Daily Archives: April 2, 2020

2020-04-02: News Headlines

WSWS (2020-04-02). Amid growing anger over criminal response to COVID-19 crisis, Washington threatens war. wsws.org Trump issued threats against Iran and Venezuela yesterday, both weaponizing the pandemic and desperately seeking to divert mounting social tensions in the US itself.

sputniknews (2020-04-02). West Trying to Take Advantage of Venezuela's Coronavirus Woes to Topple Gov't – Moscow. sputniknews.com On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that an interim government should be established in Venezuela, accepted by both Caracas and the opposition, to serve until the next presidential and legislative elections.

W. T. Whitney Jr. (2020-04-01). Cuba, Venezuela, Iran: U.S. imperialism wants to let them die. peoplesworld.org Carlos Fernández de Cossío, head of the U.S. desk at Cuba's Foreign Ministry, recently accused the U.S. government of "terrible moral decadence." He was reacting to U.S. threats against nations confronting the COVID-19 pandemic and assisted by Cuba. He was also criticizing poor pre-epidemic preparations in the United States. His critique strayed from Cuba's usual …

news.un (2020-04-01). 'Working round the clock' to aid Venezuelan refugees and migrants during COVID-19 pandemic: UN agencies. news.un.org Two United Nations agencies came together Tuesday to urge the international community not to overlook the on-going plight of millions of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world.

Aaron Maté (2020-04-01). Pompeo's 'transition' plan tells Venezuela to suffer into submission. thegrayzone.com Declaring that "Nicolas Maduro will never again govern Venezuela," Mike Pompeo unveils a so-called "transition" plan that tells Venezuelans to…

Alan Macleod (2020-04-01). Coronavirus Aid for Regime Change: Washington's 13 Point Plan for Venezuela. mintpressnews.com The State Department

teleSUR (2020-04-01). Duque to Only Accept Donation From Venezuela Through PAHO. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, announced the donation of medical equipment to Colombia, to stop COVID-19 from spreading in the South American nation and regionally. The declarations were part of Maduro's meeting with the Council of State, held at the Miraflores Palace. | RELATED: Colombia: Despite Nicolas Maduro's efforts to move aside political differences, Colombian President Ivan Duque declined the donation. Duque does…

teleSUR (2020-04-01). Brazil Confirms First COVID-19 Case in Isolated Tribe. telesurenglish.net An indigenous woman in a village deep in the Amazon rainforest has contracted the novel coronavirus, the first case reported among Brazil's more than 300 tribes, the Health Ministry's Indigenous health service (SESAI) said Wednesday. | RELATED: | The 20-year-old woman from the Kokama tribe tested positive for the virus in the district of Santo Antonio do Iàßá, near the border with Colombia some 880 km (550 mi…

teleSUR (2020-04-01). FARC Party Denounces Murder of Another Ex-Combatant in Colombia. telesurenglish.net The Colombian Alternative Revolutionary Force of the Common's party (FARC) denounced Wednesday the murder of the former 57th Front combatant, Jose Isidoro Cuesta, in the rural area of Carmen del Darien, belonging to the Choco department, northwest Colombia. | RELATED: | The incident occurred last Sunday and the political organization called on Ivan Duque's government not to be indifferent, claiming that the enemie…

teleSUR (2020-04-01). Venezuela Denounces Aggression Against Coast Guard Ship. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's RELATED: | "Our ship ordered the Resolute to go to…

teleSUR (2020-04-01). Venezuela Rejects US Attempts to Send Navy Ships Near Its Coast. telesurenglish.net Donald Trump announced this Wednesday afternoon that he would launch anti-drug operations in the Venezuelan Caribbean and other seas in the western hemisphere in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, as part of the National Security plan. | RELATED: | Trump's announcement occurred at the White House daily press conference on COVID-19, which has left much of the country's population confined to their homes. According to estimat…

Farooque Chowdhury (2020-04-01). Coronademic: Venezuela's drives obstructed. dissidentvoice.org The entire human world is fighting to defeat a demon today. It's coronademic — coronavirus pandemic. The fight demands a globally concerted, unified effort. Venezuela should not be left lurching in the pandemic-wilderness even if one of its original sins is resisting imperialism. But, the Bolivarian Republic is being obstructed in its fight against the …

RT (2020-03-31). Coup plan B! US tells Guaido he may renounce his Venezuela 'presidency' claim — but they'll still support him. rt.com The US State Department magnanimously agreed that opposition politician Juan Guaido may not actually be president of Venezuela, but insisted he still has to be part of a transition government if Caracas wants sanctions relief. | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo put forth a "democratic transition framework" on Tuesday, under which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro would set up a power-sharing interim government with Guaido, that would arrange for elections in six months to a year. | According to Pompeo, the proposal "protects the interests and equities of all Venezuelan people who desperately seek a resolution…

Leonardo Flores (2020-03-31). Trump's narcoterrorism indictment of Maduro already backfires. mronline.org Among those indicted by the U.S. was Cliver Alcalá, a retired general who is considered the military leader of the pro-Juan Guaidó forces. Soon, Alcalá posted videos that threaten to cause further splits in the opposition and could result in the arrest of Guaidó.

Ben Norton (2020-03-31). Brazil's ex-President Lula on Venezuela: Maduro is democratic, Guaidó should be in prison, US blockade kills civilians. thegrayzone.com In comments ignored by English-language media, Lula da Silva slammed the US coup attempt against Venezuela, calling Nicolás Maduro a…

Ben Norton (2020-03-31). Southcom boosts US military presence in Latin America, citing China, Russia 'threats'. thegrayzone.com Southern Command is ramping up the US military presence in Latin America to counter China, Russia, and Venezuela, after signing…

John Nichols (2020-03-31). On the Need for Dissent and Debate in These Urgent Times. thenation.com On the Need for Dissent and Debate in These Urgent Times…

Roger D. Harris (2020-03-30). Beyond Chutzpah: the Hypocrisy of US Nacroterrorism Charges Against Venezuela. mintpressnews.com This latest escalation of the US hybrid war against Venezuela takes place amid a global pandemic, which the US apparently sees as an opportunity to further attack a people made more vulnerable by the health crisis.

Alan Macleod (2020-03-30). IMF Conditions Emergency COVID-19 Loan to Venezuela on Regime Change. mintpressnews.com Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) blocked a request from Venezuela for an emergency loan to deal with the COVID—19 pandemic on the grounds that President Nicolas Maduro "lacked recognition." "IMF engagement with member countries is predicated on official government recognition by the international community, as reflected in the IMF's membership. There is no clarity on recognition at this time," a spokesperson for the international banking organization

Fight Back (2020-03-29). U.S. Imperialism Pulls Desperate Move in Venezuela. fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). | For years, the criminal government of the United States has attempted to remove the democratically elected president of Venezuela and discredit the peoples' movement in that country that has been so successful in lifting millions of Venezuelans out of extreme poverty. Under the corrupt Trump administration alone, the United States has conducted multiple illegal attacks against President Nicolas Maduro and the people of Venezuela, including: failed assassination attempts by drone, poorly orchestrated mi…

Roger D. Harris (2020-03-29). Beyond Chutzpah: US Charges Venezuela with Nacro-Terrorism. dissidentvoice.org According to the parable, the ungrateful son takes out a life insurance policy on his parents, murders them to collect, and is caught and found guilty. At his sentencing, the judge asks if he has anything to say on his behalf. The son replies: "Have mercy upon me because I am an orphan." That's chutzpah. …

Joe Parkin Daniels (2020-03-28). [World Report] Venezuelan migrants "struggling to survive" amid COVID-19. thelancet.com Humanitarian organisations are concerned that border closures and health-care shortages are amplifying the challenges posed by COVID-19. Joe Parkin Daniels reports from Bogotá.

Susan Jaffe (2020-03-28). [World Report] Leadership changes at USAID. thelancet.com Mark Green, the respected head of the US Agency for International Development, has resigned. Susan Jaffe reports from Washington.

Andrew Green (2020-03-28). [Obituary] Aron Goldhirsch. thelancet.com Medical oncologist specialising in breast cancer. Born on April 25, 1946, in Landsberg am Lech, Germany, he died on Feb 26, 2020, in Lugano, Switzerland, aged 73 years.

Leonardo Flores (2020-03-27). Trump admin's $15 million bounty on Maduro triggers explosive confession of violent Guaidó plot. thegrayzone.com The Trump administration's deception-laden indictment of President Nicolas Maduro and members of his inner circle has badly backfired, resulting in…

Joe Emersberger (2020-03-13). No, Venezuela does not have a six child per family policy. zcomm.org I respect UK journalist Andrew Buncombe. As I noted for FAIR last year, he was one of the few corporate journalists who reported on a study linking Trump's financial sanctions on Venezuela to thousands of deaths by the end of 2018. Since 2018, Trump has repeatedly intensified the sanctions and threatened Venezuela with military action,

Venezuela Analysis (2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.

2020-04-02: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Amid growing anger over criminal response to COVID-19 crisis, Washington threatens war
wsws.org | 2020-04-02
Trump issued threats against Iran and Venezuela yesterday, both weaponizing the pandemic and desperately seeking to divert mounting social tensions in the US itself.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/02/pers-a02.html

West Trying to Take Advantage of Venezuela's Coronavirus Woes to Topple Gov't – Moscow
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-02
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that an interim government should be established in Venezuela, accepted by both Caracas and the opposition, to serve until the next presidential and legislative elections.
sputniknews.com/world/202004021078805007-west-trying-to-take-advantage-of-venezuelas-coronavirus-woes-to-topple-govt—moscow/

'Working round the clock' to aid Venezuelan refugees and migrants during COVID-19 pandemic: UN agencies
news.un.org | 2020-04-01
Two United Nations agencies came together Tuesday to urge the international community not to overlook the on-going plight of millions of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/04/1060862

Pompeo's 'transition' plan tells Venezuela to suffer into submission
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-04-01
Declaring that "Nicolas Maduro will never again govern Venezuela," Mike Pompeo unveils a so-called "transition" plan that tells Venezuelans to…
thegrayzone.com/2020/04/01/pompeos-transition-plan-tells-venezuela-to-suffer-into-submission/

Coronavirus Aid for Regime Change: Washington's 13 Point Plan for Venezuela
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-04-01
The State Department released what it called its "democratic transition framework for Venezuela" yesterday; a 13-point plan for the removal of Nicolas Maduro and a radical overhaul of the country's political system. The principal and most fundamental change Washington proposes is to "restore all powers to the National Assembly," the one branch of government the right-wing pro-U.S. opposition coalition currently holds. This would place the entire country under the…
mintpressnews.com/coronavirus-aid-washington-gives-venezuela-ultimatum/266298/

Duque to Only Accept Donation From Venezuela Through PAHO
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-01
Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, announced the donation of medical equipment to Colombia, to stop COVID-19 from spreading in the South American nation and regionally. The declarations were part of Maduro's meeting with the Council of State, held at the Miraflores Palace. | RELATED: Colombia: Violence Against Social Leaders Continues | Despite Nicolas Maduro's efforts to move aside political differences, Colombian President Ivan Duque declined the donation. Duque does…
telesurenglish.net/news/duque-to-accept-donation-from-venezuela-through-paho-20200401-0010.html

Coronademic: Venezuela's drives obstructed
Farooque Chowdhury | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-04-01
The entire human world is fighting to defeat a demon today. It's coronademic

Venezuela Rejects US Attempts to Send Navy Ships Near Its Coast
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-01
Donald Trump announced this Wednesday afternoon that he would launch anti-drug operations in the Venezuelan Caribbean and other seas in the western hemisphere in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, as part of the National Security plan. | RELATED: | Duque to Only Accept Donation From Venezuela Through PAHO | Trump's announcement occurred at the White House daily press conference on COVID-19, which has left much of the country's population confined to their homes. According to estimat…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Rejects-US-Attempts-to-Send-Navy-Ships-Near-Its-Coast-20200401-0017.html

Venezuela Denounces Aggression Against Coast Guard Ship
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-01
Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez Tuesday rejected the attack carried out by the Resolute, a Portuguese-flagged passenger ship, against the Venezuelan coast guard ship Naiguata, which was patrolling northeast of Tortuga Island on Monday. | RELATED: | Venezuela Rejects the Trump Administration's Transition Plan | "Our ship ordered the Resolute to go to…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Denounces-Aggression-Against-Coast-Guard-Ship-20200401-0003.html

Trudeau Recalls Congress for Emergency Aid Against COVID-19
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-01
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that he is recalling the Canadian parliament again for expanded emergency aid as his country is facing the greatest economic and health challenge since the Second World War due to the COVID-19 crisis. | RELATED: | Canada Must Rescind Sanctions Against Venezuela | Trudeau told his daily press conference that recalling the parliament is part of a "Team Canada" effort to combat the COVID-19 spread that has shut down huge sections of the ec…
telesurenglish.net/news/Trudeau-Recalls-Congress-for-Emergency-Aid-Against-COVID-19-20200401-0014.html

Cuba, Venezuela, Iran: U.S. imperialism wants to let them die
W. T. Whitney Jr. | peoplesworld.org | 2020-04-01
Carlos Fernández de Cossío, head of the U.S. desk at Cuba's Foreign Ministry, recently accused the U.S. government of "terrible moral decadence." He was reacting to U.S. threats against nations confronting the COVID-19 pandemic and assisted by Cuba. He was also criticizing poor pre-epidemic preparations in the United States. His critique strayed from Cuba's usual …
peoplesworld.org/article/cuba-venezuela-iran-u-s-imperialism-wants-to-let-them-die/

FARC Party Denounces Murder of Another Ex-Combatant in Colombia
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-01
The Colombian Alternative Revolutionary Force of the Common's party (FARC) denounced Wednesday the murder of the former 57th Front combatant, Jose Isidoro Cuesta, in the rural area of Carmen del Darien, belonging to the Choco department, northwest Colombia. | RELATED: | Pot-Banging in Colombia Against Government's Political Genocide | The incident occurred last Sunday and the political organization called on Ivan Duque's government not to be indifferent, claiming that the enemie…
telesurenglish.net/news/FARC-Denounces-Murder-of-Another-Ex-Combatant-in-Colombia-20200401-0020.html

Brazil Confirms First COVID-19 Case in Isolated Tribe
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-01
An indigenous woman in a village deep in the Amazon rainforest has contracted the novel coronavirus, the first case reported among Brazil's more than 300 tribes, the Health Ministry's Indigenous health service (SESAI) said Wednesday. | RELATED: | Brazil: 'Covid-19 Can Decimate Indigenous Peoples' Doctor Warns | The 20-year-old woman from the Kokama tribe tested positive for the virus in the district of Santo Antonio do Iàßá, near the border with Colombia some 880 km (550 mi…
telesurenglish.net/news/Brazil-Confirms-First-Indigenous-COVID-19-Case-in-Isolated-Tribe-20200401-0016.html

Southcom boosts US military presence in Latin America, citing China, Russia 'threats'
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-31
Southern Command is ramping up the US military presence in Latin America to counter China, Russia, and Venezuela, after signing…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/30/southcom-latin-america-china-russia-threats-brazil/

Brazil's ex-President Lula on Venezuela: Maduro is democratic, Guaidó should be in prison, US blockade kills civilians
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-31
In comments ignored by English-language media, Lula da Silva slammed the US coup attempt against Venezuela, calling Nicolás Maduro a…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/30/brazil-lula-maduro-guaido-us-blockade/

Trump's narcoterrorism indictment of Maduro already backfires
Leonardo Flores | mronline.org | 2020-03-31
Among those indicted by the U.S. was Cliver Alcalá, a retired general who is considered the military leader of the pro-Juan Guaidó forces. Soon, Alcalá posted videos that threaten to cause further splits in the opposition and could result in the arrest of Guaidó.
mronline.org/2020/03/31/trumps-narcoterrorism-indictment-of-maduro-already-backfires/

On the Need for Dissent and Debate in These Urgent Times
John Nichols | thenation.com | 2020-03-31
On the Need for Dissent and Debate in These Urgent Times…
thenation.com/article/politics/dissent-debate-massie-aoc/

IMF Conditions Emergency COVID-19 Loan to Venezuela on Regime Change
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-30
Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) blocked a request from Venezuela for an emergency loan to deal with the COVID–19 pandemic on the grounds that President Nicolas Maduro "lacked recognition." "IMF engagement with member countries is predicated on official government recognition by the international community, as reflected in the IMF's membership. There is no clarity on recognition at this time," a spokesperson for the international banking organization said. In…
mintpressnews.com/imf-conditions-emergency-coronavirus-loan-venezuela-regime-change/266185/

Beyond Chutzpah: the Hypocrisy of US Nacroterrorism Charges Against Venezuela
Roger D. Harris | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-30
This latest escalation of the US hybrid war against Venezuela takes place amid a global pandemic, which the US apparently sees as an opportunity to further attack a people made more vulnerable by the health crisis.
mintpressnews.com/hypocrisy-nacroterrorism-charges-against-venezuela/266160/

U.S. Imperialism Pulls Desperate Move in Venezuela
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-03-29
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). | For years, the criminal government of the United States has attempted to remove the democratically elected president of Venezuela and discredit the peoples' movement in that country that has been so successful in lifting millions of Venezuelans out of extreme poverty. Under the corrupt Trump administration alone, the United States has conducted multiple illegal attacks against President Nicolas Maduro and the people of Venezuela, including: failed assassination attempts by drone, poorly orchestrated mi…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/3/29/us-imperialism-pulls-desperate-move-venezuela

Beyond Chutzpah: US Charges Venezuela with Nacro-Terrorism
Roger D. Harris | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-29
According to the parable, the ungrateful son takes out a life insurance policy on his parents, murders them to collect, and is caught and found guilty. At his sentencing, the judge asks if he has anything to say on his behalf. The son replies: "Have mercy upon me because I am an orphan." That's chutzpah. …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/beyond-chutzpah-us-charges-venezuela-with-nacro-terrorism/

[World Report] Venezuelan migrants "struggling to survive" amid COVID-19
Joe Parkin Daniels | thelancet.com | 2020-03-28
Humanitarian organisations are concerned that border closures and health-care shortages are amplifying the challenges posed by COVID-19. Joe Parkin Daniels reports from Bogotá.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30718-2/fulltext?rss=yes

[World Report] Leadership changes at USAID
Susan Jaffe | thelancet.com | 2020-03-28
Mark Green, the respected head of the US Agency for International Development, has resigned. Susan Jaffe reports from Washington.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30721-2/fulltext?rss=yes

[Obituary] Aron Goldhirsch
Andrew Green | thelancet.com | 2020-03-28
Medical oncologist specialising in breast cancer. Born on April 25, 1946, in Landsberg am Lech, Germany, he died on Feb 26, 2020, in Lugano, Switzerland, aged 73 years.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30642-5/fulltext?rss=yes

Trump admin's $15 million bounty on Maduro triggers explosive confession of violent Guaidó plot
Leonardo Flores | thegrayzone.com | 2020-03-27
The Trump administration's deception-laden indictment of President Nicolas Maduro and members of his inner circle has badly backfired, resulting in…
thegrayzone.com/2020/03/27/trump-bounty-maduro-guaido-plot/

No, Venezuela does not have a six child per family policy
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2020-03-13
I respect UK journalist Andrew Buncombe. As I noted for FAIR last year, he was one of the few corporate journalists who reported on a study linking Trump's financial sanctions on Venezuela to thousands of deaths by the end of 2018. Since 2018, Trump has repeatedly intensified the sanctions and threatened Venezuela with military action, Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/no-venezuela-does-not-have-a-six-child-per-family-policy/