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https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/what-is-happening-in-venezuela-33175 ANF takes a clear position against the attempted coup in Venezuela: "Legitimate Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, has been elected last May with 67% of consensus in free, democratic and legal elections. It’s worth noticing that Maduro defeated the other three candidates. It was not a farcical election with just one candidate. Indeed three opposition candidates presented themselves. It could be argued that in fact Maduro also won because the opposition was divided and unable to set behind them differences and see the bigger picture. But this, as it is, was not Maduro’s problem. Maduro run the elections and won. And this is a fact.... "The US tried to disguise their intention to plunder Venezuela’s oil at all costs, by saying that there is a humanitarian problem in Venezuela. Indeed there is a humanitarian problem, caused precisely by those, US first, strangling the economy of the Latin American country by imposing sanctions and blocking trade of vital products, namely medicines, food and other primary needs". However ANF criticises Venezuela's choice of allies: "Maduro is someone hard to like, indeed his choice of allies especially abroad, shows how opportunistic and also desperate he is. He feels no shame in teaming up with Erdogan or Iran despite their poor record when it comes to human rights (and this is a euphemism)". This reminds me of the saying "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones", given the alliance between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the US to fight against ISIS and deter a Turkish invasion. Both Venezuela and the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria are surrounded by hostile forces and feel the need to look for any possible allies, even reactionary ones. They both take advantage of the rivalries amongst the imperialist powers. In Venezuela's case this means seeking aid from Russia and other countries that are in conflict with US imperialism, such as Iran and Turkey. In the case of northeast Syria, the Democratic Autonomous administration is willing to talk to both the US and Russia about measures to deter a Turkish invasion. Turkey's relations with the United States deteriorated after the US began supporting the YPG/YPJ and the SDF against ISIS, beginning in late 2014. Erdogan saw ISIS as a force that could be used to destroy Rojava, and was angry that the US prevented this from happening. Later Erdogan suspected the US of involvement in the 2016 attempted coup against him. This helps explain Turkey's support for Maduro. There may also be economic motives. Chris Slee _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
