Venezuela 2015

US-Cuba talks, FARC & US-Latin America stories of the week

by

Guests:  Fausta Rodriguez Wertz, editor of Fausta’s Blog…..plus Jerry Brewer, C.E.O. of Criminal Justice International Associates, a global threat mitigation firm headquartered in northern Virginia……….we will discuss Jerry’s interview with a dissident about the US-Cuba talks, the latest from Venezuela, Colombia & FARC and other Latin America stories……..click to listen:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cantotalk/2015/07/09/us-latin-america-stories-with-jerry-brewer-fausta-rodriguez-wertz

A look at the situation in Venezuela

by

Guest:  Comandante Cazorla, opposition leader, joins us for a discussion of the situation in Venezuela….the economic crisis plus the political problems…..the state of the opposition …..the polling data on upcoming elections……the food shortages all over the country……crime in the streets of Caracas and other cities…..the relationship with Cuba……US-Venezuela relations after the sanctions……and other issues about the situation in Venezuela….

Special note:  We had a little of distortion in our connection with Venezuela…..please forgive us for the static at the beginning of the show…

Click to listen:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cantotalk/2015/06/10/a-look-at-the-situation-in-venezuela-1

Cuba and US-Latin America stories of the week

by

Guest:  Fausta Rodriguez-Wertz, editor of Fausta’s Blog, joins me for a look at US-Latin America stories of the week……we will discuss the latest legal setback for President Obama’s executive order……….what impact will it have in Central America?  The latest from Mexico’s upcoming mid-term elections……..Chile and the president’s problems……Argentina and Mr Nisman……Venezuela and allegations of drugs……Colombia and FARC……US-Cuba talks…….

and Jorge Ponce will joins us to talk about the death of the author of Fidel Castro’s “Double life”………click to listen:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cantotalk/2015/05/28/us-latin-america-stories-of-the-week

US-Latin America stories of the week with Fausta Rodriguez Wertz

by

GUEST:  Fausta Rodriguez Wertz, editor of Fausta’s Blog…

we will react to the speech by the Prime Miniser of Israel’s speech……the growing influence of Iran in Latin America…..more on the death of Mr Nisman in Argentina…..the continuing crisis in Venezuela……Colombia and the FARC……the ship with arms headed to Cuba plus the latest in US-Cuba talks…….click to listen:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cantotalk/2015/03/04/iran-in-latin-america-argentina-plus-other-stories

 

Maduro “le tiene que echar la culpa a alguien” for the mess in Venezuela

by

We have seen this movie before:

First, the regime mismanages the economy with what The Economist calls:  “… ruinous economic policies have caused shortages of basic consumer goods and medicines and a sharp rise in inflation and poverty.”

Second, the government arrests someone to distract the population.

In Cuba, it was the attacks on “El Diario de La Marina”, the expropriation of US properties or putting thousands of Cubans in political prisons.  Our parents and grandparents remember that well!

In Venezuela, it is the arrest of Caracas mayor Antonio Lesezma:

“Venezuela’s turbulent politics appear headed for a new phase of confrontation a day after intelligence agents stormed the offices of the Caracas mayor, Antonio ­Ledezma, seizing the opposition leader for his alleged role in what President Nicolás Maduro called an “endless coup.”

Ledezma will be indicted on charges of “conspiracy,” according to a statement released by Venezuelan state prosecutors Friday night after the 59-year-old mayor’s appearance at a Caracas tribunal. He was taken directly to the Ramo Verde military jail, the statement said — the same facility where another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, has been imprisoned for the past year.

In a speech Friday night, Maduro said he would lay out recordings and videos next week in a special broadcast revealing the “gringo intervention in Venezuela” that Ledezma allegedly conspired with. “In Venezuela, no one is untouchable,” he warned.”

“Gringo intervention”?   That sounds a lot like the “imperialismo yanki” that our parents heard years ago!

Of course, Mr Ledezma is just the latest distraction.   As you’ve read in Babalu, Fausta’s Blog and Venezuela News & Views, Venezuela has been hit very hard by the decline in oil prices.

Venezuela’s corrupt and overweight public bureaucracy requires a very high price of oil to survive.   It won’t fly when the commodity drops to $50!

We have seen this movie before.   It will likely get worse down in Caracas before it gets any better.

Finally, where are the governments of Latin America?   It would be nice if other governments in the region would demand the release of Mr. Ledezma.

P.S. You can hear my show:   ( CantoTalk  )  or  follow me on Twitter  .