Some fun highlights I came across recently when looking at and reading about the Wikileaks diplomatic cable leaks. I read each one with “Venezuela just shows, once again, that socialism doesn’t work” ringing in my ears.
First, the intro: the latest “5 point strategy” for “meddling” in Venezuelan politics, adopted by the US
In August of 2004, Ambassador outlined the country team’s 5 point strategy to guide embassy activities in Venezuela for the period 2004 ) 2006 (specifically, from the referendum to the 2006 presidential elections). The strategy’s focus is: 1) Strengthening Democratic Institutions, 2) Penetrating Chavez’ Political Base, 3) Dividing Chavismo, 4) Protecting Vital US business, and 5) Isolating Chavez internationally.
https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/06CARACAS3356_a.html
Next, here’s us “meddling” in not only elections (that’s already well-documented, no need for me to add to the mountain of documentation on that) but the so-called “popular protests” against Chavez:
Fernandez said that “the streets are hot,” referring to growing protests against Chavez’s efforts to consolidate power, and “all these people (organizing the protests) are our grantees.
Here’s a gem, from a cable literally entitled “A SOUTHERN CONE PERSPECTIVE ON COUNTERING CHAVEZ AND REASSERTING U.S. LEADERSHIP”. Among the “six main areas of action for the USG as it seeks to limit Chavez’s influence” is
Enhance military relationships: We should continue to strengthen ties to those military leaders in the region who share our concern over Chavez;
Now is precisely the time we need to be increasing our pol-mil engagement and programs vice decreasing and limiting them.
Hence the package of measures we propose: A more muscular USG presence in the region
In other fun Venezuela facts, former US President Jimmy Carter, whose Carter Center now sends election monitors to oversee dozens of elections around the world, said
As a matter of fact, of the 92 elections that we’ve monitored, I would say that the election process in Venezuela is the best in the world.
Fun fact #2: you know how if you live in the US you hear that Chavez “dictatorially” controls the media, in order to brainwash the populace? Check out this study of TV viewership in Venezuela — it turns out that FIVE POINT FOUR (5.4) PERCENT of Venezuelans regularly watch the state-owned TV channel, compared to the SIXTY-ONE POINT FOUR (61.4) PERCENT who watch the privately-funded opposition media channels….
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