Tuesday, June 07, 2005
VHeadline commentarist Carlos Herrera writes: That servant of the Bush regime and pawn of the fascist oligarchy and private mass media in Venezuela has made a spectacular return to mediocrity with his attack on Richard Gott's article and published today in the infamous London-based hate-Venezuela website. The article is merely an excuse to create a resume of Coronel's twisted view of Venezuelan reality with the specific purpose of deceiving and misleading the English-speaking world and divulging a negative picture of the Bolivarian Revolution and its leader, President Hugo Chavez Frias.
Coronel commences his tirade by writing about Gott:
"The article by Gott is interesting because, (he is) trying to be obsequious to the point of servility"
The aim here by Coronel is to create a frame of mind in the reader that Gott is simply a servant or serf of the "regime," and thus cannot be objective. Gott is simply defending the scenario he as he sees it in Venezuela which is a general defense of the process. Thus, Gott by defending the Venezuelan process is "servile" to Chavez and lacks objectivity.
Next pearl from Coronel: "Chavez has already been in total political control of Venezuela for almost seven years."
Chavez is the democratically and constitutionally elected, and twice ratified, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by wide margins each time. He is Head of the Executive branch of the government. These are four other branches of government, each of them independent. The ongoing contention of writers such as Coronel is to imply that Chavez controls all the state powers -- "total political control" -- and is hence a "dictator."
Where is the evidence, Mr. Coronel?
There is none. The only evidence ever presented is that heads of the institutions sympathize with government policies and are not hell bent on promoting another coup d'etat or destabilizing the country. Can you provide documented evidence that Chavez is interfering in the other independent branches of government? I do not think so - you just work with gossip and rumor, which is your forte.
Coronel then continues misleading the readers by stating, with no explanation:
"The poverty rate under the Chavez regime has increased, according to official figures, by 10%. This means that, while Chavez has been in power, over two and a half million additional Venezuelans have joined the legion of the poor."
I refer readers to my recent article on poverty and human development in Venezuela published on May 15th in VHeadline"Sorry Mr. Thompson, you’ll have to do more research; bring reasonable facts," which explains in clear terms the "matrix of opinion" on the situation of poverty in Venezuela that lying hacks such as Coronel want to spread throughout the English speaking world by using Goebbelian tactics to make a lie stick with no explanation or background by repeating it a thousand times
Next exaggeration:
"This has taken place in spite of the US$152 billion that Chávez has received from oil exports and from doubling our national debt."
The Venezuelan government has in fact received since 1999 approximately US$70 billion from PDVSA - including US$16 billion in 2004 after the government had consolidated its control after the crippling bosses' lockout and oil industry sabotage which cost the country US$30 billion in lost income from oil and industrial production. (Coronel supported this criminal and traitorous action, making him one and the same as the people who engineered it).
Internal debt has risen by approximately US$8 billion since Chavez came to power ... but international reserves are almost US$28 billion at present. Thus, all in all, excluding tax revenues, the government has received US$78 billion ... almost half of what Coronel claims.
The big lie is to make the government appear completely inefficient and even embezzlers, stealing state funds. Coronel was a director of the Venezuelan Guyana Corporation (CVG) when it was a hotbed of corruption and scandal, and he has the gall to continue criticizing this government. The pot calling the kettle black. What a lying hypocrite.
Coronel continues with an unsubstantiated assertion:
"Let me add, Mr. Gott, that abandoned street children are now more numerous than before the "revolution." What kind of a revolution is this that creates more poverty and more abandoned children?"
Coronel provides no evidence that there are more abandoned street children in Venezuela, even though it is still a social problem. In fact, there are social workers in every city working to try to solve this tricky problem. You cannot just put these children in a home and lock them away. They will escape and go back to the streets. Coronel's solution would be to pick them up like stray dogs and lock them up out of sight, in line with the attitude that the only crime in pre Chavez Venezuela was "being poor." That is the typical fascist, cruel mentality and lack of humanity his ilk demonstrated when they were in power.
Referring to the Cuban doctors in the Barrio Adentro mission, Coronel states:
"The 20,000 doctors are mostly Cuban. Venezuelans would be happier if medical advice from them was not accompanied by political indoctrination (a strategy called "ideological literacy" by the regime."
Coronel lives in Washington D.C. and has never visited a Barrio Adentro unit. I, on the other hand, know patients and Cuban doctors here in the provinces and there in no indoctrination as Coronel maintains. He has no evidence and is lying through his teeth.
He continues with more unsubstantiated "reports":
"Reports indicate that over 1,000 of these doctors have already defected the ranks of the revolution, looking for political freedom."
The only "evidence" presented on this assertion was in a Miami newspaper as political propaganda and picked up by the oligarch controlled press here. That is why Coronel uses the words "Reports indicate". Not good enough to discredit the most humanistic social program ever installed in the history of Venezuela, Mr. Coronel.
The next attack is against Mission Mercal which is feeding at least 12 million Venezuelans at non-speculative and subsidized prices of basic foodstuffs:
"What Mr. Gott calls "supermarkets" are rather modest food distribution outlets, handing out mostly imported food, often wrapped in bags with "revolutionary" slogans. This food distribution program is already rampant with bureaucratic corruption, as you could find out if you read Venezuelan newspapers. Food production in Venezuela has dropped significantly during the Chávez regime due to the existence of rigid foreign exchange controls limiting imports of agricultural equipment and fertilizers and to the arbitrary invasions of land under production by Chávez followers who are protected by the military."
Mission Mercal has many styles of food outlets. The SuperMercals are supermarkets. Mercal type 1 and type 2 exist. The size depends on the size of the community each outlet serves. Thus, some are smaller, some are larger. There exists a system of Mercal corner shops (bodegas) where a regular Mercal has not been built. There are literally thousands of Mercals (13,000 of all types) and the regular supermarket chains have lost market share.
Food is not "handed out" as Coronel writes, but sold at "solidarity prices." Some food is imported as Venezuela still depends upon imported food. So what?
By 2009, instead of importing 70% of seeds from abroad, Venezuela will import 30% since agriculture, all but abandoned from 1958 to 1998 will have been revitalized by the cooperative movement and the ending of millions of acres of fallow and unused lands, belonging to the rich and who were and still are the main importers of food from abroad. These oligopolies have made millions of dollars over the years, exploiting the Venezuelan people with profit margins between 100% to 300%, They tried to cut off the food supply to and starve the poorest in society to riot during the 2002 and 2003 sabotage. Coronel supported these tactics as well. You see what gutter morals this individual has.
The "revolutionary" slogans are on the packing and are not slogans, but Articles from the Venezuelan 1999 Constitution to make people aware of their rights and duties as Venezuelan citizens. What a twisted mind, Coronel has, blatantly lying in this way. Food production has not fallen and is rising in Venezuela. There is a surplus of rice and maize for this year. Fertilizers are provided by Pequiven, a PDVSA subsidiary and prices have been reduced by 30% to 40% on order to make food prices more economic.
There have been no "arbitrary invasions" of land (squatters, yes, which is illegal and the military is sometimes present if they are evicted) supported by the military, without a court order, since the "owners" could not produce genuine title deeds. This was generally land stolen from the State, is fallow and underused, and is being handed over to the poor peasant farmers to work and grow crops.
Next lie coming up from Coronel:
"Chavez has chosen a policy of handouts over a policy of systematic social improvement through education. In doing so, he is promoting a society of beggars, not of self-starting citizens. What passes for defense of the poor is really a strategy designed by Chavez to keep the loyalty of the masses by showering money on people."
The "handouts" Coronel refers to are in fact study grants and stipends to encourage people to study, improve themselves and have a better chance of either gaining employment or having the knowledge to set up and run a cooperative. Coronel's disdain for his own fellow Venezuelans is illustrated when he refers to them as "beggars," when in fact learning to read and write and finish high school has given people a sense of self esteem.
Chavez is correcting the structural problems caused by at least 40 years of social and educational neglect, while the country was being looted by Coronel's social class.
You do not get a grant for nothing to study. If you do badly, the grant is rescinded - showering people with money? Only the opposition has been showered with money from the NED and USAID (CIA backed organizations) to overthrow a democratically-elected government, and Coronel is still trying to contribute to this with articles such as the one I am analyzing.
Who is showering you with money, Mr. Coronel? Moises Naim, ex-Chicago Boy, and working for Foreign Policy Magazine ... one of the mouthpieces of the US government? Or the Carnegie Foundation?
Another pearl, but this time, Coronel's opinion:
"Take a look, Mr. Gott, at the offices of the Ombudsman, of the General Comptroller and the Attorney General created by Chavez. They only exist to do his bidding, not to respond to the true demands of the people. Take a look at the mediocre Petroleos de Venezuela created by Chávez if you want to see inefficiency and corruption. Take a look at the so-called Bolivarian Universities, a sad example of fraud. Take a look at the social programs collapsing under the weight of corruption. Chavez himself is indignant at the spectacle of so much waste and ineptness."
The Ombudsman and Attorney General are independent of the executive. In this part, as I mentioned, earlier, Coronel does not offer any evidence.
We're still waiting, Mr. Coronel!
PDVSA - he had to mention that. If you read the press campaign in El Nacional and El Universal, then PDVSA is only pumping 1 million barrels a day, instead of 2.64 million. Look at this link from the US government and you will see that not even they believe this pack of lies about inefficiency from Coronel.
Their figures match the governments!
Herewith the table in question: (PDVSA crude production in millions barrels/day)
| 2004 | September | 2,540 |
| October | 2,640 | |
| November | 2,540 | |
| December | 2,640 | |
| 2005 | January | 2,640 |
| February | 2,640 |
The great example about PDVSA, is that via the social fund, oil is being "sown" in Venezuelan society for the first time and in such institutions as the Bolivarian University (UBV) where the excluded from the middle class universities can study. This is working fully and not a fraud as Coronel says. No evidence, once again.
Social programs collapsing under the weight of corruption? We recognize that there are problems in some areas, but do not overstate them to make your point, Mr. Coronel. No one will believe you, as you provide no evidence, just invective.
To confirm what a traitor to his own country and his historical heritage he is, Coronel proceeds to call Zamora, a great Bolivarian hero of the poor, a "social misfit."
"Chavez resurrected a 19th century social misfit, Ezequiel Zamora, as one of the main ideological icons of his revolution. Zamora promoted a war (The Federal War) against the "rich" and the educated that left the country in ruins."
It is strange but the Federal War was never taught in school history lessons until Chavez became President. During the IV Republic, no chance could be taken to teach Venezuelan children about the struggle for social justice in Venezuela. Coronel does not say that the great beneficiaries were the mantuanos and local Venezuelan oligarchy from the Independence Wars. They just stepped into the Spaniards boots and continued to oppress the poor. This was the cause of the Federal War and Zamora led it against the exploiters and is known as the "General of the Sovereign people", but Coronel simply calls him a misfit.
Coronel now claims the following:
"To call Chavez a military dictator in the making would certainly be erroneous . .He is already one. Gott is flattering when he calls Chavez a "youthful army colonel of 51." Seven years and almost forty pounds after his arrival in power Chavez looks tired, swollen and behaves in an increasingly irritable and insulting manner"
Only the most out-of-touch with reality right wing maniacs would call Chavez a "military dictator." Does he act like Pinochet, Stroessner or Videla? Are there mass graves and thousands of "disappeared" in Venezuela? NO!
Then what on earth is Coronel talking about?
As his article progresses, he appears to be becoming more vehement and demented in his assertions and opinions. Incredible! Chavez has put on weight? And? Chavez is forthright and speaks his mind. And? What a load of bull, this man is writing. But let us not forget his objective - to contribute to the overthrow of Chavez and Venezuelan democracy by any means possible. Readers, can you really take this man seriously, knowing that this is his aim?
Our attention is now turned to the media in Venezuela:
"Gott continues: "The viciously hostile media has calmed down and those who don't like Chávez have abandoned their hopes of his immediate overthrow. "Obviously Mr. Gott is not aware that the Chavez controlled National Assembly has passed a collection of laws that severely limit the freedom of expression and which have received the repudiation of the free press and human rights organizations from all over the world. Today, publishing a "disrespectful" comment about Chavez, his family or friends, can be punished with six months to six years in prison. What constitutes disrespect? Whatever the regime feels like defining as such. In this environment of open and aggressive repression it is only logical that the media are being very cautious about what they print. The media has not calmed down, Mr. Gott, they have been gagged."
In this rant, it is important to note that Chavez does not control the National Assembly. His MVR party has 41% of the deputies and has made alliances with other parties to secure a working majority.
Sounds like parliamentary democracy, as in Germany, France or the UK doesn't it?
Blair controls the House of Commons. No!
... his party has a majority, and that is how democracy works.
For Coronel, however, he is convinced that Chavez controls everything. No evidence as usual, Another farrago of twisted lies and facts. He will soon start using the oxymoron "parliamentary dictatorship" in a desperate and futile attempt to prove that Chavez is a fascist, communist dictator, when he is in fact the world's, leading democrat having been to the polls in elections and referendums 9 times since December 1998, and wiped the floor each time with Coronel's anachronistic political class.
Press freedom in Venezuela is abundant and completely plural. What you cannot do however is to call for the military to overthrow the legitimate government on live TV or in the press, incite violence or civil disorder. That is not freedom, that is political subversion. The law about insulting the President of the Republic has existed in the Venezuelan Penal Code since at least 1913, and has recently been updated. The privately owned media in Venezuela routinely criticize the government and are entitled to do so in this throbbing democracy, where 64 thousand candidates from all parties will contest the Council Elections of August 7. The press has not been gagged at all and is operating in the framework of the Law of Social responsibility in Radio and Television, which does not cover the written word, newspapers, magazines or the Internet. Note how Coronel distorts everything to suit his purpose.
Coronel now espouses the idea of ousting Chavez using Article 350 of the Bolivarian Constitution, which was the basis for the coup d'etat in April 2002 and the lock out and oil industry sabotage from December 2002 to early February 2003.
"Those of us who are in the opposition still fervently hope to see Chavez out as quickly as possible. Gott obviously does not know that Article 350 of the current Venezuelan Constitution gives Venezuelans the right to rebel against an illegitimate regime that violates the laws of the land. This would not be 'overthrowing' a president but simply exercising a constitutional dictum. I happen to believe that a well documented legal, political, economic and social case can be made to prove that Chavez is no longer a legitimate president."
Is Coronel proposing another coup d'etat?
One could interpret his words in this way?
Well, we the Venezuelan people are waiting for you. In early 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that this twisted interpretation of Article 350 was unconstitutional, as it is being used by Coronel. There is no legal case to even indicate that Chavez is "violating the laws of the land." Everything is carried out within the context of the laws, the courts and the Constitution. This is fortunate for the coup mongers, since if Venezuelan justice were more efficient at least the 352 crème de la crème of Venezuelan high society who signed the Carmona decree on April 12, 2002 would be imprisoned by now. If Coronel is so convinced that Chavez is an illegitimate President, then make the case and prove it in the Supreme Tribunal. Only, opposition maniacs who have gone completely off the rails think in this fashion.
The following is Coronel's view of Bolivar as an historical figure:
"Gott continues: 'The ideology of Chavez' revolution is based on the writings and actions of . . . exemplary figures from the 19th century, most notably Simon Bolivar...' Only the ignorant of Venezuelan history would define someone like Zamora as an 'exemplary figure.' Giving the name of Bolivar to his repressive and populist revolution is one of the main reasons many Venezuelans detest Chavez. He said in China that "If Bolivar had known Mao he would have been a Maoist" and said in Russia that Bolivar would have been a communist if he had lived at this time. This abuse of the name of Bolivar is both unforgivable to us Venezuelans and historically absurd. Bolivar was a white aristocrat, not a populist mestizo, like Chavez claims. He led an army that included many Spaniards and other Europeans who came to fight for their ideals, sometimes against the native Venezuelans who sided with the Spanish army. In many ways the Venezuelan independence war was a civil war, certainly not one of whites against blacks. Bolivar was strongly opposed to the rule of the mob, while Chávez promotes a mobocracy. Bolivar opposed the military control of political institutions, while Chavez is militarizing our political institutions."
First of all, Zamora was seeking to liberate the poor and recover lands annexed by the oligarchy. That is why Zamora's maxim was "Free lands, and free men," since nothing had changed after the Spanish were expelled up to 1859 when the Federal War began. "Repressive and populist revolution" - no one has been locked up or disappeared in Venezuela since Chavez came to power for their political beliefs.
This is in contrast to the regimes of Betancourt, Leoni, Caldera, and Carlos Andres Perez amongst others form 1961 to 1998, when up to 10,000 Venezuelans were disappeared, tortured and killed for these reasons.
Is this the sort of return to the past that Coronel desires so much?
I see Chavez as "popular" not "populist" as his 70%+ popularity rating shows according to opposition pollsters, Datanalysis. He is only "populist" since he speaks the language of the people and not the pseudo intellectual bull of the opposition, which no one, or hardly anyone believes these days.
I suggest that Coronel read the history book by Juan Bosch "Bolivar and the Social War" where it is clearly documented that the Independence War was a race war to wipe out the ruling mantuano class by the darker skinned population. That is why the Venezuelans followed the Spanish General Tomas Boves, since they saw the mantuanos as the enemy and not the Spaniards. Bolivar harnessed the fury of the population to oppose the Spanish Empire and one of the reasons he led them to the campaign of the South was to prevent the wholesale extermination of the mantuano class, where he had his roots.
I do not see the "mob" creating any problems in Venezuela at present. In fact, the "mob" are the classes D and E who support Chavez and who Coronel refers disrespectfully as "beggars" as they are benefiting from the Social Missions.
If you speak to anyone from the "mob," they are fully aware of what is happening in Venezuela, support the Constitution and their President.
Society in Venezuela is based around a strong "military-civic" unity to protect the country, its institutions, the Constitution, the oil industry installations from subversive and insurgent acts and threats from foreign powers.
Constitutionally, every Venezuelan is obliged to defend the homeland and if you want to label this "militarization," all well and good.
Coronel writes in such a way that "militarizing" anything sounds like a threat, when it is in fact a guarantee of freedom for the people in institutional terms. No political institutions are being militarized - this is another blatant fabrication by Coronel.
Land reform is going ahead, legally. Coronel continues dreaming:
"Mr. Gott should do well in talking with the owners of Hato Pinero, a cattle ranch in full production and one of the largest ecological sanctuaries in Latin America. This ranch has been intervened by the Chavez regime, in order to be given over to the peasants. Hato Pinero had been dedicated by its owners, for over 50 years, to the protection of thousand of animal species, which now run the risk of being hunted down for food by people without a conservationist culture. What is most tragic is that the lands of Hato Pinero are not suitable for agriculture."
Land reform as outlined in the 1999 Land Law is to eradicate idle tracts of land and give it over to crops to guarantee "food sovereignty" in Venezuela. The case of Hato Pinero is emblematic. Purchased by the British Vestey family at the beginning of the 20th century, this farm could not produce title deeds to all the land it was occupying. The law was applied and parts of this farm have been handed over to the peasant farmers to grow crops. Most of the farm was idle and this is illegal under the Land Law. The Land Institute also discovered that it was a myth that this was an ecological paradise.
- Coronel's contention that the animal species will be hunted down by people without a conservationist culture is just speculation.
What he is really saying is that the "savage peasantry" will kill anything that moves, which fits in with his socially racist attitude towards the poor as uneducated and despicable. Agricultural production is rising in Venezuela, make no mistake about that.
In my view, Land Institute President, Captain Eliecer Otaiza is one of the "The Heroes of the Bolivarian Revolution". Read this article to get a better idea about him and his commitment to the Venezuelan people.
Let’s analyze this assertion from Coronel:
"Companies are being expropriated or confiscated. Recent examples include Venepal, a manufacturer of paper products and the Compania Nacional de Valvulas, a valve manufacturer for the petroleum industry. Thousands of small businesses have closed down due to the rigid exchange controls that have existed for the last four years. International oil companies, with millions of dollars already invested in the country, will suffer in silence most of the unilateral actions of the regime but no one should expect this to be a happy relationship."
This is another lie implying that the State is expropriating private businesses on an arbitrary basis. Venepal and the National Valve Company were forced into bankruptcy since the owners joined the lock out in December 2002 to February 2003, and went bankrupt, illegally. They tried to fire the workers, illegally and just abandoned the factories. Coronel does not say this and just makes sweeping and misleading statements.
In the case of these two companies, the courts awarded control to the State after almost two years of legal battle and the owners were compensated. Paper products and valves for industry are important for the Venezuelan economy and it was vital to save the jobs lost. Both companies, along with the largest textile factory in Venezuela, were closed down and now are being successfully run by the workers.
The thousands of small businesses that closed down were also due primarily to the sharp recession caused by the lock out. Many were just "suit case, commission earners," setting up deals and did not contribute to the GDP. Recently it was reported in the national press that more than 3,300 new companies had opened, without mentioning he more than 41,000 cooperative registered and functioning according to Sunacoop, the agency that regulates cooperative activity in Venezuela.
The exchange control mechanism has stopped capital flight, ensured that companies that need dollars are registered with the Exchange Control Commission, CADIVI, and have their taxes up to date. Just look at the evidence. GDP growth up by 17%+ in 2004. GDP growth for Q1 of 2005 +7.9%. If Venezuela was in the economic state that Coronel wished to portray, then these growth figures would have been impossible to achieve. I am sure that by this stage, readers have a much better idea of the mentality of this man.
I use a quotation from VHeadline.com editor Roy Carson to address the following point from Coronel:
"Finally Gott mentions 'The dissension and arguments within the government's ranks . . the absence of powerful state institutions and the survival of a weak, incompetent and unmotivated bureaucracy' as the main reason why Chávez has mobilized the military . . . to provide the backbone to his revolutionary reorganization of the country.' With this last statement Mr. Gott seems to have proven our case."
The current contretemps however, illustrates the fact that despite the best endeavors of the President and his ministers .. despite the overwhelming desire of grassroots Venezuelans ... to push forward towards a more positive future ... that the structure of Venezuelan government is like a gigantic blancmange (gelatinous with starchy ingredients) wrapped up in a hamburger bun with the top crust (government executive) perched precariously on top of a wobbly mass, itself pressing down on a base of ordinary decent and hard-working Venezuelans who have little understanding of cabinet control in a developing, yet participative democracy.
Regrettably, the blancmange is mostly made up of individuals who may or may not be as loyal to the democratic principle as their employers believe.
We have witnessed the many mill-stones that afflict the Venezuelan administration with secret saboteurs impeding progress at every possible step while Venezuela's internal and foreign foes make full use of their well-oiled and covert mechanisms to promote dissent at every possible step along the way. It is truly sad!
To add to this description, it is important to emphasize that many positions in public administration are still held by members of the traditional parties that still oppose Chavez - Accion Democratica and COPEI.
You just cannot fire these people as it is against Venezuelan labor laws.
Thus, the Chavez government is saddled with nests of saboteurs, on a go-slow, throwing bureaucratic obstacles into the way of any initiative. Coronel blames Chavez but it is the structures that need changing and in a democratic, peaceful revolution, you just cannot disregard the laws of the land. In other words, the government does not control the state apparatus and for this reason there are many difficulties to be overcome in the future.
In an attempt to finish with a flourish, Coronel really goes over the top when it comes to his nemesis…Cuba!
"In his article Gott admits that the Chavez revolution is military driven, not a civic movement. Chavez has already said that his is a socialist revolution. His ideological alignment with Castro has converted Venezuela in a twin state to the Cuban communist dictatorship. Almost 50,000 Cubans have already invaded our country. Cuba receives almost 100,000 barrels of subsidized oil (unpaid so far) from Chavez. Castro dictates our foreign policy. Venezuela, the rich oil country has become a political satellite of poor, backward Cuba. The small fish has swallowed the big fish!"
Here in Venezuela, we have a communist dictatorship according to Coronel ... Venezuela is twinned with Cuba ... we have been invaded by 50,000 Cubans ... the devils are amongst us. Help!
On a sane note, Venezuela is a fully fledged democracy ... 9 elections in 6 years. Venezuela and Cuba cooperate as Venezuela does with many other countries. Cuba has sent 20,000 doctors and thousands of sports trainers and teachers to help in humanitarian missions and to create a sports culture in the people, to teach them to read and write - a fundamental right and enshrined in the Constitution.
Coronel would have preferred WASPs from the US and he would be happy, as these are “superior human beings, cultured, with a materialistic mentality, loving apple pie and gas guzzlers.”
Bi lateral cooperation with Cuba is at this point in time all part of the Bolivarian Alternative for America (ALBA) where the human being is at center stage and not profits or the US dollar. We do not want the FTAA here and turn Venezuela into an economic colony of the United States.
Cuba receives oil from Venezuela on preferential terms under the Caracas Accord as many countries in the Petrocaribe organization do. 25% down, and 15 years to pay the balance at 2% interest per annum. Cuba pays part of this with doctors and teachers - that is fine.
And why not?
There is no evidence that Cuba is not paying for the oil it receives and this is just speculation and political propaganda, published regularly in the press, with no hard evidence
Castro dictates our foreign policy and we are a satellite of Cuba, according to Coronel?
These assertions are also unsubstantiated and fall into the realm of paranoid fantasy or some other mental sickness this unfortunate individual Gustavo Coronel appears to be suffering from.
Finally, readers can draw their own conclusions about the nefarious objectives of Coronel but once again the devil is in the details. Mr. Coronel will no doubt realize that this "crusade" of unfettered lies and distortions will not go unchallenged by myself or any other of my truth seeking colleagues at VHeadline.
Carlos Herrera
Carlos.Herrera@VHeadline.com