VFP Members Visit Venezuela with U.S./Canada Peace Delegation by Gerry Condon

VFP Members Visit Venezuela with U.S./Canada Peace Delegation by Gerry Condon

Former VFP Board member Dan Shea and I had the honor of representing Veterans For Peace on a recent U.S./Canada peace delegation to Venezuela, organized by the U.S. Peace Council.  The purpose of the delegation was to express our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and their elected government, which is resisting a multi-pronged attack from right wing oligarchs supported by the U.S. government.

The Trump administration has openly trumpeted its intentions to overthrown the democratically elected socialist-leaning government of Venezuela and replace it with a right wing government that will collaborate with U.S. corporations to plunder the largest known oil reserves in the country, along with huge deposits of gold, diamonds and rare minerals (hence the interest of Canada and its huge mining companies).

The delegation’s arrival to Venezuela’s capital Caracas was hampered by another U.S. attack – this time on the nation’s electrical grid – which caused a nationwide blackout that went on for 6 days.  The Venezuelan government says it has evidence that this was a cyber attack initiated from Chicago and Houston. There were simultaneous electro-magnetic attacks and bombs at several key generating stations.  The U.S. denies any involvement Senator Marco Rubio and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were already gloating as the attack began.  It is certainly true that Venezuela’s electrical grid was already in precarious condition.  This is largely due to years of punishing U.S. sanctions which have crippled Venezuela’s ability to maintain its vital infrastructure.
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