have likely not directly participated in many wars to test “your” hypotheses.

        • Skip Scott
          March 18, 2019 at 11:55

          “If you can’t dazzle ’em with brilliance, baffle ’em with bullshit”.

          • March 18, 2019 at 18:00

            Perhaps the purpose is destroying the thread

        • March 18, 2019 at 23:23

          I was just thinking the very same thing, mike k

      • TimN
        March 17, 2019 at 13:06

        What in God’s name are you talking about?

    • Cecilia Neher
      March 18, 2019 at 04:11

      Venezuelans who want a regime changed haven’t been poisoned by US propaganda, They have been poisoned by years of economic crisis, shortages of food and medicines, regular electricity blackouts, an unbelievable corruption, a unprecedented mismanagement of our resources and a rhetoric full of hatred to whoever is not with them.
      As for your previous comment “Venezuelans begging the US to take over their country have no idea what they are in for”. That I agree with. I am suspicious of the US agenda behind this support. But the US is one of the more than 60 countries that support Guaido, the problem is that it creates too much noise and his history in Latin America is nefarious.

      • Skip Scott
        March 18, 2019 at 08:07

        The recent years of economic crisis are the result of sanctions imposed by the USA and its vassals. Prior to the Bolivarian revolution the only ones suffering were the poor majority.

        Please read this article by John Pilger, and refute anything you disagree with.
        https://consortiumnews.com/2019/02/22/john-pilger-the-war-on-venezuela-is-built-on-lies/

        • OlyaPola
          March 18, 2019 at 11:49

          “Venezuelans who want a regime changed haven’t been poisoned by US propaganda, They have been poisoned by years of economic crisis, shortages of food and medicines, regular electricity blackouts, an unbelievable corruption, a unprecedented mismanagement of our resources and a rhetoric full of hatred to whoever is not with them.”

          This statement has application in respect of years prior to 1990 for some and years after 1990 for others, and hence through emphasis and focus/framing your perception of the relevance of Mr. Pilger’s article in particular context is misguided/mis-targetted.

        • WDQK
          March 18, 2019 at 12:19

          Cecilia sounds like a deep state shrill.

      • March 18, 2019 at 08:23

        You are in some poor company, I recently heard a Venezuelan professor, who supports Guaido, state that the USA’s 1955 overthrow of democratically elected Arends Guatemalan government was a “success”.

        200,000 plus dead Mayans… a “success”?

        Plus Guatemala is still suffering the repercussions of the USA coup as is Honduras, now a narco state, with the USA overthrow of Zalaya.

        USA’s recent involvement in now fascist Brazil.

        A Guaido who supports USA policy in Latin America is a traitor to Humanity.

      • OlyaPola
        March 18, 2019 at 11:38

        “Venezuelans who want a regime changed haven’t been poisoned by US propaganda, They have been poisoned by years of economic crisis, shortages of food and medicines, regular electricity blackouts, an unbelievable corruption, a unprecedented mismanagement of our resources and a rhetoric full of hatred to whoever is not with them.”

        plus

        “OlyaPola
        March 17, 2019 at 5:43 am
        “It is sad that people who are for regime change have been poisoned by US propaganda”
        “One wonders what Guaido promises them.”
        ………..

        “Some of the demonstrators are likely motivated by objective self-interest as they were in Chile in 1972/3 and Ukraine in 2014; not “false consciousness”.”

        Spectators tend to ponder and evangelise “what is” constructed through projection of their expectations/pre-judgements/prejudices: a process of engaging in the creation of holograms included in which are embedded restricted definitions/perceptions including of “regime change”.

        Except as a diversionary technique practitioners avoid the creation of holograms including of what may constitute “regime change” in pondering and implementing “how to” to avoid outcomes such as those enjoyed by Mr. Guevara and his disciples including but not restricted, to aiding the sales of posters and tee-shirts.

        All, including practitioners, want “regime change” but have different definitions of and consequently different “how to” facilitate “regime change”.

        Hence a hypothesis in illustration to be tested by any if so minded:

        “Installing him would create opportunities of increased perception and agency in respect of class wars not restricted to Venezuela, which if acted upon wisely could help “average” people through lateral regime change not restricted to Venezuela, aided by the opponents who regularly fail to perceive possible outcomes as a function of their hubris, doubling down being facilitated by their resort to belief to bridge doubt to attain confirmation.”

        The salient questions are which regime change, how to facilitate this, and how does this serve my purpose, none of which in isolation or interaction are simple.

        To facilitate a sustainable regime change the primary definition of regime change and effort required needs to be by the local people, as in Donbass, or Syria etc.

  22. JC
    March 16, 2019 at 19:28

    ADL Says Maduro Is Promoting Anti-Semitic ‘Conspiracy Theories’……As the political crisis continues in Venezuela, the hardline regime of Nicolas Maduro, whose power is currently being challenged, is promoting hateful anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and allegations of Jewish or “Zionist” plots to take over the government.

    As declared interim President Juan Guaidó – whose bid to take over the government is supported by more than 50 countries – challenges Maduro’s power, the resulting political, social and economic instability has created a ripe climate for conspiracy theories about Jews to flourish…….The fact that these conspiracy theories are emerging now is not surprising, given the country’s long history of leaders, including late President Hugo Chavez and his followers, scapegoating Israel and using Jews as a political tool. ADL has closely monitored the anti-Semitic rhetoric emanating from the government since 2006.

    In the current crisis, Maduro and members of his government have invoked anti-Semitic tropes, including conspiracies of U.S. and “Zionist” control of Guaidó. Most recently, in a February 13 interview in al-Mayadeen, a Lebanese media outlet affiliated with Hezbollah, Maduro charged that Guaidó’s inner circle was full of CIA agents serving “American and Zionist” interests. He further indicated that Venezuela and his government remain closely aligned with the Palestinian cause.

    Allegations and conspiracy theories of Jewish/Zionist intervention in the Venezuelan crisis are widely propagated by Maduro supporters. Here’s a sampling of such rhetoric from the first two months of 2019:

    • March 18, 2019 at 10:39

      OMG! Maduro supports Palestine. Earth to JC please do not support Zionist genocide or USA imperialistic interventions and USA puppets as is Guaido.

      The 50 nations also supported one million murdered in Iraq.

      Its all about the “Benjamins”

      The Balfour Declaration was requested by and granted to0 Lord Rothschild.

    • Dave
      March 19, 2019 at 07:05

      “As declared interim President Juan Guaidó – whose bid to take over the government is supported by more than 50 countries”

      Forgot to mention that 50 countries is a minority Mr. CIA asset…..

    • kernel
      March 19, 2019 at 12:20

      Thank you (snark) for inadvertently explaining why [war-criminal] Elliot Abrams was put in charge of the Venezuela Regime-Change Project.

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