By Stephen Lendman | Since taking office in February 1999, America\u2019s dominant media have relentlessly attacked Chavez because of the good example he represents and threat it might spread in spite of scant chance it will in today\u2019s climate.<\/p>\n
Yet some of his fiercest critics maintain pressure and show up often on the Wall Street Journal<\/em>\u2019s op-ed page. Most recently on November 10 by its America\u2019s columnist, Mary O\u2019Grady. Her style is agitprop. Her space a truth-free zone. Her latest is an article headlined \u201cHugo Chavez Spreads the Loot,\u201d referring to what the New York Times<\/em> calls \u201cSuitcasegate.\u201d<\/p>\n It played out in a Miami show trial that concluded on November 3 with Franklin Duran found guilty of acting as an unregistered agent of the Venezuelan government in the US. He\u2019s co-owner of the private Venezuelan motor oil company, Venoco. It\u2019s unconnected to the government, but that\u2019s not what prosecutors charged, what jurors were pressured to conclude after initially being deadlocked, and what O\u2019Grady picked up on and claims.<\/p>\n She calls Hugo Chavez \u201cthe intellectual author of his crime,\u201d whatever that means, but O\u2019Grady doesn\u2019t explain. \u201cThe problem for Mr. Chavez is that, for almost a decade, Latin American \u2018democrats\u2019 (i.e. Colombia\u2019s fascist and US vassal leader Alvaro Uribe) have been accusing Venezuela of violating the sovereignty of its neighbors by supporting the radical left with money and weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n With no proof whatever, she means the FARC-EP (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and wrote about it in her March 10 column titled \u201cThe FARC Files.\u201d In it, she accused Chavez, Ecuador\u2019s Correa, Bolivia\u2019s Morales, and Nicaragua\u2019s Ortega of being \u201cfour best friends of terrorists.\u201d Citing bogus laptop documents \u201cshow(ing) that Mr. Chavez (& Co.) and (the FARC-EP are) not only ideological comrades, but also business partners and political allies in the effort to wrest power from Mr. Uribe.\u201d She listed a menu of charges that were bogus on their face, then later exposed and dropped for lack of evidence.<\/p>\n Of course, they were preposterous in the first place, but were resurrected in September by the US Treasury Department\u2019s Office of Foreign Control (OFAC) in designating one former and two current high-ranking Venezuelan officials as FARC-EP collaborators. Accused are Hugo Carvajal, head of the Military Intelligence Directorate and Henry de Jesus Rangel Silva in charge of the Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services (DISIP).<\/p>\n These charges came after Chavez expelled the US ambassador in solidarity with Bolivia\u2019s Evo Morales. A day earlier, he dispatched the US envoy for instigating violent anti-government protests.<\/p>\n What\u2019s happening relates to Colombia\u2019s early 2008 Ecuadorean incursion. An illegal cross-border raid with the help of US Special Forces. They attacked and slaughtered 20 or more people while they slept, including 16 FARC-EP members \u2013 one being its second in command, Raul Reyes. Reyes was its public voice, key peace negotiator since the 1990s, and lead figure in the Chavez-arranged releases of hostages they held. A humanitarian effort he was vilified for with the usual kinds of political charges often made against him.<\/p>\n Noted Latin American expert James Petras calls the FARC-EP the \u201clongest standing, largest peasant-based guerrilla movement in the world (that was) founded in 1964 by two dozen peasant activists (to defend) autonomous rural communities from\u201d Colombian military and paramilitary violence. It\u2019s a \u201chighly organized 20,000 member guerrilla army with several hundred thousand local militia and supporters\u2026.\u201d It now numbers about 10,000 – 15,000 \u201cdistributed throughout the country\u201d and still a force to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n When its leader, Manuel Marulanda, died in March, Petras paid homage to him in a powerfully moving article. He explained that for over \u201c60 years he organized peasant movements, rural communities and, when all legal democratic channels were effectively (and brutally) closed, he built the most powerful sustained guerrilla army and supporting underground militias in Latin America.\u201d Besides its fighters, it included (and still largely does) \u201cseveral hundred thousand peasant-activists, (and) hundreds of village and urban militia units\u201d united against the most brutally repressive Latin American government (regardless of who leads it) and his vast supportive entourage.<\/p>\n Marulanda \u201cdefied them all \u2013 those in their mansions, presidential palaces, military bases, torture chambers, and bourgeois editorial offices.\u201d These brave fighters nonetheless persist. The same ones O\u2019Grady attacks and the Venezuelan leader as equally committed to justice and freedom as they are.<\/p>\n She takes full advantage of Duran\u2019s conviction for supposedly conspiring to conceal the \u201corigin and destination\u201d of a suitcase filled with $800,000 and for acting as an \u201cunregistered agent\u201d for his country on US soil. Prosecutors claimed it was for Argentina President, Christina Kirchner\u2019s successful campaign last year. A charge both presidents deny. Venezuela\u2019s foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro, as well (earlier in the year) calling the case \u201cabsolutely rigged (and that) the person who said he is an agent of our government lied.\u201d<\/p>\n As a Miami trial approached, Maduro questioned the impartiality of the venue, saying: \u201cThose who appoint the public prosecutors and judges in Florida are those who run the mafia, linked to people of Cuban origin who are totally opposed to the sovereign process in our country\u201d and, of course, are committed to removing Castro and his brother.<\/p>\n Today, \u201cSuitcasegate\u201d is front-page news in Venezuela and Argentina. In America as well at times and in O\u2019Grady\u2019s November 10 commentary.<\/p>\n In December 2007, Duran and three businessmen came to Miami. Their purpose: to advise their business partner, Guido Antonini, a Venezuelan-American businessman who was caught with the money months earlier in a Buenos Aires airport. At the time, Argentine judge Marta Novatti ordered his arrest, but he evaded authorities and returned to Miami where he lives in its wealthy Key Biscayne suburb. Argentina twice requested his extradition on charges of money laundering, but US authorities refused and instead used him to advantage.<\/p>\n Antonini wasn\u2019t charged. In return, he allowed the FBI to wire him to record conversations with Duran and the others. At trial, he was the star witness after proceedings were at first delayed. All four defendants originally pleaded not guilty. Then, after threats and bribes, three agreed to plea bargains, including Venoco\u2019s co-owner, Carlos Kauffman, who testified against Duran at trial.<\/p>\n Edward Shohat represented him. He denounced it as a \u201cpolitical circus\u201d and said he plans to appeal because the FBI entrapped Duran, the charges are false, and the whole scheme is an attack against America\u2019s ideological Latin American enemies, especially Chavez.<\/p>\n Early in the trial, Shohat filed a motion to dismiss and was rejected. He argued that the law Duran supposedly broke is unconstitutional because it\u2019s vague as to what type behavior is illegal so its use is solely for political purposes.<\/p>\n He referred to 18 USC, 951 – \u201cAgents of foreign governments.\u201d It states:<\/p>\n the term \u2018agent of a foreign government\u2019 means an individual who agrees to operate within the United States subject to the direction or control of a foreign government or official, except that such term does not include \u2014<\/p>\n (1) a duly accredited diplomatic or consular officer\u2026.;<\/p>\n (2) any officially and publicly acknowledged and sponsored official or representative of a foreign government;<\/p>\n (3) any officially and publicly acknowledged and sponsored member of the staff (thereof – from paragraphs 1 and 2); or<\/p>\n (4) any person engaged in a legal commercial transaction – except if \u201csuch person agrees to operate within the United States subject to the direction or control of a foreign government or official.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Most often, this law only applies to enemy spies in wartime or against agents committing espionage. In other words, individuals engaged in activities violating the nation\u2019s security. Against Duran, it involved a mysterious cash-filled suitcase having nothing to do with security or any connection to Chavez and his government. Antonini and Kauffman testified otherwise. That Venezuela\u2019s state oil company, PDVSA, supplied it, and Chavez directed the operation and cover-up from his office. Of course, it\u2019s their word with no proof.<\/p>\n On tape, Duran and his co-defendants said Chavez and Kirchner promised Antonini protection if he was charged in an Argentine court. At trial, Duran said that he lied to convince Antonini to be tried in Argentina if it came to that. For its part, Argentina accused Antonini of working for the CIA. It\u2019s quite possible given his known links to Chavez opposition groups. He worked for Venoco from 2000-2002 when its then owner, Isaac Perez Recao, was involved in the April 2002 (two-day aborted) coup. Venezuela\u2019s 48-hour president, Pedro Carmona, also headed Venoco at the time. The connection between him, Recao, and Antonini seems more than coincidental.<\/p>\n Duran\u2019s defense learned more about Antonini as well. That the FBI paid him $30,000 and, through a letter, he asked Chavez for $2 million to stay silent about the affair. It also came out that the FBI tried to bribe an Argentine customs officer to testify falsely for the prosecution. The usual type FBI shenanigans seen often in other show trials. Against innocent targets of political persecution. Most often Muslim victims of the \u201cwar on terrorism.\u201d A topic this writer frequently revisits and discusses on-air.<\/p>\n In her commentary, O\u2019Grady continued her attack and accused Chavez of directing his \u201cintelligence chief to find a way to shut up (his) bagman (Antonini).\u201d She claims Duran and Kauffman \u201cwere sent to Florida to warn Mr. Antonini to remain silent\u2026. The exposure of this thuggish behavior of the Venezuelan government is embarrassing enough.\u201d What\u2019s worse, she claims, is that there was another $4.2 million with Antonini on the same plane \u201cand that there had been other operations to smuggle cash into Argentina for political purposes. Another \u201c$100 million to spend on Bolivia\u201d as well.<\/p>\n Not a shred of evidence for proof, and she forgets about the open-ended millions Washington directs to CIA, the National Endowment for Democracy, International Republican Institute, USAID and other US agencies for political mischief, including coups against democratically elected leaders. Funds also to opposition groups and candidates in Venezuela, Bolivia, and wherever else less than fully US-supportive governments exist, either democratic or despotic.<\/p>\n In contrast, Chavez supplies low-cost oil to his neighbors and to US cities that accept it. He also engages other nations cooperatively as opposed to Washington\u2019s global predation. He seeks unity, promotes world solidarity, and practices the kind of democracy Americans can\u2019t even imagine.<\/p>\n He champions human rights. Has no secret prisons. Doesn\u2019t invade his neighbors or practice torture. He\u2019s a true social democrat and the reason Venezuelans overwhelmingly support him in elections independent monitors judge free, open and fair.<\/p>\n But O\u2019Grady keeps hammering with accusations that \u201cthe Venezuelan ambassador (to Bolivia) travels the country handing out checks to mayors who support President Evo Morales.\u201d In Colombia also for \u201cpro-Chavez Senator Piedad Cordoba recently (with) a PDVSA subsidiary (donation of) $135,000.\u201d Nicaragua as well \u201cwhere the old Sandinista Daniel Ortega is now president (and Chavez) is supplying 60 – 70% (of his crude) through a program that allows Mr. Ortega to pay only half the bill\u2026.Nicaragua\u2019s state oil company Petro-Nic sells the oil to private companies and collects the full value.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Grady\u2019s says one-fourth of this revenue goes for \u201cgiving away goodies like kitchens and houses ahead of yesterday\u2019s municipal elections (to buy votes she implies),\u201d and much of the rest is for an Orgega \u201cslush fund government critics say.\u201d Something similar is going on in El Salvador, she claims and continues:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Duran case has blown the lid off Mr. Chavez\u2019s covert Argentine activities. But his imperialist ambitions go far beyond that country (and) he may get away with it.\u201d If she means spreading Bolivarianism, let\u2019s hope so and that its spirit takes root in America. What country is more in need at a time its leaders plan even greater world domination with hardened repression for enforcement.<\/p>\n Through a secret new scheme now revealed. To unleash IMF orthodoxy globally – \u201causterity, sacrifice, deregulation, privatization, union busting, wage reductions, free trade, the race to the bottom, prohibitions on advanced technologies,\u201d and to crush the human spirit along with it.<\/p>\n To make Venezuela and all countries banana republics. Its workers serfs. Its industry destroyed to empower corporate giants. Mostly American ones. To suck global wealth to the top. To render freedom, democracy and Bolivarianism dead letters. To use agents like O\u2019Grady to support this \u201cbest of all possible worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n Those in the know must expose her. Back leaders like Chavez for the type world all humanity wants. It\u2019s there for the taking but won\u2019t ever come down from the top. A message all readers should consider. At a perilous time in our history staring down the likelihood of the greatest ever world economic crisis with imperialists in Washington planning to milk it to maximum advantage. It\u2019s for freedom loving people everywhere to stop them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Stephen Lendman | Since taking office in February 1999, America\u2019s dominant media have relentlessly attacked Chavez because of the good example he represents and threat it might spread in spite of scant chance it will in today\u2019s climate. Yet some of his fiercest critics maintain pressure and show up often on the Wall Street […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[56],"class_list":{"0":"post-4867","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-politics","7":"tag-stephen-lendman"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4867\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}