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<h1><font size=4><b>USAID CLOSES OFFICE IN VENEZUELA<br>
by Eva Golinger</b></font></h1><font size=3>Posted on
<a href="http://lchirino.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/usaid-closes-office-in-venezuela-by-eva-golinger/">
February 8, 2011</a> by
<a href="http://lchirino.wordpress.com/author/lchirino/">lchirino</a><br>
<a href="http://lchirino.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/usaid-closes-office-in-venezuela-by-eva-golinger/" eudora="autourl">
http://lchirino.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/usaid-closes-office-in-venezuela-by-eva-golinger/<br>
<br>
</a>The US agency closed its Office of Transition Initiatives, which was
used to provide Venezuelan opposition with millions of dollars every
year.<br><br>
By Eva Golinger<br><br>
Set up in 2002, the so-called Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) in
Venezuela, which used millions of dollars to finance actions aimed at
destabilizing the country and removing President Hugo Chavez from power,
has finally closed its doors following countless denunciations about its
subversive activities.<br><br>
When Russell Porter, director of the OTIa division of USAID dedicated to
promote “transitions” in countries strategically important for
Washingtonfirst came to Venezuela in January 2002, he was committed to
“evaluating the political situation” to find out how the USAID could
better help by means of a “transition towards democracy.”<br><br>
But the actual goal was not supporting democracy in Venezuela, since
there was a democratic regime here that was supported by the majority of
the people. The mission of the USAID, along with other US agencies, was
to boost a “change of regime” that favored American interests, what
translated into ousting President Chavez from power.<br><br>
In the beginning, the USAID program for Venezueladrawn up few weeks
after Porter´s visitwould finance and advice political parties,
non-government organizations and media outlets linked to the anti-Chavez
sector. Three months after Porter´s visit to Venezuela, a coup was staged
against the President which, after its initial success was defeated in
less than 48 hours by the Venezuelan people. Most actors and groups
involved in the coup had already been provided with a multi-million
financing from the USAID and another US agency called National Endowment
for Democracy (NED).<br><br>
<b>THE MULTIMILLION BUDGET<br><br>
</b>During its first two years of operations in Venezuela, the USAID/OTI
managed an over-10-million-dollar budget by sponsoring some 64 opposition
groups and programs in the country. A large part of this sum was
dedicated to anti-Chavez propaganda in the media during the so-called
“Managers´ Stoppage” in late 2002 and later to back a campaign for a
revoking referendum against President Chavez.<br><br>
Oppositions groups like <i>SUMATE, CEDICE, Primero Justicia, CTV,
Fedecarmaras </i>and others, stood out as main recipients of that money
and the leaders of destabilization efforts in the country.<br><br>
After its failed attempts to oust the Venezuelan President, the USAID/OTI
increased its budget and reoriented its Venezuela strategy; this time
they focused on a sector not targeted before: the youths.<br><br>
Over 34 percent of the multi-million USAID/OTI budget, which increased up
to 15 million dollars annually, was dedicated to finance and give advice
to an opposition “student” and youth movement from 2006 to 2010. Under
the umbrella of USAID, workshops on how to use social networks like
Twitter and Facebook to boost a “change of regime ” and “leadership”
training programs for the youths were spread throughout the
country.<br><br>
And the money resulted in an effective tool. An opposition “student
movement” was created. The “Manos blancas” (White Hands), the guru of the
so-called “color revolutions” of Eastern Europe, attracted world
attention with its protests against the Venezuelan government and its
innovative tactics taken from the manuals and guidelines of US agencies
and partners such as the Albert Einstein Institute and Gene
Sharp.<br><br>
However, despite the huge investment made on Venezuelan opposition, they
did not reach their main goal. On the contrary, the popularity of Hugo
Chavez kept growing, while relations between opposition groups and their
US sponsors and advisors became less attractive.<br><br>
<b>THE UNQUESTIONABLE EVIDENCE<br><br>
</b>The budget to finance opposition groups in Venezuela for 2010 reached
over 57 million dollars. This huge interference with the country´s
internal affairs and the violation of its sovereignty was corroborated by
documents declassified by Washington, as well as by public reports issued
by international organizations like the Spain-based <i>Fundacion de
Relaciones Internacionales y Dialogo Exterior</i> –<i>FRIDE</i>-
(International Relations and Dialog Foundation)<br><br>
At the same time, the USAID presence in Venezuela never was legitimateit
was never authorized by the Venezuelan state, which evidenced a flagrant
violation of national sovereignty. Unlike its programs in other
countries, which are usually agreed to with the local authorities, in the
case of Venezuela the USAID/OTI was operating in an illegal,
semi-clandestine and subversive way.<br><br>
Denunciations in Venezuela of the destabilization-aimed financing
activity were considered by the authorities and in late 2010, they passed
the Law for the Defense of Political Sovereignty and National
Self-determination, which prohibits foreign financing with political aims
in the country.<br><br>
Did the USAID decide to abide by Venezuelan law? Did that organization
realize that it had lost its millions of dollars in a fraudulent
opposition that was incapable of retaking power? Or is it restructuring
its strategy against the Venezuelan government by looking at other
channels to finance and support its allies?<br><br>
The fact is that the flow of dollars will continue to reach the groups
that promote the US agenda in Venezuela, while imperial interference will
not stop. But the closing of the USAID office in Venezuela is a victory
for the Revolution, and a big step to guarantee national
sovereignty.<br><br>
Persistent denunciation works sometimes no matter if how powerful the
adversary may be; the commitment to justice and truth will always
win.<br><br>
[English version by South Journal]<br><br>
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