U.S. Funds Aid Venezuela Opposition

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. Funds Aid Venezuela Opposition

Friday, Apr 02, 2004 Print format
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By: Bart Jones - National Catholic Reporter

The United States is using a quasi-governmental organization created during the Reagan years and funded largely by Congress to pump about a million dollars a year into groups opposed to Venezuela President Hugo Chávez, according to officials in Venezuela and a Venezuelan-American attorney.

Some 2,000 pages of newly disclosed documents show that the little-known National Endowment for Democracy is financing a vast array of groups: campesinos, businessmen, former military officials, unions, lawyers, educators, even an organization leading a recall drive against Chávez. Some compare the agency, in certain of its activities, to the CIA of previous decades when the agency was regularly used to interfere in the affairs of Latin American countries.

“It certainly shows an incredible pattern of financing basically every single sector in Venezuelan society,” said Eva Golinger, the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based attorney who helped obtain the documents through Freedom of Information Act requests. “That’s the most amazing part about it.”

One organization, Sumate, which received a $53,400 grant in September, is organizing the recall referendum against Chávez, Golinger said. The head of another group, Leonardo Carvajal of the Asociación Civil Asamblea de Educación, was named education minister by “dictator for a day” Pedro Carmona, a leading businessman who briefly took over Venezuela during an April 2002 coup against Chávez, she said. A leader of a third group assisted by the National Endowment for Democracy and its subsidiary organizations, Leopoldo Martínez of the right-wing Primero Justicia party, was named finance minister by Carmona, she said.
(snip/...)

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1148

[Broadslidin]

1. Thank You For Bringing Awareness to Venezuela Analysis.

By searching for the truth,
U.S. fascism can be checked.

The U.S. puppet prime minister of Haiti at the
behest of the Levi Strauss Corporation Haitian sub-contractor,
has rolled back Prime Minister Jean-Bertrand Aristide's
$1.55 a day minimum wage law to the previous .75 cents a day.
Union Leaders at the sub-contractor's plant near the
Dominican Republic border were the first to be publicly
beaten up and have since, disappeared.

Our CIA front group, "National Endowment For Democracy",
hard at work.

[bahrbearian]

2. Isn't the "National Endowment For Democracy"

Run by Carlyle ? I thought I read it in the DU awhile back ?

[zbird]

3. Some interesting names on the board of directors, including Wes Clark.

What is Wes Clark doing in there?

Officers

Vin Weber Chairman
Thomas R. Donahue Vice-Chair
Julie Finley Treasurer:
Matthew F. McHugh Secretary
Carl Gershman President
Directors of the Board includes:

Frank Charles Carlucci III of The Carlyle Group,
General Wesley Kanne Clark, of venture capital company the Stephens Group,
Michael Novak of the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
Dr. Francis Fukuyama, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University.

http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=National_Endowment_for_Democracy


From the current NED website:

The Honorable Evan Bayh
The Honorable William H. Frist
Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke
The Honorable Jon Kyl
The Honorable Gregory W. Meeks


http://www.ned.org/about/who.html#president

[GaBi]

4. There is

Its really nice to know that i´m not alone in this war against the war.
Althoug promisses and wonder a new world to us (all), i´m still sad with de destruction and selfish human .
It´s sad to think that i´m one of this .....We are, and the hope , is just God.Come to Him, cuz Hi is the true light to all this shadows

[Just Me]

23. The NED has multiple-dimensions,...

,...and four affiliated organizations which appear to operate somewhat independently of one another. The NED should be fully investigated,...particularly since tax money is funneled through it to these affiliated organizations. One of those organizations has been engaged in activity particularly suspicious and dark activities.

[Broadslidin]

5. Zbird is flying fast this morning!!

Jeez, I was just about to provide Bahrbearian with the
Disinfopedia web site address so that He/She could
draw His/Her own conclusions.

Preparing a few wonderfully polite words to be sent via
the U.S. Post Office to our Honorable Chief Justice
William H. Rehnquist regarding Scalia's Refusal to Recuse.
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=/lazarus/20040401.html

[peacetalksforall]

6. Your tax money goes to our legislating congresspeople, they fund NED.

In the case of Cuban-Americans, NED gives our money to the CA foundations. These foundations rake some and dole it out in little payolas to the congresspeople and call if fighting communism.

It's just a simple circle with your money.

Supposedly, NED is some high-falluting, altruistic organization that in actuality, is a money launderer for whom conservative (and now) imperialistic agendas rule. imo.

So educate me in the other direction.

The fight against communism is alive and well, especially when friends of friends prosper.

[Judi Lynn]

7. You know what you're talking about.

This describes the scam:

It's 1982: ....President Reagan declares that what this country ought to do is give away money to private organizations promoting democracy abroad. A year later, Jorge Mas suggests the idea to his favorite Democrat in Congress, Dante Fascell, now the powerful chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Fascell introduces a bill creating the National Endowment for Democracy. Fascell successfully guides the controversial N.E.D. bill through a field of heavy fire and becomes the first chairman of its board of directors. The law creating the Endowment specifically prohibits the use of any portion of the Federal grant for "lobbying or propaganda which is directed at influencing public policy decisions of the Government of the United States." One of the first grants of the National Endowment for Democracy goes to the Cuban American National Foundation. In 1988, John Nichols, a professor at Penn State, studies N.E.D. documents and discovers that the Foundation has received a total of $390,000 in Federal funds from the Endowment. He also discovers that the amount is almost identical to the amount that Jorge Mas's Free Cuba PAC has reported in contributions and distributed to politicians helping the Foundation push anti-Castro legislation. What goes around comes around: In 1991, the National Endowment for Democracy gave a record $462,132 to seven anti-Cuba projects, a 257 percent increase over its 1990 funding. It brings the total to over $1 million of taxpayers' money funneled through the N.E.D. for projects or persons connected with the Cuban American National Foundation. The N.E.D.'s president is Carl Gershman, former aide to Jeane Kirkpatrick when she was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Kirkpatrick, who has been a keynote speaker at Cuban American National Foundation functions, is a friend and onetime business associate of Jorge Mas.
(snip/)

http://cuban-exile.com/doc_051-075/doc0063.html

Here's an article which describes what happened to former U.S. Interests Section Head, Wayne S. Smith, after he discussed this nasty money laundering cycle on PBS, which has been discussed by many other people prior to the PBS prgram. CANF head, and Miami Cuban "exile" self-appointed leader, Jorge Mas Canosa took Smith to court on a "slander" charge in Miami.
http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/98-3NRfall98/Nichols_SLAPP.html

The article points out that wealthy corporations can use the threat of legal battles which can bankrupt people as the tool to stiffle dissent or free speech, as well. The man spoke the truth which anyone could see, but Mas got it tried in Miami, the town he "owned" and got his payoff.

8/1/92 8/31/92 Americas Watch publishes its first human rights report on a domestic U.S. situation--"the issue of freedom of expression in Miami's Cuban exile community." The report, "Dangerous Dialogue," documents the "violence and intimidation of dissident political voices in the Cuban American community in Miami. CANF is singled out for criticism for its efforts to suppress voices of dissent in Miami, through repeated efforts to close museums, and verbal assaults on newspapers, radio stations, and individuals with whom the Foundation disagrees. The report points out the U.S. government is supporting these activities by funding CANF through NED and Radio Marti. Among its recommendations are that "the National Endowment for Democracy should take steps to assure that its grant funds are not being used to support the suppression of freedom of expression," and that USIA "should take similar steps with respect to Radio Marti." (AW)
(snip)

I have to include the statement from Canosa which shows exactly just what kind of power this "exile" tyrant imagined his group has in this country:

7/1/94 7/31/94 The Miami Herald reprints an interview with Jorge Mas Canosa from the Spanish newspaper El Pais. Mas Canosa was asked by El Pais whether he believed Americans would take over Cuba if Fidel Castro fell. The Herald quoted Mas Canosa as saying, in part, "They haven't even been able to take over Miami! If we have kicked them out of here, how could they possibly take over our own country?" (MH, 7/28/94; WP, 7/28/94)
(snip)

http://cuban-exile.com/doc_126-150/doc0146b.htm

[peacetalksforall]

9. What I don't understand is why so many Dems take the money from the

CA foundations...taking money will ensure votes? It's illogical in an old fashioned U.S. way of applying logic.

Not all Cuban-Americans go along with the anti-communism hoopla, but the milking of the ideology for the money and profit is sickening.

I don't think NED should get away with this. They are just a branch-tool of the right wing because their objectives and actions and money doling mesh.

However, the money they take comes from innocents - innocent tax payers.

Born under Reagan. Why the supposedly neutral elite who serve and have served on it allow themselves to be a part of this money laundering right wing government arm is a mystery.

Everyone owes it to themselves to know who these people are. And be prepared to be disappointed.

One thing is very obvious - they (NED) stay out of the spotlight.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Good post. Very surprising to learn who has turned up at the N.E.D.

(sigh of disappointment.)

Yes, they do their best work behind our backs. What a shame.

[Zhade]

24. Ahhhhh, Vin Weber, Choicepoint lobbyist extraordinaire!

You know Choicepoint - they owned DBT Technologies, the company that illegally scrubbed the voter rolls in Florida back in 2000, at the behest of Jeb, Katherine Harris (co-chair of the b*sh 2000 campaign in Florida), and Clay Roberts. 90,000+ voters lost their right to vote.

If I recall correctly, they still haven't had that right reinstated.

[realdeal22k]

8. The Venezuela Analysis is an interesting news magazine

I scanned through their site and there is nary an ill word against Chavez. I find it hard to believe that Chavez is so perfect that not even one news report or view critical of Chavez can be found on Venezuela Analysis.

Is Venezuela Analysis controlled by the Chavez government or is it just not allowed to be critical of the sitting government? It reads like a newsmax for the left.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Actually, you are welcome to go look at V Crisis, an opposition site

People who believe the Venezuelan President is doing his job aren't looking for slander.

If you have some bonafide, legitimate charges you want to discuss against Chavez to Democrats, it would be more honest if you named them, and the sources from which you got them.

On edit:

Since you have looked around the site, why don't you take one of the articles you believe is not completely truthful, and tell us what you find is at odds with what you have learned. That would be a good way to go.

Claiming you don't see any article which lambasts Hugo Chavez is simply hard to comprehend. So what? What articles do you see in the Washington Post or the New York Times which savage _{George W. Bush?}

Is that actually the purpose of a news publication?

[realdeal22k]

15. No thanks to looking at V Crisis

I like my news straight up. No spin, no leanings, just the facts. Is that asking too much?

Calling me stupid for my observation that VA appears to be a house organ for Chavez seems a bit harsh don't you think? Also, I don't recall making the claim that any of the reports were "not completely truthful". Do you?

Again, why smack me down for my observation that VA is pro-Chavez?

[Broadslidin]

17. Please Excuse the Dirty Wicket....

Everything might be back to, Tickity Poo after November.

[Just Me]

25. Actually, she didn't call you anything and invited you to examine other

sources. She was being quite straight with you and evidenced no put down to you. Perhaps, you are taking something personal which was intended to be informative.

[realdeal22k]

28. She edited out the word "stupid" after my response

Perhaps you missed that little detail. One of the pitfalls of allowing post edits is this example.

[Just Me]

31. At least she has emotional control over her passion,...

,...and took the time to edit her response in order to ensure you would not get lost in emotion and take the topic personally. We are all human, here.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. I've more than "scanned" it and have read negative and critical

things as well. I read it almost daily and have read opposing views in it. It reads more like the nation to me.

[Broadslidin]

14. Protecting Chavez From a U.S. Government sponsored Bloody Coup

Dearest Realdeal,
Would you compare "Venezuela Analysis" to the Bush
government's rapacious stenographer, Judith Miller
at the New York Times?

I wonder if "Venezuela Analysis" might be trying to defend
the elected President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez from
the Bush government's desire for blood revenge through
another Otto Reich orchestrated
"National Endowment for Democracy" coup d'etat?

Meanwhile, Jamaica proudly continues to stick a finger
in Poor george's eye!

[realdeal22k]

16. Actually I was curious about the VA take on Chavez

No offense but whatever the NYT thinks, Jamaica does or whatever _{George W. Bush} does doesn't have anything to do with my observations of VA and their love affair with Chavez.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Yeah, they're Chavez lovers over at Venezuelan Analysis. That's the ticket

You nailed 'em.

[Zhade]

26. I'm just waiting to hear the words "left-wing thug".

If you know what I mean.

[Just Me]

29. Is a "left-wing thug" considered someone who cares about all people?

Is a "left-wing thug" an individual who protects the weak against predators?

Is a "left-wing thug" someone who attempts to empower those who have suffered unexpected and uninvited hardships?

Is a "left-wing thug" someone who provides to those who cannot provide for themselves?

Is a "left-wing thug" a person who takes a stand for the value of all human life?

I'm just curious. I really do not understand the minds of predators.

[Zhade]

34. "I really do not understand the minds of predators."

Admirable that you don't! I find such betrayal of basic human decency difficult to grasp myself.

In the case of the disinformation agents that appear here (like that blowhard propagandist 'windansea'), my guess is either the money or the (questionable) prestige of "penetrating the underground" erases all semblance of conscience.

In the case of followers of propagandists here, I suspect ignorance about the way the world really works. Or they could be 'sleepers' who got in under the DU radar. Anything's possible. The more people learn about the propaganda, and groups like NED and the PNAC, PPI, DLC, etc, the easier it is to counter such propaganda.

In the case of the BFEE, it's all about the evil.

[Just Me]

36. I once believed it was about overcoming their own powerlessness,...

,...or sense of loss of control or need to feel valuable. Over the years, I still believe that, to some degree,...except,...no matter how much power or control or material value they obtain, they are like these black holes that are never, ever satisfied or filled. I suppose that anyone who uses their free will to engage in such obsessions could be considered "evil". At the very least, I would consider such "black holes" as horrendously weak and sick.

[Just Me]

27. It's all relative,...doncha' think, "realdeal22k"?

No one should ever hold themselves out as having the trademark, copyright or patent on truth. Human life and living is relative,...and if we truly respect the possibility of "democracy" then we will accept its nature which is shaped by human beings.

What inherent right does the elite leadership of this country have to impose its corporatist, power-seeking abuse of "democracy" upon those who prefer a more open and inclusive interpretation? I propose that it has no inherent "right",...but an economic and military "might" to preserve its own interests,...without little, if any, regard to any humanitarian concerns.

I propose that such oppression and exploitation is wrong and wicked and an abomination of all the goodness and strength and humanity that people have the capacity to express in this world.

[0007]

32. Very good counter post to our little 'spooky' thin skinned friend

[TinaTyson]

19. That isn't true at all.

Here is a 3 part debate. Well this is just the third part but links to the other 2 are in this one.
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1147

On Edit: By the way, the above article was on the freakin' front page. Which shows your comments were unsubstantiated assertion and nothing more.


http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/about.php
Venezuelanalysis.com is an editorially independent website produced by individuals who are dedicated to disseminating news and analysis about Venezuela. It is financially dependent upon donations and advertising.

The site's aim is to provide on-going news about developments in Venezuela, as well as to contextualize this news with in-depth analysis and background information. The site is targeted towards academics, journalists, intellectuals, investors, government officials from different countries, and the general public.

While the site publishes opinion articles, it also aims for objectivity and accuracy in the news and facts presented in all articles. Our goal is to become the primary resource for information and analysis on Venezuela in the English language.

Its principal members are:

* Martín Sanchez
* Gregory Wilpert
* Eva Golinger Moncada
* David Cabrera
* Josefina Urbina

[TinaTyson]

20. They collect articles from many sources. Here are some that

Criticize the government to some extent.

They write some but most of it is other news sources. Biased sure, but only in the way it is used in the states. If you present both sides you are biased if you only present the opposition side you are balanced.

Venezuelan Government and Opposition Accuse Each Other of Political Firings
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1236

Venezuela Public Ombudsman Says National Guard Committed Excesses
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1237

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. Right out in the open. I mean, at least Reagan tried to hide

this kind of crap.
I am constantly amazed at the size of this administration's ego, and belief that they will not be exposed.

[Donna Zen]

21. Feed your head:

NED was created under Reagan as a response to US Aid being misused. NED is not a monolithic organization, it is actually four distinct granting organizations:

NED also has a special relationship with four U.S. grantees that represent the building blocks of a democratic society. Commonly referred to as the "core grantees," these organizations are: The American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS – commonly called the Solidarity Center), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI). NED gives grants to these groups, for programs that promote pluralism and free and fair elections (IRI and NDI), free markets and economic reforms (CIPE), and independent trade unions (ACILS). Each of these four grantees receives an equal portion of NED’s grant budget – and each program is carefully developed with NED program staff and approved by NED’s board of directors, just like any other grantee.

1) CIPE (basically Chamber of Commerce types)

2) ACILS (labor unions)

3) NDI (the Democratic party)

4) IRI (the Republican party)

The grant in question is one made by the IRI and was to promote fair elections. Carmona was to be heading the office funded by the IRI grant.

I have no problem coming down all over this grant, and finding the truth; however, it should also be noted that the NDI is currently funding programs that encourage women in emerging democracies to enter politics. IOW, NED does fund very good projects because three of the branches are honest organizations run by and for well-meaning people. Soros was part of CIPE, I do not know what branch Holbrooke sat on. I do know people like Mondale and Wellstone along with excellent members of congress were/are part of the NDI.

Clark was a director--those are the people who oversee the money. They do not write grants, they oversee the money. Clark is no longer on the NED board and I also think Holbrooke's term is up as well since he and Wes started at the same time.

Anyone who wants to bash the IRI and the republicans will hear no complaints for me; however, I do have problems when I see an organization that has done a great deal of good being bashed because republicans have once again twisted something into a tool for the criminal activities.

Current NDI newsletter..."Win With Women"

http://www.ndi.org/

Currently sitting on NDI board: Albright,

William V. Alexander
Michael D. Barnes
John Brademas
Bill Bradley
Emanuel Cleaver, II
Mario M. Cuomo
Patricia M. Derian
Christopher J. Dodd
Michael S. Dukakis
Thomas F. Eagleton
Martin Frost
Richard N. Gardner
Richard A. Gephardt
John T. Joyce
Peter G. Kelly
Paul G. Kirk, Jr.
Elliott F. Kulick
John Lewis
Donald F. McHenry
Abner J. Mikva
Charles S. Robb
Stephen J. Solarz
Theodore C. Sorensen
Esteban E. Torres
Anne Wexler
Andrew J. Young

Now, we can dump on NED because of what the republicans have done with their money, or we can learn about this organization before we dump, and thus, focus the outrage.

NED is not the problem; the republican branch of NED is.

[Tinoire]

22. And almost every single Dem on there an asshole extraordinaire

WTF is your point?

Albright? :wtf: This is the B/W***ch who said that 500,000 dead Iraqi children were worth "it".

Please. There's more to being a Democrat than trailing a D after your name- at least, there should be.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

30. No, I am afraid there USED to be... I am not so sure anymore

but, yes, there should be.

[bicentennial_baby]

33. Hey Cass here's a quote for ya!

"Its raison d'etre is to do somewhat overtly what the CIA had been doing covertly for decades- manipulate the political process in a target country by financing political parties, labor unions, book publishers, newspapers, etc.- and thus, hopefully, eliminate the stigma associated with CIA covert activities. Allen Weinstein, who helped draft the legislation establishing NED, and also founded the Center for Democracy, one of NED's funding middlemen, was candid about this when he said in 1991: "A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA." NED, like the CIA before it, calls what it does supporting democracy. The governments against whom the financing is targeted call it destabilization."

-p303, Killing Hope, William Blum

[Just Me]

35. I believe the point is that,...the organization should be investigated.

It is a multi-faceted organization that has been subjected to too little scrutiny and oversight. However, not ALL that NED has done is bad/evil.

Whether democrat or republican or independent,...what trails after all of our names is,..."human". Unfortunately, that common thread often eludes us; but, I believe we are getting closer,...hell, I know we are *LOL*. We simply have to be viligant about whom we choose as "leaders".