Is Venezuela Funding Repression With US, European Gold Sales?

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The biggest concern of the Venezuelan government is that members of the armed forces and others conducting the repression of thousands of Venezuelans may no longer be loyal to the Maduro regime. High political and military leaders benefit from drug trafficking. But that´s not everything. There is also illegal gold mining. Thousands of workers who lost their jobs in the impoverished Venezuelan economy have moved to the Amazon to be employed in this illegal industry. Miners, accused of stealing or of violating mines’ rules, have been subjected to amputations, torture, and murder. The Venezuelan government and the military also participate in carrying out these atrocities. It was reported that former Venezuelan vice-president Tareck El Aissami supervises these operations on behalf of the Venezuelan government. El Aissami, who’s on ICE’s most wanted list, has strong connections to Iran and Hezbollah and has facilitated their operations in Latin America. Venezuela has become a nightmare, heavily supported by Russia, that has taken over control of Venezuelan oil. That’s why I applaud the Trump administration’s decision to sanction Russian oil company Rosneft, which controls over 70 percent of Venezuelan oil exports. Rosneft has given Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) a new lease on life and may stay in Venezuela forever, while the U.S. and U.S. companies may be forced out of Venezuela indefinitely, giving more space for Russia to control almost all of Venezuelan oil. we also need to militarily support opposition forces in Venezuela, while avoiding direct intervention with U.S. troops. We may have no other choice but to consider this option more seriously.

Is it Worth It?

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According to Professor Friedman a Nobel Laurate and a courageous libertarian the thought of using state goods to correct private behaviors that only affect the individual himself would lead to misuse of public funds and corruption as the state created an income generating monopoly for criminals. “ On ethical grounds, do we have the right to use the machinery of government to prevent an individual from becoming an alcoholic or a drug addict? For children, almost everyone would answer at least a qualified yes. But for responsible adults, I, for one, would answer no. Reason with the potential addict, yes. Tell him the consequences, yes. Pray for and with him, yes. But I believe that we have no right to use force, directly or indirectly, to prevent a fellow man from committing suicide, let alone from drinking alcohol or taking drugs”. And as time goes by and trade in illicit continues to growth adding every few years new and more potent products to the exchange the question arises as to whether the world should not engage in and in-depth- discussion of the soundness of the Friedman theory for public policy making.

SPAIN’S CASTROCHAVIST GOVERNMENT AND ANTIDEMOCRATIC POLICIES IN THE AMERICAS

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I conceptualize “Castrochavism” as the term that describes “the Transnational Organized Crime’s system that usurps political power in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, (Ecuador with Correa and Bolivia with Morales) which must be treated as an organized crime’s operating structure and not as a political process”. Proof and noteworthy facts -amongst others- reveal that the PODEMOS party is a Castrochavist. The attitude of Spain’s government regarding the visit of Venezuela’s Interim President Juan Guaido, who was not received by Pedro Sanchez after all, is a pitiful proof of Spain’s Castrochavism. The United States has pointed to Spain’s government as “being Europe’s greatest obstacle towards Venezuela”,

IS CUBA’S QUID PRO QUO FOR CANADA AIMED TO DESTABILIZE THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES?

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Cuba’s dictatorship -albeit not an official member of the OAS- leads the anti-Almagro operation along with Venezuela and Nicaragua’s dictatorships, with the active participation of Argentina and Mexico, some Caribbean countries and an apparent “quid pro quo” maneuver with Canada whose vote to destabilize the OAS would be gotten in exchange for Cuba’s assistance to ensure Canada’s non-permanent position in the United Nations Security Council.

BOLIVIA, FROM TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY TO DICTATORIAL CONTINUITY

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In Bolivia, the dictator was ousted but not the dictatorship.  The process of the transition towards democracy that started with Evo Morales’ resignation, is inexistent.  Interim President Janine Añez’s decision to run as a presidential candidate in elections she was supposed to ensure, has taken her from her role of directing the finding of a solution to be an important part of the problem. Now, instead of a transition to democracy there is dictatorial continuity. Personal ambitions and power feuds have eliminated the national agenda for the transition to democracy earned by the civil resistance movement which ousted the dictator.  The squabbling between contenders has displaced ideas and democracy is still missing.   Bolivia today has a government comprised by those who were opposition members functional to the dictator and who, while ignoring the historical opportunity, chose to keep the dictatorial system that in this way, only changes hands but not essence. The dictatorship can win the elections’ first round and keep itself in power, functional opposition members are in the government and campaign to retain it, Judges and Prosecutors are the same, the accused and persecuted by the dictatorship continue to be compelled to “prove their innocence” instead of being presumably innocent.   Human Rights continue to be violated, there is no Rule of Law, there is no separation and independence of the Branches of Government, there is no guarantee that elections will be fair and clean. Exile is a testimonial to the absence of free political organization and affiliation, and more crisis is on the way.

The Economic Value of Truth

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The Prince Harry story and the Corona virus outbreak illustrate the economic value of truth. This is particularly significant in an age where according to Mac MacManus we live in the Post Truth Era.  But where the value of truth will be crystal clear is on the impact of corona virus not only upon China but upon the world. Starting with China the cost of covering up the out break will hit its growth rate by at the very least one percentage point or 10% of GDP. Next it will impact 20% of the value chain in the West and 40% of the value chain in Asia. Mongolia, Cambodia and Laos Myanmar, the Philippines, and Viet Nam come next in terms of value losses. These nations export more than on sixth of their GDP to China. As China reduces economic activity due to the virus impact imports will tend to shrink and so the GDP of these nations. One can measure the impact upon global economic sentiment through the prices of energy and minerals.  Oil prices have so far lost 20% of value and copper 7% since the outbreak. Other losses include delays in monetary unification in China and perhaps even a leadership reshuffle. Should Xi Jinping be absorbed into a collective leadership ending his all too powerful approach to governance he will most probably learn the economic value of truth.

Trump’s Mideast Plan a Major Breakthrough But Risky

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Seven months after proposing the economic plan for the solution of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the Trump administration presented a political plan. A Palestinian state would be created in the entire Gaza strip, and 70% of the West Bank. There would be connections between different parts of the Palestinian state through roads, bridges, and tunnels (including a connection between the West Bank and Gaza). Holy sites would remain under Israel’s control, but Muslims would have free access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel would be able to keep existing settlements without uprooting them, but would stop new settlements for the next four years while negotiations between Palestinians and Israel occur over final status. The Trump plan is a major breakthrough; it is a major break with past negotiations. What’s unique also about this plan is that if Palestinians do not engage in negotiations, Israel could proceed to unilaterally annex the settlements and there would be also a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank. The Trump Plan has broken the cycle of naïve proposals. Conceps insisting either on continuing the bi-lateral negotiations of the last 27 years or proposed a fanciful solution based on pressure on Israel. This time, with the support of Arab states the hope is that the Palestinians are persuaded to negotiate and put an end to a conflict that has worn out the Israelis, the Americans, the Arabs, and even — the Palestinians themselves.

Kobe and the silent revolution

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The sudden loss of a modern hero who embodied the grandeur and the flaws of the American people while carrying the flame of hope for new generations sunk half the country into sorrow. Mr Bryant was generous in a consistent and quiet way. From the time he dedicated to fellow team members to help them improve their techniques and achieve better marks for the Lakers to his passionate support to the homeless Mr Bryant kept returning to life the blessings he had received. After 15 years at the Lakers and having already won a place at the Hall of Fame he ripped hi Achilles tendon; had a splinter in his knee bone and dislodged his hip, all this in one year. He came back to the field with new passes and techniques to lead the Lakers into greatest victories. Mr Bryant’s death anticipates a mayor shift in the media landscape. By 2021 broadcast TV rights expire. Probabilities are high that the sports leagues will fall into the streaming attraction and follow the DAZN route. Should this happen TV as we know will virtually disappear and the Millennial Generation will take the TV stage once and for all . This will help to spread a development model that is more environmentally sound; human friendly and development inclusive.

PRESIDENT GUAIDO MUST IDENTIFY AND DECRY CUBA AS AN ATTACKING AND INTERVENTIONIST STATE IN VENEZUELA

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Venezuela has a President In-Charge recognized by nearly 60 countries and a dictator, head of the usurper regime.  Although the legitimacy and legality are bestowed upon President Juan Guaido, Juan Guaido, as Head of State and head of Foreign Affairs, make it clear and without a doubt the condition of the Cuban regime in his country, identifying it and denouncing Cuba as an attacking and interventionist state in Venezuela. Complaints, assessments, reports, news, and documents prove Cuba’s attacks and intervention in Venezuela. Complaints, assessments, reports, news, and documents prove Cuba’s attacks and intervention in Venezuela.  Despite of years of fighting, protests, sacrifices, and heroic acts, until now the Venezuelan nation has not been able to liberate itself from the Castroist Chavist usurper dictatorship, precisely because Cuban aggression and intervention, prevent this from happening.  Cuba’s intervention in Venezuela has turned into occupation, opening the doors to the intervention of Russia and China, as part of its destabilization strategy with its antiimperialist doctrine. Control over the Venezuelan Armed Forces by different means of Cuban intervention, has been proven. In the economic realm, Cuba through its intervention, has tuned Venezuela into its main source for resources and support, manipulating corruption, appeasement, and treason to the homeland. Cuba’s intervention in Venezuela, by means of the criminal partnership formed between Cuba’s dictatorship and Venezuelan operators, now-a-days called “Castrochavism”, has made -out of Venezuelan territory- its main base for attacks against the security, stability, sovereignty of other States such as; the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and the entire region. All of this and much more is known by President Juan Guaido who can no longer continue without discharging his obligations when facing public and noteworthy acts that call on him to identify and decry Cuba as an attacking and interventionist State in Venezuela.  This is the least, the basic, he can do.  It is about identifying the enemy.

Stupidity and Palestine

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The Palestinian leaders immediately shattered the peace plan presented by Donald Trump. It has been another stupidity committed by the Palestinian leaders. As, gloomily, Golda Meir foresaw: “Peace will come when the Palestinians love their children more than they hate us.” That moment has arrived for the masses, but not for the leaders, who live always willing to fight battles. It will take a long time. It may never come. The Holocaust was, undoubtedly, the worst of the crimes recorded in human history. Since then, anti-Jewish stupidity, often transformed into criminal acts, never left Europe. Virtually all European nations suffered it, The great danger that lurks Israel is not the Palestinian state that may arise in its interior, but the possibility that it is not created, and that the Iranian Ayatollahs, affected by stupidity, continue to use Hamas terrorists against the Jews of Israel and against the Jewish populations of the Western world. As long as peace does not explode, Israel does very well to prepare for combat. Si vis pacem, para bellum, the classics said. If you want peace, prepare for war. They were right.