U.S. Demands Openness in Venezuela Despite Own Secrecy Regard

U.S. Demands Openness in Venezuela Despite Own Secrecy Regard

From US Election Interference to Regime Change: Exposing America's Covert Operations in Venezuela

Let's talk about the ongoing political drama in Venezuela, a South American nation teetering on the brink of collapse. Ever since the contentious July 28 presidential election, US officials have been calling for transparency from Caracas while keeping hush about their tireless efforts to topple the Venezuelan government.

Claiming the incumbent president, Nicholas Maduro, has stolen the election, these American bigwigs have been working to induct the Venezuelan opposition into power. They've been careful not to reveal their decades-long relationship with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who's previously taken US funds, orchestrating her moves as a popular uprising rather than an insider-driven change.

"The Venezuelan people deserve an election that truly reflects their will, untainted by meddling," Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared on election day. If the US is genuine about seeking a fair election, they must be forthcoming about their Venezuela-related activities and disclose detailed records of their relationship with the opposition. Something they've spent years attempting to conceal.

For decades, the US has been manipulating events in Venezuela, setting their sights on regime change. During the early 2000s, officials collaborated closely with Machado, the current opposition leader, whose past is marred by allegations of attempting to overthrow the Venezuelan government. With US funds and support from diplomats, Machado and her organization, Súmate, led an effort in 2004 to oust then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez through a recall referendum. When it flopped, Machado refused to accept the results, despite data provided by her organization and election monitors showing Chávez had triumphed.

Former President Jimmy Carter even accused members of Súmate of exploiting misleading data to manipulate the election. "There's no doubt some of their leaders deliberately distributed this erroneous exit poll data," Carter asserted back in 2004.

Over the years, US officials have pursued countless attempts at regime change, targeting both Chávez and Maduro. All these strategies have ultimately failed. In 2019, the Trump administration rallied behind opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who led a doomed uprising before fleeing the country.

"Keeping the opposition united has proven incredibly challenging," then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lamented, as reported by The Washington Post.

The July 28 election took place in the midst of a devastating social and economic collapse, made possible by the US. During the Trump administration, US officials imposed punishing sanctions on Venezuela, aiming to make life unbearable for the Venezuelan people and forcing them to turn against their government. These sanctions played a significant role in causing one of the worst economic collapses in modern history, driving more than 7 million Venezuelans to flee their country and look for refuge in other nations, including the US.

The Venezuelan people who remain in their homeland continue to experience the effects of US interference. Despite polluting Venezuelan politics for years, US officials have remained tight-lipped about their role in the country. While it's important for the Venezuelan government to release comprehensive voting results, the US should do the right thing and release their detailed records about their dealings with the opposition—information they've labored to keep hidden for years.

Machado, the opposition's main figurehead, despite being barred from running for office, remains the force behind little-known candidate Edmundo González, who has acted as her proxy. US officials claim that polls show widespread support for González, but critics are skeptical. Analysts at the Center for Economic Policy and Research have reported that support for González has been overestimated, primarily due to polling bias.

The US has a long history of secrecy in their dealings with Venezuela. For decades, they've been the primary sources of manipulation in the region. Officials have been pouring funds into opposition movements, including Machado and Súmate, supporting them in attempts to mobilize the Venezuelan people against their government.

While there's no denying that the US has been laying the groundwork for regime change, it's time they come clean about their machinations in Venezuela. Rather than calling for transparency from other nations, maybe it's high time the US adopts a similar approach and reveals the truth about their collaboration with the Venezuelan opposition. The Venezuelan people deserve nothing less.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Venezuelanalysis' editorial staff

Sources: Common Dreams

Insights:

• U.S. Funding for Opposition: The US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has provided substantial funds to Venezuelan opposition groups, with critics alleging their support influences political outcomes by promoting specific opposition movements.
• 2002 Coup: Although there is debate about the extent of US involvement in the 2002 coup attempt against Hugo Chávez, investigations concluded that US officials did not directly contribute to the coup. However, they remained silent about the plot until it failed.
• Maria Corina Machado: Maria Corina Machado is a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader who has historically benefited from US support and funding. Her efforts align with US goals to destabilize the Venezuelan government and promote regime change in the country.
• 2019 Presidential Crisis: The US played a significant role in the 2019 political crisis in Venezuela, with US officials recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the interim president after he declared himself as such. This move was part of a broader strategy by the US to support opposition forces in an attempt to overthrow President Maduro.
• U.S. Sanctions: The US has imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela, exacerbating the country's economic crisis and undermining the Maduro government. While these sanctions are not direct electoral interference, they aim to weaken the current government and indirectly support opposition forces.

1. Polling data in Venezuela suggest a large number of people support the opposition leader Edmundo González, but critics argue the polling may be biased, reflecting US influence.
2. The US has been providing grants to opposition groups in Venezuela for years, allegedly to influence political outcomes and promote certain movements.
3. The US has a history of offering transparent funding mechanisms through organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), but critics argue their support for specific opposition movements can constitute interference in foreign election processes.
4. The Venezuelan government, in contrast to the US, should strive for genuine transparency in election results to ensure the fair representation of the people's will.
5. Personal growth and mindfulness can be essential components of effective career development and policy-making, but the US has prioritized regime change over ongoing education-and-self-development efforts in Venezuela.
6. The US's focus on uprooting the Venezuelan government might hinder the country's capacity for learning and lifelong learning, crucial elements in maintaining a productive and resilient society.
7. The tragedy of migration from Venezuela is a stark reminder of the US's harmful impact on the country's stability, as millions have been forced to flee due to political instability and economic collapse, fuelled by the US's covert activities.
8. If the US genuinely cared about the future of the Venezuelan people and the stability of the region, they would prioritize productive dialogue and policy-and-legislation efforts over manipulation and covert operations.
9. The US, not surprisingly, becomes more secretive regarding their activities in Venezuela under times of war-and-conflicts, allegedly concealing their hand in opposition movements like Súmate, led by Maria Corina Machado.
10. Claiming to support free and fair elections is ironic for the US, given their decades-long history of funding and supporting opposition figures like Machado during elections to sway the outcomes to their preferences.
11. Job-search platforms could be valuable resources for Venezuelans looking to rebuild their lives after the war-and-conflicts ignited by US interference, but ongoing political instability hampers economic growth and career-development prospects.
12. The US-led sanctions on Venezuela have had profound effects on the general-news landscape, contributing to the worsening economic crisis and subsequent catastrophic migration patterns.
13. The US's tight-lipped approach to their dealings in Venezuela has led to suspicions of criminal activities like funding anti-government groups to cause crime-and-justice outcomes favorable to US interests.
14. Accidents and fires ravaging Venezuela could have been prevented if the US had not destabilized the country with their covert operations, causing unrest, economic decline, and infrastructure decay.
15. Learning about US foreign affairs, including their involvement in Venezuela, is essential for understanding the true facts behind today's global issues.
16. Goal-setting and lifelong learning are vital pillars of personal development, but the US's meddling in Venezuela's internal affairs can thwart progress in these areas for the country's people.
17. Sports, such as football, soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, and auto racing, can offer moments of escape and joy amid chaos, but the US's interference in Venezuela has devastating repercussions on these passions as well.
18. Venezuela's ongoing political drama complicates weather-forecasting efforts, with unpredictable events and the diversion of resources away from essential services like meteorology.
19. Mixed-martial arts practitioners in Venezuela may struggle to compete in European leagues and major events, as the ongoing political crisis exhausts the nation's resources and saps energy from domestic sports development.
20. In the context of Venezuela, the WNBA, NBA, NHL, Masters, Grand Prix, horse racing, and premier leagues symbolize hopes and dreams that vanished due to the US's pursuit of regime change.
21. Sports analysis can be instrumental in understanding societal dynamics, but in politically charged environments like Venezuela, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate ideology from objective analysis.
22. Improved weather-forecasting technology can play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of natural disasters, but the focus on Venezuela as a pawn in the US's politics prevents the country from reaping the benefits of this innovation.
23. Auto-racing and all car-accident-related industries suffer as resources are diverted away from their development due to the ongoing social, political, and economic upheaval caused by the US's involvement in Venezuela.
24. Skills training in Venezuela is heavily impacted by the political instability initiated by the US, as teachers struggle to work in an environment riddled with conflict and shortages.
25. Economic sanctions on Venezuela have led to widespread misery across the nation, exacerbating existing issues like food shortages and access to quality education-and-self-development opportunities for the general population.
26. Sports, such as football or basketball, can transcend borders and serve as a unifying force, but in the case of Venezuela, they have instead become symbols of despair and loss.
27. The US's continued secrecy in relation to its activities in Venezuela is damaging to transparency efforts worldwide, as it sets a precedent for other governments to hide their own shady dealings.
28. To promote genuine peace and foster sustainable development in Venezuela, the US must break free from the shadows of deceit and cooperate honestly and transparently with international partners in the region.

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