Latin America
Related: About this forumWhat Venezuelan ‘Regime Change’ Could Mean
What Venezuelan Regime Change Could Mean
April 15, 2014
Exclusive: Venezuelas socialist government may be next on Official Washingtons list for destabilizing sanctions as violent protests sweep across the oil-rich country. But regime change in Caracas also could undermine the entire regions independence, as Andrés Cala explains.
By Andrés Cala
For 15 years, the economic keystone of Latin Americas growing independence from U.S. domination has been energy-rich Venezuelas willingness to provide discounted oil to many of its neighbors, a project now at risk amid violent opposition protests at home and threats of destabilizing sanctions from Washington.
The preferential financial terms for oil was the brainchild of Venezuelas late leader Hugo Chavez who understood that the only way that he could counter Americas economic might was to use his nations petroleum to stabilize the fragile economies of Caribbean and Latin American countries, including longtime U.S. target, Cuba.
Stronger South American nations benefited, too, from the geopolitical umbrella offered by Venezuela, allowing them to stand united against U.S. diplomatic dictates, especially in Bolivia and Ecuador. In that sense, Venezuelas oil literally fueled the regions growing independence from Washington.
So, the thinking goes that if regime change in Caracas could pull away the keystone of Venezuelas discounted oil, much of the regions independence would collapse along with it to the advantage of Washington.
More:
http://consortiumnews.com/2014/04/15/what-venezuelan-regime-change-could-mean/
Demeter
(85,373 posts)I do not like what my country's government has become, a force of evil, oppression, theft, fraud, deceit, and criminality.
I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 19021912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.
- from War Is a Racket, by Major General Smedley Butler