So I'm being lazy. Catch me up on Chavez.

[Brotherjohn]

From my memory:

A) There was a failed coup against him.

B) There is evidence that the U.S. was involved in this coup, and they were curiously silent while the thing was playing out (even though he was the democratically elected leader, and all, and they were simultaneously bashing the coup-by-fraud attempt in an ex-Soviet republic).

C) Chavez has claimed the CIA was behind the coup attempt.

D) Chavez has been ramping up his language against the U.S., including "pre-emptively" trying to offset an invasion by the U.S. by saying that Venezuela will cut off all oil exports to the U.S. if such an invasion happens (and having talks with Iran on the subject).

If C is true, you can't really blame him for D.

If C isn't true, then he's just paranoid and a bit egotistical.

That about it?

[ck4829]

1. Here's more

A) The Far Right hates Chavez

B) The Far Right is in power

So, I think your C may be true.

[arcane1]

2. there is a documentary about the coup attempt

called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"

it's good

considering that the "Official" American meme is to refer to him as a "dictator" or "Strongman", I have no reason to doubt they'd try to rub him out. Lots o' petro to be had down there

[LSparkle]

3. I heard that Frank Luntz was in Venezuela around the time of the "coup"

It was an election trying to recall him, which explains why Luntz (GOP elections operative) might have been down there, trying to "fix" it so that Chavez would be recalled. Luntz was on "Hardball" reporting on some other story from Central America a few days before the coup, and mentioned to Tweety that he was headed to Venezuela, and "might have some news from there in the next few days" ... and then, voila, an attempt to oust Chavez. Doesn't pass the smell test that this country (via CIA or other group) wasn't involved in some way ...

[SteppingRazor]

4. B is true, but he's slightly mistaken about C...

All the evidence for U.S. involvement in the Chavez coup points to activity by the State Department in the Latin American office headed by Otto Reich at the time. (a man who also led U.S. involvement in the overthrow of Aristide in Haiti). From what journalists have been able to gather, it had little or nothing to do with the CIA. The operation was wholly implemented within State, but outside Langley.

[Justitia]

5. 2 coup generals were (CIA) trained @ School of The Americas

Ft Benning, GA: army commander Efrain Vasquez and Gen Ramirez Poveda

Make of that what you will.....

[SteppingRazor]

6. Granted. But...

Half the high-ranking officers in Central America were trained there, or by proxies sent to their home countries as "advisors." And certainly, the fact that they were trained at Fort Benning shouldn't be discounted. I'm just pointing to direct U.S. involvement in the coup, and the likelihood of its being implemented by Reich, who seems to be this decade's Negroponte -- the go-to guy for Latin American coup d'etat.

[Justitia]

7. Recently released (FOIA) docs show CIA involvement

not to mention that since 2001, the USA has given approx $ 40 million to Chavez opposition groups.

You can see imaged docs released via FOIA at this link:

http://www.venezuelafoia.info/english.html#cia

Amy Goodman of Democracy Now has covered this extensively.

yes, I'm sure the disgusting Otto Reich is right in the thick of things, as usual.

[Melodybe]

8. Chavez is a man of the people and the RW hates that

God forbid you give oil money to poor people, that's not what it is for :sarcasm:

[SteppingRazor]

9. Thanks. Good stuff. It looks like a combination effort from...

various government sources, then. After all, the involvement of the State Dept. in the coup is almost common knowledge:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,688071,00.html

http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0419-03.htm

http://www.counterpunch.org/allard0420.html


All stories on the State Department's involvement in the Venezuelan coup in general and, more specifically, the involvement of our boy Otto.

[Justitia]

11. Yup, getting rid of Hugo sure is a TEAM EFFORT in the Bush Admin

I guess Pat Robertson is their new PR guy....

:rofl:

He should have consulted w/Otto Reich about the "right way" to do propaganda - Reich is the Propaganda Master.

Cue "Triumph of The Will"

Otto Reich - such a nice name for a fascist.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. Greg Palast's BBC coverage of attempted coup in Venezuela - VIDEO

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/1985670.stm

There is an excellent article and at the top right hand corner of the page is the video.