Another Venezuela Thread :)

[juleswin]

Spin again... You are reading, injecting, and taking out of context a concept totally false from what I just said. And the concept that there is even such a thing as an armed insurrection is absolutely 180 from the liberty movement that I have known for the last 10 years. You spout government control over the people rather than people control over the government.

ABSOLUTELY 180 FROM THE LIBERTY MOVEMENT...

Nice try though, not going to fly.

You are the one who said Invisible's definition labelled Ron Paul as treasonous when that wasn't the case. Also, the concept of armed insurrection is not always compatible with liberty especially when that insurrection is trying to subjugate the nation to foreign colonial masters.

Lovely, just funny seeing you pretend that somehow treasonous Guido is the people while the Maduro is the govt. Newsflash, both sides are the govt. One is backed by world govt and the other by democratic govt representing the people of Venezuela. You can try your bizarre logic somewhere else cos it won't fly with me

[juleswin]

WHAT ARMED INSURRECTION? They were disarmed and rendered as neutered or this would NEVER have happened in the first place. Fact.

Attempted, thank God the military did not respond and squashed it immediately. Any independent nation that is not threatened by the US govt would have jailed or killed everyone involved in this plot. I would expect nothing short of a death sentence if I tried to do that to the Trump administration.

[RonZeplin]

sparse. Caracas... about an hr ago.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_sZ...layer_embedded

Guaido starts off with, Si se puede (Yes, We Can)? That's the chant of the illegal alien invaders of the USA too. Heard it many times.

Plenty of Venezuelan "refugees" headed this way if Donnell's democratic rebels get their way.
Stop the invasions, of Venezuela & the USA.

[ATruepatriot]

You are the one who said Invisible's definition labelled Ron Paul as treasonous when that wasn't the case. Also, the concept of armed insurrection is not always compatible with liberty especially when that insurrection is trying to subjugate the nation to foreign colonial masters.

Lovely, just funny seeing you pretend that somehow treasonous Guido is the people while the Maduro is the govt. Newsflash, both sides are the govt. One is backed by world govt and the other by democratic govt representing the people of Venezuela. You can try your bizarre logic somewhere else cos it won't fly with me

Please Stop... Try to fool someone else... I am way past the semantics and on top of the root cause and effect in the bigger picture. Was before you were born into this current psyop mess. Watched it all come about play by play.

[ATruepatriot]

Attempted, thank God the military did not respond and squashed it immediately. Any independent nation that is not threatened by the US govt would have jailed or killed everyone involved in this plot. I would expect nothing short of a death sentence if I tried to do that to the Trump administration.

Pro government anti people...

[juleswin]

Please Stop... Try to fool someone else... I am way past the semantics and on top of the root cause and effect in the bigger picture. Was before you were born into this current psyop mess. Watched it all come about play by play.

[ATruepatriot]

Psyop clip...

[Swordsmyth]

Pro government anti people...

That's exactly what the leftarians allow themselves to be manipulated into supporting, no regime that denies guns to its people can ever be the "Good Guy" and you can oppose US intervention without supporting the regime but leftarians are so used to hating America that they automatically side with any enemy of the US as part of opposing intervention no matter how evil and repressive that enemy is.

[Swordsmyth]

Plotting a coup or plotting their independence? The armed insurrection was used to fight for our independence and every single one of those involved knew that they would be jailed or killed if their plot failed. But the Venezuelan George Washington who is not a traitor btw has no fear of being jailed because his CIA handler who are trying to make Venezuela a colony will attack the country if the people via their leader did anything to him.

So yea, I can see the similarities between Guido's coup attempt and the fight for our independence

We are forgetting about the French intervention?

[ATruepatriot]

We are forgetting about the French intervention?

To be fair... Jules either does not have that history in the toolbox or has listened to the wrong side of history.

[Swordsmyth]

To be fair... Jules either does not have that history in the toolbox or has listened to the wrong side of history.

Yes, he is a foreigner (and a good example of why allowing too many immigrants is a bad idea), that's why I didn't -Rep him for his ignorance/purposeful omission.

[JoshLowry]

but leftarians are so used to hating America that they automatically side with any enemy of the US as part of opposing intervention no matter how evil and repressive that enemy is.

That's because the US doesn't ever actually declare war through any semblance of a representative government.

They are as corrupt as the dictators they are ousting.

[ATruepatriot]

Yes, he is a foreigner (and a good example of why allowing too many immigrants is a bad idea), that's why I didn't -Rep him for his ignorance/purposeful omission.

I have nothing against Jules not being from here and that there may be a lacking of historical fact. What bothers me is the unwillingness to be object and learn the historical facts. Human nature dictates reality in every fallacy of ideology. First one must truly understand human nature and what the real cause and effect will be.

[Swordsmyth]

That's because the US doesn't ever actually declare war through any semblance of a representative government.

They are as corrupt as the dictators they are ousting.

I agree but you can oppose the actions of the US without canonizing or cheering for the targets.

[JoshLowry]

I agree but you can oppose the actions of the US without canonizing or cheering for the targets.

Everyone likes to see the big bully get btfo by the little bully. That's just some physics or something...

[juleswin]

We are forgetting about the French intervention?

Who said I forgot about the French's very little assistance to the revolutionaries? I have never said that I was against all and every intervention, I have supported the Russian intervention in Syria, Che's interventions in the many countries he came to fight the imperialists. The problem I have is when foreign powers with help of native puppets intervene to colonize an independent state.

Also, the difference between the revolutionary war and Venezuela is that the war was going to happen and possible succeed with or without the French help, the plot to revolt wasn't planned in Paris and the Americans were actually fighting a foreign govt(The English) occupying their country.

[juleswin]

That's exactly what the leftarians allow themselves to be manipulated into supporting, no regime that denies guns to its people can ever be the "Good Guy" and you can oppose US intervention without supporting the regime but leftarians are so used to hating America that they automatically side with any enemy of the US as part of opposing intervention no matter how evil and repressive that enemy is.

That's exactly right, the Trumptards allow themselves to be manipulated into supporting, a regime that tries to further regulate gun ownership of its people, a regime that bombs and kills innocent people abroad because the globalists tell him to, a regime that spies on its citizens etc etc can ever be the "Good Guy" and you can oppose socialism without supporting the Trump regime but Trumptards are so used to hating free men that they automatically support the subjugation and oppression of any enemy of Trump as part of their support for anything Trump no matter how evil and repressive their policy is

Also, I only support Maduro's effort to fight off her foreign aggression. That is it

[devil21]

It is disgusting just how easy it is to get some people to fervently support a communist dictator like Maduro, all you have to do is portray him as a "victim" of America and they will not only oppose American intervention but grant him sainthood.

Or perhaps it is that Venezuela's resources are intentionally being turned over to the Chinese. Let's not forget that Guaido himself is a socialist, so it's not exactly like his taking of power would change the country structurally much and they are already pretty well situated to be a Chinese vassal state. It's not a far-fetched theory when one considers the "China trade talks" between high level Chinese officials and Trump cabinet members that never seem to come to any particular resolution. Surely no one really believes that it takes the better part of 2 years to work out some trade pact. There must be a lot of other agenda topics being worked out. Part of unwinding the petrodollar global reserve standard is settling outstanding debts....some of which may include using our own military, intel agencies, etc for the benefit of a creditor.

Everyone likes to see the big bully get btfo by the little bully. That's just some physics or something...

Do my eyes deceive me? The Lowry returns???

[juleswin]

Or perhaps it is that Venezuela's resources are intentionally being turned over to the Chinese. Let's not forget that Guaido himself is a socialist, so it's not exactly like his taking of power would change the country structurally much and they are already pretty well situated to be a Chinese vassal state. It's not a far-fetched theory when one considers the "China trade talks" between high level Chinese officials and Trump cabinet members that never seem to come to any particular resolution. Surely no one really believes that it takes the better part of 2 years to work out some trade pact. There must be a lot of other agenda topics being worked out. Part of unwinding the petrodollar global reserve standard is settling outstanding debts....some of which may include using our own military, intel agencies, etc for the benefit of a creditor.



Do my eyes deceive me? The Lowry returns???

Intentionally being turned over to the Chinese? by whom exactly? the US are in real competition with the Chinese and its the US actions that is pushing them closer and closer to Russia and China. Ofc they don't want this, that is why Guaido is scaring the Chinese by telling that that contracts made with the usurper Maduro will not be honored when he eventually takes power.

[devil21]

Intentionally being turned over to the Chinese? by whom exactly?

I thought my explanation was pretty clear when I said that resources of the debtor nation can be used to the benefit of the creditor nation.

the US are in real competition with the Chinese and its the US actions that is pushing them closer and closer to Russia and China.

The average Joe is in competition with the Chinese. I posit that US government hierarchy is, in fact, not in real competition with the Chinese. If you'd been paying attention to global economic news for the last 10+ years like I have, you'd know that the dumping of dollar denominated trade has been in the works for at least that long. It's been put into effect by the G20, IMF, etc. The stories we're told about economic developments by the media and talking heads in DC are never the truth.

Ofc they don't want this, that is why Guaido is scaring the Chinese by telling that that contracts made with the usurper Maduro will not be honored when he eventually takes power.

Who told you that Guaido scares the Chinese and the story about contracts? USA Today? Guaido is a socialist himself so why would he go against fellow communists?

Do yourself a favor and read these two threads:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...-money-is-done

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...-the-US-dollar

[goldenequity]

https://twitter.com/Ian56789/status/1127656998936502272

[RonZeplin]

https://twitter.com/Ian56789/status/1127656998936502272

That guy in the burgundy jacket looks familiar, like a Ukraine euro-Nazi, CIA agitator?

[goldenequity]

https://twitter.com/Russ_Warrior/sta...18616587522048

[Firestarter]

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled!

The least they can do, is come up with something new!
For years now the Maduro government, that keeps exporting oil while Venezuelans are generally poor, has been supported by all of the adverse publicity.

US ‘blitzkrieg’ to replace Venezuela govt. has failed - Lavrov
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...failed-lavrov/

Have you heard the “news”?
The US government has supposedly staged a coup, which has once again boosted the popularity of Maduro!

I was prepared to give Hugo Chavez the benefit of the doubt. But maybe he was as dirty as Nicolas Maduro...

When in April 2002, a coup was staged in Venezuela, in support of Hugo Chavez´s government, conveniently Irish filmmakers Kim Bartley and Donnacha Ó Briain where present.
They made it into a real propaganda piece, even insinuating CIA involvement without any proof.

Bizarrely they called the 2003 documentary “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” (a.k.a Chávez: Inside the Coup): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Re...levised_(film)

[UWDude]

That's exactly what the leftarians allow themselves to be manipulated into supporting, no regime that denies guns to its people can ever be the "Good Guy" and you can oppose US intervention without supporting the regime but leftarians are so used to hating America that they automatically side with any enemy of the US as part of opposing intervention no matter how evil and repressive that enemy is.

Guaido supported taking the guns too, in 2012.

Of course, if you knew anything about the man you claim is better than Maduro, you would have already known that.

[devil21]

For years now the Maduro government, that keeps exporting oil while Venezuelans are generally poor, has been supported by all of the adverse publicity.

Have you heard the “news”?
The US government has supposedly staged a coup, which has once again boosted the popularity of Maduro!

For a while I've been on the fence about the whole Venezuela thing, whether there's something else going or is it really a standard regime change operation. Now, I'm getting off the fence. There are a lot of things that the US government does poorly. Regime change operations are clearly not one of them and have been deadly effective. This one has appeared very "Keystone Cops", however, so I must look at what other aims it could have. The appearance of Chinese military in VZ, at the invitation of Maduro, is a big clue and fits with the ongoing narrative of "Trump" driving other countries into the arms of China, which is also a key point toward perception management of how the dollar loses global reserve standard. IOW, the people of VZ embrace the Chinese as their savior from the big bad US that's hell bent on toppling their beloved Maduro. Regime change ops are really much more about controlling the perceptions of the populations of those countries via control of the leaders. Topple the leader, replace with a puppet, then have puppet sell the new paradigm to the population...important since the oil ain't gonna pump itself or the gold won't dig itself out of the mine. In the instance of VZ, the proposed puppet isn't ideologically different than the current leader so one must ask what the point is?

[Swordsmyth]

Guaido supported taking the guns too, in 2012.

Of course, if you knew anything about the man you claim is better than Maduro, you would have already known that.

That is bad and another reason the US should stay out of it and the Venezuelan people should choose someone other than Guaido but Guaido wouldn't have such a secure grip on power and would be easier to replace than Maduro.

[ATruepatriot]

For a while I've been on the fence about the whole Venezuela thing, whether there's something else going or is it really a standard regime change operation. Now, I'm getting off the fence. There are a lot of things that the US government does poorly. Regime change operations are clearly not one of them and have been deadly effective. This one has appeared very "Keystone Cops", however, so I must look at what other aims it could have. The appearance of Chinese military in VZ, at the invitation of Maduro, is a big clue and fits with the ongoing narrative of "Trump" driving other countries into the arms of China, which is also a key point toward perception management of how the dollar loses global reserve standard. IOW, the people of VZ embrace the Chinese as their savior from the big bad US that's hell bent on toppling their beloved Maduro. Regime change ops are really much more about controlling the perceptions of the populations of those countries via control of the leaders. Topple the leader, replace with a puppet, then have puppet sell the new paradigm to the population...important since the oil ain't gonna pump itself or the gold won't dig itself out of the mine. In the instance of VZ, the proposed puppet isn't ideologically different than the current leader so one must ask what the point is?

I know one thing... The idea that we created their issues is false. They did it to themselves before we got involved. Important to note the timeline with it all.

Amid Food Shortages, Severe Rationing Has Been Mandated In Communist/Socialist-Run Countries - Americans Need To Learn From These Examples

"Too many Americans seem to think that for a thriving nation to reach the status of crisis, suffering from shortages of food, medical supplies and basics including toilet paper, it would take decades of failed policies, but Venezuela teaches us that a nation considered to be the "richest nation in South America" can fall so hard and so fast that in a matter just a few short years, they are in full crisis mode.

The political unrest in Venezuela aside, in 2014 Venezuela was considered one of Latin America’s fastest-rising economies, as shown the screen shot graph below from the World Bank group."



"Note - While many of the blame America first crowd claims their troubles began when the U.S. sanctioned them, so it is Americas fault, that is a revisionist history, because the first sanctions against Venezuela were announced against individual persons, not the nation as a whole, and that wasn't until the end of 2014, after the catastrophic collapse had already begun.

See full list of Venezuela sanctions here. https://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/venezuela/#

How does a thriving nation collapse that fast? In 1998 Hugo Chavez was elected and over the next decade went on a massive "social spending" spree, redirecting oil profits "To finance educational, health, food, and housing programs for a population of over 30 million, the government redirected oil profits to address pressing social inequality," according to Miguel R. Tinker Salas, professor of Latin American studies and history at Pomona College in California."

http://allnewspipeline.com/Food_Shor...Cuba_NK_VZ.php


Venezuela-Related Sanctions
https://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/venezuela/#



Venezuela-Related Sanctions, Department of the Treasury

Remarks and Releases
05/10/19 The United States Sanctions Venezuela's Defense and Security Sector; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
05/10/19 Treasury Identifies the Venezuelan Defense and Security Sector as Subject to Sanctions and Further Targets Venezuelan Oil Moving to Cuba
04/26/19 The United States Sanctions Maduro-Aligned Individuals; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
04/26/19 Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs
04/17/19 Treasury Sanctions Central Bank of Venezuela and Director of the Central Bank of Venezuela
04/17/19 The United States Sanctions the Central Bank of Venezuela; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
04/12/19 The United States Takes Action To End Cuba's Malign Influence on Venezuela; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
04/12/19 Treasury Increases Pressure on Cuba to End Support to Maduro by Imposing Further Oil Sector Sanctions
04/05/19 The United States Sanctions Companies Enabling Shipment of Venezuelan Oil to Cuba; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
04/05/19 Treasury Sanctions Companies Operating in the Oil Sector of the Venezuelan Economy and Transporting Oil to Cuba
03/22/19 Treasury Sanctions BANDES, Venezuela's National Development Bank, and Subsidiaries, in Response to Illegal Arrest of Guaido Aide
03/22/19 The United States Sanctions Venezuela's State-affiliated Bank; Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino; Washington, DC
03/19/19 Sanctions Against Venezuelan Gold Sector; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
03/19/19 Treasury Sanctions Venezuela's State Gold Mining Company and its President for Propping Up Illegitimate Maduro Regime
03/11/19 The United States Tightens Sanctions on Venezuela by Targeting Russia-Based Bank; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
03/11/19 Treasury Sanctions Russia-based Bank Attempting to Circumvent U.S. Sanctions on Venezuela
03/06/19 White House Statement from the National Security Advisor Ambassador John Bolton
03/01/19 The United States Sanctions Illegitimate Maduro Regime Security Officials Associated With Violence and Obstruction of International Humanitarian Assistance; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
03/01/19 Briefing on Venezuela; U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams; Washington, DC
03/01/19 The United States Revokes U.S. Entry of Maduro-Aligned Individuals and Family; Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino; Washington, DC
03/01/19 Treasury Sanctions Security Officials Associated with Violence and Obstruction of Humanitarian Aid Delivery
02/23/19 Let Humanitarian Aid Into Venezuela; Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo; Washington, DC
02/22/19 The United States Pre-Positions Aid for Venezuelans on the Brazil-Venezuela Border; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
02/25/19 The United States Sanctions Governors of Venezuelan States Aligned With Maduro; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
02/25/19 Treasury Sanctions Governors of Venezuelan States Aligned with Maduro
02/15/19 U.S. Sanctions on Venezuelan Individuals and Entities; Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino; Washington, DC
02/15/19 Treasury Sanctions Officials Aligned with Former President Nicolas Maduro and Involved in Repression and Corruption
01/29/19 White House Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Supports the Venezuelan People's Efforts to Restore Democracy in Their Country
01/28/19 Sanctions Against PDVSA and Venezuela Oil Sector; Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo; Washington, DC
01/28/19 Treasury Sanctions Venezuela's State-Owned Oil Company Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A.
01/23/19 White House Statement From President Donald J. Trump Recognizing Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela
01/12/19 Ensuring Venezuela's Constitutional Order and Safety of Elected Officials; Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino; Washington, DC
01/08/19 Treasury Targets Venezuela Currency Exchange Network Scheme Generating Billions of Dollars for Corrupt Regime Insiders
12/18/18 Venezuela Fact Sheet
11/02/18 Remarks by National Security Advisor Ambassador John R. Bolton on the Administration's Policies in Latin America
09/25/18 The United States Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan Individuals and Entities; Office of the Spokesperson; Washington, DC
09/25/18 Treasury Targets Venezuelan President Maduro's Inner Circle and Proceeds of Corruption in the United States
05/18/18 Treasury Targets Influential Former Venezuelan Official and His Corruption Network
03/19/18 Treasury Sanctions Four Current or Former Venezuelan Officials Associated with Economic Mismanagement and Corruption
01/05/18 Treasury Sanctions Four Venezuelan Government Officials Associated with Corruption and Oppression
11/09/17 Treasury Sanctions Ten Venezuelan Government Officials
08/09/17 Treasury Sanctions Eight Individuals Involved in Venezuela's Illegitimate Constituent Assembly
07/31/17 Treasury Sanctions the President of Venezuela
07/26/17 Treasury Sanctions 13 Current and Former Senior Officials of the Government of Venezuela
07/17/17 Statement from President Donald J. Trump
05/18/17 Treasury Sanctions Eight Members of Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice
03/09/15 Statement by the White House Press Secretary on Venezuela
03/09/15 White House Fact Sheet: Venezuela Executive Order
12/18/14 Statement by the White House Press Secretary: Bills Signed into Law

Executive Orders

Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018 "Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela"
Executive Order 13835 of May 21, 2018 "Prohibiting Certain Additional Transactions with Respect to Venezuela"
Executive Order 13827 of March 19, 2018 "Taking Additional Steps to Address the Situation in Venezuela"
Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017 "Imposing Additional Sanctions with Respect to the Situation in Venezuela"
Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015 "Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela"

Executive Order 13857 of January 28, 2019 "Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Venezuela"

Executive Order 13692 declares a national emergency with respect to the situation in Venezuela. The targeted sanctions in this Executive Order (E.O.) implement relevant provisions of the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 signed into law on December 18, 2014, and also provide sanctions authority that goes beyond the requirements of the legislation. The E.O. provides authority to target persons involved in or responsible for the erosion of human rights guarantees, persecution of political opponents, curtailment of press freedoms, use of violence and human rights violations and abuses in response to antigovernment protests, and arbitrary arrest and detention of antigovernment protestors, as well as significant public corruption by senior government officials in the country. E.O. 13692 does not target the people or economy of Venezuela.

Executive Order 13808, among other things, prohibits transactions by a United States person or within the United States related to: certain new debt of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA); certain new debt or new equity of the Government of Venezuela; existing bonds issued by the Government of Venezuela prior to August 25, 2017; and dividend payments or other distributions of profits to the Government of Venezuela from any entity owned or controlled by the Government of Venezuela. In addition, E.O. 13808 prohibits the purchase by a U.S. person or within the United States of most securities from the Government of Venezuela.

Executive Order 13827 prohibits all transactions related to, provision of financing for, and other dealings in any digital currency, digital coin, or digital token issued by, for, or on behalf of the Government of Venezuela on or after January 9, 2018 wherein U.S. jurisdiction is implicated. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) simultaneously issued frequently asked questions (#559-563) clarifying that compliance obligations are the same, regardless of whether a transaction is denominated in digital currency or a traditional fiat currency. OFAC also clarified that U.S. persons and persons otherwise subject to OFAC jurisdiction that facilitate or engage in online commerce or process transactions using digital currency are responsible for ensuring that they do not engage in unauthorized transactions prohibited by U.S. sanctions.

Executive Order 13835, among other things, prohibits transactions by a United States person or within the United States related to: the purchase of any debt owed to the Government of Venezuela (including PDVSA), such as but not limited to accounts receivable; any debt owed to the Government of Venezuela that is pledged as collateral after May 21, 2018; and the sale, transfer, assignment, or pledging as collateral by the Government of Venezuela of any equity interest in any entity in which it has a 50 percent or greater ownership interest. E.O. 13835 closes another avenue for corruption by denying the Venezuelan regime the ability to earn money by selling off public assets at “fire sale” prices at the expense of the Venezuelan people.

Executive Order 13850, among other things, authorizes the imposition of blocking sanctions on persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary, to operate in the gold sector of the Venezuelan economy or in any other sector of the Venezuelan economy as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State. Moreover, it authorizes the imposition of blocking sanctions on persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, any transactions involving deceptive practices or corruption and the Government of Venezuela or projects or programs administered by the Government of Venezuela, or to be an immediate adult family member of such a person. On January 28, 2019, the Treasury Department, following from consultation with the Department of State, determined that persons operating in Venezuela’s oil sector may now be subject to sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13850. As of January 28, Treasury has designated PDVSA for operating within this sector. This action extends to entities that are majority (50% or greater) owned by PDVSA.

Executive Order 13857 recognizes the swearing-in of interim President Juan Guaido and amends the above-mentioned E.O.s to define “Government of Venezuela” to ensure that the Maduro regime remains the focus of our sanctions measures. The new definition includes the state and Government of Venezuela, any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including the Central Bank, PDVSA, and any person who has acted for or purported to act on behalf of, any of the foregoing, including as a member of the Maduro regime.

Legislation

7/15/2016 Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Extension Act of 2016
12/18/2014 Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014

[RonZeplin]

Embassy Protection Collective Releases Statement on 34th Day of Venezuelan Embassy Standoff

“The Embassy Protectors will not barricade ourselves, or hide in the embassy in the event of an unlawful entry by police. We will gather together and peacefully assert our rights to remain in the building and uphold international law.”

The Embassy Protection Collective is a group of activists and journalists living in the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC at the invitation of the Venezuelan government. The following is a statement released by the Embassy Protection Collective to MintPress News and other media:

This is the 34th day of our living in the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC. We are prepared to stay another 34 days, or however long is needed to resolve the embassy dispute in a peaceful way consistent with international law.
This memo is being sent to the US and Venezuela as well as members of our Collective and allies. We are encouraging people to publish this memo as a transparent process is needed to prevent the US from making a unilateral decision that could impact the security of embassies around the world and lead to military conflict.

There are two ways to resolve the issues around the Venezuelan embassy in DC, which we will explain.

Before doing so, we reiterate that our collective is one of independent people and organizations not affiliated with any government. While we are all US citizens, we are not agents of the United States. While we are here with permission of the Venezuelan government, we are not their agents or representatives.

We are here in the embassy lawfully. We are breaking no laws. We did not unlawfully enter and we are not trespassing.

1. Exiting with a Protecting Power Agreement

The exit from the embassy that best resolves issues to the benefit of the United States and Venezuela is a mutual Protecting Power Agreement. The United States wants a Protecting Power for its embassy in Caracas. Venezuela wants a Protecting Power for its embassy in DC. Such agreements are not uncommon when diplomatic relations are severed.

A Protecting Power Agreement would avoid a military conflict that could lead to war. A war in Venezuela would be catastrophic for Venezuela, the United States, and for the region. It would lead to lives lost and mass migration from the chaos and conflict of war. It would cost the United States trillions of dollars and become a quagmire involving allied countries around the world.

We are serving as interim protectors in the hope that the two nations can negotiate this resolution. If this occurs we will take the banners off the building, pack our materials, and leave voluntarily. The electricity could be turned on and we will drive out.

We suggest a video walk-through with embassy officials to show that the Embassy Protection Collective did not damage the building. The only damage to the building has been inflicted by coup supporters in the course of their unprosecuted break-ins.

2. The United States violates the Vienna Convention, makes an illegal eviction and unlawful arrests

This approach will violate international law and is fraught with risks. The United States would have to cut the chains in the front door put up by embassy staff and violate the embassy. We have put up barriers there and at other entrances to protect us from constant break-ins and threats from the trespassers whom the police are permitting outside the embassy. The police’s failure to protect the embassy and the US citizens inside has forced us to take these actions.

The Embassy Protectors will not barricade ourselves, or hide in the embassy in the event of an unlawful entry by police. We will gather together and peacefully assert our rights to remain in the building and uphold international law.

Any order to vacate based on a request by coup conspirators that lack governing authority will not be a lawful order. The coup has failed multiple times in Venezuela. The elected government is recognized by the Venezuelan courts under Venezuelan law and by the United Nations under international law. An order by the US-appointed coup plotters would not be legal.

Such an entry would put embassies around the world and in the United States at risk. We are concerned about US embassies and personnel around the world if the Vienna Convention is violated at this embassy. It would set a dangerous precedent that would likely be used against US embassies.

If an illegal eviction and unlawful arrests are made, we will hold all decision-makers in the chain of command and all officers who enforce unlawful orders accountable.
If there is a notice that we are trespassing and need to vacate the premises, please provide it to our attorney Mara Verhayden-Hilliard, copied on this memo.

We have taken care of this embassy and request a video tour of the building before any arrests.

We hope a wise and calm solution to this issue can be achieved so escalation of this conflict can avoided.

There is no need for the United States and Venezuela to be enemies. Resolving this embassy dispute diplomatically should lead to negotiations over other issues between the nations.

The Embassy Protection Collective
May 13, 2019

[goldenequity]

‘Illegal seizure’: US police raid Venezuelan embassy in DC to evict pro-Maduro activists



Activists occupying the Venezuelan embassy in Washington are refusing to vacate the premises in defiance of a notice threatening them with arrest for refusing to turn over the building to representatives of Juan Guaido.

“We are expecting the police to come in and violate the Vienna convention with their fictional government, nongovernment claiming that we should leave,” the so-called Embassy Civilian Protection Collective said in a video message.

"We’re going to be prepared to be arrested. We’re not going to leave voluntarily."

https://www.rt.com/news/459260-venez...ington-seizure

https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/st...69567367077895




'Raid' backed down (upheld the law... defied Trump/WH 'orders'. good.)

https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/st...11489376759810