Venezuela allies line up with Maduro on faceoff with US

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Mar 17, 8:25 PM EDT
Venezuela allies line up with Maduro on faceoff with US
By FABIOLA SANCHEZ
Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Leftist allies of Venezuela rallied behind embattled President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday in his faceoff with the U.S. government, which he has accused of trying to oust his socialist administration.

In an emergency meeting of the ALBA bloc of regional governments, representatives from 12 nations decried what they called attempts by Washington to undermine Maduro with its recent decision to sanction Venezuelan officials accused of violating human rights during anti-government protesters last year.

By far the strongest defense came from Cuban President Raul Castro, whose government is negotiating for the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the U.S. after more than a half century of Cold War frictions.

"The U.S. needs to understand once and for all that it can't seduce or buy Cuba, just as it can't intimidate Venezuela," Castro said. "Our unity is indestructible."


Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_VENEZUELA_US_TENSIONS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-03-17-19-59-31

[Fred Sanders]

1. 12 to 1? But the One must be obeyed and believed...so says the One, so must all believe.

[MADem]

2. Those 12 nations wouldn't be the ones who get free/deeply discounted oil products...ya think? nt

[Fred Sanders]

5. So that is all it takes? Maybe America should give it a try rather than perpetual regime change!?

[elias49]

7. What's the point?

That's geopolitics. Everybody's doing it.

[MADem]

11. That's the point, precisely. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. But wait, Maduro is an insane madman. Or an incompetent buffoon. Or a dictator. Or something.

Oh, and a former bus driver.

[geek tragedy]

10. The other countries don't need to like him

to understand that US overreach warrants pushback.

[Archae]

4. Of course Cuba would side with Maduro.

Cuba is a communist dictatorship, as Venezuela is falling into.

[Fred Sanders]

6. Same with the 10 other nations? Explain that!

[Archae]

8. I can't explain it, I don't have a telepathic link to their leadership.

I do know this.

When a country is having economic problems due mostly to the one commodity not selling as much, and when in response "Dear Leader" is given powers by decree, that is a recipe for disaster.

[Fred Sanders]

9. The point is being able to "explain" only one of ten makes no point at all.

[MADem]

12. Deep discounts on that black gold.

Handy bargaining chip when votes come up at international gatherings, too....the OAS, particularly.

[DeSwiss]

13. K&R

[aceofblades]

14. The words don't seem to be commensurate with actions, on all sides here imo

We're hearing lots of talk of 'bloody coups' involving a military jet , apparently involving the vice president of the United States & venezuela being an 'extraordinary threat'(which is clearly BS) but what are the resultant actions? A forced reduction in embassy staff vs. sanctions on some individuals (not entire industries like for iran)

Are there extensive economic sanctions being imposed from either side upon one another? Is the oil still flowing between countries? Are there American or Venezuelan warships on the horizon? Is there any commensurate reaction or counteraction that's backing up these words that are being exchanged? As usual, follow the money.

I think the bottom line here is that in addition to ideological sympathies (I also disagree with the president's sanctions & language as well btw) , these countries can get a lot of domestic support from maintaining solidarity with Venezuela but unless/untill you see more action than joint strong worded statements, you may want to harbor a healthy skepticism towards the extent & significance of their dismay with the U.S.

Again, on all sides here, actions speak louder than words.

[elias49]

16. I'd turn your lead sentence around myself-

I'd say that the actions aren't commensurate with the words!
I think you're implying that all this is bluster. And I hope you're right.

[7962]

15. This is one mistake Obama's made. He should let them sink into oblivion as they are.

Pay attention, of course, but the administration shouldnt have made any public statement about anyone down there. Its just given Maduro more fuel for his failures to be blamed on the US
He'll fail, of course.

[msanthrope]

17. Um no.....his EO was implementation of legislation passed in 2014. Congress,

arguably, should not have passed sanctions, but I can't really blame the President for doing his job.

[Monk06]

18. If the neo cons don't stop picking fights that they don't have the money or military power to finish

they will only succeed in showing that the US is not and cannot be a unitary power. Quite the opposite of their stated intentions.

How can the US be the indispensable nation if nobody listens to it's leaders nor will deal with them.

The US already has shown it's contempt for international treaties and international courts.

And Cuba, seriously. Cuba and the US would benefit by burying the hatchet and getting some capital moving into the country.

[Zorra]

19. The US has a long history of interfering with the governments of

South and Central America.

Of course they are siding with Venezuela.

[Fred Sanders]

20. Yes, why change the Imperial game plan now? Remember Chile.....remember Bolivia...so many others.

America gets to control it's backyard...how dare Russia do the same.