Obama Declares Venezuelan Democracy a Threat to US National Security

by Stephen Lendman

Obama finds new ways to disgrace the office he holds. He gives rogue state governance new meaning.

TeleSUR reported Obama committed "aggression" against Venezuelan sovereign independence. Its model democracy is the hemisphere's best.

It shames America's sham system. Elections when held are farcical - with no legitimacy whatever.

Duopoly power rules. It's totally beholden to monied interests - Wall Street and other corporate crooks. What they say goes.

Ordinary people are entirely shut out. Another article explained their electoral choice is between death by hanging or firing squad.

Jimmy Carter calls Venezuela's electoral process the world's best. America's is the best money can buy.

Venezuela represents the threat of a good example. Obama fears its spread - maybe awakening Americans to demand rights and benefits Venezuelan constitutional law mandates.

He finds new ways to reveal America's vile dark side. He's waged war on freedom throughout his tenure.

It's disappearing in plain sight. His global wars threaten humanity's survival. Confronting Russia could launch nuclear war.

On Monday, he issued a lawless anti-Venezuelan executive order. It features a litany of Big Lies.

It targeted seven Venezuelan officials - freezing their assets and blocking their entry into America. Individuals named include:

• Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) official Antonio José Benavides Torres;

• Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) director Gustavo Enrique González López;

• Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana president Justo José Noguera Pietri;

• Venezuelan Public Ministry prosecutor Katherine Nayarith Haringhton Padron;

• Bolivarian National Police director Manuel Eduardo Pérez Urdaneta;

• Bolivarian armed forces official Manuel Gregorio Bernal Martínez; and

• Bolivarian armed forces inspector general Miguel Alcides Vivas Landino.

On the one hand, Obama violated core international law. It prohibits nations from interfering in the internal affairs of others.

Security Council members alone may impose sanctions - not individual countries for any reason.

On the other, Obama systematically lied. He absurdly declared a "national emergency" when none exists.

He did so "with respect to the (nonexistent) unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United Sttes posed by the situation in Venezuela."

He ludicrously claimed "(w)e are committed to advancing respect for for human rights, safeguarding democratic institutions, and protecting the US financial system from the illicit financial flows from public corruption in Venezuela."

On Monday, White House press secretary Josh Earnest lied claiming Venezuela's government "intimidat(es) its political opponents…criminaliz(es) dissent, (and) violates human rights and fundamental freedoms…"

Fact: President Nicholas Maduro's government is polar opposite US fascist rule.

Fact: It considers rule of law principles inviolable.

Fact: It respects other nations' sovereignty.

Fact: It champions fundamental civil and human rights.

Fact: It provides all Venezuelans from birth with vital social benefits Americans can't imagine.

Fact: It doesn't wage wars on other nations.

Fact: It doesn't torture prisoners like America.

Fact: No nation in world history did more harm to more people over a longer duration than America.

Fact: None operate more lawlessly.

Fact: None are more venal and corrupt.

Fact: None more reveal fascism's ugly face.

Fact: None more greatly threaten humanity's survival.

Obama's executive order became effective March 9 at 12:01 AM Eastern time. In response, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said:

"We will soon make Venezuela's response to the extent and reach of these statements."

Maduro said Obama's executive order followed his foiled February coup plot.

A previous article explained US plans included orchestrated street violence, assassinations, and terror-bombing strategic Caracas targets.

Followed by ousting Maduro, maybe killing him, and installing "transitional" governance ahead of full-blown fascist rule.

"After we dismantled the coup attempt…the US and President Barack Obama…decided to personally fulfill the task of ousting my government," said Maduro.

"(M)any meetings were held between the Department of State and the White House" to plot Obama's scheme, he added.

He called his executive order "a Frankenstein, a monster." Targeted Venezuelans are "heroes," he said.

"I congratulate them. It's an honor" be be included on Washington's sanctions list. No nation more greatly threatens humanity, he stressed.

America is "the real threat. (It) "trained and created Osama bin Laden. (Y)ou are the people who created Al Qaeda."

Maduro challenged Obama to "(d)efend the human rights of black US citizens being killed in US cities every day."

In the past year, Washington issued 105 anti-Venezuelan statements. Most explicitly supported opposition fascist elements.

"I've told Mr. Obama, how do you want to be remembered," Maduro asked? Like Richard Nixon, who ousted Salvador Allende in Chile?"

"Like President Bush, responsible for (trying to oust) President Chavez?…Well President Obama, you already made your choice. (Y)ou will be remembered like President(s) Nixon" and Bush.

Venezuelan intelligence discovered a coup plot hatched last December between Washington and fascist opposition elements.

Maduro said Obama launched economic war on Venezuela last year. It began political war after Chavez's 1998 election.

US hypocrisy is longstanding. It says one thing. It does another. It refuses to ratify the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court.

It never ratified other important human rights agreements, including:

• the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;

• Convention on the Rights of the Child;

• Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming to the abolition of the death penalty; and

• Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Torture is official  US policy. Thousands of political prisoners languish in its global gulag. It's at war with Islam.

US streets are battlegrounds. Killer cops murder blacks and other people of color with impunity.

Immigrants of color are ruthlessly persecuted. Unprecedented levels of public and private grand theft persist in high places. America's best friends are some of the world's most ruthless despots.

Washington's "war on terror" is its war OF terror on humanity. One country after another is ravaged and destroyed. Millions of corpses attest to America's barbarity.

Its nuclear capability may preemptively end life on earth. Venezuelan policy is polar opposite.

Its Foreign Ministry recalled its embassy officials from Washington for consultation. Neither country had ambassadors since 2008.

Last December, Congress passed S. 2142: Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 unanimously by voice vote.

Not a single profile in courage opposed what demanded rejection. On December 18, Obama signed S. 2142 into law.

It has no legal standing whatever. It spurns international and constitutional law. It usurped power afforded solely to Security Council members.

The world's leading human rights abuser targeted one of its staunchest defenders guaranteeing fundamental rights for all its citizens.

All Venezuelans are considered "equal before the law." Polar opposite US governance for its privileged elites alone. Democracy exists in name only.

Hugo Chavez established Venezuela's model system. Maduro carries his torch. He's targeted for doing the right thing.

Chavismo lives! Preserving it matters - protecting it from America's dirty hands.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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