Eva Golinger: US Government led by Obama Is Preparing for War in South America
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By Mike Whitney
Information Clearing House
Friday, Dec 18, 2009
Interview with Eva Golinger
Mike Whitney----The US media is
very critical of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He's frequently
denounced as "anti-American", a "leftist strongman", and a dictator.
Can you briefly summarize some of the positive social, economic and
judicial changes for which Chavez is mainly responsible?
Eva Golinger----The first and foremost important achievement during the
Chávez administration is the 1999 Constitution, which, although not
written nor decreed by Chávez himself, was created through his vision
of change for Venezuela. The 1999 Constitution was, in fact, drafted -
written - by the people of Venezuela in one of the most participatory
examples of nation building, and then was ratified through popular
national referendum by 75% of Venezuelans. The 1999 Constitution is one
of the most advanced in the world in the area of human rights. It
guarantees the rights to housing, education, healthcare, food,
indigenous lands, languages, women's rights, worker's rights, living
wages and a whole host of other rights that few other countries
recognize on a national level. My favorite right in the Venezuelan
Constitution is the right to a dignified life. That pretty much sums up
all the others. Laws to implement these rights began to surface in
2001, with land reform, oil industry redistribution, tax laws and the
creation of more than a dozen social programs - called missions -
dedicated to addressing the basic needs of Venezuela's poor majority.
In 2003, the first missions were directed at education and healthcare.
Within two years, illiteracy was eradicated in the country and
Venezuela was certified by UNESCO as a nation free of illiteracy. This
was done with the help of a successful Cuban literacy program called
"Yo si puedo" (Yes I can). Further educational missions were created to
provide free universal education from primary to doctoral levels
throughout the country. Today, Venezuela's population is much more
educated than before, and adults who previously had no high school
education now are encouraged to not only go through a secondary school
program, but also university and graduate school.
The healthcare program, called "Barrio Adentro", has not only provided
preventive healthcare to all Venezuelans - many who never had access to
a doctor before - but also has guaranteed universal, free access to
medical attention at the most advanced levels. MRIs, heart surgery, lab
work, cancer treatments, are all provided free of cost to anyone
(including foreigners) in need. Some of the most modern clinics,
diagnostic treatment centers and hospitals have been built in the past
five years under this program, placing Venezuela at the forefront of
medical technology.
Other programs providing subsidized food and consumer products (Mercal,
Pdval), job training (Mission Vuelvan Caras), subsidies to poor, single
mothers (Madres del Barrio), attention to indigents and drug addicts
(Mission Negra Hipolita) have reduced extreme poverty by 50% and raised
Venezuelans standard of living and quality of life. While nothing is
perfect, these changes are extraordinary and have transformed Venezuela
into a nation far different from what it looked like 10 years ago. In
fact, the most important achievement that Hugo Chávez himself is
directly responsible for is the level of participation in the political
process. Today, millions of Venezuelans previously invisible and
excluded are visible and included. Those who were always marginalized
and ignored in Venezuela by prior governments today have a voice, are
seen and heard, and are actively participating in the building of a new
economic, political and social model in their country.
2 MW---On Monday, President Chavez threw a Venezuelan judge in jail on
charges of abuse of power for freeing a high-profile banker. Do you
think he overstepped his authority as executive or violated the
principle of separation of powers? What does this say about Chavez's
resolve to fight corruption?
Eva Golinger----President Chávez did not put anyone in jail. Venezuela
has an Attorney General and an independent branch of government in
charge of public prosecutions. Chávez did publicly accuse the judge of
corruption and violating the law because that judge overstepped her
authority by releasing an individual charged with corruption and other
criminal acts from detention, despite the fact that a previous court
had not granted conditional freedom or bail to the suspect. And, the
judge released the suspect in a very irregular way, without the
presence of the prosecutor, and through a back door. The suspect then
fled the country.
This is part of Venezuela's fight against corruption. Unfortunately -
as in a lot of countries - corruption is deeply rooted in the culture.
The struggle to eradicate corruption is probably the most difficult of
all and will probably not be achieved until new generations have grown
up with different values and education. In the meantime, the Chávez
administration is trying hard to ensure that corrupt public officials
pay the consequences. That judge, for example, engaged in an act of
corruption and abuse of authority by illegally releasing a suspect and
therefore was charged by the Public Prosecutor's office and will be
tried. It has nothing to do with what Chávez said or didn't say, it has
to do with enforcing the law.
3 MW---Why is the United States building military bases in Colombia? Do
they pose a threat to Chavez or the Bolivarian Revolution?
Eva Golinger----On October 30th, the US formally entered into an
agreement with the Colombian government to allow US access to seven
military bases in Colombia and unlimited use of Colombian territory for
military operations. The agreement itself is purported to be directed
at counter-narcotics operations and counter-terrorism. But a US Air
Force document released earlier this year discussing the need for a
stronger US military presence in Colombia revealed the true intentions
behind the military agreement. The document stated that the US military
presence was necessary to combat the "constant threat from anti-US
governments in the region". Clearly, that is a reference to Venezuela,
and probably Bolivia, maybe Ecuador. It's no secret that Washington
considers the Venezuelan government anti-US, though it's not true.
Venezuela is anti-imperialist, but not anti-US. The US Air Force
document also stated that the Colombian bases would be used to engage
in "full spectrum military operations" throughout South America, and
even talked about surveillance, intelligence and reconnaisance
missions, and improving the capacity of US forces to execute
"expeditionary warfare" in Latin America.
Clearly, this is a threat to the peoples of Latin America and
particularly those nations targeted, such as Venezuela. Most people in
the US don't know about this military agreement, but it they did, they
should question why their government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner
Barack Obama, is preparing for war in South America. And, in the midst
of an economic crisis with millions of people in the US losing jobs and
homes, why are millions of dollars being spent on military bases in
Colombia? The US Congress already approved $46 million for one of the
bases in Colombia. And surely more funds will be supplied in the
future.
4 MW---What is ALBA? Is it a viable alternative to the "free trade" blocs promoted by the US?
Eva Golinger----The Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas - Trade
Agreement for the People, is a regional agreement created five years
ago between Venezuela and Cuba, and now has 9 members: Bolivia, Cuba,
Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica. ALBA is a trade agreement
based on integration, cooperation and solidarity, contrary to US trade
agreements which are based on competition and exploitation. It promotes
a way of trading between nations that assures mutual benefits. For
example, Venezuela sells oil to Cuba and Cuba pays with services -
doctors, educators and technological experts that help to improve
Venezuela's industries. Venezuela sells oil to Nicaragua and Nicaragua
pays with food products, agricultural technology and aide to build
Venezuela's own agricultural industry, which long ago was abandoned by
prior governments only interested in the rich oil industry. ALBA seeks
to not just provide economic benefits to its member nations, but also
social and cultural advances. The idea is to find ways to help members
develop and progress in all aspects of society. ALBA recently created a
new currency, the SUCRE, which will be used as a form of exchange
between member nations, eliminating the US dollar as the standard for
trade.
5 MW---Are US NGO's and intelligence agents still trying to foment
political instability in Venezuela or have those operations ceased
since the failed coup?
Eva Golinger----In fact, the funding of political groups in Venezuela,
and others throughout Latin America that promote US agenda, has
increased since the April 2002 coup against President Chávez. Through
two principal Department of State agencies, USAID and the National
Endowment for Democracy (NED), the US government has channeled more
than $50 million to opposition groups in Venezuela since 2002. The
USAID/NED budget to fund groups in Venezuela in 2010 is nearly $15
million, doubled from last year's $7 million. This is a state policy of
Washington, which the Obama Administration plans to amp up. They call
it "democracy promotion", but it's really democracy subversion and
destabilization. Funding political groups favorable to Empire,
equipping them with resources, strategizing to help formulate political
platforms and campaigns - all geared towards regime change - is a new
form of invasion, a silent invasion. Through USAID and NED, and their
"partner NGOs" and contractors, such as Freedom House, International
Republican Institute, National Democratic Institute, Pan-American
Development Foundation and Development Alternatives, Inc., hundreds of
political groups, parties and programs are presently being funded in
Venezuela to promote regime change against the Chávez government. US
taxpayer dollars are being squandered on these efforts to overthrow a
democratically elected government that simply isn't convenient for
Washington. Remember, Venezuela has 24% of world oil reserves. That's a
lot!
6 MW---How hard has Venezuela been hit by the economic crisis? Do the
people understand Wall Street's role in the meltdown?
Eva Golinger----Actually, the Chávez government has taken important
steps to shelter Venezuela from the financial crisis. People here in
Venezuela absolutely understand Wall Street's role in the crisis and
know that the US capitalist-consumerist system is principally
responsible for causing the financial crisis, but also the climate
crisis that the world is facing. The Venezuelan government took
preventive steps against the financial crisis, such as withdrawing
Venezuela's reserves from US banks two years ago, creating cushion
funds to ensure social programs would not be cut and diversifying
Venezuela's oil clientele so as not to be dependent solely on US
clients. Recently, several banks have been nationalized by the
Venezuelan government and others have been liquidated. But this was
more due to the mismanagement and internal corruption within those
banks. The Venezuelan government reacted quickly to take over the banks
and guarantee customers' savings would not be lost. In fact, it's the
first time in Venezuela's history that no customers have lost any of
their money during a bank liquidation or takeover. This is part of the
Chávez Administration's policy of prioritizing social needs over
economic gain.
7 MW---Here's an excerpt from a special weekend report by Bloomberg News:
"Americans have grown gloomier about both the economy and the nation’s
direction over the past three months even as the U.S. shows signs of
moving from recession to recovery. Almost half the people now feel less
financially secure than when President Barack Obama took office in
January...Fewer than 1 in 3 Americans think the economy will improve in
the next six months....Only 32 percent of poll respondents believe the
country is headed in the right direction, down from 40 percent who said
so in September." (Bloomberg)
The frustration and disillusionment with the US political/economic
system has never been greater in my lifetime. Do you think people in
the United States are ready for their own Bolivarian Revolution and
steps towards a more progressive, socialistic model of government?
Eva Golinger----The rise of Barack Obama neutralized a growing
sentiment for profound change inside the US. Hopefully, the slowdown in
US activism will only be temporary. South of the border, there is
tremendous change taking place. New social, political and economic
models are being built by popular grassroots movements in Venezuela,
Bolivia and other Latin American nations that seek economic and social
justice. I believe strongly that models in process, like the Bolivarian
Revolution, provide inspiration and hope to those in the US and around
the world that alternatives to US capitalism do exist and can be
successful.
The US has a rich history of revolution. There are many groups inside
the US dedicated to building a better, more humanist system. Unity and
a collective vision are essential aspects of building a strong movement
capable of moving forward. Every nation has its moment in history. This
is the time of Latin America. But there is great hope that the people
of the US will soon unite with their brothers and sisters south of the
border to bring down Empire and help build a true world community based
on social and economic justice for all.
Bio.--- Eva Golinger, winner of the International Award for Journalism
in Mexico (2009), named “La Novia de Venezuela” by President Hugo
Chávez, is a Venezuelan-American attorney from New York, living in
Caracas, Venezuela since 2005 and author of the best-selling books,
“The Chávez Code: Cracking US Intervention in Venezuela” (2006 Olive
Branch Press), “Bush vs. Chávez: Washington’s War on Venezuela” (2007,
Monthly Review Press), “The Empire’s Web: Encyclopedia of
Interventionism and Subversion”, “La Mirada del Imperio sobre el 4F:
Los Documentos Desclasificados de Washington sobre la rebelión militar
del 4 de febrero de 1992” and "La Agresión Permanente: USAID, NED y
CIA". Since 2003, Eva, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and CUNY
Law School in New York, has been investigating, analyzing and writing
about US intervention in Venezuela using the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) to obtain information about the US Government’s efforts to
destabilize progressive movements in Latin America. Her first book, The
Chávez Code, has been translated and published in six languages
(English, Spanish, French, German, Italian & Russian) and is
presently being made into a feature film.
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