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Venezuela's Rank-and-File Soldiers Have Been Deserting in Droves

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  • Venezuela's Rank-and-File Soldiers Have Been Deserting in Droves

    Venezuela's Rank-and-File Soldiers Have Been Deserting in Droves

    (Bloomberg) -- Even before the U.S.-backed leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly called on the military to abandon President Nicolas Maduro, the government was trying to stop a surge of desertions and ordered border guards to stop soldiers trying to leave the country without permission. Two documents illustrate the erosion of the armed forces. One lists about 4,300 national-guard officers who deserted since 2014, giving their ranks and serial numbers. Signed by the guard’s commander, Major General Jesus Lopez Vargas, the Dec. 21 order removes them from rolls. All are non-commissioned officers or enlisted men and women and represented about 6 percent of the guard. The second, dated Nov. 13, is signed by Luis Santiago Rodriguez Gonzalez, director of the country’s immigration service.

    Current and former members of the military familiar with official papers examined the documents and said they are authentic. Spokesmen from Venezuela’s defense ministry didn’t respond to requests for comment on the desertions or restrictions on soldiers’ travel. The armed forces are Venezuela’s most powerful institution, and a battle for their loyalty is afoot since last year’s disputed election....
    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

  • #2
    Right. President Nicolas Maduro was voted in several times by the people. The soldiers don't want to fight in opposition to their own people.

    I've been listening to one guy who has noted that the people will defend themselves against the US-backed leaders, even unto death.

    The US needs to re-evaluate whose side to take.

    Comment


    • #3
      About time we had a thread on the bumbling ongoing US coup attempt in Venezuela. Somehow many US nutters, including Trump seem to think that by declaring they recognize a person who didn't run for the Presidency as the 'true' President of Venezuela, they are doing something useful or relevant. For what it's worth, I hereby declare I recognize Nancy Pelosi to be the true US President.

      I saw this excellent video today as a reporter tries to talk to US members of congress on the subject:



      Out of all the people he talks to, only one congressman actually knows the situation well and gives sensible answers, and that congressman refuses to act to stop the US trying to do a coup in Venezuela, because he's on the Financial Services committee and says financial services, not foreign affairs, is his priority.

      Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, and Trump's National Security adviser John Bolton went on Fox News to explain that the US getting its hands on Venezuela's oil is a major factor in this:
      "We're in conversation with major American companies now...
      It will make a big difference to the US economically if we could have American oil companies really invest in and produce the oil capabilities in Venezuela."

      Funny how God mistakenly put so much US oil under other people's land...

      Also, let me remind people that there are about 49 countries in the world ruled by dictatorships, and the US supports or endorses or has positive relationships with about 73% of those countries. The very few of them that the US tends to declare are terrible who need to be overthrown, just so happen to be those in the most oil rich nations. Funny how that always coincidentally happens. That US love of democracy and freedom is apparently very malleable and is much more a function of oil reserves than it is the well-being of the populace.
      Last edited by Starlight; 02-06-2019, 08:51 PM.
      "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
      "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
      "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Starlight View Post
        Also, let me remind people that there are about 49 countries in the world ruled by dictatorships, and the US supports or endorses or has positive relationships with about 73% of those countries.
        citation please
        The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
          citation please
          Current world dictators list
          US Provides Military Assistance to 73 Percent of World’s Dictatorships
          List of present and past authoritarian regimes supported by the US
          World map of present and past authoritarian regimes supported by the US
          Last edited by Starlight; 02-06-2019, 09:08 PM.
          "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
          "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
          "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Starlight View Post
            About time we had a thread on the bumbling ongoing US coup attempt in Venezuela. Somehow many US nutters, including Trump seem to think that by declaring they recognize a person who didn't run for the Presidency as the 'true' President of Venezuela, they are doing something useful or relevant. For what it's worth, I hereby declare I recognize Nancy Pelosi to be the true US President.
            .
            She already thinks she is President.

            How about we send Pelosi your way?

            No. Nevermind. Maybe the US govt has installed cruel dictators for over 50 years, but I wouldn't want that to happen to your country.

            I do realize that the US has acted improperly to many countries over the years. This is policy employed by Democrats and Republicans.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by mikewhitney View Post
              She already thinks she is President.

              How about we send Pelosi your way?
              I'm quite happy with the local equivalent of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez currently leading my country, but thanks for the offer.

              Maybe the US govt has installed cruel dictators for over 50 years, but I wouldn't want that to happen to your country.
              True, and I wouldn't either. Thankfully our oil reserves aren't huge so we aren't in danger of the US overthrowing our democracy and installing a US-oil-interests-friendly dictator anytime soon, like the US did in Iran etc.

              I do realize that the US has acted improperly to many countries over the years. This is policy employed by Democrats and Republicans.
              Well that's true. Johnson started the Vietnam war over issues he knew were false, Reagan deliberately backed terrorists loyal to the previous dictator against a democratically elected government in Nicaragua, etc. Plenty of wrongdoing by all US presidents. Noam Chomsky has argued that if the criteria used to judge the Nazis in the Nuremberg tribunals were applied then every post-WWII US President would hang for war crimes. Bush Jr was so scared that he'd be tried internationally for his crimes, he got congress to pass a law authorizing the US invasion of Europe to rescue him if he was ever extradited for trial.
              "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
              "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
              "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Starlight View Post
                About time we had a thread on the bumbling ongoing US coup attempt in Venezuela. Somehow many US nutters, including Trump seem to think that by declaring they recognize a person who didn't run for the Presidency as the 'true' President of Venezuela, they are doing something useful or relevant. For what it's worth, I hereby declare I recognize Nancy Pelosi to be the true US President.
                Among those nutters are Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Spain, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Kosovo, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal. They have all recognized Guaidó as Venezuela's president. And the EU Parliament recognizes Juan Guaido as the interim president although Italy blocked making it the official position of the body preferring to stay neutral.

                Here in the Western Hemisphere Canada has announced their support of Guaidó. The Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council agreed "to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro's new term." And the Lima Group (which includes many of the same members as the OAS) just announced their opposition to Maduro:

                Source: Lima Group embraces Venezuelan opposition leader Guaido, calls on military to quit Maduro


                The countries of the Lima Group completed their meeting in Ottawa on the crisis in Venezuela Monday — proclaiming the South American nation's opposition leader and its National Assembly as full members of the multi-nation group while ruling out military intervention to end the humanitarian crisis gripping the oil-rich nation.

                The move elevates Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido to the status of a "fully fledged" member of the group, said Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. The move further sidelines the authoritarian government of Nicolas Maduro, which has been declared illegitimate by Canada and many of its allies.

                "It is very important to understand that Guaido derives his legitimacy from the National Assembly, which is the sole remaining democratically constituted body in Venezuela," Freeland said at the closing press conference of the Lima Group meeting.

                Foreign ministers from the Lima Group countries — Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia, alongside representatives from the U.K, the EU and the U.S. — met in Ottawa Monday to further solidify support for Guaido as protests over the legitimacy of Maduro's government continue to fill the streets in Venezuela.



                Source

                © Copyright Original Source



                Mexico has vacillated between opposition of Marudo and taking a neutral position.

                Other nations calling on Marudo to leave are Australia, Israel and Morocco.

                I'm always still in trouble again

                "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
                "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
                "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Starlight View Post
                  I'm quite happy with the local equivalent of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez currently leading my country, but thanks for the offer.
                  Having her move to New Zealand would undoubtedly increase both country's average I.Q.

                  I'm always still in trouble again

                  "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
                  "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
                  "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Why am I not surprised that Starlight is defending a totalitarian socialist dictator bent on starving his people to death?

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                      Why am I not surprised that Starlight is defending a totalitarian socialist dictator bent on starving his people to death?
                      We are fortunate to have Starlight - he's a very good indicator of right and wrong. If he thinks something is right, we can pretty well it to the bank that it's wrong.
                      The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                        We are fortunate to have Starlight - he's a very good indicator of right and wrong. If he thinks something is right, we can pretty well it to the bank that it's wrong.
                        "take"

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                          "take"
                          I meant "carry"
                          The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                            We are fortunate to have Starlight - he's a very good indicator of right and wrong. If he thinks something is right, we can pretty well it to the bank that it's wrong.

                            I'm always still in trouble again

                            "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
                            "Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
                            "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by rogue06 View Post
                              Among those nutters are Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Spain, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Kosovo, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal. They have all recognized Guaidó as Venezuela's president. And the EU Parliament recognizes Juan Guaido as the interim president although Italy blocked making it the official position of the body preferring to stay neutral.

                              Here in the Western Hemisphere Canada has announced their support of Guaidó. The Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council agreed "to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro's new term." And the Lima Group (which includes many of the same members as the OAS) just announced their opposition to Maduro:

                              Source: Lima Group embraces Venezuelan opposition leader Guaido, calls on military to quit Maduro


                              The countries of the Lima Group completed their meeting in Ottawa on the crisis in Venezuela Monday — proclaiming the South American nation's opposition leader and its National Assembly as full members of the multi-nation group while ruling out military intervention to end the humanitarian crisis gripping the oil-rich nation.

                              The move elevates Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido to the status of a "fully fledged" member of the group, said Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. The move further sidelines the authoritarian government of Nicolas Maduro, which has been declared illegitimate by Canada and many of its allies.

                              "It is very important to understand that Guaido derives his legitimacy from the National Assembly, which is the sole remaining democratically constituted body in Venezuela," Freeland said at the closing press conference of the Lima Group meeting.

                              Foreign ministers from the Lima Group countries — Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia, alongside representatives from the U.K, the EU and the U.S. — met in Ottawa Monday to further solidify support for Guaido as protests over the legitimacy of Maduro's government continue to fill the streets in Venezuela.



                              Source

                              © Copyright Original Source



                              Mexico has vacillated between opposition of Marudo and taking a neutral position.

                              Other nations calling on Marudo to leave are Australia, Israel and Morocco.
                              These countries should have just voted for Guaido in the original election and just leave the people of Venezuela out of the election.

                              I was watching youtube videos by Florida Marquis who appears to have a clearer understanding of what has been going on in Venezuela.

                              Maduro has been acting on behalf of the country and its people. But there has been a refusal of other countries to purchase oil ... and this affected people who would have been farmers but got became oil workers. So, food supplies have been a problem. But the people are able to cross the border to purchase the food they need; this, of course, reduces the cash available in Venezuela.

                              Anyhow, that is the best I can remember of the details described of the Venezuela situation.

                              Comment

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