rawstory--2019-11-12--In statement that ‘reads like a chilling warning of more coups to come,’ Trump celebrates military c

In statement that ‘reads like a chilling warning of more coups to come,’ Trump celebrates military coup in Bolivia

“The Trump administration has cast aside the pretext of calling for new elections. Now it’s praising Evo Morales’ resignation at the barrel of a gun.”  U.S. President Donald Trump made official his administration’s support for the military coup in Bolivia with a celebratory statement late Monday that one observer said “reads like a chilling warning of more coups to come.”  “The United States applauds the Bolivian people for demanding freedom and the Bolivian military for abiding by its oath to protect not just a single person, but Bolivia’s constitution,” Trump said in a statement posted to the White House website.  “These events send a strong signal to the illegitimate regimes in Venezuela and Nicaragua that democracy and the will of the people will always prevail,” Trump added. “We are now one step closer to a completely democratic, prosperous, and free Western Hemisphere.”  The governments of Nicaragua and Venezuela—both victims of past U.S.-backed military coups—have condemned the ouster of Morales in Bolivia.  The Trump administration has not been quiet about its desire for the removal of Bolivia’s socialist President Evo Morales, who resigned Sunday under threat from the nation’s military, police forces, and violent right-wing protesters.  Hours before Morales resigned in a televised address, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted his support for the findings of the U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS), which alleged Morales’ victory in the October presidential election was riddled with fraud. Pompeo also echoed OAS’ call for new elections, a demand Morales accepted shortly before he was forced aside.  Guillaume Long, senior policy analyst Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) and co-author of recent analysis of the October election, disputed the OAS findings in a statement last week, arguing “there is simply no statistical or evidentiary basis to dispute the vote count results showing that Evo Morales won in the first round.”  Following Morales’ resignation, “the Trump administration has cast aside the pretext of calling for new elections,” tweeted journalist Dan Cohen. “Now it’s praising Evo Morales’ resignation at the barrel of a gun.”  “In the parlance of American empire,” Cohen said, “a military coup is considered an expression of democracy.”  CEPR co-director Mark Weisbrot tweeted late Monday that Trump’s statement in support of the coup in Bolivia is “no surprise.”  “The Trump/[Sen. Marco] Rubio team has been helping the coup all along,” Weisbrot said. “But his statement, like his ‘I like oil, we’re keeping the oil,” in Syria, is embarrassingly blunt and also menacing.”  Trump’s applause for the coup in Bolivia came as the Mexican government granted asylum to Morales, who tweeted Monday night that he is leaving Bolivia amid concerns for his safety.  “I am leaving for Mexico, grateful for the openness of these brothers who offered us asylum,” said Morales. “Soon I will return with more strength and energy.”


rferl--2019-02-22--Turkey Orders Almost 300 Military Personnel Arrested Over Alleged Links With Coup

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended all Indian applications to host future events and called for the country’s international sports isolation after two Pakistanis were denied visas for a competition in New Delhi.      The IOC on February 22 said it had been informed that Indian authorities did not grant entry visas to the Pakistani delegation for the 25-meter rapid-fire pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup.      At stake in the competition are two places at next year's Tokyo Olympics.      The visa refusal comes as tensions are rising to new highs between the rival nuclear powers.      India has blamed Pakistan for a February 14 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed more than 40 soldiers, and it has warned its neighbor of a "jaw-breaking response."      Islamabad has denied any involvement and vowed to retaliate if it comes under attack.      The attack on Indian troops was claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM) militant group.      The ISSF said on February 20 that it faced "an urgent situation as Pakistani athletes cannot get entry visas to participate in the competition" because of the Kashmir attack.      The IOC said that "since becoming aware of the [visa denial] and in spite of intense last-minute...efforts...and discussions with the Indian government authorities, no solution has been found to allow the Pakistani delegation to enter India in time to compete.”      "As a result, the IOC Executive Board also decided to suspend all discussions with the Indian [National Olympic Committee] and government regarding the potential applications for hosting future sports and Olympic-related events in India," it said.      The IOC said India’s action went against the principles of the Olympic charter relating to discrimination and political interference from the host country.  The IOC said the Olympic spots would still be at stake in the competition, "in the interest of the other 500 athletes from 61 countries participating in the other events who are already in India for their competition."  The body also urged all international sports federations not to hold events in India, or grant it rights to host future competitions, until the government had provided "clear written guarantees" to ensure access for all athletes.  Rajeev Mehta, secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), told Reuters that the developments constituted "a big setback for sports in the country.”      "We've been in constant touch with the government, trying to explain to them and convince them to grant visas to the Pakistani shooters. This is really unfortunate," he said.


slate--2019-04-30--Venezuelas Opposition Leader Is Calling for a Military Coup Is the Military Actually Behind Him

Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Is Calling for a Military Coup. Is the Military Actually Behind Him?

It’s all or nothing for Juan Guaidó now.  Venezuela has been in an agonizing stalemate since January, when the opposition leader and president of the national assembly declared himself interim president of the country and was quickly recognized as such by the United States and the majority of governments in the region. President Nicolás Maduro, who remains in control of the country’s government and armed forces, has refused to budge. Meanwhile, crippling international sanctions have worsened the already dire economic conditions in what was once one of Latin America’s richest nations, now plagued by food and medicine shortages, widespread blackouts, and an ever-worsening refugee crisis.  On Tuesday morning, Guaidó threw down a gauntlet by releasing a video from an air force base near the capital, Caracas, surrounded by armed military forces. Guaidó said that the “main military units of the Armed Forces” were backing what he called the final phase of “Operation Liberty.” He also appeared with imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo López, who said he’d been freed by military guards loyal to Guaidó. Gunfire between pro-Guaidó and pro-Maduro troops was reported at the air base following Guaidó’s announcement.  #OperacionLibertad was quickly backed on Twitter by U.S. officials including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, national security adviser John Bolton, and Sen. Marco Rubio. Regional governments including Colombia and Brazil also voiced their support.  Guaidó has been calling for the armed forces to back him from the beginning, but Tuesday’s actions are a significant escalation, the apparent beginning of an attempted military coup, though not everyone wants to call it that. Rubio, describing Guaidó as the internationally recognized legitimate president, has called CNN’s reporting “grotesque” and “shameful” for describing Tuesday’s events as an “armed coup.”  He protests a bit too much: Calling something a coup is not a value judgment. Brutal dictators can be overthrown by their own militaries—just look at recent events in Sudan—and there are plenty of examples of militaries acting in coordination with peaceful protesters and even working to restore democracy.  The bigger reason to be hesitant about calling Tuesday’s events a coup is that it’s not clear an overthrow is actually happening. The fighting at the air base fizzled out quickly, and while there have been demonstrations and violent clashes between protesters and security forces throughout Caracas, Reuters reports that “several hours after Guaidó’s announcement there was no sign of any other military activity and there were no immediate reports of casualties.” Maduro has tweeted that regional defense commanders have “expressed their total loyalty,” and until we see otherwise, the assumption should be that the bulk of the military is still backing the government.  Still, if a small but significant part of the armed forces has defected to Maduro, it could raise the stakes of the standoff significantly: While the Maduro government has arrested hundreds of opponents in recent weeks, it hasn’t touched Guaidó himself, recognizing the risks of detaining the man whom many world governments recognize as the legitimate president of Venezuela. Bolton has promised a “significant response” if Guaidó is touched. Tuesday’s actions will raise pressure on the regime to take action to finally stop Guaidó, and raise pressure on his international backers to take action—peaceful or otherwise—on his behalf. Today may not be the final battle for control of Venezuela, but the odds just went up significantly that Guaidó will end up dead, in jail, or sitting in the presidential palace.


sottnet--2019-02-08--Duterte laments to soldiers why military coups dont work Drop all politicians

Duterte laments to soldiers why military coups don't work: "Drop all politicians"

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday introduced yet another radical idea to soldiers if they want to oust him through mutiny.Duterte, citing past military-backed revolts against former Filipino leaders, said the military would always resort to giving the power to a deposed leader's opponents instead of grabbing the power itself.The President said it would be more ideal if the military would just choose a new set of leaders and "drop all politicians, including me.""The problem with you guys... is [when] you go on a mutiny, rebellion, you do it, you time it [when] there's a disturbance... in society, a political turmoil...," Duterte said in a speech in Malacañang.Duterte said instead of "wasting their time," the military should"Drop all politicians, including me. I can swim slowly. I can always go home to Davao swimming. One kilometer a day would be fine," he said in jest.In his speech, Duterte again spoke of his desire to retire from politics. The 73-year-old former Davao City mayor is almost midway into his 6-year term as president."I'll go home. I am ripe for retirement. If God wills it. I don't know kung mag-abot ba tayo diyan (I don't know if we will reach that). I've been 40 years in politics. Add it to the years of my father, I practically, well eating politics as a daily bread," he said.This was not the first time the President toyed with the idea of having the country placed under military rule.


sottnet--2019-04-07--Libyan Army launches Volcano of Rage military operation to defeat Haftars coup forces

Libyan Army launches "Volcano of Rage" military operation to defeat Haftar's coup forces

Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.


thesun--2019-01-31--Venezuelas US-backed interim president Juan Guaido holds secret meetings with military to win suppo

Venezuela’s US-backed interim president Juan Guaidó holds secret meetings with military to win support for coup ousting Maduro

THE leader of Venezuela's opposition party claims he has held secret talks with the military to win crucial backing in his bid to oust President Nicolás Maduro.  The news comes after Juan Guaidó declared himself the country's interim president and was immediately recognised by the US and several neighbouring Latin American countries.  However, the superpowers of Russia and China support Maduro which is why military support is seen as key to him holding on to power.  "We have had clandestine meetings with members of the armed forces and the security forces," Mr Guaidó wrote in an article for the New York Times.  "The military's withdrawal of support from Mr Maduro is crucial to enabling a change in government, and the majority of those in service agree that the country's recent travails are untenable."  He added he has offered an amnesty to members of the armed forces "found not guilty of crimes against humanity".  However Guaidó did not say exactly who in the military he had met with.  His claims came just a day after his rival was spotted addressing troops in Maracay, Venezuela.  Donald Trump earlier tweeted on he had spoken to Guaidó and supported his "historic assumption of the presidency",  adding later that "The fight for freedom has begun!"  The tweets came after Maduro had bizarrely claimed Trump ordered the mafia to murder him.  He made the astonishing claim as he caved into pressure to hold talks with Guaido.  In an interview with Russian state-owned RIA Novosti news agency, Maduro said: "Donald Trump gave the order to kill me, told the Colombian government, the Colombian mafia to kill me.  "If something happens to me once, Donald Trump and Colombian President Ivan Duque will be responsible for everything what happens to me."  In the same interview Maduro also said he was willing to negotiate with the opposition.  Guaido has called for snap presidential elections, arguing that Maduro fraudulently won a second term last year.  On Tuesday, he urged Venezuelans to step outside their homes and workplaces for two hours on Wednesday in the first mass mobilisation since last week's big protests.  Maduro had previously rejected calls to hold fresh elections, saying it amounted to blackmail and that the countries calling for them must wait until 2025.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


thetelegraph--2019-03-24--Military-backed party heading for surprise win in first Thai election since 2014 coup

Thailand's military-backed party was on Sunday night headed for an unexpected win over a populist party leading a “democratic front” in the country's first election since a 2014 coup.  Early partial results announced by the Southeast Asian nation’s election commission after it had counted 89 percent of votes put Phalang Pracharat, led by military junta chief Prayuth Chan-o-cha, in the lead with 7 million votes. The main opposition party, Pheu Thai, had 6.6 million.  However, in another surprise twist, Ittiporn Boonprakong, the commission chairman, said the full unofficial results would only be declared on Monday morning, without giving any reason for the delay.  Polling day saw a high turnout among Thailand’s 51.2 million eligible voters who were determined to cast their ballots after five years of military rule under a junta led by General Prayuth.  The close result reflects the deep divisions that remain between supporters of the pro-monarchy junta and those who back Pheu Thai and other parties aligned with Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire former prime minister currently living in exile.


thetelegraph--2019-04-04--Brazilian education minister to revise school textbooks to deny 1964 military coup

School textbooks in Brazil will be rewritten after its education minister denied a 1964 military coup, prompting accusations of historical revisionism.  Ricardo Vélez Rodriguéz told the Valor Económico magazine that “there will be progressive changes [in textbooks] to the extent that a wider version of history is rescued.”  The announcement comes days after a judge in Brazil barred far-Right president Jair Bolsonaro from publicly celebrating the anniversary of the 1964 coup that ousted the democratically elected government of João Goulart.  The education minister described the following 21 years of military rule in Brazil as "a democratic regime by force", and said that students should be taught a “true and real” version of events.  He added: “Brazilian history shows that what occurred on March 31, 1964 was a sovereign decision of the Brazilian society”.


thinkprogress--2019-01-22--With reports of an attempted coup military defections is the end near for Venezuelas Maduro

With reports of an attempted coup, military defections, is the end near for Venezuela’s Maduro?

Fresh protests have hit Venezuela, triggered by a shortage of goods and the continuing rise in prices for basic food and medical supplies. Other protests on Monday were triggered by the arrest of around two dozen National Guardsman who reportedly tried to overthrow the president, according to the Associated Press.  Fires were still smoldering around the capital city of Caracas, where teargas canisters and upturned dumpsters littered some neighborhoods.  More demonstrations are expected on Wednesday following what the government classified as a thwarted coup in the past couple of days.  There are also reports that a group of Venezuelan soldiers have crossed into Colombia, where they have issued a statement denouncing the embattled government of President Nicolas Maduro.  With signs of a military revolt, as well as the Bank of England announcement that it is won’t (yet) release some $550 million in gold from Maduro’s government, we have to wonder: Can a president without a loyal military and access to liquid funds continue to rule a country where he is increasingly unpopular?  Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves, has been hit with sanctions and embargoes from multiple nations (including the United States) over what critics say is the subversion of democracy and deterioration of human rights.  “The military is unfortunately the decisive actor in Venezuela right now,” said Benjamin Gedan, senior adviser at the Wilson Center’s Latin American program.  Gone are the days (for now) that the opposition could affect change through the legislative process and elections, and so the military holds some important cards.  Gedan, who was also the National Security Council’s South America director under the Obama administration, said one of two things could happen: a military uprising (unlikely) or the military simply refusing to repress dissent.  “Should the military do so, Venezuelans have it in their hands to affect a peaceful and democratic transition,” he said, referring specifically to the armed forces and not the National Guard.  After all, Venezuela has a history of democratic government.  “All eyes are on the military,” said Gedan.  This crisis has been unfolding for years now, with deadly protests beginning in 2014, a savage rate of hyperinflation, major shortages, and at least 3 million Venezuelans fleeing the country.  The United States has so far contributed just over $100 million to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and it hasn’t really organized an international response in support of the migrants.  “Unfortunately, given the anti-immigrant attitude, the United States utterly lacks the credibility to do so. So while we’re restricting the access to the United States of refugees and various asylum seekers, it would be very hard for the United States to be the leader, to say that others need to be absorbing more Venezuelans and to be treating them more humanely,” said Gedan.  Neighboring countries, he added, have been “quite generous” to Venezuelans, who, with some exceptions, have not suffered much xenophobia in their host countries.  Brazil has been one of those exceptions, where with the election of President Jair Bolsonaro, Venezuelan migrants might start to face more hardships there.  Gedan said he’s fairly confident that a transition will occur “in a reasonably short timeframe” — it’ll be tough for Maduro’s government to survive this level of economic chaos.  With the currency being in a freefall, the Venezuelan government has limped on this long with help from China, which has only helped the oil sector enough to get the debts owed to it repaid, and Russia, which is a supporter of Maduro regime but doesn’t have enough cash to bail it out.  But the money is running out. Gedan points out Venezuela has defaulted on its loans, can’t refinance its debts due to U.S. sanctions, and can’t access its gold, which is its only way generating foreign exchange.  Other than considering an invasion, President Donald Trump hasn’t had much to say about Venezuela, with this administration placing consistent pressures on Maduro via sanctions. And that’s a good thing, said Gedan. Still, he adds, the White House should be focused on Venezuela in a productive way.  “I do regret that this crisis has reached this level of urgency at a time when the U.S. has no longer any credibility on the issues of democracy protection, human rights defense, and, frankly, the humane treatment of migrants,” he said.


unian--2019-04-11--Omar al-Bashir Sudan military coup topples ruler after protests

Omar al-Bashir: Sudan military coup topples ruler after protests

Sudan's intelligence service said it was freeing all political prisoners.  After nearly 30 years in power, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has been ousted and arrested, the country's defense minister says.  Speaking on state TV, Awad Ibn Ouf said the army had decided to oversee a two-year transitional period followed by elections, the BBC reports.  He also said a three-month state of emergency was being put in place.  Protests against Mr Bashir, who has governed Sudan since 1989, have been under way for several months.  Meanwhile, the main group that has been organising the demonstrations called for them to continue on Thursday, despite the military intervention.  "I announce as minister of defence the toppling of the regime and detaining its chief in a secure place," Mr Ibn Ouf said in a statement.  It is not clear where Mr Bashir is being held.  Mr Ibn Ouf said the country had been suffering from "poor management, corruption, and an absence of justice" and he apologized "for the killing and violence that took place".  He said Sudan's constitution was being suspended, border crossings were being shut until further notice and airspace was being closed for 24 hours.  As the news broke, crowds of protesters celebrated outside army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, embracing soldiers and climbing on top of armoured vehicles.  Sudan's intelligence service said it was freeing all political prisoners, state-run Suna news agency reported.  Mr Bashir is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which accuses him of organising war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's western Darfur region.  However it is not clear what will happen to him following his arrest.


veteranstoday--2019-08-17--Turkey The Secret Story of the Assad Family and the July 15 2012 Western-Arab Military Coup

Turkey:  The Secret Story of the Assad Family and the July 15, 2012 Western-Arab Military Coup

Syria was in political and military cooperation with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact until 1954 and was the country that received the most foreign aid from these countries. Since then, Syria has pursued a policy against Western interests and targets, as well as its pro-Western neighbors and Arab countries, in line with Russia’s regional interests. Hafiz Essed  who was a member of the Nusayri minority which is accounts for 12% of the population, came to power in 1970 and tried to use terrorism as a method for the same goals.  In the early 1970s, anti-Semitism was a major force in Syrian politics. In the 1967 and 1973 wars, Golan Heights and Kunaitra region of Syria were occupied by Israel. In 1974, Syria reached an agreement with Israel and retrieved Kunaitra region. Israel and the US, which wanted to hold the Golan Heights, allowed Syria to invade Lebanon on May 31, 1976.  After the 1975 – 1976 civil war, poppy production in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon was around 10% of agricultural production. After Syria’s entry into Lebanon, this rate increased to 85%. Hafiz Essed’s brother Rifad Essed was the organizer of the biggest drug and antiquities trafficking in the Middle East. Brigadier General Gazi Kenan, Head of Syrian Military Intelligence, played an important role in this organization.  In these years, Turkey was in bad odor with Greece because of the Cyprus issue. Russia launched cooperation between Syria and Greece using its influence on the Orthodox community. In 1977, during the reign of Syrian Ambassador to Athens, Ali Civil, there was a close cooperation between the Greek Intelligence Organization (EIP) and the Syrian Intelligence Organization Muhaberat on staff exchange, training and intelligence exchange. During this period, the Marxist – Leninist terrorist organizations were receiving support from Russia’s ally Syria against the US, NATO and Turkey .  In October 1980, the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement was signed between Syria and the Soviet Union for 20 years. Under this agreement, while Syria receiving Soviet long-range weapons, T-72 tanks and MIG-25 fighter aircraft; The Soviets began to use the ports of Syria (Latakia-Tartus) as a base. Following this, Armenian terrorist organizations active in Caucasus and Middle East regions and having relations with KGB were also included in the Syrian & Soviet alliance.  In the 1980s, Syria-based terror had two important goals. On the one hand, Israel and Lebanon, on the other hand the US, France and Turkey and Jordan. In 1980, upon the deterioration of Jordan – Syria relations, Jordan and its representatives in the world were exposed to Syrian terror. Following the assassination of Jordanian Prime Minister Mudar Badran, many Jordanian diplomats were attacked. Behind the terrorist alliance were the Soviet Union, Armenia, Greece and Libya. In January and February 1981, General Ali Haydar, the commander of Syria’s Special Commando Units and Said Kaddafi, the President of the Libyan Green Beret Association, came together in Britain and decided to take action against the common goals and opponents.  In 1982, the Soviet Union provided military supplies of $ 4 billion to Syria under favorable terms for three years. When Syria could not to pay its debt with money, it began to provide terror services to the Russia account. Organizations receiving shelter, training and arms support under their control in Syria and Lebanon have started sabotage actions against the US, NATO and Jordanian targets. Even the famous terrorist Jackal Carlos worked under the command of Syrian Air Intelligence President General Mohammed al-Hayli during this period. Carlos’ close associates, such as Johannes Wienrich and Nicolas Bechara who was born in Aleppo in 1933, planned joint actions with Syrian European ambassadors and Adnan Handani, Head of the Counterespionage Department of Muhabarat.  On the other hand, Syria which was in favor of the conflict in the Middle East, fell out with the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Yasser Arafat, which were in favor of the peace. Abu Musa group left the PLO and entered Syria’s command. In time, al-Saika which was Baath’s arm in the Palestinian movement, George Habbas’s People’s Front for the Liberation of the Palestine (PFLP), Naif Havatme’s Democratic Front for the Liberation of the Palestine (DFLP), Ahmed Cibril’s People’s Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command Organization (PFLP-GC), Abdulfettah Ganem’s Palestine Liberation Front, Samir Gisha’s People’s Liberation Front, Nadja Alish’s Arab People’s Liberation Front, Abu Nidal’s (Sabri al-Benna) Black June Organization were started to be managed from Damascus.  Throughout history, there have been Shiites along with various ethnic and religious groups in Lebanon. Especially after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, the increase in conflicts in South Lebanon caused the Shiites to emigrate to Beirut and settle in the southern districts of the city. Unemployment, poverty and the social pressure of the big city accelerated the congregation and radicalization between them.  Musa Sadr, who came to Lebanon from Iran at the age of 38, began to organize this society which was ready to rebel against its economic and political oppression. He founded the “Deprived Movement’, one of the first important organizations in Lebanon. On the one hand, while fighting for faith against Israel, on the other hand, he demanded the Lebanese government to protect the interests of the oppressed people. During this period, Sadr received approximately £ 700,000 in aid each year from the Shah’s secret service, Savak. However, after Khomeini’s strengthening abroad after 1972, he cut off relations with the Iranian administration and supported Khomeini.  Because of the Lebanese government was inadequate in the face of Israeli attacks, Musa Sadr founded the Efvacu’l Mukavemetu’l Lebanon, meaning the the Lebanese Resistance Movement on 6 July 1975. All Shiites, whether leftist or liberal, began to gather under this roof. Over time, the organization became stronger and received significant support from Syria. Syria supported AMAL against the PLO of the Palestinians and the LMH of the Druze, and set out to gain influence in Lebanon and the Middle East. For this, in 1976, AMAL supported the Syrian invasion of Lebanon and its actions against some Islamic groups and opposed some other countries and organizations. The founder and leader of the organization, Imam Musa Sadr, mysteriously disappeared on a trip to Libya in 1978.  After Musa Sadr, the organization was headed by Hussein Hussein. On April 4, 1981, Nebih Berri, the leader of AMAL, put the organization on a secular and nationalist line and put it under the control of Syria. Meanwhile, the pro-Syrian and Iranian supporters formed separate groups. Some of the supporters of Iran paved the way for the establishment of the Hezbollah organization.  The understanding of the organization, which was expressed by M. Hüseyin Fadlullah, one of the Shiite religious leaders-born in Najaf, was put into practice by about 1000 Iranian soldiers who came to Lebanon Baalbek after the 1982 Israeli attack. The main aim was to establich a Iranian model state by organizing the Lebanese Shiites.  Iran’s Ambassador to Damascus, Ali Akbar Mohtesemi, played a major role in the establishment of the organization. He convinced Syria on the one hand and Israel on the other to form the great Hezbollah. Syria was wanting to be active in Lebanon. On the other hand, Israel had disturbed by the activities of Palestinians approved by the Lebanese army in Southern Lebanon. With the strengthening of the Shiites in the region, Israel thought that there would be a sectarian conflict against Palestinian groups, which would contribute to its own security. However, the developments were not in line with the expectations of the US and Israel.  The first sensational action of the organization was the bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut and the Marines in October 1983. 241 US soldiers were killed in this attack. Hezbollah occupied the US embassy in September 1984.  Hezbollah was under Iran’s command and support in response to the Syrian support to Amal. On 15 February 1985, the organization openly declared its loyalty to Khomeini. In the 1990s, Hezbollah focused on social activities in Lebanon, opened free schools and hospitals, and established charitable organizations. In this way, he became the representative of almost all Lebanese Shiites and received also support from other Islamic groups. After Leader Abbas Musevi was killed in March 1992, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah became the leader.  Iran and Syria had common enemies in the region. The Turks in Syria and the Azeris in Iran posed a threat to the governments of both countries. In addition, the including of Hatay region to Turkey by Ataturk in 1938; The fact that the Shah of Iran took Ataturk as an example in many areas were again an important basis for the historical hostility of these countries.  Iran’s alliance with Syria in the Middle East led to the transformation of Islamic revolution into Islamic terrorism. Iran, which has called itself the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, ignored Hama Massacre that was shocked Sunni political Islamist organizations and the Islamic world in January 1982. Sunni political islamists realized that Iranian Islamic revolution was in fact a Shiite movement. The only way left for Iran which was excluded in this way was to support the Shiite opposition movements and some of the Sunni Islamist organizations such as HAMAS.  Some time after the Sykes-Picot Agreement, France was betrayed by Britain and left the Middle East. But France’s dream of being active in the Middle East has never ended. Years later, Khomeini and his students, who realized the Islamic Revolution of Iran, remained under the auspices of France for many years. During this period, Russia, which killed the Khomeini’s eldest son Mustafa in 1978 and prepared the ground for the Iranian revolution, had good relations with France. Christian minorities in Lebanon have long been influenced by French culture. Likewise, the biggest supporter of the Armenians which were active in the Lebanese and Syrian economy, was France.  Hafiz Essed’s brother Rifaat Essed was the Vice President. He went to Russia and did a PhD in Political Science about “The Class Struggle in Syria“. He gave important support to the terrorist organizations run by Russia in the Middle East. And it has established close cooperation with the PKK terrorist organization. PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan who fled from Turkey in 1979, was in a villa in Latakia hosted by Rifaat Essed. Drugs, Historical Art Smuggling and Black Money Traffic in Syria were managed by him. He had a great influence on the Shiite Nusayri leaders especially in Latakia.  In 1982, Rifaat Essed, the Commander of Defense Brigades, suppressed the rebellion of the Sunni Opponents in Hama and killed 40,000 people. In 1984, at a time when Hafez Essed had a heart attack, he was exiled to France because of attempting a failed coup against Hafez. While in exile, Hafez Essed gave him some missions. In 1998 he was appointed Vice President. Rifaat Essed was like the secret manager of France in Lebanon and Syria. Rifaat Essed pursued policies in the direction of the regional interests of France. He gave great support to the separatist Kurdish and Armenian terrorist organizations in Europe and the Middle East.  When the US left Lebanon in 1984, France wanted to continue its influence over Lebanon. For this reason, Syria supported the French “Direct Action” organization. On November 27, 1985, a bombing took place at Rome Airport, killing 20 people.  In 1985, the Soviet Union brought together the Syrian, Iranian and Libyan Foreign Ministers in Damascus in order to expand the area of activity in the Middle East and to control the Shiite terrorist organizations that started to strengthen. Meanwhile, a meeting was held in Damascus on 30 April 1986 and a joint action decision was taken between ASALA and Abu Nidal group. In September 1986, the Abu Nidal group killed 21 people in an attack on the Newe Shalom synagogue in Istanbul. In the same year, after a series of bombings in France, the French head of Homeland Security went to Syria and made a secret agreement. Provided there was no action in France, it was decided to tolerate pro-Syrian terrorist organizations.  When Bashar came to power after Hafez Essed, all dreams of Rifaat Essed fell into the water. He criticized Bashar’s coming to the administration and said that “Bashar will soon have to leave his post”. He began to work secretly to overthrow Bashar. After 2007, Rifaat Essed developed close relations with Saudi Arabia, England and Spain.  Sudden clashes began in Damascus, the capital of Syria, on Sunday, July 15, 2012, and increased by July 17. Meanwhile, General Manaf Tlass who was the Commander of the Republican Guard and Navaf Faris who was Syria’s Ambassator in Baghdad went to Paris. Navaf announced that he had broken ties with the Bashar government. Faris also stated that some bomb attacks in the capital were carried out by al-Qaeda militants supported by the government itself.  In fact, behind the clashes in Damascus was the intelligence of Britain, the United States, Israel and German, led by Saudi Arabia Intelligence. Their aim was to overthrow Bashar Essed with the help of a military administration that supported them. The day before, British Foreign Minister William Hague, who visited the Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, called for “ The dismiss of the Syrian President”.  Indeed, there was a top management group in Damascus, the capital, who took action to overthrow Bashar Essad. These were none other than the Crisis Group headed by Hassan Turkmani. Some walls in the capital were equipped with anti-Bashar graffiti inscriptions. However, Iran was aware of the coup attempt. What leaked information to Iran was German Intelligence Organization (BND), which re-established the Iranian Intelligence Institutions after 1993. At that time, Bashar’s brother Maher Essed, the head of the State Security Division Ali Mamlouk, Air Intelligence Unit President Cemil Hassan and Military Intelligence Unit President General Abdul Fatah Qaddisiya were close to Iran. This group firstly changed the guards inside the Palace of the Republic and arrested about 40 people.  On July 18, clashes in Damascus reached its peak. Crisis group took Sunni soldiers in the Syrian Army to the field. After a while, they would isolate Bashar with the excuse of turmoil and establish a Military Administration headed by Hisham Bakhtiar, Head of National Intelligence. Special forces from Saudi Arabia and neighboring Arab countries were also in the Free Syrian Army. Syrian Air Force was under the command of Maher and his team and for this reason the Sunni coup attempt failed. Soon, Hezbollah militias and Shiite Nusayri soldiers of Maher Essed appeared and took control of the streets. Bashar and Maher ordered the killing of the Crisis Group. National Security Building where the Military Administration was in the meeting, was bombed. Crisis Group President Hassan Turkmani, Vice President Asif Shawkat, National Defense Minister David Raja, Interior Minister Muhammad al-Shaar and National Intelligence President Hisham Bakhtiar were killed. Only Bashar’s brother-in-law was Asif Shawkat Shiite Nusayri. One was Christian and the others were Sunni. On the other hand, Asif Shawkat was hating Essed family for a long time. Maher had previously arrested his brother-in-law, Asif Shawkat, several times, and even fired in 1999 to kill him during an argument in the Palace. Asif Shawkat was also responsible for the killing of Hezbollah Commander Imad Mugniyah in Damascus in 2008, and Iran took his revenge in this way.  Thanks to Iran, Bashar Essed got rid of the coup attempt. The month of Ramadan would going to start. Bashar declared that they would not start Ramadan with the Arab world and that they would fast on the same dates with Iran and Iraq. After that date, Bashar Essed and Iran became a close ally.  Meanwhile, following the failure of the Salafist Coup Attempt, the next day the President of Intelligence of Saudi Arabia was dismissed and Prince Bandar bin Sultan, a close friend of the CIA, became President of the RIA (Riyasetu’l Istihbaratu’l Amme) on July 19.  Hafez Essed’s son Basil, who had prepared for him replacement, died in a car accident on the Damascus highway at the age of 31 in 1994. Therefore, Bashar Essed’s leadership path was opened. Hafez’s youngest son Majid died in 2009 due to drugs. The last brother Maher became the second strongest man in the Essed regime and tried to resist Sunni Opponents as the commander of the 4th Mechanized Brigade between Idlib and Latakia. However, he suffered constant defeats within 3 months after Ramadan 2019 and was dismissed with Cemil Hassan, whom he acted with in the 2012 coup attempt. This was actually the operation of Syria’s clearance of Iranian effect after a result of Russia’s secret agreement with Israel and the United States. (As we mentioned in a previous article: https://www.veteranstoday.com/2019/07/09/sold-out-by-putin-are-iranian-supporters-in-syria-in-danger/).  Lastly, let’s talk about an interesting incident that took place recent days: Firas, son of Rifaat Essed, explained that his grandfather Ali Essed’s last name was “Wild” and was changed to Essed (meaning Lion) in 1920. Firas also shared a historical document about his grandfather. Suleiman, Ali’s father, had worked for France according to French Foreign Ministry documents.  The Syrian people have been moaning under the persecution of the Essed family since the 1970s. During Hafez Essed period, Sunni Opponents used the word Essed instead of Assad. The word “Essed” in Arabic means “The Dog attacking to hunt” and was in accordance with historical facts.


westernjournal--2019-01-23--Thailand election authorities set March 24 for general election first since May 2014 military coup

The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.  BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand election authorities set March 24 for general election, first since May 2014 military coup.  The Associated Press contributed to this report.  We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


sottnet--2019-04-30--SOTT FOCUS Washington Goes For The Jugular Puppet Leader in Venezuela Launches Military Coup A

SOTT FOCUS: Washington Goes For The Jugular: Puppet 'Leader' in Venezuela Launches 'Military Coup' Against Maduro Government

It's all about the optics  Self-declared Venezuelan 'interim president', Juan Guaido, aka RGN (Random Guy Named) Guaido (aka 'Guido', to the US State Department) - whose uncanny resemblence to former US president Barack Obama continues to amaze -. So far, it just amounts to rioting at one location in Caracas, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends that way.With his bosses in Washington perplexed over the failure of their color-revolution attempt back in January, they're going for the jugular by attempting to instigate a military coup.Appearing in a video that was apparently shot at (or near) a Caracas military airbase, and accompanied by a number of what appear to be Venezuelan soldiers, along with fellow 'revolutionary', Leopoldo Lopez, Guaido announced that:This, ironically, is exactly what might happen now that Washington has gone 'all in' with an attempted coup: they have gifted Maduro all the justification he needs to round up Guaido and his accomplices.Leopoldo Lopez, incidentally, was arrested in 2014 and - because the Maduro government has been far too soft in its treatment of what are de facto rabid terrorists - was held under house arrest after being found guilty of inciting violence during that first post-Chavez round of bombings, murder and mayhem. Lopez claims that he is in attendance for today's outbreak of democrazi because he was "released by the military under Guaido's orders." More likely, he simply walked out of his house...RGN's three-minute video was clearly timed to coincide withGuaido had earlier claimed on Twitter that he was meeting with "the key military units" of the Venezuelan army as "the beginning of the final phase of Operation Freedom," but like everything else that comes from his mouth, that too is almost certainly fantasy. I don't know who these soldiers are that he and Lopez were speaking with this morning, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're not even Venezuelan...Venezuela's Vice President (its real one), Jorge Rodriguez, has said on Twitter that "a small group of traitor troops" have positioned themselves in the Altamira neighborhood of Caracas "to promote a coup" against the (real) government, and that they were acting to counter them.Venezuela's Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, has reassured the country that the military remains fully under the control of Maduro's democratically-elected government, writing on Twitter Padrino added that the defense force "reject this coup movement that aims to fill the country with violence" and stated the "pseudo political leaders" fronting "this subversive movement have used troops and police with weapons of war on a public road in the city to create anxiety and terror", calling them "cowards".To their eternal shame, most LatAm countries support Washington's coup in Caracas. Not all of them though. Bolivian president Evo Morales has voiced his support for the Maduro government, writing on Twitter:He pointed a finger at the Guaido-supporting US in a second tweet, writing:The Mexican and Cuban governments have lent similar support , calling for the ongoing coup to cease because it risks escalating into bloody conflict.If the US and its regional co-conspirators can get the right 'optics' out of this operation, they could, theoretically, swing momentum for Venezuelan public support behind their putsch.It's extremely unlikely though.. Venezuela's Foreign Minister (the real one), Jorge Arreaza, has told Reuters that no more than 30 soldiers are engaged in this provocation with RGN Guaido. He also confirmed what most already know -The 'coup' isn't a day old andThe ultra-violent gangs running with the so-called 'opposition' have thus far baited Venezuelan security forces into tear-gassing them on a highway near the airbase Guaido made his coup call from:There have also been exchanges of gunfire (apparently between the Chavista Collectivos and Washington's Ultras) at this location:Here's a clash that took place closer to the city center today, apparently showing soldiers arresting other soldiers. In all likelihood, it's the real, legitimate soldiers arresting 'soldiers' who are part of the coup-by-media:Here it is again, from closer. As you can see, they give up without a fight, probably because they know they're completely outnumbered and outgunned. They were never meant to 'go down fighting' or to become 'martyrs of democracy'. They were only paid to provide 'optics' - specifically, to provide realistic images that would 'plausibly' suggest that civil war is imminent...I don't know where exactly this was filmed, but this is the kind of 'optics' the mainstream media is only too happy to showcase as evidence that "Maduro is an evil socialist dictator":Confirming what everybody sees, but which everyone is apparently also supposed to pretend is not happening - that this is a form of warfare against Venezuela by the USA - Trump's lunatic advisor John Bolton has piped up to tell US media that what we're seeing unfold in Caracas is "not a coup attempt" (which is accurate, in fact, though not for the reason he's saying it) because this stunt is just the 'legit' leader (Guaido) giving orders to his 'legit' military, which is "upholding Venezuela's constitution against a Maduro government controlled by Cuba."If you're thinking 'you couldn't make this up', that's because you couldn't: only batsh*t Washington Crazies could.


sottnet--2019-05-05--Lavrov set to meet with Venezuelan FM after failed coup attempt in Caracas warns US against militar

Lavrov set to meet with Venezuelan FM after failed coup attempt in Caracas, warns US against military option

The Venezuelan foreign minister is heading to Moscow for a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. The top diplomats are set to discuss recent developments after a failed coup attempt in Caracas.The talks between Jorge Arreaza and Sergey Lavrov are expected to begin on Sunday after the Venezuelan minister arrives in Moscow. During the rare face-to-face discussion, they will seek a solution to the bitter political crisis that is crippling the Latin American nation, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.Arreaza and Lavrov will also discuss "options for international mediation efforts to facilitate dialogue between the government and the opposition." Finally, their meeting will touch upon trade, investment and military cooperation.Lavrov denounced "an unprecedented campaign led by the US and aimed at toppling Venezuela's legitimate government." What Venezuela needs right now is political dialogue, not power grab attempts, the Russian minister said.Only Venezuelans themselves can define the fate of their state, Lavrov said, as he called for "inclusive political dialogue."The meeting comes at a troubled time for Venezuela, which recently saw a massive effort by US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power. During violent clashes in and around Caracas, Guaido called for an uprising against the government, but the army and security forces remained loyal to President Maduro.Moscow and Washington are at odds over Venezuela, but the Russian Foreign Ministry said the timing of two meetings does not contain any message.Pompeo himself had commented on the Venezuelan unrest, reiterating that "military action is possible." President Maduro has urged the army to remain vigilant and ready should the US launch an offensive on Venezuela.


sottnet--2019-06-27--Venezuela intel claims it foiled a Maduro assassination and military coup plot

Venezuela intel claims it foiled a 'Maduro assassination and military coup' plot

They are fascist groups, not just coup plotters. They are assailants of power, murderers who want to come to power on the basis of a bloodbath."  Venezuelan intelligence says it has foiled an assassination attempt against President Nicolas Maduro, which envisioned a group of rogue officers storming the presidential palace and installing an imprisoned general in his stead.The plot by current and former military officersIntelligence agencies said they had been unraveling the plot for 14 months."140,000 seized cartridges for machine guns and several combat groups were predetermined to be used to capture president Nicolas Maduro," Minister of Communications and Culture Jorge Rodriguez told the nation on Wednesday, announcing the arrests of conspirators.Rodriguez added thatwhich was allegedly endorsed by US national security adviser John Bolton."The complicity and participation of Duque and the government of Colombia in this fascist attempt to assassinate me is evident," Maduro said in reaction to the news. "Colombia is conspiring and we will not tolerate it!


sottnet--2019-11-14--BEST OF THE WEB: 'A classic coup': Bolivia's new government is a 'military regime with no constituti

BEST OF THE WEB: 'A classic coup': Bolivia's new government is a 'military regime with no constitutional authority'  -  Max Blumenthal

The political upheaval in Bolivia is a textbook coup that was carried out through violence and intimidation, Max Blumenthal told RT.Opposition politician Jeanine Añez declared herself interim leader of Bolivia on Wednesday, after President Evo Morales was urged by his country's military chief to step down. But her legitimacy has already come into question. As the editor of the Grayzone Project pointed out, Añez is a fringe figure who garnered only 1.7 percent of the votes cast in Bolivia's last elections.Commenting on possible US ties to the plot, Blumenthal noted that six key coup plotters from the military command of Bolivia were trained and educated at the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia - an institution notorious for hatching regime change plots and training right-wing military dictators throughout the past decades. A top police official credited with launching the coup, Vladimir Yuri Calderón, even participated in a police training program overseen by the FBI, Blumenthal explained.Washington has hailed the developments in Bolivia as a "significant movement for democracy in the Western Hemisphere" - a statement that essentially endorses a "purge" of Evo Morales' supporters, Blumenthal argued.


sottnet--2019-11-21--Bolivia's 'military mutiny' key factor in successful coup & main reason Venezuela's Guaido can't ous

Bolivia's 'military mutiny' key factor in successful coup & main reason Venezuela's Guaido can't oust Maduro

The ouster of Bolivian President Evo Moralesand Venezuela's opposition is unlikely to effect its own putsch plot while the army has Caracas's back, an analyst told RT.After another lackluster attempt to launch mass demonstrations to depose Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, opposition figurehead Juan Guaido may be wondering how his counterparts in Bolivia obtained their coup with such speed. But Lucas Koerner, independent political analyst and editor of Venezuelanalysis.com, says it's all about the guns."The key factor are the armed forces," Koerner told RT's Rick Sanchez. "In Venezuela, the military has stayed on the side of the constitutionally elected president, whereGuaido's failure to win the support of the security services is not exactly surprising. A survey conducted last year by Caracas-based polling firm Delphos found that a whopping 97 percent of Venezuelans had never even heard of the US-backed opposition leader, let alone supported him to lead a military junta to depose the elected president. Even within the Venezuelan opposition, Guaido's faction has made enemies in other ways as well."This goes back to last year, when the opposition had a presidential candidate, Henri Falcon, who was the highest polling opposition figure at that time, and had the opposition united behind him they could have defeated Maduro," Koerner said.In choosing to allow Maduro to run uncontested, Koerner suggested the opposition threw away its one chance to remove the socialist leader from office by democratic means.Guaido declared himself "interim president" of Venezuela in January and received instant endorsement from Washington and its Latin American allies in the Organization for American States (OAS). But unlike Bolivia's opposition movement, which unseated President Morales after just a few weeks of protest with support from the military, similar efforts against Maduro have so far been unsuccessful.


sputnik--2019-01-08--Blood Blunders and Blame Worlds Best Worst and Weirdest Military Coups

Blood, Blunders and Blame: World's Best, Worst and Weirdest Military Coups

But forces loyal to President Bongo — who has ruled since 2009 when he succeeded his father Omar — regained control soon after and captured or killed the rebels.  Critics have accused the Bongo family of profiting from the country's vast natural resources while allowing more than a million people to live in poverty.  There have been hundreds of military coups, with most of them taking place in Africa, Latin America or Asia. They can sometimes be violent but often they are bloodless and occasionally they are so inept as to be downright comical.  Twenty years after it became independent from the Netherlands, Indonesia was ruled by a populist leader called Sukarno, who was increasingly falling under the spell of China and Chairman Mao.  On the night of September 30/October 1, 1965 a group of army plotters tried to take over Djakarta, purportedly to propel the Indonesian Communist Party and its leader, D. P. Aidit, to power.  But the coup's leaders, Lieutenant Colonel Untung and Brigadier General Supardjo, bungled it, allowing the army commander General Nasution to get away and rally the rest of the armed forces.  Sukarno, whose dithering and ambivalent attitude to the plotters was heavily criticised, was ousted and replaced by Suharto, a figure closely associated with the CIA and the United States.  In the wake of the coup up to a million people suspected of being communist sympathisers were murdered by the army and by right-wing militias, a genocide which was horribly described in detail in the award-winning documentary The Act Of Killing.  If the Indonesian coup was a blueprint for how not to do it, then the coup in Chile in September 1973, was the opposite.  The Chilean armed forces, under the command of General Augusto Pinochet, swept away the democratically elected Marxist government of Salvador Allende and took power with a combination of ruthlessness and attention to detail, with the full support of the CIA and the US government.  Allende, 64, had been elected President three years earlier but had repeatedly clashed with the military and with their conservative allies in the Chilean establishment over his plans to nationalise key parts of the economy.  As the economy floundered the military and their big business allies ran out of patience and on September 11 air force jets strafed the presidential palace, La Moneda, as tanks opened fire on Allende, who refused to resign.  It is not clear if Allende committed suicide or was murdered but by the end of the day he was dead and Pinochet took power.  The tiny former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea in central Africa was thrust into the spotlight in March 2004 when 60 mercenaries were arrested in Zimbabwe while apparently on their way there to start a coup.  Five months later Sir Mark Thatcher, the son of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was arrested at his home in South Africa and accused of taking part in the coup plot.  It later emerged the coup had been led by Simon Mann — a former army officer whose father George had once captained the England cricket team — and was designed to bring to power exiled opposition leader Severo Moto Nsa.  It was allegedly bankrolled by Lebanese businessman Ely Khalil, who wanted to get his hands on Equatorial Guinea's huge oil reserves.  Mann was extradited to Equatorial Guinea, served five years in the notorious Black Beach prison and was released in 2009. He testified on behalf of the son of the country's President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, in a Paris court in 2017 and claimed George Soros had attempted another coup in 2011.  Sir Mark pleaded guilty to breaching anti-mercenary laws in South Africa and was fined three million rand ($500,000).  One warm summer's night in 2016 Turkish television viewers were suddenly greeted by the shocking news that a coup was under way by soldiers and airmen seeking to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  Military jets bombarded the Turkish parliament in Ankara and tanks patrolled the streets of Istanbul.  But again the plotters made a crucial mistake — they failed to locate and capture Erdogan, who was on holiday on the Mediterranean coast.  "There is no power higher than the power of the people," he told her, as he urged Turks to come out onto the streets to thwart the coup.  Thousands heeded his words and the rebel soldiers were not prepared to mow down civilians with bullets or tank shells, so they began surrendering.  The coup was over but the mystery remains as to who was behind it.  Erdogan has blamed the cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is in exile in the US, but the evidence has been less than watertight and the trials of several of the coup's leaders, including air force commander General Akin Öztürk, have still not finished.  "To be tried on accusations of being a traitor and of being related to the treacherous coup attempt is the biggest punishment that can be given to me," said Öztürk during a court appearance in 2017.  The country has had 21 coups in total, including two in the last 13 years.  In 2006 the army, which has close links to the royal family and to the upper classes in Thailand, overthrew democratically-elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.  Thaksin was hugely popular in the countryside, especially in the north-eastern province of Isan, for his policies which tended to help the poorest in society.  But his supporters — the Redshirts — frequently clashed with the rival Yellowshirts, who drew much of their support from Bangkok.  Thaksin fled into exile — where he bought and sold Manchester City football club — and then backed his sister Yingluck, who was elected as Prime Minister in 2011.  The Thai military did not like her policies either and turfed her out in another bloodless coup in 2014.  She too is in exile, possibly in London.  In 1987 coups in Africa were ten a penny and rarely got much news coverage because they were so common.  So it was in October 1987 when Captain Thomas Sankara — who had himself taken power in a coup four years earlier — was ousted by his former friend Captain Blaise Compaoré, who ordered his body to be dismembered and scattered.  But in the intervening 30 years Sankara has been turned into something of an African Che Guevara.  His left-wing policies were revolutionary at the time and, unlike hundreds of African leaders, he was honest, incorruptible and genuinely out to improve the plight of his people.  In 1984 he even changed the name of the nation — a former French colony — to Burkina Faso (meaning Land of Honest Men) from Upper Volta.  Compaoré kept the name but unpicked almost all of Sankara's policies and hung on to corrupt power until 2014.  Until his ignominious death in 2011, Muammar Gaddafi instilled fear in Libya and ruled the country's fractious tribes with an iron hand.  But he rose to power, aged just 27, in a coup.  On September 1, 1969, the country's playboy monarch King Idris was out of the country at a health resort.  Gaddafi and about 70 fellow plotters surrounded the royal palace and other key government buildings, arrested top officials and routed the king's personal guard, who put up only token resistance.  The plotters called themselves the Free Officers Movement and later formed a Revolutionary Command Council but it was always Gaddafi pulling the strings.  But it led to the Spanish Civil War which the coup plotters, calling themselves Nationalists, eventually won in 1939.  The coup was launched by right-wing officers on July 18, 1936, five months after a leftist coalition won a general election in Spain.  Francisco Franco, who was to become the rebel leader, broadcast a speech imploring the military to overthrow the government.  The 30,000-strong Army of Africa seized Spanish-controlled Morocco and was airlifted to the mainland by planes from fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.  But some army garrisons sided with the Republican government, triggering a three-year civil war which claimed tens of thousands of lives.  Liberia was set up by freed American slaves in 1847 and it had been politically dominated for years by an elite who traced their heritage back to the United States.  But there was great resentment among indigenous Liberians and it boiled over on April 12, 1980.  A group of 17 non-commissioned officers, led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe, stormed government buildings and seized the President William Tolbert and members of his Cabinet.  Tolbert, 66, was one of Liberia's wealthiest businessmen, and his government was accused of corruption.  Tolbert was shot dead in the executive mansion at 1am and 13 Cabinet members were summarily executed by firing squad on the beach in the capital, Monrovia.  He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword and Doe was tortured and executed by Johnson and his men in a videotaped ordeal in September 1990.  Johnson can be seen sipping beer as one of his men cuts off Doe's ears.


sputnik--2019-01-30--Maduro Military Defectors in Colombia Planning Coup Attempt Against Venezuela

Maduro: Military Defectors in Colombia Planning Coup Attempt Against Venezuela

"We are facing conspiracies and we are defeating them every day… a group of military deserters has become mercenaries of the Colombian oligarchy and conspired from Colombia to divide the national armed forces at my command", Maduro said Wednesday.  READ MORE: US Orchestrates Coup in Venezuela as Countries Take Sides on Uprising  Earlier in the day, in an exclusive interview with Sputnik Nicolas Maduro said that Trump had ordered the Colombian government and mafia to kill him in order to get access to the Venezuelan oil.  "If something happens to me, it will be Donald Trump and Colombian President Ivan Duque that are responsible for that," Nicolas Maduro told Sputnik.  Later on Tuesday, acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan told reporters that he has not discussed with Bolton an apparent plan to deploy US troops to Colombia.  At the same time, amid confusion caused by Bolton media reported citing military sources that US Army South Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Stammer will soon arrive in Colombia.  READ MORE: Maduro: Bolton Prohibited Trump From Initiating Dialogue With Me (EXCLUSIVE)  On January 23, the speaker of the opposition-led Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, declared himself interim head of state amid ongoing anti-government protests. The United States and a number of other countries, which disputed last year’s re-election of President Nicolas Maduro, have recognized the opposition leader. Maduro slammed Guaido as a US "puppet" and accused Washington, which has stated that it has all options on the table to respond to the crisis, of organizing a coup in Venezuela.  Russia, China, Mexico, and Uruguay, were among those that voiced their support for Maduro as the country's only legitimate president and expressed readiness to act as mediators in the conflict between the government and the opposition.


sputnik--2019-02-14--Russia Suspects Venezuela Coup by Military Means Becoming US Priority

The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned of an increasing number of signs that a military coup in Venezuela is becoming the "West's priority".  READ MORE: Maduro Slams Trump-Duque Meeting as 'Feast of Hatred Toward Venezuela'  The ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that the United States has chosen a highly confrontational scenario in Venezuela and is openly encouraging Venezuela's armed forces to mutiny.  "In general, all suggests that the White House has chosen a scenario of acute confrontation with the use of force in Venezuela. I believe that [Washington] even does not try to hide that. All means of information and psychological pressure are being used: from manipulation and provocative media speculations to direct blackmailing and incitement to hatred. The main target is the armed forces of the Bolivarian Republic", she said.  "Venezuelan servicemen are openly being incited to a rebellion. High-ranking officials in Washington are calling on the armed forces of a sovereign state to side with new political leadership. What right does the United States have to talk about democracy and legal framework both within a separate state and on the global stage after that?" Zakharova added.  In a phone conversation with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned Washington against any military interference in Venezuela, Zakharova said.  "I would like to remind you that the day before yesterday, on the initiative of the American side, there was a telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the US Secretary of State, Mr Pompeo, during which the Russian minister warned against any external interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela".  The ministry spokeswoman elaborated that Russia was sticking to norms of international law and sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter, and was ready for a dialogue based on those principles, including with the United States.  According to her, a provocation was being prepared from Colombia's Cucuta under the guise of a humanitarian convoy to Venezuela, and emphasised that it could nor rule out casualties.  “Let us not be deceived, or deceive others — a provocation, including with casualties, is being prepared under the guise of a humanitarian convoy. And it is needed as a pretext for a forceful action from outside. And everyone should clearly understand this. We consider it urgently necessary to refrain from steps and statements that could provoke an escalation of tension in Venezuela, in particular, any appeals to the Venezuelan armed forces fraught with their involvement in an internal civil confrontation", she said.  The comment came after US President Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart Ivan Duque agreed to provide "humanitarian aid" to Venezuela, which is strongly opposed by Nicolas Maduro.  Last week, Reuters cited a senior White House official as saying that the Trump administration expected more servicemen to pledge allegiance to Juan Guaido, Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president:  "We believe these to be those first couple pebbles before we start really seeing bigger rocks rolling down the hill. We're still having conversations with members of the former Maduro regime, with military members, although those conversations are very, very limited", the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.  The report came shortly after US National Security Adviser John Bolton tweeted that Washington might consider lifting sanction on senior Venezuelan military officers if they abandon incumbent President Nicolas Maduro:  Venezuela has been embroiled in an ongoing political crisis since Guaido declared himself the country's interim president, thus challenging the legitimately elected Maduro. The move was swiftly recognised by the United States, which has also been encouraging the international community to follow suit.  In a bid to force Maduro out of office, the Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on state-run oil giant PDVSA and blocked his government's assets, having passed control over certain frozen assets to Guaido instead. Washington has also said that a military intervention in Venezuela was "an option".  While Maduro slammed the restrictions as illegal, the Venezuelan Supreme Court hit back by blocking Guaido's bank accounts and financial transactions within the country's jurisdiction, and imposed a travel ban on him until a probe into his activities is completed.  The United States, Canada, Israel, a handful of European countries and a number of South American nations have recognised Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, while Russia, Cuba, China, Iran, Turkey and several other nations have backed Maduro as the legitimately elected head of state.


sputnik--2019-04-11--Things to Know About Sudans President Amid Reports of Attempted Military Coup

Things to Know About Sudan's President Amid Reports of Attempted Military Coup

Following months of protests, the Sudanese Armed Forces have decided to remove the country’s long-time president, Omar al-Bashir, from all posts and dismiss the government, Arabic-language media reported.  In light of the alleged military coup, here are some key facts about al-Bashir, who’s been governing Sudan for 30 years.  Al-Bashir, who was born into a farmer family in 1944 in northern Sudan, which used to be a part of the Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan, enrolled in a military academy in Egypt in 1960. He also graduated from another military academy in Khartoum in 1966 after his family moved to Sudan. He rose through the ranks quickly and even took part in the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Israel, serving in the Egyptian Army.  Being a brigadier in the Sudanese Army, al-Bashir was responsible for waging operations in the south of the country against the late rebel John Garang, who led the Sudan People’s Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War.  After dissolving the military junta in 1993 which had brought him to the helm in the first place, al-Bashir appointed himself the civilian head of state and has since been repeatedly elected president.  As reports of a military coup in Sudan flood in, it appears that this is not the first time that the Sudanese Armed Forces have attempted to topple al-Bashir. Several months after he ascended to power in 1989, a group of officers tried to overthrow his government, in April 1990, but the coup was quickly foiled.  In 2005, al-Bashir’s government managed to put an end to the Second Sudanese Civil War, which broke out in 1983 between the central government in Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. He negotiated a peace agreement, which eventually saw Southern Sudan separate from Sudan following a 2011 independence referendum.  In 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) accused al-Bashir of carrying out war crimes and crimes against humanity in the western region of Darfur – a 2003 armed conflict that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians – and issued an arrest warrant against him.  The warrant was, however, condemned by the Arab League and the African Union, with a number of countries refusing to detain the president and hand him over to the ICC during his international trips.  Al-Bashir, who became the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC, has himself rejected the charges, saying that “these things are lies”.


sputnik--2019-04-30--US Signs Off on Coup Calls on Military to Support Opposition - Venezuela FM

US Signs Off on Coup, Calls on Military to Support Opposition - Venezuela FM

"The leaders of the coup acknowledge their unscrupulous authorship. The Trump administration in desperate to generate an internal conflict in Venezuela. Democratic institutions in Venezuela will guarantee the country's peace. #TrumpHandsOffVenezuela," the minister wrote on Twitter.  US National Security Adviser John Bolton, in his turn, said that the Venezuelan military should support the opposition-controlled National Assembly.  Large-scale protests against Maduro began in Venezuela on January 21 soon after he was sworn in for a new term. Guaido proclaimed himself an interim leader of the country. A number of Western countries, including the United States, backed his claim.  Maduro, in turn, has accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido and take over Venezuela’s natural resources. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia, Turkey and a number of other countries have voiced their support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.


sputnik--2019-07-25--Sudanese Military Arrests Senior Officers After Failed Coup

The plotters wanted to undo the April revolt, which toppled Sudan’s longtime ruler Omar Bashir, and bring his party back to power, the Suna news agency cited the army’s statement as saying.  The coup attempt reportedly involved chief of the joint staff Hashim Abdul-Muttalib, high-ranking national security and intelligence officers and leading figures of Bashir’s National Congress and its affiliate, the Islamic Movement.  The military took over after months of popular revolt ended Bashir’s almost 30-year rule, but uncertainty about the African nation’s transition to civil government kept protesters in the streets.  The standoff between the military and the opposition culminated in a deadly break-up of a sit-in outside the army office in Khartoum. The military agreed to a power-sharing deal with protesters under pressure from the African Union.


sputnik--2019-11-13--Former UN Official Says Military Coup in Bolivia Bodes Ill for Democracy Across Region

Last month, Morales won in the first round of the presidential election. However, the opposition, led by Carlos Mesa, accused him of electoral fraud and refused to recognise the vote results. The Organisation of American States (OAS) then published a preliminary report that found irregularities in the 20 October voting.  Amid everything, people were taking to the streets to protest Morales' victory and demand his resignation. They were soon joined by the armed forces and police. This all culminated in Morales stepping down on Sunday and leaving for Mexico earlier on Tuesday after being granted political asylum.  Commenting on the OAS' report, the former UN official said that such irregularities were not unprecedented for the region and beyond, adding that even if a full recount confirmed the details in the report, the best option would be a new election.  At the same time, de Zayas pointed out that although similar discrepancies had been observed by the OAS during the election that placed Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez in power for his second term in 2018, Washington supported his administration, a development that was lacking when it came to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Morales.  US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Morales' resignation was a "significant moment for democracy in the Western Hemisphere," a view that stands in contrast with the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement that "a wave of violence unleashed by the opposition has not allowed Morales to complete his presidential mandate".  De Zayas added that Morales' resignation created a scenario in which it was unclear who may take his place as a constitutionally valid successor, with the possibility of further electoral irregularities remaining a concern.  Morales had been president of Bolivia since 2006, during which time he established himself as the country's first indigenous leader and a beacon of the global left. His stepping down and subsequent departure for Mexico has been viewed by several countries, including Venezuela, Cuba, and Mexico as a military coup.


sputnik--2019-11-13--The Real Story Behind the Military Coup in Bolivia

Bolivian President Evo Morales arrived in Mexico yesterday, where he was granted asylum after being overthrown in a military coup. The coup took place at the urging of right wing opposition leaders and mutinying police officers. Every constitutional successor has resigned, leaving the opposition Senator Jeanine Áñez in nominal charge of the country now effectively ruled by a military junta.  Attorneys representing presidential candidate and Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard have sent a letter to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanding that Clinton retract a statement she made several weeks ago calling Gabbard a “Russian asset.” When challenged about the assertion, Clinton responded, “If the nesting doll fits..” Gabbard’s lawyers say the statement was defamatory, and they want a retraction. Meanwhile, two new likely entrants are trying to upset the Democratic presidential primary. Jim Kavanagh, editor of thepolemicist.net whose latest article is “Trump’s Syrian See-Saw: From Pullout to Pillage,” joins the show.  Bill Ayers is Loud & Clear’s regular guest on “Education for Liberation” about the state of education around the country. But today he discusses the election victory of his son Chesa Boudin as district attorney of San Francisco, California. Against huge odds, and despite the fact that the police union spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat him, Chesa won the race and is expected to institute radical reforms that will bring a fairness in sentencing that has not been previously seen. Brian and John speak with Bill Ayers, an activist, educator and the author of the book “Demand the Impossible: A Radical Manifesto.”  Google over the past year has been secretly working with one of the largest health-care networks in America to collect and analyze personal health care data on millions of people across 21 states. In an initiative codenamed Project Nightingale, Google has collected lab results, diagnoses, and hospitalization records, patient names and dates of birth, among other information, all without the patients’ approval or even knowledge. Patricia Gorky, a software engineer and technology and security analyst, joins the show.  In this segment, The Week Ahead, the hosts take a look at the most newsworthy stories of the coming week and what it means for the country and the world, including the ongoing right-wing coup in Bolivia, the protestors in Hong Kong, Israel’s killing of a senior commander of Islamic Jihad, and the upcoming public impeachment hearings. Sputnik News analysts and producers of this show Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek join the show.  Today’s regular segment that airs every Tuesday is called Women & Society with Dr. Hannah Dickinson. This weekly segment is about the major issues, challenges, and struggles facing women in all aspects of society. Dr. Dickinson is out this week. Nathalie Hrizi, an educator, a political activist, and the editor of Breaking the Chains, a women’s magazine; and Loud & Clear producer Nicole Roussell join the show.  We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com


tass--2019-02-22--Venezuela has no conditions for military coup or popular uprising says foreign ministry

Venezuela has no conditions for military coup or popular uprising, says foreign ministry

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. A military coup in Venezuela is impossible while the population is aware that discord is being imposed from outside, Venezuela’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Gil said at a meeting with the chairman of the Federation Council’s international affairs committee Konstantin Kosachyov in Moscow on Friday.  "We can promise our strategic partners here in Russia that in Venezuela there is no possibility of a military coup or popular uprising. A majority of the population is well aware of what is happening and it is mobilized to provide support for the legitimate government," he said. "At the same time we must acknowledge that the risk and threat of foreign intervention that may trigger chaos among the population always remains."  Gil believes that the United States’ plan is to cause a split in the Venezuelan military with the aim to trigger a coup and the toppling of the current president.  "With this in mind it has unleashed an unprecedented multifactor campaign, including psychological pressure, speculations in the mass media and the claims it is necessary to deliver humanitarian aid either through Colombia or the Netherlands-governed islands of Curacao or Brazil," he said. "This campaign rolls on in the media, social networks, radio, and television. The main aim is to make the people panic, to split the population, thus causing the government’s fall.".  In other media


tass--2019-11-19--Turkey orders arrest of over 130 military allegedly linked to coup — TV

ANKARA, November 19. /TASS/. Prosecutors in Izmir have issued an order on detaining 133 Turkish military as part of an operation against members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which Ankara blames for an attempted coup in July 2016, NTV reported on Tuesday.  Turkey sent official request to US on extradition of Fethullah Gulen  According to the report, the Turkish security forces are carrying out an anti-terrorist operation simultaneously in 44 provinces across the country. Among the suspects 82 individuals are now serving in the army.  On July 15, 2016, a group of Turkish soldiers and officers attempted to stage a coup d’etat and overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. About 250 people were killed in clashes in Istanbul and Ankara, over 2,000 were injured. Ankara accuses FETO of staging the coup, with its leader Fethullah Gulen, currently residing in the US, being considered a key suspect in the criminal case.


theantimedia--2019-04-30--Coup Attempt in Venezuela After US-Backed Guaido Calls for Military Uprising

(CD) — The elected government of Venezuela said it is working to put down a right-wing coup attempt after U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido called for a military uprising in a video posted to Twitter Tuesday morning.  “The moment is now,” said Guaido, who was flanked by dozens of heavily armed soldiers and armored vehicles. “People of Venezuela, it is necessary that we all go out into the streets, to support democracy and recover our liberty. Organized and united, we should move to the main military installations.”  Shortly following Guaido’s call, videos posted to social media appeared to show clashes between government forces and the opposition beginning to erupt.  On Twitter, Venezuelan information minister Jorge Rodriguez said the government is “confronting and deactivating a small group of traitor military personnel who positioned themselves… to promote a coup d’état against the Constitution.”  And Vladimir Padrino, the Maduro government’s defense minister, said in a tweet: “We reject this coup attempt that wants to fill the country with violence. The pseudo-political leaders of this subversive attempt have employed troops and policemen with weapons on a public highway to sow chaos and terror.”  Even as the news of Guaido’s video statement was breaking, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), one of the loudest voices in the U.S. government backing the overthrow of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, took to Twitter with a series of posts calling on Venezuelans, including military and police, to pick up arms against the government.  “Liberty & freedom is never easy,” tweeted Rubio from his safe vantage point in the U.S., thousands of miles away. “But it is always worth it.”  Online, RT was carrying a live stream from a section of a highway in Caracas near where the reported clashes appeared to be taking place:  This article was chosen for republication based on the interest of our readers. Anti-Media republishes stories from a number of other independent news sources. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect Anti-Media editorial policy.  Since you’re here… …We have a small favor to ask. Fewer and fewer people are seeing Anti-Media articles as social media sites crack down on us, and advertising revenues across the board are quickly declining. However, unlike many news organizations, we haven’t put up a paywall because we value open and accessible journalism over profit — but at this point, we’re barely even breaking even. Hopefully, you can see why we need to ask for your help. Anti-Media’s independent journalism and analysis takes substantial time, resources, and effort to produce, but we do it because we believe in our message and hope you do, too. If everyone who reads our reporting and finds value in it helps fund it, our future can be much more secure. For as little as $1 and a minute of your time, you can support Anti-Media. Thank you. Click here to support us


theantimedia--2019-11-14--“We Don’t Want Any Dictators”: Bolivians Flood Streets to Protest Military Coup

(CD) — Unrest continued in Bolivia Thursday as protests against the right-wing coup that unseated democratically-elected President Evo Morales on Sunday and the anti-Indigenous ideology behind it entered their fourth day.  Demonstrators filled the streets of the Bolivian capitol, La Paz, waving the indigenous wiphala flag and registering their disapproval of the new interim government of Jeanine Añez.  “We don’t want any dictators,” protester Paulina Luchampe told Time Magazine on Wednesday. “This lady has stepped on us—that’s why we’re so mad.”  New president Añez has come under criticism for a history of comments promoting an extreme right-wing Christian theocratic ideology, including referring to the country’s Indigenous population as “satanic.”  Members of the country’s police and military forces, whose support for the coup over the weekend precipitated Morales’ resignation Sunday, have been photographed cutting the wiphala flag off of their uniforms.  “Anti-Indigenous racism is at the heart of what’s happening in Bolivia,” tweeted Cherokee activist and writer Rebecca Nagle.  Right-wing militias burning the flag and attacking the country’s Indigenous protest movement mean that the conflict is more than just about political differences, said Bolivian feminist Adriana Guzman—it’s about the country’s right-wing being opposed to everything the Morales government stood for.  “The coup d’état is against all of that,” said Guzman. “That’s why they degrade. That’s why they punish. That’s why they burn the Indigenous wiphala flag.”  In an opinion piece for The Guardian, Nick Estes, co-founder and editor of The Red Nation, said that the difference between the two camps in Bolivia is clear.  “The future of Bolivia is currently marching in the streets, the millions of people who voted for Evo in the last elections, the 47% whose voices and votes were stolen by the violent return of the old, colonial oligarchy,” wrote Estes.  Protester Luchampe said she hoped the protests would continue until there is a resolution to the conflict that undoes the coup.  “We’re going to fight with our brothers and sisters until Evo Morales is back,” said Luchampe. “We ask for his return. He needs to put the house in order.”  This article was chosen for republication based on the interest of our readers. Anti-Media republishes stories from a number of other independent news sources. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect Anti-Media editorial policy.  Since you’re here… …We have a small favor to ask. Fewer and fewer people are seeing Anti-Media articles as social media sites crack down on us, and advertising revenues across the board are quickly declining. However, unlike many news organizations, we haven’t put up a paywall because we value open and accessible journalism over profit — but at this point, we’re barely even breaking even. Hopefully, you can see why we need to ask for your help. Anti-Media’s independent journalism and analysis takes substantial time, resources, and effort to produce, but we do it because we believe in our message and hope you do, too. If everyone who reads our reporting and finds value in it helps fund it, our future can be much more secure. For as little as $1 and a minute of your time, you can support Anti-Media. Thank you. Click here to support us


thedailycaller--2019-04-30--Maduro Regime Denies Military Revolt Blames The US For Leading This Coup

Maduro Regime Denies Military Revolt, Blames The US For ‘Leading This Coup’

Venezuela Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Tuesday denied the Venezuelan military is trying to oust President Nicolas Maduro and accused opposition leader Juan Guaido of leading a coup as an agent of the U.S.  “It is not a coup attempt from the military. This is directly planned in Washington, in the Pentagon and Department of State, and by [U.S. National Security Adviser John] Bolton,” Arreaza told Reuters in a phone interview. “They are leading this coup and giving orders to this man Guaido.”  Arreaza repeated Maduro’s claim that the military still supports the Venezuelan government and that violence that has broken out between Maduro’s and Guaido’s forces is the fault of the U.S. (RELATED: Venezuela Banned Private Gun Ownership Less Than A Decade Ago)  “[Maduro] is in his place of command as always, and he is in control of the situation. He is making government decisions as he does every day,” Arreaza said. “We are not threatening anyone with the use of violence. It’s the United States, it’s the opposition.”  The U.S. is prepared to provide economic relief to Venezuela, which is under a slew of U.S. sanctions, after the Guaido is installed at interim president, according to a Tuesday statement from the U.S. Treasury.  Arreaza denounced the U.S. Treasury’s statement as “another criminal confession of the Trump government.”  Military personnel have defected to Guaido’s cause and some have joined thousands of protesters in marching on Venezuela’s Presidential Palace, where Nicolas Maduro works while he is in the capital.  Guaido launched the revolt, called “Operation Liberty,” from La Carlota air base near Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, Tuesday morning, calling for a last effort to topple Maduro’s regime and hold new elections for Venezuela’s president. Guaido’s campaign has lasted months and garnered the support of the U.S., Brazil and other countries.  Maduro’s regime has retained the support of Cuba, China and Russia.  Protesters have flooded the streets of Caracas in a show of support for Guaido and to oppose Maduro. Maduro-backed forces have used tear gas to break up crowds of protesters and exchanged gunfire with opposition forces. In one case, Maduro’s military forces plowed into a crowd of protesters with an armored vehicle, appearing to injure several.  Follow updates on the situation in Venezuela here.  Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.