Venezuela's Media Minister Andres Izarra Replies To The Washington Post

Thanks for posting that one 4Canada.
Total bullseye!

Imagine the Washington Post calling for a coupe of the Bush regime as a result of the regimes current activities. That paper would soon find out how free speech is managed in the good old USA

The press is freer just about anywhere else other than the USA! Pretty well all European countries have an ideological range in their choice of daily newspapers. In the US its Neocon and Neocon-lite. Some choice!

Very, very sadly, its the same in Canada. It seems that the present US administration, despite their never-ending pompous proclamations, only believes in democracy when it produces a government in their own image and which they can manipulate. Venezuela is a democracy which, for better or worse, has chosen a different path. If Americans (and/or Canadians) really believe in democracy, this is our chance to prove it. We should wish our South American cousins well, and do everthing we can to ensure their fledgling democracy is not subverted, destabilized or undermined by any foreigners for corporate or idealogical reasons.

I often wonder what would happen if Canadians ever overcame the endless empty barrage of media nonsense and propaganda, and elected a government which really represented their interests. It would be very interesting.

<p> Indeed <b>4Canada</b>, your post was necessary in light of what appears to be <a href="http://spinwatch.server101.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=670"> renewed aggressive tactics</a> towards Venezuela by the Bush administration. <p> Ironically, the Venezuelan government is resorting to "<a href="http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1410 ">containment</a>", a nice bit of "framing"! Still, should the Bushevik’s aggression towards Venezuela deteriorates into armed conflict, Canada will be asked to make a choice. As Linda McQuaig wrote in an article that you posted last year <a href="http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20040316001239945">here</a> at <i>Vive</i> by:<br> <blockquote>Venezuela could well become another litmus test for Martin: Will he stand up for democratically elected governments, even ones in Washington's bad books?</blockquote> <p> This, however, may be a problem for any Canadian government given the level of integration that the US is demanding of Canada regarding its security policies, which begs the question: isn't it time for Canadians to start exploring the idea of <b>a right of veto</b> over all future apocalyptic nightmares that the Neocons would wish to subject the rest of the World to, as a condition of its cooperation with the US security policies? That may be a ridiculous idea but shouldn't we be exploring it all the same in order to arrive at some kind of understanding of the options that are available to us? <p> <b>Canada is expected to help with protecting the US from people whose wrath that country's administration has sought in the first place.</b> Yet, does Canada get to have a say in that administration's aggression on the nations of the World? Not according to <a href="http://www.csis.org/americas/pubs/pp/pp0405rowswell.pdf">this paper</a>, it doesn't! Indeed, one gets a sense that Canadians are doomed to follow this Empire in all its folly. Another pass like the refusal to support the Bush war on Iraq may not be tolerated, or worse still, may not be possible. <p> So, given the current lack of restraining power of the UN, and given that any support of the Empire's conflicts with other nations entails real risks for our own nation, <b>shouldn’t there be some mechanism within those agreements pertaining to security issues, or "formal treaty" as argued in the above-mentioned paper, that would allow the Canadian government to restrain the aggressive designs of its neighbour</b>? Or are we, to all intents and purposes, already the Empire’s vassal? The answer to that last question may well reside within the quarrel between the Bush people and Venezuela should that quarrel degenerate into armed conflict. <p>

FurGaia,

I have computer-friendly envy whenever I read one of your posts. They're so polished and confident. I had to table the CSIS paper it's too big to read at this hour of the night. Good post though, thanks for your input.

---
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." Friedrich Nietzsche

The phony 'sponsorship scandal', to me, is only politics as usual. The problem is the NWO and the neo-cons didn't get their slice, and so through their controlled media outlets (which is most of them), we hear constantly about this so called scandal.

yawn.

Is the sponsoreship scandal discussed and desiminated through the internet? NO.

figures.

because it's bullshiet.

The 'media' and 'public relation firms' are trying hell bent on getting certain liberal members (many french-canadians) out of power, Likely to be replaced with dumb downed (lower IQ), and sexually compromised, and religous wingnuts. Not to mention bribed 1st generation canadians to deliver the ethnic navel gazing vote.

If anyone here is really, and I mean really, interested in what's going on in Venezuela I suggest checking out this site for its links - both pro and anti Chavez.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.venezuelatoday.net">http://www.venezuelatoday.net</a> <br />
<br />
I put myself in the anti-camp and reading the posts here I must say I'm dismayed but certainly not surprised by the ignorance about that country on display. I'm new to this site so I'll check it out to see if this is where the whole site stands in regard to Venezuela or if this is just an exception to the rule here.<br />
<br />
Izarra is a ***tard of the first order and if you guys had a clue about what's going on in Venezuela (esp. you 4canada) you wouldn't be so enamoured of his retort to some accurate accusations.<br />
<br />
Hey guys, do some research before jumping on the bandwagon, will ya? <br />
<br />
A proud anti-Chavez Canadian

To the poster above, stating support for a particular ideology is fine when backed up with facts. I've been reading quite a bit of info about Venezuela and can found little reason for a blatant 'anti' stance. All governments have 'good' and 'bad' points. In Venezuela the point is not whether you agree with policy-you don't live there. Chavez was democratically elected and was also passed in the recall referenda. The point that is being discussed is whether the US pulls another Haiti whether we'll follow their lead. The canadian government does lots of things that people disagree with, that doesn't mean we'd support France (for example) moving in and taking over our government.

Marcarc,

My bad, maybe. If the jist of the original post was whether or not Canada should yadda-yadda then why does the author say that Izarra "nailed it on the head"? That says to me that he thinks Izarra's words are correct and I disagree although I will admit that my disagreement stems not so much from the content of Izarra's statement but from what I know of Izarra himself and what his government is doing these days.

Nothing you've seen would cause you to take a "blatant" anti stance? Hmmm, that is telling. How about a "quasi" anti stance?

Just out of curiosity is your main source of information on Venezuela from sites like vheadline and venezuelanalysis? Yes it's a loaded question but one that would give me an idea of where you are coming from.

Thanks in advance but don't feel obligated to respond.

<p> Thank you for the link! In return, would you consider paying a visit <a href="http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/index.php">here</a>? I wonder why this particular URL would not be listed at the site you provided seeing that it links, as you say, to "both pro and anti Chavez" information. <p>

Well, I never said it links to <b>every</b> pro or con website on the internet. Fargo, ND? Marxists? No kiddin'?

Anyhoo, I do plan on checking out vivelecanada a tad more. If I decide to post here more regularly I'll be sure to create a pseudonym and will advise that I'm the guy who belly-ached about this particular post.

Does anyone here have anything to add?

Saludos.

<p> It can’t be all that bad really! Looks like Corporations and BushCo are not seeing the World the same way anymore! Turning of the tides? <p> <a href="http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=cp_business_home&articleID=1890385">ChevronTexaco to invest over US$5 billion in heavy crude project in Venezuela </a> <p>

<p> In fact, I'm scared sh**less of "them"! I know, I do sound like Mel Gibson's Jerry Fletcher in <i>Conspiracy Theory</i>. Anyway, you are sweet! Thanks!