Farcical Ceasefire in Yemen Collapsing
2019/01/31
Farcical Ceasefire in Yemen Collapsing
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Since agreed on last December, ceasefire existed in name only. Fighting never stopped. It just ebbed around the key port city of Hodeidah before escalating, where things stand now.
Yemen is Washington's war, the Trump regime bearing most responsibility for what's going on, wanting endless war, not resolution - if otherwise nearly two decades of war would end.
The Saudis and UAE share responsibility for partnering with US aggression. There's nothing civil about war in the country, not in any countries Washington attacked.
Peace talks in Sweden last December achieved no breakthroughs, war raging without letup while going on.
The so-called agreement reached between warring parties wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Saudi/UAE terror-bombing continued in parts of the country - with full US support, encouragement, and weapons supplied.
According to the New York-based International Rescue Committee (IRC), its board of directors stacked with monied interests, including Obama's Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, the former US president at war on Yemen throughout his eight years in office, no-ceasefire/ceasefire is collapsing, saying:
For days, fighting in and around Hodeidah escalate, both sides accusing each other of violations - the Saudis and UAE to blame, acting on orders from Washington, my comment, not the IRC's.
The group saying last December's ceasefire is imperiled ignored what existed all along in name only.
Last week, AMN News reported on "intense clashes" in Hodeidah after US/NATO/Saudi/UAE proxies attacked Houthi fighters, the casualty count on both sides unknown.
Violence initiated against the Houthis effectively rendered the so-called ceasefire null and void. Reporting on fighting in and around Hodeidah, Al Jazeera said things agreed on in Sweden were never implemented, including no prisoner exchange or meaningful ceasefire.
Efforts by UN envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths achieved nothing. Claiming momentum for peace in the country "is still there" was meaningless, deceptive rhetoric, adding:
"More than any time in the past, there is a political will demonstrated by all parties to put an end to this conflict. What we need to see now is the implementation of the provisions of the agreement, fully and rapidly."
Reality on the ground is polar opposite his assessment because the Trump regime, calling the shots, wants endless war, not resolution.
Conditions for millions in the country are worse than in any other US conflict theater, the daily death toll mounting exponentially from war, starvation, untreated diseases, and overall deprivation - hundreds of thousands of civilians perishing over the last two decades, mostly during the last four or five years.
Oxfam's Awssan Kamal calls Yemen "a prison without walls" for its people, the country blockaded and terror-bombed daily. Millions of Yemenis have no safe havens.
They're severely malnourished, especially young children, countless numbers in the country at risk of perishing from starvation.
The official UN death toll greatly understates the casualty count, mitigating one of the world's greatest human calamities, courtesy of US imperial designs on the country and region.
Under Republicans and Dems, Washington is responsible for killing a nation and its defenseless people, victims of its imperial viciousness.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Photo: By Ibrahem Qasim - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, http://bit.ly/2Tneuuf
Creators of Russia's new super weapons arrested for their dead souls
2019/01/31
Creators of Russia's new super weapons Kinzhal hypersonic missile complex, Peresvet laser complex, Poseidon underwater nuclear vehicle and Sarmat nuclear missile, with a high degree of probability, were forced to use "dead souls or deadheads" at certain stages of their work, academicians Valery Vikhrov and Konstantin Sivkov believe.
According to them, the creators of Russia's new weapons were forced to become criminals, because the law that they had to break did not correspond to the reality of life, so the scientists had to break the law to do their work and fulfil their task.
The comments from the academicians came in response to the recent arrest of the leaders of Russia's major research and development organizations. It goes about Alexander Gomzin, chief designer of the Simonov Design Bureau, and Sergei Chvarkov, deputy head of the Russian Academy of Sciences of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
The scientists were arrested on suspicion of the use of so-called "dead souls and deadheads." This term designates highly qualified scientists, who are formally included in the team of engineers, but take no part in the project. Afterwards, when employees receive their payments, the money is distributed among all participants of the project, including deadheads. They subsequently send the money to real participants of the project.
Also read:
New Kinzhal missile to strike aircraft carriers from distance of 1,500 km
Russia reveals new videos of Putin's new formidable weapons being tested
Russia's Status-6 'doomsday weapon' nullifies all of American military projects
Sukhoi Su-27 'pushes away' NATO's F-15C from governmental jetliner
2019/01/31
A video of the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft of the Russian Air Force "pushing" a NATO fighter jet away from the plane of the Special Flight Unit "Rossiya" has gone viral on Russian social media.
The video of the incident which appeared on Twitter, shows the NATO aircraft approaching the jetliner of the Russian government, when a Sukhoi Su-27 flies at a dangerously close range to the NATO F-15C fighter making it move away to a safe distance.
Russian Internet users praised the professional maneuver of the Su-27 pilot. Many noted that the Russian fighter jet was superior to the NATO F-15C not just from the point of view of its performance, but also design.
The incident, which was captured on video, occurred in June 2017, when NATO aircraft wanted to escort a jetliner of the Russian government on its way to Kaliningrad.
Aircraft of the Russian Air Force normally escort the jetliner of the Russian president and other aircraft of the Russian government. In addition to status functions, the fighters perform a real combat mission, in which they protect the entrusted aircraft from air and ground attacks at any cost. If the escorted plane happens to become a target for a missile attack, the fighter jet pilot is supposed to put his jet in the line of fire, thus risking or even sacrificing his life.
Also read:
Russia's Su-35 fighter jets humiliate eight warplanes of US and Japanese air forces
USA Buys Russia's Su-27 Jets From Ukraine to Find Out Why F-15 Is So Bad
Boeing 777 from Caracas with unknown cargo on board lands in Moscow
2019/01/31
A Boeing 777 aircraft of Nordwind Airlines from Caracas landed at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport. Nothing has been reported about whether the plane was carrying passengers or cargo.
The airplane departed from Russia to Venezuela on January 28. The Boeing 777 is designed for long-haul transatlantic flights and has a maximum take-off weight compared to the basic version of the aircraft - 777-200.
Due to the political crisis in Venezuela, increased attention is being paid to all flights to the South American country from Russia, given the fact that there is no direct flight connection between Russia and Venezuela.
It was reported that Russia allegedly sent fighters from private military companies to Caracas, who may have been tasked with protecting President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro. The Kremlin denied such rumours, while Venezuelan President Maduro refused to comment on the situation.
It was also said that the plane that arrived to Caracas from Moscow was supposed to take about 20 tons of gold out of the troubled country, but the reports found no confirmation either.
Also read:
USA wants Russia out of Venezuela to expropriate Orinoco belt oil wealth
Giving Venezuela's gold to Maduro means flushing it down the toilet
International Women's Day: Innovate for Change!
2019/01/31
UN Women urges leaders and advocates to “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” on International Women’s Day
The United Nations’ gender equality entity puts spotlight on public services, income security, safe spaces and technology to advance progress for women and girls (New York)— In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, UN Women is celebrating its 2019 theme of “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” , along with hosting hundreds of festivities around the world through the organization’s global network.
An official commemoration event is also being held at the UN Headquarters in New York that features UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and other senior UN officials as well as innovation leaders and gender experts.
“When we approach planning with an innovative, ‘think equal’ mindset that takes the needs of women and girls into account right from inception, it is remarkable how different those plans can look, whether it is urban planning that designs for commuter safety, rural daycare centres that offer workers positive solutions for childcare, or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control,” commented UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
“We look to industry leaders, game-changing start-ups, social entrepreneurs, gender equality activists and women innovators to find the ways in which innovation can remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality,” she said. UN Women research indicates that 740 million women currently make their living in the informal economy with limited access to social protection, public services and infrastructure that could increase their productivity and income security.
For example, women do 2.6 times more unpaid care and domestic work than men, with only 41 per cent of the world’s mothers with newborns receiving maternity benefits. One in three women are likely to face violence in their lifetimes, yet public services, urban planning and transport systems are rarely planned with women’s safety and mobility in mind. Therefore, this year’s focus brings innovation to the centre stage and leverages it for gender equality and women’s empowerment globally.
“Because current trajectories show existing interventions do not suffice to achieve a planet 50-50 by 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN’s road map for a sustainable future by 2030, requires transformative shifts, integrated approaches and new solutions. This is particularly true when it comes to SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,” continued Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Immediately following International Women’s Day is the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, being held 11-22 March and focusing its priority theme on “social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.”
WEBSITE: For more information on International Women’s Day 2019: http://bit.ly/2MH8rOG SOCIAL MEDIA: Join the online conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WomensDay and following @UN_Women.
UN Women
The Fleeting Permanence of Ephemortality
2019/01/31
By Guy Somerset
Once upon a time in Ancient Greece lived a man named Tithonus. He was son of the King of Troy on one side and of a Daughter of the River on the other. Thus, needless to say, he was considered the proverbial "good catch" by all the ladies.
None more did Tithonus attract than Eros (also known as Aurora), Goddess of the Dawn. She fell hard and whisked him off to a distant land where she born him two sons. So happy were they that Eros entreated Zeus himself to grant Tithonus eternal life so they might always remain together.
In this the king of the Greek gods consented. Lamentably, Eros had neglected to ensure that her lover furthermore be given everlasting youth as well. As a result, in time Tithonus withered and aged while his once devoted partner flitted on to other men and assorted sordid affairs.
From Tithonus to the Contemporary
We have all seen them - that legion of girls excitedly tapping on telephones, ever so preoccupied with documenting their allegedly fabulous lives as they entirely neglect to live them. They sit each agog, dazzled by the digital haze, in whatever venue - whether it be a bar, museum or symphony - relentlessly fixated on their diminutive screens while endlessly searching for the validation not even 100,000 followers can bring.
The Instagram Girls are engaged in a morbid documentation of their ephemeral lives while hoping against hope to garner immortality. It is an "ephemortality," in which the mundane incidents of their glamorously dreary animations are duly cataloged and recorded for an uncaring eternity.
Though they universally refer to themselves as "models," most legitimate agencies would never touch a one of them. The passably intelligent girls (that is, marginally literate) claim to be "content creators" even as the most thought provoking thing they have ever written consists of less than 140 characters on Twitter. All of them assume everything they do, at all times, is worthy of memorializing for the ages.
Admittedly, some of these wayward creatures do manage to break out from the monotonous multitudes. Unfortunately, they do so generally for all the wrong reasons.
Collective Comedy Begins with Individual Tragedy
Several years ago a young friend of mine breathlessly confided to me concerning a girl he had recently met through the internet and with whom he was quite smitten. For weeks the boy raved concerning her great beauty - Indeed! She was the loveliest woman alive! In the world! Of all time!
Having some acquaintance myself of Russian females I was more than a little skeptical this youngster had managed to locate the quintessence of attraction, and online no less. Eventually he shared a photo and I must confess he was correct - She was in fact the most physically perfect woman I have ever seen.
The object of his affection was then around twenty years of age, from one of the smaller villages of Ukraine and had every charm which can be envisioned. Her raven hair was lustrous, her eyes limpid, her face divine and her body...inspired musings less heavenly to say the least. She was something of a cross between the Venus de Milo and Emma Hamilton (the one Horatio Nelson threw over an Empire to bed).
Given the exigencies of existence, my comrade could not rush to be with his paramour quite so soon as he would have preferred. Always a mistake, in this case hesitation proved to be disastrous. What began with the delay of a few months stretched into a year or more - by which time the infernal application known as Instagram had been invented.
Though the lovers eventually drifted apart my friend did maintain a sporting interest in this girl which was aided by the constant selfies, content and assorted updates which filled the need for her feed. When at last I came around to inquiring at a much later date whatever had happened to this beauty he said nothing but glumly showed me her latest photos - and they were ghastly.
A fresh maiden of surpassing splendor had devolved in only a few years to a tart who dressed provocatively and had so many cosmetic procedures I at first questioned whether the boy was having a laugh at my expense. Sadly, the joke had been on us both...as well as her though she did not know it.
The formerly dazzling sparkle in those eyes of that subject had dimmed to the dead emptiness shared by all such types. Her body remained fit though somehow seemed unnatural. Perhaps it was a consequence of the nauseating operations she had performed on her face: lips plumped out in a grotesque caricature of allure, cheeks injected by one toxin or another until it seemed two halves of grapefruit lie beneath, eyebrow liner so thick she resembled less a young Cleopatra than a Circus Clown all while completing her look with a multitude of assorted fillers that caused one to pause at the emptiness of her soul.
While this particular epitome was all the more tragic due to having been literally one of the most ideal humans on the planet, she was actually emblematic of an entire generation. Most upsetting, though with even minimal care such a paragon might have remained an absolutely gorgeous girl well into her late-40s she had instead become a haggard and repulsive old woman at barely the age of 22.
Lamentably, this is not a cautionary tale so much as a common one.
The Death of Modesty Sometimes Ends in Actual Death
Although it is cliché to say there are fates worse than death, sometimes the shenanigans of the Instagram Girls end in actual death. More than a few have been so fixated on establishing their niche they ended up in a ditch at the side of the road...or under a mountain...
Automobile accidents are a common method of demise for these models of modesty. One was Russian Natalia Borodina, who while holidaying in the Dominican Republic thought it would be a clever snap to hang topless out of a speeding car. Unfortunately, neither the friend who was driving nor Borodina noticed the sign at the side of the road which hit her in the head and killed her.
Somewhat similarly was the case of Ukrainian Sofia Magerko. She was another Instagram Girl who decided an automobile was the best place to film her goings-on. The beauty queen and a companion were driving drunk, swigging from wine bottles and giving shout-outs to boys in the moments before they drove head-first into a lamppost. One died on scene, the other at the hospital.
Cars are not the only means by which Instagram Girls meet bad ends. Olga Pronina was known as the sexiest biker in Russia. She frequently filmed her exploits and shared them with her abundant audience. The woman was credited for her love of speed, her glamourous lifestyle and also her reputation for breaking the rules. Unfortunately, the rules usually have a reason. Pronina died in a collision at high speeds while wearing only a helmet but no other protective equipment.
Lately another Instagram Girl was killed in a fall from a mountain. Known as The Bikini Hiker, a Taiwanese Gigi Wu often posted her exploits to the social media website. During a climb earlier this month Wu accidentally fell while on a solitary excursion and froze to death. All for the glory of viewers.
The Unholy Alliance - Designer Clothing and Luxury Purses in Exchange For...Less Tangible Assets
Superyachts: Audition for iniquity. Sinead McNamara was another Instagram Girl who thought the high life could come at a cheap price. From most accounts she was a generally likeable youngster. That is, before getting herself killed - or "suicided" - depending on how naïve a person happens to be.
Sinead was one of those glorious girls showing off her best assets when she took a job on the crew of the yacht of a Billionaire. Then came some sightseeing, afterward came some relationships, finally came some tears. In fact, the last anyone back home in Australia heard of her she was weeping on the telephone. Later she was found dead.
The phenomena of "yacht girls" is fairly well-known from Cannes to Canberra though to the uninitiated it should be stated - they are generally a "pay for play" situational. Pretty girls never actually sign a contract to sleep with the wealthy benefactors though it is clear what is expected from both parties.
Of course, clearly this Instagram Girl was not prostituting herself to a wealthy fellow and his pals. Obviously, this yacht owner or his party-goers did not have their way with her and then have the poor girl done away with. Indubitably, all these events - though following a predictably discernable pattern - are mere exceptions to the general rule.
Not every, but only most, of the time does a cute girl on the superyacht of a business magnate suffer sexual humiliation (at best) or sexual assault (at worst) with the possibility of being killed all while completely ruining her chances with any decent man who may eventually want her. Even so, if you are an attractive young lady thinking of pimping yourself out for some adventure and a few kopeks you might consider - how many "exceptions" to a rule do you think plausibly exist?
The Den of Dubai: Herein reside the worst of the worst. No self-respecting man would have anything to do with a woman who has been to this Arab cesspit. Of course, no respectable woman would ever visit there. Then again, we are discussing Instagram Girls so decency is already a very relative term.
Even so, before acceding to that "Sponsored Trip" in the Evil Emirate a woman should at least understand what she is getting herself into. Far from being wooed by a suave Middle Easterner with a chance of marriage, an unsuspecting girl is far more likely to be on the receiving end of scatological behavior.
To the Muslim mind, at least in Dubai (and to a large extent Saudi Arabia as well), it is an apparent aphrodisiac to ruin or "spoil" Western females, especially those from Russia. These men have a propensity to degrade, with their sexual perversions including urination and defecation on girls during intercourse.
As much as it would like to be reported this is a rare or unique circumstance, it is in fact widespread. This is all the more shocking when it happens to an unsuspecting victim because a rational and sane person would not find such a thing in any way acceptable, let alone a sexual attraction.
Many a poor Russian girl expecting romance in the Middle East has found herself used as a literal toilet dump for some Muslim man. What an Instagram Girl needs to ask herself before boarding that flight - Is a Gucci bag or Vuitton purse worth the most humiliating experience of my life and one from which no worthy man is ever likely to redeem me?
All's Well That....Well, It Ends Anyway
Notable inversions of these catastrophic tales have occurred - it goes without saying they end poorly.
One example is Slovakian Swimwear Model Mayka Kukucova who shot and killed her British banker "sponsor" at his Spanish retreat. He had decided to "trade down" for a younger model from Russia, Maria Korotaeva. Prosecutors claim Kukucova murdered the man in a rage when he arrived home with his new girlfriend and told the aging (she was then 26) former flame to vacate. Poetic justice or not, it is indicative of the instability which often surrounds the Instagram Girl phenomena.
On the other end of the spectrum is Elena Karimova, described as an Instagram Queen, who killed her children and later burned the bodies to an unrecognizable condition. In this case, Karimova claimed she simply had to murder her children due to a financially difficult divorce. The poor girl had no choice given the strenuous demands of advertising cosmetics on the social media application. The fact she took multiple foreign holidays is totally beside the point. You're simply a "hater" to even mention it.
Even once inside "the big house" life is not safe for an Instagram Girl. Russian model Kira Mayer committed a Road Rage incident in Moscow when police there apprehended her. At that juncture Mayer did what comes naturally - she offered sex in exchange for her release. She later upped the ante to a "threesome" which law enforcement refused. Thereupon this blushing rose began fighting them. Officers arrested Mayer and off she went for 18 months in jail. The kicker to the case comes a month into the stint when other female inmates assaulted her. Mayer claims they were jealous of her charms.
It bears noticing child killer Karimova (then age 27) was similar in age to both banker murderer Kukucova (age 26) and threesome propositioner Mayer (then 24). It appears from cursory examination the mid to late 20s is when many Instagram Girls max out their profitability...not to mention their sanity.
The Quiet Desperation of Unconvincing Connections
All of which is not unlike precisely whence we began. For those of you curious regarding the end of poor Tithonus, his tale fares no better.
As he weakened in extreme old age, his muscles deteriorated to the point he became immobile. His speech became slurred until it was no more than an incoherent babble. He was tormented by thoughts of his amorous betrayal though unable to pursue his departed lover.
In time Tithonus became a cicada and can still be heard to this day, much as the Instagram Girls, subsisting in a state of abject loneliness and endlessly clicking away their lives.
Guy Somerset writes from somewhere in America.
China Preparing for Economic, Financial, Trade and Hot War
2019/01/30
China Preparing for Economic, Financial, Trade and Hot War
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
China seeks cooperative relations with other nations. The US is a global menace, seeking dominance over other countries - sovereign independent governments on its target list for regime change, by war or other means.
It hasn't won a war since WW II ended. What chance would it have against China or Russia? War would one or the other would assure losers, not winners, humanity paying the greatest price, its survival risked if things go too far.
Beijing knows what it's up against in dealing with Washington. It's planning for possible confrontation. Last fall, President Xi Jinping ordered the country's military to boost its capability against potential threats to the nation's security, saying:
"It's necessary (for China's armed forces) to strengthen (their capability), concentrat(ing) preparations for fighting a war," adding:
"We need to take all complex situations into consideration and make emergency plans accordingly."
"We have to step up combat readiness exercises, joint exercises and confrontational exercises to enhance servicemen's capabilities and preparation for war."
Addressing China's Central Military Commission in early January, Xi said "(a)ll military units must correctly understand major national security and development trends, and strengthen their sense of unexpected hardship, crisis and battle."
"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development."
Xi ordered stepped up military training and exercises, saying China's armed forces must "prepare for a comprehensive military struggle from a new starting point", adding:
"Preparation for war and combat must be deepened to ensure an efficient response in times of emergency."
Last week, senior Chinese officials expressed concern about threats to the country's security over economic and trade war with the US, no breakthroughs achieved in resolving major differences.
First Secretary of the Central Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, Central Policy Research director Wang Huning stressed a "tough battle" ahead in dealing with security risks.
He and Xi said policymakers must develop "bottom-line thinking," preparing for the "worst-case situation" that may threaten the nation's security and stability.
According to Xi, China faces "unpredictable international developments and a complicated and sensitive external environment" over economic, trade, and other disagreements with the US, issues weighing on the country in the year ahead and beyond.
Chinese Academy of Governance official Zhu Lijia warned that fallout over trade war with the US may weigh heavily on China's economy this year.
Confrontation with EU and other US allies is possible. As long as Washington considers China a rival power, the nation will remain threatened by its rage to dominate.
According to political analyst Zhang Lifan, "there's nothing that does not constitute a risk" to China.
Last week, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross explained what's understood by both countries, saying the US and China "are miles from getting a resolution."
Resolving trade differences is relatively easy compared to structural issues. Washington wants China and all other countries subordinated to its interests.
It wants Beijing's industrial, economic, and technological growth and development aims undermined. It intends expanding its military footprint in the Indo/Pacific region where it doesn't belong - or anywhere else uninvited.
The risk of US confrontation with China, Russia, Iran, and other sovereign states is too great to ignore - the risk of potentially catastrophic nuclear war.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Photo: By Alert5 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, http://bit.ly/2CTqCw1
Venezuela's Supreme Court v. US Attempted Coup
2019/01/30
Venezuela's Supreme Court v. US Attempted Coup
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Venezuela's Constitution affirms the principles of what democratic governance is all about - based on fundamental freedoms, equity, justice under law, and the nation's sovereign independence.
Under the Constitution's Article 2, the judicial system is mandated to uphold the law of the land. The Supreme Tribunal of Justice is independent of other branches of government.
The Constitution established a legal framework for Chavez's vision for revolutionary structural change, based on participatory democracy serving all Venezuelans equitably, not just the privileged few the way things were before, how America and other Western societies operate.
The Constitution's preamble affirmed what Bolivarian social democracy is all about - "a democratic, participatory and self-reliant, multiethnic and multicultural society in a just, federal and decentralized State that embodies the values of freedom, independence, peace, solidarity, the common good, the nation's territorial integrity, comity and the rule of law for this and future generations," adding:
Venezuelan constitutional law "guarantees the right to life, work, learning, education, social justice and equality, without discrimination or subordination of any kind; promotes peaceful cooperation among nations and further strengthens Latin American integration in accordance with the principle of nonintervention and national self-determination of the people, the universal and indivisible guarantee of human rights, the democratization of imitational society, nuclear disarmament, ecological balance and environmental resources as the common and inalienable heritage of humanity."
The above principles are unimaginable in the US, European countries, and the vast majority of others.
Venezuela is world's apart from America's fantasy democracy, opposed to the notion of governance of, by, and for everyone equitably, never in the US from inception, embodied in Venezuela's Bolivarian Constitution and how the nation is ruled.
It's why Republicans and undemocratic Dems plotted to oust Chavez 20 years ago. Years of plotting failed to achieve their aim so far, wanting US-controlled fascist tyranny replacing social democracy.
What's in play by Trump hardliners is the most serious threat to Venezuela's sovereign independence and fundamental rights of its people.
Fact: Nicolas Maduro is Venezuela's democratically elected and reelected president. The nation's electoral process is scrupulously open, free, and fair - affirmed by independent monitors every time elections are held. Claims otherwise by the US and press agent media are bald-faced Big Lies.
Fact: Juan Guaido is a US invention, a designated puppet, a nobody with zero credibility, plucked from obscurity to prominence, a right-wing extremist, a figure flagrantly violating international and Venezuelan constitutional laws, a usurper guilty of sedition or treason, the latter offense more serious.
Everything going on in Venezuela was planned and orchestrated in Washington - by Trump regime hardliners, likely together with the CIA and National Endowment for Democracy, charged with working to eliminate it wherever it exists.
Congress, the executive branch, and courts do the same thing domestically - enforcing governance of, by, and for the privileged few alone, others exploited to serve their interests.
On the same day that Washington illegally recognized Guaido as interim (puppet) president, Venezuela's Supreme stepped up to the plate, annulling his position as National Assembly head. They went further.
In defense of rule of law principles and national sovereignty, High Court justices
ordered an investigation into Guaido, froze his assets, and banned him from leaving the country until completion of the probe. Court President Maikel Moreno tweeted the following:
"The Supreme Court in its decision from January 29 ruled to take the following precautionary measures against Juan Gerardo Guaido Marquez: prohibition of leaving the country without an authorization until the investigation is completed; prohibition of alienation and pledge of property; blocking of bank accounts and/or any other financial instrument on the Venezuelan territory."
Venezuelan Prosecutor General Tarek Saab asked High Court justices to impose these restrictions for conspiring with US efforts to topple the country's democratically elected president.
For now, Saab stopped short of ordering Guaido's arrest, a justifiable action if taken for flagrantly violating international and Venezuelan constitutional law.
The same goes for Trump regime hardliners. No nation or its officials may legally interfere in the internal affairs of other countries except in self-defense if attacked - and only permitted to take this action if authorized by Security Council member states.
Venezuela's military supports the country's sovereignty, constitutional law, and Maduro as legitimate president of the republic.
He ordered the creation of around 50,000 popular community defense units, charged with the "integral defense of the fatherland." It's unclear if they'll be armed for self-defense against possible US military action.
According Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISI) analyst Igor Pshenichnikov, "Maduro has visited many military units, where the officers and rank-and-file personnel vowed allegiance to the head of state," adding:
The US "blitzkrieg failed" to achieve quick results. "It looks like the situation is entering into a prolonged war of nerves." Guaido's call for street protests no longer is generating mass demonstrations.
Further bloodshed in the streets is likely, provoked by opposition elements, likely orchestrated by covert CIA operatives, coup d'etats Langley's specialty.
Maduro's survival depends on popular and military support, along with international backing from enough countries, recognizing him as Venezuela's legitimate president, rejecting Guaido and the US coup attempt.
The following countries recognize Maduro's: Russia, China, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Belarus, El Salvador, South Africa, Suriname, Turkey, Iran and Syria.
Guaido is illegally back by an array of US vassal states, notably most Latin and Central American countries, EU states, Australia, Canada and Israel. Polls show the vast majority of Venezuelans oppose US sanctions and military intervention.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Pope Francis refused to denounce illegal US intervention into Venezuela's internal affairs, calling for resolving differences diplomatically alone - effectively endorsing the coup attempt.
Battle lines are drawn. Going up against imperial America is a struggle against long odds. Yet Venezuela prevailed over US predations for 20 years, Iran for 40, Cuba for 60.
Maduro is on the right side of history, his cause just, deserving universal popular support against the Trump regime's aim to gain another imperial trophy the old-fashioned way - by coup d'etat against a democratically elected sovereign government.
He'd be greatly helped by Sino/Russian denunciation of what's going on, vowing to aid Venezuela preserve and protect its sovereignty - beyond rhetorical support alone, accomplishing nothing.
On Tuesday, Sergey Lavrov said the following:
US intervention "brazenly violat(ed) all imaginable norms of international law and actually openly pursuing the policy aimed at overthrowing the legitimate government in that Latin American country," adding:
"Together with other responsible members of the international community, we will do everything to support President Maduro's legitimate government in upholding the Venezuelan constitution and employing methods to resolve the crisis that are within the constitutional framework."
Lavrov's statement isn't good enough without active Russian intervention on behalf of Maduro's legitimacy, Venezuelan sovereignty and its people.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
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USA wants Russia out of Venezuela to expropriate Orinoco belt oil wealth
2019/01/30
The United States imposed sanctions against Venezuelan oil and gas company PDVSA. President Nicolas Maduro called them an attempt to take away the country's property and wealth. He urged the United States not to interfere in the internal affairs of the state, but added that he was ready to meet with Donald Trump.
Venezuela's national oil company PDVSA cooperates with China, India, France, but in terms of production volumes, Russia is the biggest partner. Russia's oil giant Rosneft has been working on Venezuelan oil fields since 2013. Over the years, Russia has launched dozens of new oil wells. Russia invests in the exploration and discovery of new Venezuelan wells and introduces new technologies that make it possible to increase production efficiency.
No other foreign company that operates in Venezuela is even close to Russia's oil output capacity. ExxonMobil used to work on the oil fields of Venezuela before the Russians arrived, but the work of the American company was not that efficient. By 2007, Venezuelan authorities had changed the rules of the game in their fields for foreign oil producers and offered them to share. The Americans did not want to share and left. Russia has been working in the Orinoco belt ever since.
One of the versions that may explain the opposition standoff against President Maduro says that Washington decided to return to Venezuela, make the Russians leave and establish its own conditions for the oil business in the troubled country. The technique is traditional: a color revolution, the toppling of the legitimate president and the recognition of an opposition figure as a new leader. Street riots and victims only serve as scenery for the political spectacle that Washington is staging in Venezuela.
Also read:
Venezuela may expect another Panama scenario from 1989
USA starts making new weapons for nuclear war with Russia
2019/01/30
The United States started producing new low yield nuclear weapons that were designed for a possible armed conflict with Russia.
The new warhead W76-2 is a submarine-launched weapon with a capacity of about five kilotons. The production of the new weapon was arranged in Texas; the first batch is to be ready later this year.
The development of low-yield nuclear warheads was launched at the direction of the Donald Trump administration. At the same time, however, US authorities believe that Russia has similar weapons that may give Russia an advantage in case of a conflict. Washington hopes that the new warheads will even out the chances.
According to experts' estimates, low-yield nuclear weapons can limit the zone of conflict and forecast civilian casualties more accurately. However, experts fear that such developments may only increase the probability of a nuclear war, as they will lift the restriction on the use of nuclear weapons because of their low yield, let alone the fact that new warheads may trigger a new arms race.
Photo: mil.ru
Also read:
Putin: The world underestimates danger of nuclear war
Without INF Treaty, USA can destroy Russian nuclear weapons easily
USA doubts its victory in war with Russia
What weapons the USA, Russia and China may use in case of World War III
US Treasury takes control of Siberia
2019/01/29
The US Treasury and Russian entrepreneur Oleg Deripaska concluded a deal to lift sanctions from his companies in violation of the Russian legislation. This is a dangerous precedent.
On Monday, the US Treasury Department announced the lifting of sanctions against Oleg Deripaska's key energy companies - En+, RusAl and Eurosibenergo. At the same time, all sanctions against Oleg Deripaska remain in effect.
Deripaska's companies came under sanctions in April 2018. As US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at the time, Russian oligarchs and elites who benefit from the corrupt system will no longer be seen separately from consequences of destabilising activities of their government, such as interference in US elections.
Deripaska was offered to reduce his share in the assets and thus lose the ability to control them. Deripaska reduced his share at En+ (its subsidiaries are RusAl and Eurosibenergo) from 70% to 44.95%, transferred a part of En+ shares to a charitable foundation and abjured the shares pledged to VTB.
The parties also agreed on unprecedented transparency of activities, taking upon extensive, permanent requirements for auditing, certification and reporting.
US Democrats tried to block the decision of the US Treasury to lift the sanctions from Oleg Deripaska's companies, but the Senate did not support the lower house. According to the BBC, various business groups put pressure on the administration to lift the sanctions from the three companies, because RusAl (Russian Aluminium) is one of the world's largest suppliers of aluminum. The imposition of sanctions on RusAl made world prices on aluminium go higher.
The Board of Directors of En+ was renewed as agreed with British Lord Gregory Baker remaining its chairman. Noteworthy, it was Baker, who initiated the plan to lift sanctions from En+. New candidates were agreed with the US Treasury Department: Christopher Bancroft Burnham, Carl Hughes, Joan MacNaughton, Nicholas Jordan, Igor Lozhevsky, Alexander Chmel and Andrei Sharonov, the Vedomosti wrote. It just so happens that all members of the board of directors of the Russian company, with the exception of three, are US citizens. In general, these conditions look like a transfer of control over Oleg Deripaska's assets to the US Treasury, the Kommersant wrote.
Vladimir Rozhankovsky, an expert at the International Financial Center, told Pravda.Ru, the above-mentioned agreement was concluded in circumvention of the law of the Russian Federation about the appointment of members of the board of directors in a public joint-stock company, such as En+. New members of the board of directors of a Russian joint-stock company can only by appointed at an extraordinary meeting of shareholders. "According to the law of the Russian Federation, one should prepare a dossier of candidates and provide exhaustive information about who they are and what they have to do with the aluminum industry. Afterwards, shareholders vote for or against those people," said Rozhankovsky.
"One should not let this case fade away, as this is a dangerous precedent. The Communist Party in the State Duma demanded an independent parliamentary investigation should be initiated into the changes, but their requirement was rejected. The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation and the parliament should initiate investigation," the expert said.
"In the US, Democrats filed a lawsuit against the move to reverse the permission to unblock En+ accounts. As long as the process continues both in Russia and in the United States, one cannot announce the winner yet," Vladimir Rozhankovsky concluded.
On Wednesday, a group of MPs representing the Communist Party faction suggested appealing to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Federal Security Bureau and the Russian government to look into the legality of the agreement between the US Treasury and Oleg Deripaska regarding the plan to lift sanctions from En+ and RusAl.
"Since January 18, virtually the entire aluminum industry of the Russian Federation is moving under the control of the US Treasury. We believe that the Security Committee of the State Duma should appeal to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the FSB and the government to look into the legality of the agreement and its compliance with Russian national security interests, because in such a situation the Americans take control of Siberia," Nikolai Kolomeytsev, first deputy chairman of the State Duma's Labor Committee said.
Also read:
Westerners teach Russian oligarchs a few good lessons they need to learn
Russian stock market, national currency collapse because of US sanctions
Politicized US Charges Against Huawei and Its CFO
2019/01/29
Politicized US Charges Against Huawei and Its CFO
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Huawei is a privately owned Chinese tech giant, the world's largest telecom equipment manufacturer, the second largest smartphone maker.
It's leading the race to roll out next generation cutting-edge 5G technology of mobile Internet use, ahead of US and European competitors. At stake are trillions of dollars of economic value, why it's targeted by Washington.
On Monday, the US Justice Department charged Huawei and its chief financial officer Sabrina Meng Wanzhou with 13 counts of financial fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruction of justice, and violation of (illegally imposed) US sanctions on Iran no one should observe.
The indictment named Huawei, two company affiliates, and Meng. The parent company and one of its affiliates were charge with violating the 1977 US International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
It permits the regulation of commerce after declaring a national emergency in response to an alleged threat to America by a foreign state - despite none existing since WW II ended, notably none posed by Russia, China, Iran, and other nations victimized by US aggression and other hostile actions.
Meng is charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. The Trump regime formally requested Canada to extradite her to the US. Currently she's illegally held under house arrest in Vancouver.
A second 10-count US indictment charges Huawei and its US affiliate with theft of trade secrets from T-Mobile USA, wire fraud, and obstruction of justice - including the allegation that Huawei "offer(ed) bonuses to employees who succeeded in stealing confidential information from other companies."
Meng, Huawei, and Beijing are contesting US actions judicially and politically. China denies engaging in intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers - saying the latter comes from agreements with US companies in return for their access to China's market.
Huawei issued a statement "den(ying) that it or its subsidiary or affiliate have committed any of the asserted violations of US law set forth in each of the indictments, is not aware of any wrongdoing by Meng, and believes the US courts will ultimately reach the same conclusion."
On Tuesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang responded to US actions, calling on the Trump regime "to treat Chinese companies (and its officials) in an objective and fair manner," adding:
"The US has been running a campaign against specific Chinese companies by using state power and has been trying to strangle their legitimate operations, which reveals their strong political intention and manipulation."
"The United States has been using state power to smear and attack specific Chinese enterprises, destroying the legitimate operations of the companies."
"There is strong political motivation and manipulation behind it. China is determined to protect legitimate rights of Chinese companies."
China's Global Times said the US wants Huawei undermined globally, "Washington...pushing its allies hard to exclude (the company's) equipment from their 5G networks," adding:
"Washington is playing political tricks under legal pretext...It won't be easy for the US to convict Huawei. The company can start a court confrontation with the US government using legal means." Beijing will aid Huawei with political and other support.
US charges and formal request for Meng's extradition further heighten Sino/US tensions ahead of continuing trade talks.
What's going on is all about Washington's aim to undermine Beijing's Made in China 2025 strategy.
It aims to advance 10 economic sectors to world-class status, including information technology, high-end machinery and robotics, aerospace, marine equipment and ships, advanced rail transport, new-energy vehicles, electric power, agricultural machinery, new materials and biomedical products.
In May 2015, China's State Council unveiled a 10-year plan to transform the country into a global industrial and high-tech manufacturing power.
Follow-up plans aim to further enhance China technologically and industrially by 2049, the People's Republic of China's 100th anniversary.
Beijing agreed to substantially increase US imports. It will not abandon or curtail its developmental agenda, key for the country's future and ability to create jobs for its workers - an irreconcilable difference between both countries trade talks won't resolve.
The US under Republicans and undemocratic Dems want all nations colonized, their ruling authorities subordinating their sovereignty to US interests - what China, Russia, Iran and other countries won't ever agree to, why unthinkable nuclear confrontation remains an ominous possibility.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
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Venezuelan Military Support for Maduro
2019/01/29
Venezuelan Military Support for Maduro
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Short of the Trump regime invoking the military option, a possibility given how often the US goes this route, preserving and protecting Bolivarian social democracy in Venezuela depends on Maduro retaining military and majority popular support in the streets.
The alternative is restoring US-controlled fascist tyranny - what Chavez and overwhelming popular sentiment overturned in 1999, social democracy too important to lose despite current crisis conditions, largely made in the USA.
For years, Washington tried enlisting support from Venezuela's military for regime change against Chavez and Maduro.
According to the NYT, Trump officials held secret meetings with military elements in the country last year, discussing regime change plans, "American officials and a former Venezuelan military commander who participated in the talks" explained.
The White House acknowledged holding talks, saying it engaged in "dialogue with...Venezuelans who demonstrate a desire for democracy (sic) (to) bring positive change to a country that has suffered so much under Maduro" - failing to lay blame where it largely belongs.
At least one Venezuelan Trump hardliners approached was a figure Washington accused of human rights abuses and drugs trafficking.
The US notoriously supports most of the world's worst tinpot despots. Democracy in the West is just a figure of speech, not the real thing.
Venezuela's military supports Maduro. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said the country's "armed forces don't accept a president imposed by obscure interests or self-proclaimed unlawfully," adding "the military will defend the nation's sovereignty and constitutional law."
Separately, he said "(w)e do not have three options, nor do we have three presidents or two presidents. We have only one president" - Nicolas Maduro, not the imposter Guaido, a Trump regime designated puppet.
Maduro "is the constitutional president elected by the vast majority of Venezuelans in direct, democratic and secret ballots, just as our constitution and laws mandate."
"The erratic policy of the ultra-right opposition has done a lot of damage and has offended the military family. Now they try to deceive us with fallacious attempts that do not make any sense."
The military is "very aware (that) every attempt to intimidate and divide the armed forces brings us closer together, unites us more."
Opponents "have sought a refuge in the armed forces that they will not get. The party of the armed forces is the party of the homeland."
According to the Wall Street Journal, "(e)xiled former officers and opposition leaders are working to persuade officers to proclaim their recognition of Mr. Guaido, but not to remove Mr. Maduro by force, an exiled former top Venezuelan military official said."
Before his confirmation as secretary of state in January 2017, Rex Tillerson said he'd work with US Latin American allies to replace what he called the "incompetent and dysfunctional" Maduro government, ignoring his democratic election, adding:
"I would urge close cooperation with our friends in the hemisphere, particularly Venezuela's neighbors Brazil and Colombia, as well as multilateral bodies such as the OAS, to seek a negotiated transition to" restoring US control over the country and its vast oil reserves.
Separately, he said "(o)ur approach to Venezuela has been to try to work through coalition partners (sic), through the OAS as well as others who share our view of Venezuela's future."
"We are evaluating all of our policy options as to what can we do to create a change of conditions where either Maduro decides he doesn't have a future and wants to leave of his own accord or we can return the government processes back to their constitution."
Days earlier, Tillerson's successor Pompeo declared Venezuela's legitimate government under Maduro "illegitimate," calling for "the orderly transition to a new government."
"The time is now...to recognize the new democratic government (sic) led by interim President Guaido...No more delays," he roared.
John Bolton said "(t)he United States does not recognize Venezuelan dictator (sic) Nicolas Maduro's illegitimate claim to power."
Separately, he tweeted: "Any violence and intimidation against US diplomatic personnel, Venezuela's democratic leader, Juan Guaido (sic), or the National Assembly itself would represent a grave assault on the rule of law and will be met with a significant response."
Some inconvenient facts Trump regime hardliners do not wish to acknowledge:
Last May's presidential election was judged open, free and fair by international monitors from 30 countries, including former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, saying:
"I do not have any doubt about the voting process It is an advanced automatic voting system...(a credible) democratic mechanism..."
The atmosphere was calm, no incidents reported, no irregularities other than minor ones corrected.
Venezuela's process is the world's best - polar opposite the money-controlled US system.
Nearly nine-and-a-half Venezuelans participated in the election - 68% supporting Maduro. Three other candidates competed against him. His main rival Henri Falcon got only 21% support.
The key opposition undemocratic Dem Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition boycotted the election, knowing its candidate would lose. Three other parties declined to participate for the same reason.
Venezuela's process is identical every time, including in 2015, opposition candidates winning majority National Assembly control. The automated system is audited before, during and after elections.
Eighteen publicly broadcast audits were conducted last spring. When completed, the system locks to prevent fraud. Accessing it again can only be gained by entering passwords from all participating parties or candidates simultaneously.
As in all Bolivarian elections, the process was open, free, and fair last May, according to the Constitution and electoral law. No fraud was reported, no evidence any occurred, no claims otherwise by candidates.
Nothing in Venezuela's Constitution or statute laws permits so-called "transition government."
The notion introduced by the Trump regime doesn't exist. Calling Maduro's election "illegitimate" is a bald-faced Big Lie - persisting because media scoundrels keep repeating it.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Photo: By Lorenzo Gamez Castillejo (Isoulrn2) - Own work, Public Domain, http://bit.ly/2TjrzVx
Giving Venezuela's gold to Maduro means flushing it down the toilet
2019/01/29
The Bank of England declined the application from the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for the return of gold bars worth 1.2 billion dollars. The decision was made after US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and US national security adviser John Bolton appealed to their British colleagues suggesting Maduro should be alienated from his foreign assets, Bloomberg reports.
Vasily Solodkov, the director of the Banking Institute of the Higher School of Economics, told Pravda.Ru that Nicolas Maduro took the inflation rate in Venezuela to nearly two million percent a year. "Therefore, giving money to Maduro means flushing it down the toilet. Maduro does not think of any reforms. All he wants now is to stay in power with the help of the army pointing bayonets against his own people," his expert said.
"The question is whether the one who turns to the privately-owned Bank of England is seen by the British government as the leader of Venezuela. The question on the delivery of gold assets is to be decided on this basis. Russia's best friends are Kim Jong-un and Maduro. England has other friends," said Vasily Solodkov.
It is believed that all of Russia's gold (more than 2,000 tons) is stored at home on the balance of the Central Bank, rather than the Ministry of Finance, as is customary in other countries. "If foreign countries have certain claims on the Russian Federation, such as, for example, in connection with the Yukos case and so on, then the reserves of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation are not subject to delivery, because the Central Bank is responsible for obligations of the state, it is independent. The assets of the Russian Finance Ministry can be arrested immediately, because the Ministry of Finance represents the state," the expert concluded.
Also read:
Is Venezuela going to become another Syria?
The US Drive for Hegemony Over Venezuela
The US Drive for Hegemony Over Venezuela
2019/01/28
The US Drive for Hegemony Over Venezuela
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Republicans and undemocratic Dems are united for flagrantly unlawful regime change in Venezuela - ignoring the UN Charter, other international law, and the US Constitution.
There's no ambiguity about the rule of law. UN Charter Article 2 states "(a)ll Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state..."
Except in self-defense if attacked, clearly not the issue in Venezuela, no nation may legally interfere in the internal affairs of others - what the US does repeatedly by naked aggression, color revolutions, and old-fashioned coup d'etats, what's in play against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
International laws, treaties, conventions, and agreements are automatically US law under the Constitution's Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2).
Republicans and Dems operate by their own rules alone. On Venezuela, their preferred regime change tactics alone differed so far, their objective the same.
Trump hardliners appear willing to stop at nothing to achieve their aims, Dems supporting the coup, perhaps by military intervention if other tactics in play fail.
Events ahead will determine Venezuela's future. At stake is protecting and preserving Bolivarian social democracy or its destruction by US rage to control the country and its vast oil reserves, the world's largest, the main reason for what's going on.
Key for democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro is maintaining military support. Losing it would mean game over, the US gaining another imperial trophy, a repeat of what's gone on since the 19th century in most hemispheric countries and many others worldwide.
Washington aims to control all countries, their resources and populations, its back yard considered planet earth, not just Latin and Central America, how both extremist wings of its war party operate.
Trump regime hardliners and their designated puppet Juan Guaido are pressuring Venezuela's military commanders to support the US attempted coup, Guaido saying:
"We have been in talks with government officials, civilian and military men...This is a very delicate subject involving personal security. We are meeting with them, but discreetly."
Separately via Twitter he said "(o)n Wednesday, a mass public demonstration will be held, and I call on the people of Venezuela to take to the streets" - more rallies to follow, key for Maduro is mobilizing larger ones, supporting his legitimacy as president and Bolivarianism.
During Saturday's Security Council session, Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia denounced the Trump regime's coup attempt, demanding an answer from Pompeo he didn't get, saying:
Senior US officials "have been dropping clear hints about the use of force (against Venezuela), speculating about 'options on the table.' "
"Taking advantage of Mr. Pompeo's presence, we want to ask directly whether it means that the United States is ready to use military force against a sovereign state under a bogus pretext."
"It is here in this hall we need to hear a definite answer: if Washington intends once again to violate the UN Charter?"
That's precisely what's going on by failing to recognize Maduro's legitimacy, illegally designating Guaido as interim puppet president.
The Trump regime's military option is ominously on the table. Senator Lindsey Graham said the following about a conversation he had with Trump in mid-January:
"(Trump) said '(w)hat do you think about using military force?' I said...you need to go slow on that. That could be problematic. (H)e said...I'm surprised. You want to invade everybody.' "
"And I said, 'I don't want to invade everybody. I only want to use the military when our national security interests are threatened.' "
Separately, Graham stressed that DLT is "really hawkish" on Venezuela. So far, events are playing out short of a military option.
Clearly Trump regime hardliners, and their new point man for regime change in Venezuela, convicted neocon Iran/Contra co-conspirator, death squad supporter Elliot Abrams, aim to get the country's military commanders on board against Maduro, an objective not achieved so far.
Pushing for this will surely continue, using time-tested tactics, including bribes, pressure and threats - what hasn't worked in Venezuela for the past 20 years. It's unknown if they'll succeed in the coming days, weeks or longer.
Much rides on how things play out ahead. Washington's military option is always on the table, notably when publicly declared like now, the scenario by brute force having played out many times before.
Trump's hawkish geopolitical team threatens all sovereign independent countries. DLT is in trouble at home. With Dems controlling the House, his domestic agenda is stymied.
The vast majority of Republicans and Dems, along with the US major media, support regime change in Venezuela, including by what's unfolding - an old-fashioned coup d'etat attempt, a longstanding US specialty.
Small numbers of Dems alone oppose Trump's recognition of Guaido as interim (puppet) president, including Rep. Tulsi Gabbard saying:
"The United States needs to stay out of Venezuela. Let the Venezuelan people determine their future. We don't want other countries to choose our leaders - so we have to stop trying to choose theirs."
She and a few other Dems are voices in the wilderness, a US coup attempt overwhelmingly supported in Washington.
America's most popular con man Bernie Sanders has been saying one thing and doing another for over 30 years in public office, proving he's a self-serving dirty politician like virtually all others in Washington.
His revolutionary, man-of-the-people rhetoric is empty, his soul for sale at the right price, voting nearly always with other undemocratic Dems, supporting what he rhetorically opposes.
Earlier he called democratically elected and reelected Hugo Chavez a "dictator." He opposes democratically elected and reelected Maduro.
Last week he falsely accused him of "waging a violent crackdown on Venezuelan civil society, violat(ing) the constitution by dissolving the National Assembly, and was re-elected last year in an election that many observers said was fraudulent."
All of the above are shameful Big Lies. Sanders rhetorically stopped short of supporting Trump's coup attempt. Given his hostility toward democratically elected Venezuelan leaders, he'll like endorse Guaido if Maduro is toppled, violently or otherwise.
For the past 20 years, US regimes since the Clinton co-presidency sought to replace Bolivarian social democracy with US-controlled fascist tyranny.
What's going on now represents the most serious threat to its survival. A separate article stressed the importance of organized people resistance against what's going on.
It's the most effective way, likely the only way, to preserve and protect Venezuelan social democracy - as long as the country's military commanders remain on board.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
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Man brazenly steals priceless painting from Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow
2019/01/28
Employees of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation, in cooperation with the Federal Security Bureau (FSB of Russia), detained a suspect in the theft of Arkhip Kuindzhi's painting titled "Ai-Petri. Crimea" from the Tretyakov Gallery of Moscow. The suspect, a 31-year-old man, was detained in the town of Zarechye near Moscow, a message posted on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
The man told investigators that he hid the stolen painting on a construction site, where the police subsequently found it. It was said that there were no visible traces of damage on the painting.
"It was established that the suspect had previously been detained by the Moscow police for drug possession in December 2018 and was a defendant in a criminal case initiated under Article 228 ("Illegal acquisition, storage, transportation, manufacturing, processing of narcotic drugs") of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation," officials said.
Arkhip Kuindzhi's painting "Ai-Petri. Crimea" is usually displayed in the Russian Museum of St. Petersburg, but it was brought to Moscow for an exhibition of the painter's works. The man stole the painting in broad daylight, before the eyes of other visitors.
Interestingly, the theft was committed on the anniversary of the birth of the landscape artist (January 27, in the old style - January 15).
The man, whom other people took for a museum employee, calmly walked towards Kuindzhi's canvas, took it out of the frame and left. According to eyewitnesses, museum employees showed no sign of concern - they realised what happened about ten minutes later.
Arkhip Kuindzhi's paintings can be worth millions of dollars. In 2008, his painting "Birchwood" was sold at Sotheby's for $3 million. The same year, his painting "The Russian Landscape" was sold for almost 400,000 dollars. In 2011, painting "Before Thunderstorm" fetched $221,000, and in 2007 a private collector paid $213,000 for the "Ukrainian Night."
Penalties under Art. 164 of the Criminal Code "Theft of items of special value" may provide for imprisonment of up to 10 years.
Man steals Kuindzhi's painting from Tretyakov Gallery
Is Venezuela going to become another Syria?
2019/01/28
By Sawraj Singh
In complete disregard of international law, the western countries have resorted to open intervention in the internal affairs of Venezuela. They have left no doubt that they are calling all the shots in Venezuela. Within minutes of the opposition leader Guaido declaring himself the interim President of Venezuela, America recognized him followed by Canada, the UK, France and the right wing Latin American Governments which in reality are puppets of western imperialist countries, followed suit within two hours. However, Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, Cuba, Bolivia and Mexico have opposed intervention by western imperialist countries in internal affairs of a sovereign country as blatant violation of international law and are supporting President Maduro. In the strongest condemnation of this move by the western countries, President Putin has warned of grave consequences. Rafael Correa, Ex-President of Ecuador, has warned of a US-backed military action in Venezuela. Such an action is bound to lead to a civil war.
The US and the western countries have a long history of forcibly imposing their will on others. America has always considered Latin America as its backyard where it can do anything it wants to do. The Latin American countries, except Cuba have not been truly independent in the last two centuries. America has used their natural resources for its own benefit rather than in the interests of the people of these countries. Whenever, there is a conflict between these two interests, America has never hesitated to use force. For example, Dr. Salvador Allende, the elected Marxist President of Chile tried to use the country's resources for its people, America wasted no time in getting rid of him by engineering a coup by General Pinochet in the year 1973. From the year 1975 on wards, America carried out an operation Condor to systematically eliminate the leftist forces in the Latin American countries and strengthen the right wing dictatorships.
America repeatedly tried to get rid of Hugo Chavez, who was President of Venezuela from 1999 to 2013. However, Hugo Chavez continued to improve the plight of the people with the oil revenue. Venezuela is one of the largest oil producing country in the world. After his death from cancer (which he blamed on the US), Maduro took over as the President of Venezuela. America tried repeatedly to get rid of him. However, he survived each time. Crippling American sanctions and falling oil prices have hit Venezulea's economy really hard. America has used this as an excuse to blame Maduro. This time the military is supporting Maduro. Another factor which makes it difficult to get rid of him is that Hugho Chavez built a big base in the working class and also armed his followers with 100,000 AK47 rifles which Russia provided. This can make it an extremely bloody battle if an armed conflict starts between Maduro's supporters and the American backed Guaidos supporters. Putin has rightly warned of a catastrophic conflict.
A conflict of this magnitude in America's backyard will probably be the last major conflict of the American era since no matter what is the outcome of this conflict America has more to lose than Russia. If the American side loses then it will be a big probably a fatal blow for the American prestige. However, even if America wins this battle the long term results may prove more harmful than helpful. Russia will have to score a major victory in Europe to avenge its defeat and maintain its prestige and credibility. It will have to give a severe blow to a country like Ukraine or Poland. For America, A defeat in Europe will be lot worse than a victory in Latin America.
Already a defeat in Syria has done tremendous damage to American prestige and influence in the Middle East. Consequences of a war in Venezuela can be lot worse than the Syrian war. If Maduro survives then just like survival of Assad in Syria it will be counted as a big loss for America. However, even if America succeeds to dislodge Maduro the damage done to Russia-America relations will be tremendous and probably irreparable. The chance of the conflict moving to Europe can be very dangerous for the whole world. A conflict in Europe is more likely to escalate into a World War three than a conflict anywhere else. The history of the two World Wars starting in Europe is before us.
The three countries, Russia, China and India can play a significant role in countering American arrogance which can prove to be the main risk factor for starting the most destructive Third World War. Russia can balance American military power China can balance American economic power and India can work in the diplomatic field to build an anti war sentiment. India played a very positive role when the war started over the Suez Canal. India scored a major victory in the diplomatic field and became the leader of the nonaligned movement. It laid the foundation of Nehru-Nasser friendship and the whole Arab World started looking at India as one of their best friends. India needs to play a similar role now to restore its credibility and prestige in the world as a real peace maker. India's tilt toward America has raised questions about its traditional role.
Let us hope that all sides use restraint and do not escalate the conflict to a dangerous level and the situation in Venezuela does not become like a civil war in Syria. Let us also hope that the transition from the American era to the Post American era (multipolar world) is peaceful.
Sawraj Singh
Chairman Washington State Network for Human Rights
Chairman Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice
Russia's Su-35 fighter jets humiliate eight warplanes of US and Japanese air forces
2019/01/28
On January 28, the incident that occurred in the sky over the Far East of Russia west viral on social media. Two Russian Su-35 fighter jets detected the approach of four F-18 aircraft of the US Air Force. A Russian commander made a decision to monitor the approach of the "guests".
One of the two Russian jets flew towards the leading F-18 of the American group of aircraft and took the closest position to its right. The crew of the F-18 started taking pictures of the Russian fighter. The crew of the Su-35 did the same and transmitted the pictures of the enemy to the command center on the ground.
The Americans did not like the superiority of the Su-35 in the air, so they called four F-15 fighter jets of the Air Force of Japan for help. The Japanese could not intercept the Russian fighter, and the maneuverability of the Su-35 showed everyone who is the real "master" of the sky.
Eight enemy aircraft simply put themselves up to shame. Bloggers dubbed the incident as "total superiority of the Russian and the total humiliation of the Americans." It is worthy of note that US military experts acknowledge the superiority of the Russian Su-35 over the American F-15.
Photo: mil.ru
Venezuela: The real story and the whole truth
2019/01/25
Venezuela: The real story and the whole truth
Venezuela, another criminal project masterminded by guess who? The United States of America, interfering yet again in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation
There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the USA considers Latin America as its back yard, feeling it has the God-given right to export its own warped vision of democracy, imposing it through repressive Fascist dictatorships, murder, abductions and criminal acts of subversion, terrorism, sabotage and disruption. This has happened time and again in numerous countries, Venezuela being thelatest victim.
Read the Bullshit Media, and you will find references to the democratically elected President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, referred to simply as "Maduro", with word-tails attached to him such as "dictator", "despot", "autocrat", nobody yet having remembered to say that he lives in a "compound", whatever that is.
What you will not find is any reference to the tremendous social contrubition made by Venezuela's PSUV (Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela, or United Socialist Party of Venezuela) firstly under Hugo Chavez and now, under Nicolás Maduro. To name just a few of its victories, extreme poverty has decreased by two thirds, GDP per capita has risen from 4,105 USD in 1999 to 12,500 USD in 2017, the literacy rate has risen from 91% to 97%... despite a difficult last few years caused by falling oil prices and subversion organized from abroad and implemented by the country's opposition. This is centered on Venezuela's upper middle class and elitists which does not favor the "Chavistas", the supporters of Caracas' social revolution, providing good public services funded by oil revenue where few had existed before. They, and their puppet masters, believe they have the right to the country's tremendous wealth (Venezuela has the highest proven oil reserves in the world).
They prefer privatized hospitals which people have to pay for instead of free healthcare, they prefer to keep the people ignorant so that they cannot read for themselves, they prefer a high infant mortality rate because basically they are a bunch of self-seeking, selfish, spiteful opportunists who collectively do not have an iota of humanity, decency or morals between them. In short, a bunch of traitors.
Now for the truth
What you will not find is any reference to the 150 meetings between the Opposition and the PSUV between May 2016 and January 2018 in the Dominican Republic, which ended with an agreement to hold early presidential elections, only for Rex Tillerson, ex-Secretary of State for the USA, allegedly to make a telephone call to Júlio Borges (ex-President of the National Assembly), from Colombia, telling the Opposition not to sign the agreement.
Washington's ethic: Heads I win, Tails you lose
Why? Because the USA knew the Opposition would lose, and thereforethe right wing of the Opposition did not take part in the Presidential elections in Venezuela last May (other factions did), when Maduro won. The USA had other plans, because Washington follows a "Heads I win, tails you lose" ethic in international relations, and especially when it comes down to countries with massive oil resources. Washington wants to use traitors internally to channel the wealth outwards, not to use it for improved public services for the people.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is Venezuela in a nutshell.
The League of the Yapping Chihuahuas
Interestingly, one only has to see which countries jumped to Washington's order to recognize this new imposter who has declared himself President of Venezuela, claiming that he has the right to do so because President Maduro is absent (he is actually in the Presidential residence where he performs his duties as President), to see Washington's list of favorite yapping chihuahuas. Top of the list as usual was chief bedboy the United Kingdom, always ready to receive a pat on the head then get off on a mention of "special relationship", along with 12 Latin American assimilated nations, including the Fascist Bolsonaro of Brazil who declared that he would rather a son of his die in a car crash than be gay.
The argument used by Washington and its yapping chihuahuas is as usual, as ludicrous as it is pig-headed and vapid. They complain about an absence of democracy in Venezuela. How can educating people and improving literacy be anti-democratic? How can making an agreement with the Opposition be anti-democratic? Surely it is undemocratic to make an agreement then break it just because your bedmaster tells you to, surely it is undemocratic to recognize any Tom or Dick who suddenly decides to proclaim himself King of Saturn or President of Venezuela, interfering in an internal process in a sovereign nation, which is a criminal act of intrusion and illegal as per the UN Charter.
So, it is a lie to say all the Opposition did not participate in the election on May 20. It is also a lie to speak about electoral fraud because those who know the voting system in Venezuela are aware that the act of voting uses biometric parameters, so it is impossible to have electoral fraud. Two lies.
Anyone can declare they are President
So the bottom line is that the opposition knew it would lose the election and so most of it refused to take part, to then complain about fraud, declare themselves the rightful winners and lo and behold, two days after the US Vice President Pence stated that the Opposition should go ahead with its plans, the USA was behind them, Guaidó declared himself President, Trump recognized him and the yapping chihuahuas came scrambling along obediently.
This is making a mockery of international law. The people who are responsible for choosing their representatives are the Venezuelans, not Washington. The United States of America today proves that it is ruled by a criminal regime which pursues criminal policies. It is a pariah state, an insult to international law, and has "shame" written on every page referring to it in the annals of history. The history book will be very cruel to Washington when it reports its heinous and hideous acts from 1945 onwards. Its assimilated, controlled and obedient yapping chihuahuas will fare no better.
Photo: By Pixza_ve - http://bit.ly/2UhwCFU, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31543149
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
Pravda.Ru
Twitter: @TimothyBHinchey
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey works in the area of teaching, consultancy, coaching, translation, revision of texts, copy-writing and journalism. Director and Chief Editor of the Portuguese version of Pravda.Ru since 2002, and now Co-Editor of the English version, he contributes regularly to several other publications in Portuguese and English. He has worked in the printed and online media, in daily, weekly, monthly and yearly magazines and newspapers. A firm believer in multilateralism as a political approach and multiculturalism as a means to bring people and peoples together, he is Official Media Partner of UN Women, fighting for gender equality and Media Partner with Humane Society International, promoting animal rights. His hobbies include sports, in which he takes a keen interest, traveling, networking to protect the rights of LGBTQI communities and victims of gender violence, and cataloging disappearing languages, cultures and traditions around the world. A keen cook, he enjoys trying out different cuisines and regards cooking and sharing as a means to understand cultures and bring people together.
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