One thing we really don't get is how bigwigs and pundits think (or pretend) the US being despised all over the world is some kind of misunderstanding. Or a product of "misinformation campaigns." Case in point is Washington's stance regarding Venezuela's ongoing dialogue (thread)
Ladies and gentlemen, here's fake ambassador to Vzla James "Jimmy" Story (he has an office in Colombia) saying the US and its puppets are considering *new sanctions* if they don't like how the negotiation process is going. Yes, this is not a joke #SanctionsKill
Story funnily talks about the "interim president" when not even the opposition delegation uses this ridiculous term anymore. Also, the EU and Canada have nothing to be proud about in their history, but even for their standards it's a bit too low to be lapdogs to these shenanigans
Story's suit-and-tie gangster antics came on the heels of imperialist zealot Bob Menéndez rounding up some pliant idiots to issue a statement with equal doses of nonsense and delusion. We talked about it in this thread a few days ago
No one expects the imperial tiger to shed its regime-change stripes. But the Biden administration had half-heartedly endorsed the talks if nothing else because they realize @jguaido is a gigantic embarrassment. Yet DC bureaucrats couldn't go one month without meddling and threats
And for an encore in imperialist flexing here's Juan González. Never mind that the US+opposition's "fraud" claims have been thin in terms of evidence, to put it very gently. But how can anyone think of the US as some kind of reference for electoral processes with a straight face?
There's quite the urge to direct a few choice words to these shameless hacks threatening to kill tens of thousands more civilians if what happens in a foreign country is not to their liking. But Hugo Chávez wrote the book on how to answer this kind of stuff 👇
And to recap, the Vzlan govt and the US-backed opposition have had 2 rounds of talks in Mexico w/ mediation from Norway+others. Maduro and co. want sanctions lifted and assets returned, Guaidó and co. are banking on their bosses' (sanctions) firepower to try and stay relevant
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Neocolonial plundered. Following the January 3 strikes and kidnapping of President Maduro, the Trump administration has moved in to impose control over Venezuelan resources, w/ Western conglomerates moving in under favorable conditions. Follow our thread/infographic
In recent weeks, the Venezuelan govt + National Assembly have fast-tracked reforms to attract foreign investment.Pro-business overhauls to hydrocarbon and mining laws slashed fiscal responsibilities, expanded concessions and removed the leading state role established under Chávez
Private corporations can now take over operations and sales, even if they are minority partners in joint ventures. The reforms, which followed years of devastating US economic sanctions, also established the possibility of taking disputes to international arbitration
Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez gave a televised address earlier with some significant announcements on upcoming reforms. We'll have a report soon, and follow-up content once those reforms are in motion, but here's the gist of it (thread)
The most important announcement was an upcoming reform to the country's Labor Law. Approved in 2012, this is an absolute pillar of Chávez's legacy. But the private sector has upped complaints that present labor rights are too onerous and more flexibility is in order
As an aside, the Venezuelan gov't in recent years, under sanctions, has prioritized non-wage bonuses and kept wages frozen and devalued to almost nothing. In her speech, Rodríguez criticized past wage increases that were "irresponsible" and caused inflation. She announced an increase for May Day but it's likely to be bonuses, not salaries
The Venezuelan National Assembly approved a reform to the country’s Hydrocarbon Law in its first discussion. A second discussion and final vote are expected soon. This is arguably the country’s most important piece of legislation, so let’s look at what’s at stake 🧵🧵🧵
Some background: Venezuela’s present energy legislation was established under the Hugo Chávez govts. It was first approved in 2001 and later had some amendments. In essence, it reaffirmed the state’s sovereignty over natural resources and established control over the oil industry
Chávez’s reforms mandate that state oil company PDVSA hold majority stakes (in some cases at least 60%) and run oilfield operations. Taxes on oil profits were set 50%, royalties were raised (in some cases from 1%) to 30% across the board
The bar is always high (or low, rather), but every now and then the New York Times delivers an all-time masterpiece of journalistic dishonesty and pliant service to US imperialism. This is a piece about (imaginary ties) between Hezbollah and Venezuela: 🧵 archive.is/FPrMQ
First off, the US kidnapped/abducted Maduro. But US exceptionalism runs so deep that corporate stenographers believe Washington can just "seize" foreign leaders. But the relevant part here is that all we have here are claims by Rubio and US officials
This section is just empty fluff meant to malign Iran and Venezuela. Notice the nonsense of saying the countries are "bound by anti-American ideology" like it's some kind of bad taste in music, as opposed to the result of decades of imperialist attacks
A controversial afternoon (on Twitter) after the orangeman-in-chief lashed out at Colombia after the Petro government refused to accept repatriation flights with shackled migrants in military airplanes. Trump threatened tariffs and sanctions, Petro replied defiantly
Trump's disgusting (even by his standards) xenophobic and imperialist antics barely a week into his term have drawn fierce rebukes across the hemisphere. Honduran President Xiomara Castro called for an extraordinary summit in a few days
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro also voice his support, telling his Colombian counterpart he can count on the "strength and experience" of the Venezuelan people and calling for further regional unity
🧵When it comes to reporting about Venezuela, there is no corporate outlet even remotely close to the level of dishonesty of the New York Times. Seriously, it's one piece of misrepresented bullsh*t after another. Follow this thread as we break it down
This is the piece:
The article is not to be taken seriously b/c it starts from a blatant lie. US "prodding" has nothing to do with Venezuela holding elections. It is dictated by the Constitution that they be held this year and they were never in doubt shorturl.at/LFusR
Anyone not high on Western exceptionalism would actually be ashamed of their government meddling in other countries' affairs. But alas, this is the NYT.
In corporate media spiel, "restoring democracy" just means a US puppet being back in the presidential palace