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<div id="print-page"><b><big>Amid International Outcry, Venezuelan
Officials Allege Blackwater, U.S. and Canadian Links to
Thwarted Coup </big></b>
<p class="print-submitted">Feb 16th 2015, by Lucas Koerner </p>
<div class="print-content">
<p style="text-align: justify;" dir="ltr">Caracas, February 16,
2015 (<a href="http://venezuelanalysis.com/" target="_blank">Venezuelanalysis.com</a>) -
New revelations in Venezuela have linked U.S. private
security firm Blackwater, now known as Academi, to the
aircraft that was to be used as part of Thursday's thwarted
"Blue Coup" attempt.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" dir="ltr">The four-stage plan
included economic war, an international media offensive
against the Venezuelan government, political destabilization
fomenting ungovernability, and finally the use of a Super
Tucano aircraft to strike "tactical targets" in the capital,
such as the Presidential Palace, teleSur, and military
intelligence</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" dir="ltr">The coup was planned
for the one-year anniversary of violent opposition protests
known as the Guarimba and was to come one day after a public
statement by leading opposition leaders calling for a
"transition". </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">According to U.S. aviation
records, the EMB-314B1 or "Super Tucano" aircraft in question
was acquired from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer by the firm
Blackwater Worldwide in 2008 allegedly for the purpose of
pilot training. Registered under the serial number N314TG, the
aircraft is, moreover, the only one of its kind sold by the
Brazilian firm to a private company. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Super Tucano is a light,
highly agile Brazilian aircraft designed principally for pilot
training and counterinsurgency operations. The aircraft has an
operational range that extends from the U.S. to any point in
Colombia, and has been widely used in Colombian
counterinsurgency operations, including in the 2008
assassination of FARC second-in-command Raul Reyes in
violation of Ecuadorian sovereignty. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">While Venezuela does have its
own fleet of 12 Super Tucanos, all aircraft are currently
grounded and undergoing major repairs, stated President
Nicolas Maduro, whilst offering further evidence regarding the
foreign origin of the aircraft. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Blackwater has a checkered human
rights record. Several of its contractors have been indicted
in U.S. courts for their role in the 2007 massacre of Iraqi
civilians, and Jeremy Scahill, national security correspondent
for the Nation, has documented the firm's role in the CIA's
global <a
href="http://www.democracynow.org/2009/8/20/reports_private_military_firm_blackwater_was">assassination
program.</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>National Assembly
President Accuses Canadian and UK Officials of Involvement</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">On Friday, National Assembly
President, Diosdado Cabello, alleged that officials at the
Canadian and British embassies had links to the failed coup
attempt, in a new round of revelations surrounding the
attempted putsch. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Cabello claimed that a Canadian
official by the name of Nancy Birbek was investigating the
contingency plans of the Arturo Michelena airport in
Valencia. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" dir="ltr">"On Monday, together
with another Canadian embassy official, this woman identified
as Nancy Birbeck, was inquiring about the capacities of that
same [airport] for special cases. Is this woman asking about
the capacities of the airport for cases of contingency?" </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The National Assembly President
went on to indicate that he also had evidence that an official
from the British embassy as well as a staff member of the U.S.
embassy charged with overseeing visas had links to the
thwarted coup plot. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For his part, President Nicolas
Maduro has alleged that the U.S. government is behind the
coup, accusing U.S. embassy personnel of attempting to "bribe"
Venezuelan armed forces officials. The Venezuelan head of
state also claimed that one unnamed U.S. official was
responsible for authoring the "script" that was to be publicly
broadcast by military officials on the day of the coup
claiming that the armed forces had risen up against the
government. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>International Outcry </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In the wake of Thursday's foiled
coup plot, the Bolivarian government of Nicolas Maduro has
received a raft of messages of support from regional leaders
and civil society organizations alike. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">On Saturday, the Latin American
Parliament, a regional consultative assembly representing the
countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, issued a
statement condemning the thwarted coup attempt. President of
the regional body, Angel Rodriguez, called for a comprehensive
investigation by Venezuelan prosecutors and advised Venezuelan
citizens to remain "alert" in the face of destabilization
efforts by "extremist groups" which he indicated were backed
by the United States. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, the Secretary General
of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Ernesto Samper
also rejected the coup attempt and expressed support for
President Nicolas via his twitter account. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>"UNASUR reiterates its will
to find democratic and pacific routes and reiterates its
support for President Nicolas Maduro"</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The presidents of Bolivia and
Nicaragua also joined the chorus voicing solidarity with the
government of Nicolas Maduro. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"We all have the obligation to
enforce respect of democracy and elections, and if we all have
a clear conscience, not even the empire can defeat us,"
declared Evo Morales </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For his part, Daniel Ortega
denounced the "criminal and futile attempts of the Empire
toundermine the Bolivarian Revolution." </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">From Mexico City, the Network of
Intellectuals, Artists and Social Movements in Defense of
Humanity has also issued a statement announcing support for
the Venezuelan government and condemning the coup efforts by
opposition leaders. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Most recently, the Presidents of
the Uruguayan Senate and House of Deputies spoke out on Monday
against the thwarted coup and proclaimed their backing of the
Bolivarian government of Nicolas Maduro. Brazil's Landless
Movement has also thrown its support behind the Venezuelan
government. </p>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
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<hr class="print-hr">
<div class="print-source_url"><strong>Source URL (retrieved on <em>17/02/2015
- 8:59am</em>):</strong> <a
href="http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/11212">http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/11212</a></div>
</div>
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