US declares Venezuela a national security threat; Sanctions Top Officials

The United States on Monday declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013.

U.S. President Barack Obama issued and signed the executive order, which senior administration officials said did not target Venezuela's energy sector or broader economy. But the move stokes tensions between Washington and Caracas just as U.S. relations with Cuba, a longtime U.S. foe in Latin America and key ally to Venezuela, are set to be normalized.

US declares Venezuela a national security threat; Sanctions Top Officials

Declaring any country a threat to national security is the first step in starting a U.S. sanctions program. The same process has been followed with countries such as Iran and Syria, U.S. officials said.

The White House said the order targeted people whose actions undermined democratic processes or institutions, had committed acts of violence or abuse of human rights, were involved in prohibiting or penalizing freedom of expression, or were government officials involved in public corruption.

"Venezuelan officials past and present who violate the human rights of Venezuelan citizens and engage in acts of public corruption will not be welcome here, and we now have the tools to block their assets and their use of U.S. financial systems," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.

"We are deeply concerned by the Venezuelan government's efforts to escalate intimidation of its political opponents. Venezuela's problems cannot be solved by criminalizing dissent," he added.

Whelp, they started whipping out their wee-wee's and measuring them to see who had the bigger one, I knew this step was inevitable eventually. It was just a matter of time, really. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I notice we haven't heard anything from Venezuela on the pilot and other Americans they claim to have "captured". A game of theirs is to claim they have captured some of our people, then tee hee like girls when asked for proof of life. One of these days, they're going to cry wolf enough times, that when they DO capture someone, no one is going to believe them because of the games being played beforehand.

The White House said the order targeted people whose actions undermined democratic processes or institutions, had committed acts of violence or abuse of human rights, were involved in prohibiting or penalizing freedom of expression, or were government officials involved in public corruption.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. It's like when they get mad about another country not honoring treaties when they have over 300 with the original people of this land that they haven't honored.

Could be an end-around ruse by Obama.

Will be checking into the names of the sanctioned and their affiliations.

Could be a deep hole to dig.

I don't trust Obama.

There's a hidden agenda with this I believe.

Read that very wrong, my bad.

a reply to: Domo1

Lol. I've done that, too.

Another ally of Russia being targeted
Not very 'Democratic ' of them meddling with the affairs of multiple sovereign nations

a reply to: Anyafaj

Well, there goes another democratically elected government that refuse to cow-toe to the indispensable one.

Venezuela.

... oil

... gold

Gosh, it sounds like the perfect country to hit with sanctions, declare them a dictatorship, replace their leader with an allied puppet, undermine its sovereignty, and start a fight with.


Step 1: Send in secret American espionage groups to stir up civil unrest
Step 2: Allow the saboteurs to get caught
Step 3: Declare the country is imprisoning innocent Americans
Step 4: Declare the leader is an evil dictator
Step 5: Start slapping sanctions everywhere
Step 6: Begin process of getting rid of said dictator


Yup.

So far, so good.

It's all playing out like clockwork.

Hmm, quite interesting.

So if your a National Security threat you get sanctioned.

I wonder how many more countries he will end up finding to be a National Security threat.

We could probably turn this into a game, if we like. Place bets on who he sanctions next.

Only at ATS can people ignore what has been going on in a country for over a decade while the US pretty much ignored the problem and then when the US decides to santions a few people it suddenly is all a US plot. If the US was really that interested in Venezuala they would have backed Columbia rolling them a few years ago when they were caught arming and giving bases to rebels in Columbia. Now that Venezuaela is nearing a failed state of course the US is going act to try get something new going on there that avoids its allies in Colombia, Guyana and Brazil being flooded with refugees if things keep going like they are there.

Yet more strife, cant we all just get along!

I notice our oil folks are never on the chopping block while other countries are, makes one wonder dont it?

a reply to: MrSpad

Finally I see Obama doing a good thing.
Even if I consider it a shy move.

a reply to: MrSpad

Chavez was an strong leader, this guy Maduro is very ignorant, he will panic and bend over.

originally posted by: CharlesT
a reply to: Anyafaj

Well, there goes another democratically elected government that refuse to cow-toe to the indispensable one.

You can't be talking about Venezuela.

a reply to: Anyafaj

it is starting to be very tiring
yawn sanctions
who can impose sanctions on USA ? has anyone done that? can anyone? just so we are fair

When you happen to own the world reserve currency you can kill many without firing a shot .In my life time the US has acted against economically ,those that would not tow Washington's dictates . This what should be considered both a privileged and responsibility status has turned into a house of greed .With the realization of the BRICS system nearing it implementation the US only has it's sanctions to use in the tool box .

BBC says "Foreign ministers from 12 South American nations gathering in Caracas have promised to help Venezuela overcome an ongoing shortage of food, medicine and other products." I wonder if that is actually true ? If true then what would the sanctions be about ? Oh that's right to punish high ranking people with money .

"The government had never had such a large deficit [in the polls] heading into an election. Now it does. How does it change that? It rigs the game," said Mr Capriles.
Mr Maduro said the elections would go ahead as planned.
He has recently accused the opposition and the United States of plotting a coup against his government.
The mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, was arrested last month and has been charged with conspiracy.
Mr Maduro accuses Venezuela's business elite of boycotting his government.
Last month, owners of several chains of supermarkets of drugstores were arrested for allegedly artificially creating long queues

www.bbc.com...

I found this "Don’t Believe Media Coverage of Venezuela" and thought well yea we have come to trust the MSM as being a tool of tptb so we should at least hear any voice relating to what might be going on ..

"March 06, 2015 "ICH" - "Truthdig" - Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the U.S. have just taken a big hit, with the government of Nicolas Maduro demanding that the American Embassy in Caracasreduce its staff by 80% and that U.S. visitors apply for visas."

Looks like strong language . I wonder why this call ? "Most symbolically, Venezuela has now barred a number of U.S. officials from visiting, including George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. The backdrop to these political moves is a new crisis within Venezuela that has an old script: right-wing leaders plan a coup, with the U.S. deeply implicated; wealthy protesters take to the streets; and the Western media cover both stories with great sympathy while openly mocking the democratically elected government for attempting to defend itself."

Hard to imagine that Bush and Cheney would even want to go there .They dont get a great welcome from Canadians when they come here ,so I can sympathize with them on that count . We know that there has been a coup attempt there in the past that failed but that doesn't mean they wouldn't try again . I noticed in the BBC picture that yea those demonstrating didn't look like poor under fed people so there is a disconnect .

"The latest crisis began when authorities acting on Maduro’s orders arrested Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma in mid-February. A well-known right-wing opposition figure, Ledezma will face trial for conspiracy against the government in what is now being called the “blue coup.” Among the pieces ofevidence the government says it has collected are phone calls made by the mayor to a U.S. phone number, as well as a cache of weapons, including Molotov cocktails, grenade-like explosives and gas masks, found in the office headquarters of the opposition political party." Sounds like how the Ukraine started out and oh yea look at the color .

www.informationclearinghouse.info...

Like most of these things we hear about through MSM as well as alternative media we will want to keep a eye on the pea and find trust-able sources . We know the sanctions are not to help the people but only a tool to foment tensions on the people to turn them against the leaders .

a reply to: Trueman

Didn't I read some where they held an election in 2013?

Maybe it was this.
Venezuelan presidential election, 2013
www.ask.com...

Or maybe this one.
Maduro’s pyrrhic victory
www.economist.com...

No, I believe it was this article.

Venezuela Election
www.huffingtonpost.com...

originally posted by: CranialSponge
Venezuela.

... oil

... gold

Gosh, it sounds like the perfect country to hit with sanctions, declare them a dictatorship, replace their leader with an allied puppet, undermine its sovereignty, and start a fight with.


Step 1: Send in secret American espionage groups to stir up civil unrest
Step 2: Allow the saboteurs to get caught
Step 3: Declare the country is imprisoning innocent Americans
Step 4: Declare the leader is an evil dictator
Step 5: Start slapping sanctions everywhere
Step 6: Begin process of getting rid of said dictator


Yup.

So far, so good.

It's all playing out like clockwork.

Yup, They don't even try to hide the recipe anymore.

It reads like a cook book.

Peace

originally posted by: CharlesT
a reply to: Trueman

Didn't I read some where they held an election in 2013?

Maybe it was this.
Venezuelan presidential election, 2013
www.ask.com...

Or maybe this one.
Maduro’s pyrrhic victory
www.economist.com...

No, I believe it was this article.

Venezuela Election
www.huffingtonpost.com...

All fake.

...and you know it.