South America Rejects US Sanctions on Venezuela

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

South America Rejects US Sanctions on Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela May 24, 2014 (AP)

South American governments have rejected an effort by U.S. lawmakers to apply sanctions on Venezuela over human rights concerns.

Foreign ministers from the 12-member Union of South American Nations issued a statement Friday saying that the proposed legislation would constitute a violation of Venezuela's internal affairs and undermine attempts by regional diplomats and the Vatican to foster dialogue between the government and opposition.

Sanctions represent "an obstacle for the Venezuelan people can overcome their difficulties with independence, and in democratic peace," according to a statement after a meeting in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday is expected to debate a bipartisan bill that would order the Obama administration to ban visas and freeze the assets of Venezuelan officials who've committed abuses during the past three months of unrest. Similar legislation has already cleared the Senate foreign relations committee.

The Obama administration has condemned President Nicolas Maduro's crackdown on protests but wants to hold off on applying sanctions to give more time to dialogue.


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/south-america-rejects-us-sanctions-venezuela-23856209

---

(Short article, no more at link.)

[billhicks76]

1. USA!!!

I thought violating human rights was a requirement to be a US ally.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. See: Saudi Arabia

[billhicks76]

7. Honduras

Thanks to Hillary Clinton supporting a coup that removed a democratically elected leader and replaced him with exploiting corporate fascists. I hope someone challenges this fake.

[iandhr]

2. Maduro could strangle puppies and there will be people here defending him

saying the puppies were imperialists.

Maduro is a dictator just like Chavez. But that is not why we don't like him. We have no problem with dictators that support us.

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. "Maduro is a dictator just like Chavez." Why is this stuff on DU?

Both Chavez and Maduro were democratically elected. Why do I feel like I'm listening to Fox News or Ileana Ros-Lehtinten (R-FL)?

[L0oniX]

22. We democratically elect our leaders and what do we get? Corporations!

[Comrade Grumpy]

26. And we're a dictatorship, too! Oh, wait. I'm getting confused now.

Are we?

Are they?

In both cases, one could argue that these are dysfunctional democracies.

[JoeyT]

30. The US could be responsible for death squads

that butcher innocent people and some people would defend it because YEW ESS AAAAY!

It's not quite an accurate comparison, since Maduro hasn't strangled any puppies, while we have trained, armed, and financed right wing death squads.

[ballyhoo]

3. Oh durn...

[GoneFishin]

4. The Obama administration ... wants to hold off ...

until they can come up with an excuse for cracking down on OWS protesters before condemning Venezuela for doing the same thing.

[L0oniX]

21. I'm sure the NSA is busy tracking the porn habits of Venezuelan leaders as we speak.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Because the #1 Human Right we recognize is the right to make a buck.

[YOHABLO]

13. Yes, and Venezuela has a lot of damn oil.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

16. And they have the NERVE to call it "their's".

[hack89]

25. They sell us all the oil we want

We don't have to interfere in VZ to get their oil. With the fracking boom in America, we are actually importing less of their oil every year.

[COLGATE4]

27. Not only that, but VZ oil is a nasty, heavy thick

crude that requires a great deal more refining than other oils. It's at the bottom tier in terms of desirability.

[Cha]

8. Thank you, President Obama.

[freshwest]

35. Yep, let them figure it out. A lighter touch is good. n/t

[hrmjustin]

9. I think sanctions will only create even more distrust between us.

[McCamy Taylor]

10. Pot meet kettle. NeoCons are only concerned because they have oil.

How about some concern over Guatemala?

Oh, and guess where are troops will be heading if Jeb gets elected? That's right. To liberate for Venezuelan oil for Chevron.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. Isn't is interesting how we get all hot over countries with oil (and gas) /pipelines

Give us a break!

When is the USA going to get weaned off oil?

Is Cheney still in control?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

12. Yikes!

Give us a break!

When is the USA going to get weaned off oil?

Is Cheney still in control?

[ctsnowman]

18. Exactly!

[Judi Lynn]

14. Meanwhile, regarding Venezuela's neighbor:"The U.S., Colombia & the Spread of the Death Squad State"

Weekend Edition May 23-25, 2014
The False-Positive Nightmare

The U.S., Colombia & the Spread of the Death Squad State

by DANIEL KOVALIK


Colombia continues to be ground zero for the U.S.’s crimes against Latin America, and its continued quest to subjugate the region. Several recent events, virtually uncovered in the mainstream press, underscore this reality.

First, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report just this week detailing the grisly practices of paramilitary death squads in the port town of Buenaventura. These practices by the paramilitaries which act with impunity and with the tacit support of the local police, include disappearances of hundreds of civilians; forced displacement; and the dismemberment of individuals, while they are still alive, in local “chop houses.” That the port town of Buenaventura was to be the model city of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is instructive as to what the wages of free trade truly are. Jose Vivanco of HRW called Buenaventura “the scandal” of Colombia. Sadly, it is not Colombia’s only one.

Thus, this past weekend, the VI Division of the Colombian Army entered the peasant town of Alto Amarradero, Ipiales in the middle of the night, and, without warrant and in cold blood, gunned down four civilians, including a 15-year old boy. Those killed were Deivi López Ortega, José Antonio Acanamejoy, Brayan Yatacue Secue and José Yiner Esterilla — all members of the FENSUAGRO agricultural union.

The Army then displayed the bodies of those murdered for all to see, and falsely claimed that they were the bodies of guerillas killed in combat.

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/05/23/the-u-s-colombia-the-spread-of-the-death-squad-state/

[L0oniX]

20. +1 ^^^ this ^^^

[MyNameGoesHere]

17. Awww, The little neoconpoops are not getting their monies worth

from the millions they are funneling through USAID to destabilize a freely elected president. They so sad. sniff. And who would of thunk the rest of South America is finally rejecting the imperialist amurka?

[L0oniX]

19. The days are quickly approaching when US gov bully sanctions won't work.

We're not number one anymore. These pompous bully threats are meaning less and less as the world is sick and tired of the US playing world police. IMO bull shit like this is going to backfire more and more as time goes on. You never gather more flies with vinegar anyway.

[sulphurdunn]

23. This sort if thing

always shines a very bright light on just how arrogant, hypocritical and morally corrupt Washington has become. What do do?

[Ash_F]

24. How dare they! /nt

[mitchtv]

28. Benghazi! er I mean

dictator

[karynnj]

29. These sanctions are NOT favored by Obama --- why not get his back here?

It is PROPOSED legislation from the House. The President has opposed this -- and he has a major role in foreign policy.

If you looked, you MIGHT see a pattern, with CONGRESS, especially the House (but some in the Senate too) pushing for sanctions on not just Venezuela, but Iran. Does anyone here think it MIGHT be better to get the back of Obama and his administration and support them? Did you ever think that they are taking a courageous position is standing against what - in most of the country would be popular legislation ------ against two very unpopular countries among people in this country! Another example is that this administration, has gone further than any sitting US administration on Israel/Palestine and have been blasted for it. (sitting is in the sentence because their position is not beyond where Carter has gone as an exPresident.)

I KNOW that there is no chance that any foreign policy of Obama (or any likely President) will ever be what people on the left want. However, there are times where - instead of attacking Obama, when he is standing AGAINST a large number of people wanting an even worse policy, that things are framed as WE NEED TO SUPPORT OBAMA ON REJECTING THE ACTIONS PROPOSED.

I don't know if it will make a difference in the administration's position, but it has to hurt when NO ONE is on your side. The center and right are clamoring on one side against them and the left is already BLAMING him for the position of the right. It may be that as legislation moves, Obama will find it easier to give in. I hope he doesn't, but people in the administration have been clear that they do not see sanctions as helping the situation.

If he does impose sanctions, THEN it would be fair to make this about him.

[kelliekat44]

31. Because no matter what side of an issue Obama takes...we and they will be ultimately against it. nt

[okaawhatever]

32. Excellent post. Unfortunately, many of the negative comments on this post came from

people with strong anti-American sentiments. It's not just the situation with Venezuela, it's everything that is said and done. If you look at the history of some of these posters they haven't said anything nice about Obama or the Democrats in a long time. I think the main body of Democrats back Obama's foreign policy, but I'm not sure DU represents the main body of Democrats.

Someone did a poll not too long ago that asked your political affiliation and over half of them (when I last checked) put socialist, not as in European socialist, but rather Chavez and Maduro socialist. I think those people are going to have a strong pro-Maduro, pro-Venezuela opinion. I know many of them aren't American so they may favor other geographical areas as well.

[Peace Patriot]

33. Born in the USA. Democrat since birth. Voted Democratic in every election and...

...and by-election since I was old enough to vote. Democratic activist. True believer in peace, shared prosperity, human and civil rights, good government and fostering of "the Commons." Lover of learning and human diversity.

What is this crap about "anti-American sentiments" and "many of them aren't American"?

I get to criticize my government. I get to revile my government when they deserve it. I get to accuse my government of being run by Plutocrats, who installed a warmongering, thieving junta here between 2000 and 2008, then groomed a weak candidate to front for them in the White House, while our country is drowned in the corporate river of forgetfulness.

I get to object when war criminals and master thieves are too powerful to be prosecuted and everybody lies about it. I get to vomit over Obamacare being the worst piece of shit, corporate run, domestic policy ever devised by so-called Democrats since our Democratic Congress devised corporate-run, electronic voting with 'TRADE SECRET' code, owned and controlled by one, private, far right-wing and Pentagon-connected corporation (ES&S,which bought out Diebold)! I get to complain when not one Democratic leader in the entire country defends vote counting in the PUBLIC VENUE.

I get to say that our elections are rigged because of the plain facts about our election system and WHO it is s/electing. I get to call the corporate newsmongers serial liars. I get to yell when my government drone-bombs people in other countries without benefit of trial, or even accusation, and who killed them is top secret. I get to protest when my tax money is used to try to destabilize the democratic government of Venezuela. I get to scream when my government supports a fascist coup d'etat in Honduras, and pours billions of public money into Colombia to kill peasants and trade unionists. I get to object when mass murder by crazed gunmen with arsenals of high-powered weapons becomes ROUTINE in our country, and nothing is done about it--nothing! I get to piss on my government and revile its leaders. I'm an American. Are you?

Is a weak, hamstrung, CiA-groomed president, tied down by an ES&S/Diebold-rigged, 15%-approval-rating Congress better than a coke-crazed idiot Bush and his blood-drenched, monstrous, murderous, lying, thieving, definition-of evil overlords, Rumsfeld and Cheney?

Yes. The CIA winning that internal war is better. The U.S. not nuking Iran is better. The U.S. not slaughtering a hundred thousand innocent people with "shock and awe" bombing is better. The U.S./CIA gun-running to Al Qaeda in Syria, and fucking up Libya, and drone-bombing Yemen, and funding fascists all over Latin America, are better than all-out war. Yes, Obamacare is better than no care. But, jeez, this is NOT "change I can believe in." Maybe some can. Not me. I've seen too much. I know too much. And I am too good of an American to shut up about it. I will not shut up about it!

How dare you call people "anti-American" for BEING American, and seeing what I see, and protesting however they can? How dare you plant that suspicion, that someone who criticizes Obama may not be an American? What McCarthyite hole did you crawl out of?

I'm a Democrat, goddammit, duly registered as a Democrat and voting Democratic FOR FIFTY YEARS!

I get to criticize my government!

[Judi Lynn]

37. Thank you, Peace Patriot. n/t

[Zorro]

38. You are indeed fortunate to be an American

You'd probably be dodging bullets in Venezuela if you were protesting the government there so vociferously.

[freshwest]

36. Yes that's the same HoR that killed the veterans care and employment bill because he wouldn't let

Last edited Mon May 26, 2014, 09:52 PM - Edit history (1)

the GOP put sanctions on Iran to kill negotiations.

He's made brief remarks on South America, he's not leading a crusade to go to war there. But speculation like conspiracy is so much more fun than dry facts.The sanctions would kill any dialog between Venezuela and the USA for years.

He rejected neo-cons with their 'bomb them all!' to Egypt and Benghazi as he did their attempts to get us to send ground troops to Syria and other places. The troops leave Afghanistan by year's end and they are having a hissy fit.

He's asked them to repeal the AUMF but they won't do it and it lays there like a festering wound for the next neo-con president. The GOP is inciting a war here at home because their masters aren't getting their way abroad anymore.

The media calls him a secret Muslim on Iran and Israel, an Al Queda supporter on not getting into Syria and Libya, a weakling for not waging war on Russia.

No one is listening to the facts of what he has and has not done here.

[karynnj]

39. Agree - it is frustrating when these things are ignored

or belittled as too little when, in fact, it may be the edge of what can be done.

[Zorra]

34. If they'd just renounce their socialist commie ways, they wouldn't have this sanction problem.