Footage Contradicts U.S. Claim That Maduro Burned Aid Convoy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times


By Nicholas Casey, Christoph Koettl and Deborah Acosta
March 10, 2019

Leer en español

CÚCUTA, Colombia — The narrative seemed to fit Venezuela’s authoritarian rule: Security forces, on the order of President Nicolás Maduro, had torched a convoy of humanitarian aid as millions in his country were suffering from illness and hunger.

Vice President Mike Pence wrote that “the tyrant in Caracas danced” as his henchmen “burned food & medicine.” The State Department released a video saying Mr. Maduro had ordered the trucks burned. And Venezuela’s opposition held up the images of the burning aid, reproduced on dozens of news sites and television screens throughout Latin America, as evidence of Mr. Maduro’s cruelty.

But there is a problem: The opposition itself, not Mr. Maduro’s men, appears to have set the cargo alight accidentally.

Unpublished footage obtained by The New York Times and previously released tapes — including footage released by the Colombian government, which has blamed Mr. Maduro for the fire — allowed for a reconstruction of the incident. It suggests that a Molotov cocktail thrown by an antigovernment protester was the most likely trigger for the blaze.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/10/world/americas/venezuela-aid-fire-video.html

[Miguel M]

1. Some footage and photos of it

[Judi Lynn]

4. Thanks for adding the video. It's great someone was on hand to film it.

Wonderful seeing the video got out long enough to be published this time.

[2naSalit]

8. Thank you!

[liberalnarb]

14. "wearechange" is a right-libertarian propaganda organization.

[Miguel M]

16. I get that. I'm not endorsing them, nor the commentary. The vid contains footage & photos mentioned.

[liberalnarb]

22. Maybe post the link to Max Blumenthal's tweet with the video of it instead?

That way we can see the video without hearing that moron's bs?

Link to tweet

[Miguel M]

24. Thanks.

I don't know how to embed tweets here. I don't have a twitter account.

[jberryhill]

27. That's putting it mildly

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Luke_Rudkowski


We Are Change is an independent media organisation comprising activist groups who promote right-libertarian values along with a wide variety of conspiracy junk, primarily New World Order and September 11 conspiracy theories.

[Evolve Dammit]

2. Not surprised the Trump Admin is lying to secure control of another gov't.

Stuff like this this happens here too.
I remember when John Bolton was on camera in FL during the 2000 election re-count (Gore vs. Bush), beating on the glass of the officials doing the re-count. He and lots of other GOP loyalists were bussed to FL for the sole purpose of intimidating elections officials and ending the re-count. Under the guise of being "upset voters" demanding an end. It worked. And now he's Sec. of State. See how it works? Start young, do ANYTHING and hate democrats. Poof, you're in and ready to be promoted.

Then on to international adventures, like "nation-building", "regime change," "Operation Iraq Freedom" (substitute whatever country is convenient and has OIL), etc.

[2naSalit]

9. +1

[Duppers]

28. Bolton was on camera in FL during the 2000 recount

I'd forgotten about that. Thanks for the reminder. GREAT POST!

Oil is root of all modern day evil.
I keep thinking if rethug voters knew *the facts*, would it changed their end-justifies-any-means minds?

Even if fusion were now a viable source of energy, the thugs would find a way to either reject it or control it for outrageous profits. Stealing is their bottom line.

[Historic NY]

3. The drivers did nothing to move the trucks away too...

from the burning one. Play with gasoline and you will get hurt.

[Miguel M]

21. That was intentional. It was all a psyop for American media to regurgitate.

I heard that the boxes of "aid" contained nothing, some with old rags and nails to keep the boxes from blowing away in the breeze.

[former9thward]

32. You "heard"

Well then ....

[ck4829]

49. I bet this was the case

[not fooled]

5. Greg Palast

reported on Thom Hartmann's show this week that the reason behind the push for war is that Venezuela--which has the 1st or 2nd largest oil reserves on the planet--refuses to play ball with U.S. and U.K. oil interests. kook brothers are among those behind this. U.S. and U.K. are withholding cash and gold payments and reserves to wreak havoc with Venezuela's economy.

[2naSalit]

10. +1

[Evolve Dammit]

15. But we don't hear anything resembling actual factual reporting on the lame stream media

God we are so bought, paid for and deceived. And they profit handsomely because we view it.

[Ghost Dog]

51. Americans, and Brits & other consumers of MSM, should be very concerned

about this. Eventually some people including journalists & editors should go on (re, Nüremburg) trial...

[red dog 1]

18. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world.

I missed Greg Palast on the Thom Hartmann Show, but I do listen to Thom's show as often as I can.
(AM-910 San Francisco)

[House of Roberts]

45. Here's a link to a Nicole Sandler show from Feb. 22 with Greg Palast

http://nicolesandler.com/2-22-19/

Looks like you may have to copy and paste it into your browser.

He pretty much said the same things he did on the Hartmann show. She starts with a report on Venezuela at the 30:00 mark then brings Greg on after.

[red dog 1]

72. Thanks for that link

[NickB79]

77. Very few countries want their oil anymore

What they have is thick, viscous stuff, more like the oil sands of Alberta. Expensive to extract and requiring specialized refineries to process.

With the glut of cheap, high quality US shale oil on the market, Venezuela's crude is just not that valuable anymore.

[JonLP24]

93. Greed has never stopped the US

If it was really about human rights especially from the neocons in Trump's administration we would be in the CAR. Most wars is about private corporations to commercially exploit a country's natural resources. Why the US looks the other way when it comes to Saudi Arabia speaking of how dirty is Jared Kushner?

[UpInArms]

6. This is just a rerun of the coup they tried to pull on Hugo Chavez

Why the f*** is Bolton screwing around in South America... again?

[PeeJ52]

7. Because Iran kicks his ass every time he tries...

[2naSalit]

12. +1

[ck4829]

48. LOL +1

[2naSalit]

11. +1

And Elliot Abrahms, not sure which is more evil.

[ck4829]

50. A perfect storm of sociopathy

[liberalnarb]

13. We are witnessing a coup attempt. The aid is a perfect propaganda tool.

It makes it easy for US media to portray the Venezuelan government as heartless and evil. But it would be insane to allow the US in. Its an obvious Trojan horse. Even The Red Cross had condemned politicized aid from the US.

[Miguel M]

17. I posted more on this in the Latin America Group.

Latin America Group
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1108

[2naSalit]

54. ++++++++++++++++++!!!!

[red dog 1]

19. Kick for exposure

Thanks for posting, Judi Lynn

[Judi Lynn]

40. It's almost a miracle when the NY Times breaks down to admit a truth about a US target!

Thank you for reading, red dog 1.

[debsy]

20. It is Iraq all over again.

we never learn.

[Miguel M]

23. Actually, the military industrial complex that Ike warned America about did learn.

Question is, as you say, when will the people learn?

[debsy]

25. Yes, good point. We have been behaving this way for many years now...

There are so many examples of us overthrowing governments. It is interesting how when it is happening to us, we don't even notice...

And, more to your point, I am sure there are many in power who will make a killing off the overthrow of the Maduro government. I remember before the invasion of Iraq, the father of our daughter's girlfriend had just retired with his 20 year pension as a master sergeant (said he was a Green Beret) and worked hard to get GWBush elected because he would "be a millionaire overnight if Bush wins.". He had started his own mercenary company that eventually was criminally charged with corruption and, just like Blackwater, he dissolved the company and started another that purportedly works in cyber security. Oh, and he is (or has been) a Fox "News" commentator.

[Judi Lynn]

41. OMG. What a shame it is to see a gung-ho mercenary leader take it in the shorts! n/t

[debsy]

53. I forgot to mention...

... the gung-ho mercenary now has a net-worth of over $120 million dollars, lives in Colorado Springs (where he relishes the uber conservatism), and collects $1300+ monthly in disability from the Army for acne he got an Army doc friend to sign off on as something he got in Panama but has admitted privately that he had it since childhood. Of course, this is all hearsay on my part and I should state for the record it is "alleged"...

He is just like the rest of them. A greedy, self-promoting cheater who doesn't give a shit about the average U. S. citizen. All they care about is their own pocketbooks.

[FiveGoodMen]

65. If we had the capacity to learn

Everyone who lied to us would be dead now.

[walkingman]

26. Sad what our government does to other nations around the planet.

[ck4829]

29. K&R

[Devil Child]

30. Not at all surprised at this

It’s prudent to remain highly skeptical of anything coming out of Venezuela, especially from trump-regime. Thanks for the update Judi Lynn.

[Judi Lynn]

42. They tried to get as much mileage from it as possible before the info. got out to the world, right?

Thank you for reading, Devil Child.

[EX500rider]

31. Burned or not did Maduro allow the aid in? No. nt

[ronnie624]

44. Yes, just not from the US. n/t

[EX500rider]

60. And what aid was that? Supposedly Russia flew in a small amount.

But to keep aid out from any country when people have no food is criminal.

[GatoGordo]

63. Except Russia didn't know anything about any aid they were sending

Just like when Maduro insisted Gazprombank was going to be handling PdVSA's oil money.

So it shouldn't shock anyone that neither the aid arrived, nor the money in Gazprombank.

But never fear. Maduro SAYS he will have the nationwide electrical grid fixed by... last Friday? Because he is a man of his word.

Riiiiiiigghht....

The good news is the tear gas made it in!

[Ghost Dog]

52. Note that the International Red Cross wanted to have nothing to do with it. n/t

[former9thward]

33. There would not even be an issue about a fire if Maduro was not blocking food.

Those on the side of Maduro are in favor of someone who is coldly letting his people starve while he and his ruling elite live in comfort and eat well.



The leadership of the Democratic party backs food aid to Venezuela and oppose Maduro and his crimes.

Speaker Pelosi: “Nicolas Maduro’s regime of repression and impoverishment for his personal enrichment continues to gravely violate human rights, and must be condemned swiftly by the full international community. His recent decision to block bridges and cut off channels of food and supplies imperils the health and futures of the Venezuelan people, and must be immediately reversed."

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/2819-2/

Joe Biden: “Confronting peaceful protesters with force and in some cases armed militias, limiting freedom of the press and assembly […] is not in line with the solid standards of democracy that we have in most of our hemisphere. The situation in Venezuela reminds me of past times, when strongmen governed using violence and oppression; human rights, hyperinflation, shortages and extreme poverty ravaged the peoples of the hemisphere,” Biden wrote, according to the Spanish translation published by El Mercurio.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/09/joe-biden-situation-venezuela-alarming

[Miguel M]

34. Nice of you to use propaganda photos and commentary on Las Tienditas International Bridge

Maybe you are unaware that it has been closed since 2015, after the break in Venezuelan/Colombian relations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Tienditas_Bridge

Maybe you are aware of that?

[former9thward]

35. Tell that to Speaker Pelosi and VP Biden.

They must have been fooled that Maduro was blocking food too.

[Miguel M]

36. They didn't post it.

You want to do that, go right ahead.

[former9thward]

37. I posted their comments.

Are they lying? Or tools of American imperialism? What is your view? C'mon tell us. You know you want to.

[Miguel M]

38. My comment to you was regarding the bridge photo you included.

No need for propaganda photos to make the point for a real issue, now, is there?

Have a good evening.

[ronnie624]

46. Venezuelans have been receiving aid

through organization by CERF, ECHO, WHO, PAHO AND UNICEF. The pittance of 'aid' from the US, was a propaganda stunt by the Trump Administration. Obviously, you, along with a number of Democratic political leaders, have been duped into embracing nonsense.

[former9thward]

56. Yes, everyone including the Democratic leaders of our country has been duped.

Everyone except a few anonymous internet posters....

[GatoGordo]

67. Some anonymous internet posters are curiously new to DU

Coinciding with the recent chaos within Chavismo.

Panic has set in.

[ronnie624]

74. I've been a member of DU for fourteen years.

And everyone here is anonymous.

But those are yet more logical fallacies and distractions.

The UN Charter and a dozen or so other multilateral treaties, forbid coercive and violent interventionism in sovereign countries. That is why I oppose the attempted US regime change in Venezuela, not because of "panic".

[GatoGordo]

76. It's always about you?

Well, let us make it about you then!

I'm waiting to hear from someone/anyone who can name ONE right-wing Venezuelan political party. Since YOU seem to have insight into Venezuela, can you name me a the mainstream RIGHT WING Venezuelan political party?

Perhaps Voluntad Popular (Popular Will), the political party that Juan Guaidó is a member?

[ronnie624]

78. Bizarre. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

85. Eeeyup! n/t

[GatoGordo]

90. No help with finding me a right wing political party in Venezuela?

Funny that!

[Judi Lynn]

91. Who died and made you king of this thread? Adults don't try to order others around. n/t

[GatoGordo]

102. Oh my.

The question is rhetorical. THERE IS NO MAINSTREAM, RIGHT-WING PARTY IN VENEZUELA.

That flies in the face of what the likes of Blumenthal and Palast and the rest of the Stalinist true-believers say. Unless I you want to prove me wrong?

[GatoGordo]

66. That is not factual

Maduro says he isn't accepting humanitarian aid, because ACCORDING TO HIM, there isn't a humanitarian crisis.

That being said, he is happy to accept cash donations from those who want to help the Bolivarian Revolution buy things that Maduro thinks Venezuela needs. Like steaks served by celebrity chefs and Cuban cigars.

FWIW, his henchmen have this uncanny ability to confiscate "medical supplies" from NGO's who are offering aid to the suffering.

Venezuela opposition slams raid of NGO that supports humanitarian aid

VALENCIA, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela’s opposition-run congress accused the police on Friday of illegally raiding the headquarters of a non-governmental organization that supports their plan to bring humanitarian aid into the country and confiscating medicine and baby milk.

The opposition, whose leader Juan Guaido has been recognized by more than 40 countries as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, is rallying foreign relief for the country to alleviate food and medicine shortages in the wake of an economic collapse, and has vowed to bring supplies into the country on Feb. 23.

Increasingly isolated President Nicolas Maduro denies there is a humanitarian crisis and says the aid effort is just an attempt to justify U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-aid/venezuela-opposition-slams-raid-of-ngo-that-supports-humanitarian-aid-idUSKCN1Q501Q


Ooops. Facts seem to be funny things...

[ronnie624]

71. International Red Cross steps up aid operations in Venezuela

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-venezuela-politics-redcross/international-red-cross-steps-up-aid-operations-in-venezuela-idUKKCN1PV1WC

The Red Cross currently provides medical assistance to a number of Venezuelan hospitals under pre-existing and recently expanded international agreements with Maduro’s government.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14316

Red Cross expands Venezuela operations as crisis grows

https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/red-cross-expands-venezuela-operations-as-crisis-grows/

[Judi Lynn]

43. I was wondering that, too! It's not exactly a secret to people who look for the truth. n/t

[former9thward]

57. Really what is the truth?

What do you know that Speaker Pelosi and VP Biden don't know?

[Miguel M]

69. They are not posting propaganda photos on DU.

[former9thward]

81. You refuse to deal with the central issue.

You know they don't back anything you believe.

[Miguel M]

82. You know what I believe? Are you a mind reader now?

My issue with you is your use of a known propaganda photo to further your cause.

If you are concerned with a real issue, then, you don't need to use propaganda photos to further your point, now, do you?


ps. stick to your day job. Your alternate mind reading career might be hitting the skids.


Have a good one.

[EX500rider]

61. So, could Venz. not open the bridge for aid trucks?

They could search the aid for contraband if they wished.

[Miguel M]

70. There was no aid. That's why it was burned by those who delivered it.

[EX500rider]

73. Actually about 200 tons+ is waiting across the border. nt

https://www.usaid.gov/crisis/venezuela-regional

[GatoGordo]

75. And those packages being off loaded and brought across by hand?

Props? Being off-loaded by CIA infiltrators? WOOT!

I find it fascinating how far conspiracy theorists will go out onto a limb to make their point!

I'm waiting for Maduro to make the claim that the Earth is now flat, and that he has the proof!

EARTH MOVING TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN CAUSES VENEZUELA'S POWER OUTAGES, MADURO ALLY SAYS
BY JASON LEMON ON 6/6/18 AT 5:59 PM

A political ally of Venezuela’s strongman Nicolás Maduro has blamed the Earth’s position in relation to the sun for the country’s ongoing blackouts.

“It is because we are very close to the Sun … while the rest of the world is cold, it is hot here, that just makes the situation more serious,” Lisandro Cabello, government secretary in the state of Zulia, said in a press conference. He blamed the summer solstice for the country’s electricity problems, The Times reported on Wednesday.

Venezuela, a country that is grappling with a major economic crisis, has been suffering power cuts for several months. According to workers at the country’s nationalized electricity company, Corpoelec, the problem is actually due to years of poor maintenance accompanied by rampant theft.

https://www.newsweek.com/sun-causes-venezuelas-power-outages-maduro-ally-963209

Can't make this shit up, ladies and gentlemen!

[Bradical79]

39. Maduro is rotten, but that is an old photo

That thing got blocked in 2016 upon completion because of some argument between Venezuela and Colombia over smuggling. Don't think a car has ever crossed it. Also, you linked the photo from a pro-Chavez/Maduro propaganda site.

[former9thward]

55. What is your point?

Is Maduro blocking aid or not?

[ronnie624]

58. No, he's not blocking aid.

He's blocking 'aid' from Donald Trump, John Bolton and Elliot Abrams; people with whom you apparently have common cause.

[former9thward]

59. No I have common cause with Speaker Pelosi and VP Biden.

Both of whom have condemned Maduro for blocking aid and for his crimes against the people of Venezuela. You do NOT have common cause with them. Who DO you have common cause with?

[ronnie624]

62. International law and the US constitution,

which the US government is in violation of, in its attempt to institute regime change in other countries. It is the Trump administration's policies which are currently at work.

[former9thward]

79. No, the U.S. position is bi-partisan and you know it.

Most countries in the America's and Europe back the U.S. Only Russia and China back Maduro. Enjoy the company.

[Miguel M]

83. You have forgotten Venezuela's support from some "shithole"* countries.

*"shithole countries" = Trumpspeak.

[former9thward]

84. I know who supports him -- Russia and China.

Enjoy your alliance!

[EX500rider]

88. Hey don't forget Iran, N Korea & Cuba! nt

[JonLP24]

95. Iran & Cuba don't bother me

North Korea is a legit threat since their whole mission is to build a bomb for the US. What the US did in their CIA backed coup of Iran bothers me more.

[Miguel M]

96. I know who supports Guaido -- Trump, Bolton, Abrams, et al.

Enjoy your alliance!

[former9thward]

97. Speaker Pelosi and VP Biden.

I do enjoy my alliance! What Democratic candidate supports Maduro?

[EX500rider]

99. "What Democratic candidate supports Maduro?"

?mod=1533691657

[JonLP24]

94. Our perfect leaders also bipartisan support

Saudi Arabia or at the very least quiet. Saudi Arabia is certainly an issue anonymous posters are further ahead on than our leaders. Enjoy the company while US weapons are being used to bomb Yemen.

[Bradical79]

86. No idea, but I was wrong about the photo. I appologize.

Edited: Was told I was wrong, and did some further researching on the picture.

So basic run-down: Bridge was never opened, the fence is old, but the containers were put there in February.

[GatoGordo]

68. The photo is not old

Those containers are new. The bridge, however has never been officially opened.

[Bradical79]

87. Thanks for the correction

Looked some more, and yeah, the containers were put there in February. The fence is the original barrier put there when they decided not to open the bridge in '16.

[GatoGordo]

89. Bah. Its the internet!

I always goof on my kids. Give them crazy facts, then tell them, "Its true! I read it on the internet!"

[GatoGordo]

64. Meh. People starve all the time.

People live and people die.

What is important to the Chavists is that the Revolution endures!

[former9thward]

80. Right you are.

Stalin is smiling.

[Miguel M]

100. Reading the minds of people in their graves now?

It gets better every day here.

[former9thward]

101. I just know history.

Too bad some others don't. Or willfully ignore it...

[Judi Lynn]

92. In Venezuela, White Supremacy Is a Key Driver of the Coup

BY
Greg Palast, Truthout
PUBLISHED
February 7, 2019

Note: Palast covered Venezuela during the Chavez presidency for BBC Television Newsnight and the Guardian. Readers of Truthout may download, for free, the film of Palast’s BBC reports, The Assassination of Hugo Chavez. This article incorporates additional reporting by William Camacaro in Caracas.


On January 23, right after a phone call from Donald Trump, Juan Guaidó, former speaker of Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself president. No voting. When you have official recognition from The Donald, who needs elections?

Say what?

I can explain what’s going on in Venezuela in photos.



First, we have Juan Guaidó, self-proclaimed (and Trump-proclaimed) president of the nation, with his wife and child, a photo prominently placed in The New York Times. And here, the class photo of Guaidó’s party members in the National Assembly. They appear, overwhelmingly light-skinned — especially when compared to their political opposites in the third photo, the congress members who support the elected President Nicolás Maduro.

This is the story of Venezuela in black and white, the story not told in The New York Times or the rest of our establishment media. This year’s so-called popular uprising is, at its heart, a furious backlash of the whiter (and wealthier) Venezuelans against their replacement by the larger Mestizo (mixed-race) poor. (Forty-four percent of the population that answered the 2014 census listed themselves as “white.”)

Four centuries of white supremacy in Venezuela by those who identify their ancestors as European came to an end with the 1998 election of Hugo Chavez, who won with the overwhelming support of the Mestizo majority. This turn away from white supremacy continues under Maduro, Chavez’s chosen successor.

In my interviews with Chavez for BBC beginning in 2002, he talked with humor about the fury of a white ruling class finding itself displaced by a man who embraced his own Indigenous and African heritage.

More:
https://truthout.org/articles/in-venezuela-white-supremacy-is-a-key-driver-of-the-coup/

[EX500rider]

98. Righhhhttttt....it's all those damn "white people" protesting....

......everybody else is super happy with no food or medicine! lol

[GatoGordo]

103. Greg Palast ought to put his theory to the test and live in Barrio 23 Enero for a month or two

Take away his fat wallet full of American dollars and have him live off 16 cents per day. Let him drink from the stinking, feces filled Guaire river. Let him bathe in sewers. Let him hob-nob with those "social justice ambassadors", the colectivos.

Or not! Palast (and his pal Max Blumenthal) insist that all of that is just "right-wing propaganda". I'd like to see how well they do outside the comfy confines of upscale western Caracas.