Obama, Is Preparing for War in
South America
Mike Whitney interviews Eva Golinger
www.informationclearinghouse.info/,
December 18, 2009
Mike Whitney
The US media is very critical of Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez. He's frequently denounced as "anti-American",
a "leftist strongman", and a dictator. Can you briefly
summarize some of the positive social, economic and judicial changes
for which Chavez is mainly responsible?
Eva Golinger
The first and foremost important achievement
during the Chávez administration is the 1999 Constitution,
which, although not written nor decreed by Chávez himself,
was created through his vision of change for Venezuela. The 1999
Constitution was, in fact, drafted - written - by the people of
Venezuela in one of the most participatory examples of nation
building, and then was ratified through popular national referendum
by 75% of Venezuelans. The 1999 Constitution is one of the most
advanced in the world in the area of human rights. It guarantees
the rights to housing, education, healthcare, food, indigenous
lands, languages, women's rights, worker's rights, living wages
and a whole host of other rights that few other countries recognize
on a national level. My favorite right in the Venezuelan Constitution
is the right to a dignified life. That pretty much sums up all
the others. Laws to implement these rights began to surface in
2001, with land reform, oil industry redistribution, tax laws
and the creation of more than a dozen social programs - called
missions - dedicated to addressing the basic needs of Venezuela's
poor majority. In 2003, the first missions were directed at education
and healthcare. Within two years, illiteracy was eradicated in
the country and Venezuela was certified by UNESCO as a nation
free of illiteracy. This was done with the help of a successful
Cuban literacy program called "Yo si puedo" (Yes I can).
Further educational missions were created to provide free universal
education from primary to doctoral levels throughout the country.
Today, Venezuela's population is much more educated than before,
and adults who previously had no high school education now are
encouraged to not only go through a secondary school program,
but also university and graduate school.
The healthcare program, called "Barrio
Adentro", has not only provided preventive healthcare to
all Venezuelans - many who never had access to a doctor before
- but also has guaranteed universal, free access to medical attention
at the most advanced levels. MRIs, heart surgery, lab work, cancer
treatments, are all provided free of cost to anyone (including
foreigners) in need. Some of the most modern clinics, diagnostic
treatment centers and hospitals have been built in the past five
years under this program, placing Venezuela at the forefront of
medical technology.
Other programs providing subsidized food
and consumer products (Mercal, Pdval), job training (Mission Vuelvan
Caras), subsidies to poor, single mothers (Madres del Barrio),
attention to indigents and drug addicts (Mission Negra Hipolita)
have reduced extreme poverty by 50% and raised Venezuelans standard
of living and quality of life. While nothing is perfect, these
changes are extraordinary and have transformed Venezuela into
a nation far different from what it looked like 10 years ago.
In fact, the most important achievement that Hugo Chávez
himself is directly responsible for is the level of participation
in the political process. Today, millions of Venezuelans previously
invisible and excluded are visible and included. Those who were
always marginalized and ignored in Venezuela by prior governments
today have a voice, are seen and heard, and are actively participating
in the building of a new economic, political and social model
in their country.
Mike Whitney
On Monday, President Chavez threw a Venezuelan
judge in jail on charges of abuse of power for freeing a high-profile
banker. Do you think he overstepped his authority as executive
or violated the principle of separation of powers? What does this
say about Chavez's resolve to fight corruption?
Eva Golinger
President Chávez did not put anyone
in jail. Venezuela has an Attorney General and an independent
branch of government in charge of public prosecutions. Chávez
did publicly accuse the judge of corruption and violating the
law because that judge overstepped her authority by releasing
an individual charged with corruption and other criminal acts
from detention, despite the fact that a previous court had not
granted conditional freedom or bail to the suspect. And, the judge
released the suspect in a very irregular way, without the presence
of the prosecutor, and through a back door. The suspect then fled
the country.
This is part of Venezuela's fight against
corruption. Unfortunately - as in a lot of countries - corruption
is deeply rooted in the culture. The struggle to eradicate corruption
is probably the most difficult of all and will probably not be
achieved until new generations have grown up with different values
and education. In the meantime, the Chávez administration
is trying hard to ensure that corrupt public officials pay the
consequences. That judge, for example, engaged in an act of corruption
and abuse of authority by illegally releasing a suspect and therefore
was charged by the Public Prosecutor's office and will be tried.
It has nothing to do with what Chávez said or didn't say,
it has to do with enforcing the law.
Mike Whitney
Why is the United States building military
bases in Colombia? Do they pose a threat to Chavez or the Bolivarian
Revolution?
Eva Golinger
On October 30th, the US formally entered
into an agreement with the Colombian government to allow US access
to seven military bases in Colombia and unlimited use of Colombian
territory for military operations. The agreement itself is purported
to be directed at counter-narcotics operations and counter-terrorism.
But a US Air Force document released earlier this year discussing
the need for a stronger US military presence in Colombia revealed
the true intentions behind the military agreement. The document
stated that the US military presence was necessary to combat the
"constant threat from anti-US governments in the region".
Clearly, that is a reference to Venezuela, and probably Bolivia,
maybe Ecuador. It's no secret that Washington considers the Venezuelan
government anti-US, though it's not true. Venezuela is anti-imperialist,
but not anti-US. The US Air Force document also stated that the
Colombian bases would be used to engage in "full spectrum
military operations" throughout South America, and even talked
about surveillance, intelligence and reconnaisance missions, and
improving the capacity of US forces to execute "expeditionary
warfare" in Latin America.
Clearly, this is a threat to the peoples
of Latin America and particularly those nations targeted, such
as Venezuela. Most people in the US don't know about this military
agreement, but it they did, they should question why their government,
led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama, is preparing for
war in South America. And, in the midst of an economic crisis
with millions of people in the US losing jobs and homes, why are
millions of dollars being spent on military bases in Colombia?
The US Congress already approved $46 million for one of the bases
in Colombia. And surely more funds will be supplied in the future.
Mike Whitney
What is ALBA? Is it a viable alternative
to the "free trade" blocs promoted by the US?
Eva Golinger
The Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas
- Trade Agreement for the People, is a regional agreement created
five years ago between Venezuela and Cuba, and now has 9 members:
Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Antigua
and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica. ALBA
is a trade agreement based on integration, cooperation and solidarity,
contrary to US trade agreements which are based on competition
and exploitation. It promotes a way of trading between nations
that assures mutual benefits. For example, Venezuela sells oil
to Cuba and Cuba pays with services - doctors, educators and technological
experts that help to improve Venezuela's industries. Venezuela
sells oil to Nicaragua and Nicaragua pays with food products,
agricultural technology and aide to build Venezuela's own agricultural
industry, which long ago was abandoned by prior governments only
interested in the rich oil industry. ALBA seeks to not just provide
economic benefits to its member nations, but also social and cultural
advances. The idea is to find ways to help members develop and
progress in all aspects of society. ALBA recently created a new
currency, the SUCRE, which will be used as a form of exchange
between member nations, eliminating the US dollar as the standard
for trade.
Mike Whitney
Are US NGO's and intelligence agents still
trying to foment political instability in Venezuela or have those
operations ceased since the failed coup?
Eva Golinger
In fact, the funding of political groups
in Venezuela, and others throughout Latin America that promote
US agenda, has increased since the April 2002 coup against President
Chávez. Through two principal Department of State agencies,
USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the US government
has channeled more than $50 million to opposition groups in Venezuela
since 2002. The USAID/NED budget to fund groups in Venezuela in
2010 is nearly $15 million, doubled from last year's $7 million.
This is a state policy of Washington, which the Obama Administration
plans to amp up. They call it "democracy promotion",
but it's really democracy subversion and destabilization. Funding
political groups favorable to Empire, equipping them with resources,
strategizing to help formulate political platforms and campaigns
- all geared towards regime change - is a new form of invasion,
a silent invasion. Through USAID and NED, and their "partner
NGOs" and contractors, such as Freedom House, International
Republican Institute, National Democratic Institute, Pan-American
Development Foundation and Development Alternatives, Inc., hundreds
of political groups, parties and programs are presently being
funded in Venezuela to promote regime change against the Chávez
government. US taxpayer dollars are being squandered on these
efforts to overthrow a democratically elected government that
simply isn't convenient for Washington. Remember, Venezuela has
24% of world oil reserves. That's a lot!
Mike Whitney
How hard has Venezuela been hit by the
economic crisis? Do the people understand Wall Street's role in
the meltdown?
Eva Golinger
Actually, the Chávez government
has taken important steps to shelter Venezuela from the financial
crisis. People here in Venezuela absolutely understand Wall Street's
role in the crisis and know that the US capitalist-consumerist
system is principally responsible for causing the financial crisis,
but also the climate crisis that the world is facing. The Venezuelan
government took preventive steps against the financial crisis,
such as withdrawing Venezuela's reserves from US banks two years
ago, creating cushion funds to ensure social programs would not
be cut and diversifying Venezuela's oil clientele so as not to
be dependent solely on US clients. Recently, several banks have
been nationalized by the Venezuelan government and others have
been liquidated. But this was more due to the mismanagement and
internal corruption within those banks. The Venezuelan government
reacted quickly to take over the banks and guarantee customers'
savings would not be lost. In fact, it's the first time in Venezuela's
history that no customers have lost any of their money during
a bank liquidation or takeover. This is part of the Chávez
Administration's policy of prioritizing social needs over economic
gain.
Mike Whitney
Here's an excerpt from a special weekend
report by Bloomberg News:
"Americans have grown gloomier about
both the economy and the nation's direction over the past three
months even as the U.S. shows signs of moving from recession to
recovery. Almost half the people now feel less financially secure
than when President Barack Obama took office in January...Fewer
than 1 in 3 Americans think the economy will improve in the next
six months....Only 32 percent of poll respondents believe the
country is headed in the right direction, down from 40 percent
who said so in September." (Bloomberg)
The frustration and disillusionment with
the US political/economic system has never been greater in my
lifetime. Do you think people in the United States are ready for
their own Bolivarian Revolution and steps towards a more progressive,
socialistic model of government?
Eva Golinger
The rise of Barack Obama neutralized a
growing sentiment for profound change inside the US. Hopefully,
the slowdown in US activism will only be temporary. South of the
border, there is tremendous change taking place. New social, political
and economic models are being built by popular grassroots movements
in Venezuela, Bolivia and other Latin American nations that seek
economic and social justice. I believe strongly that models in
process, like the Bolivarian Revolution, provide inspiration and
hope to those in the US and around the world that alternatives
to US capitalism do exist and can be successful.
The US has a rich history of revolution.
There are many groups inside the US dedicated to building a better,
more humanist system. Unity and a collective vision are essential
aspects of building a strong movement capable of moving forward.
Every nation has its moment in history. This is the time of Latin
America. But there is great hope that the people of the US will
soon unite with their brothers and sisters south of the border
to bring down Empire and help build a true world community based
on social and economic justice for all.
Eva Golinger, winner of the International
Award for Journalism in Mexico (2009), named "La Novia de
Venezuela" by President Hugo Chávez, is a Venezuelan-American
attorney from New York, living in Caracas, Venezuela since 2005
and author of the best-selling books, "The Chávez
Code: Cracking US Intervention in Venezuela" (2006 Olive
Branch Press), "Bush vs. Chávez: Washington's War
on Venezuela" (2007, Monthly Review Press), "The Empire's
Web: Encyclopedia of Interventionism and Subversion", "La
Mirada del Imperio sobre el 4F: Los Documentos Desclasificados
de Washington sobre la rebelión militar del 4 de febrero
de 1992" and "La Agresión Permanente: USAID,
NED y CIA". Since 2003, Eva, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence
College and CUNY Law School in New York, has been investigating,
analyzing and writing about US intervention in Venezuela using
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain information about
the US Government's efforts to destabilize progressive movements
in Latin America. Her first book, The Chávez Code, has
been translated and published in six languages (English, Spanish,
French, German, Italian & Russian) and is presently being
made into a feature film
Eva
Golinger page
South America page
Venezuela
page
Home Page