I have now been here a week and I think that I have absorbed enough to attempt a little analysis, as opposed to the simple impressions I gave shortly after arrival.
Those impressions remain valid however: this is not a repressive state. I was on the Randy Credico show live on WBAI New York on Friday, and by chance my friend, the renowned FBI whistleblower Colleen Rowley was also on, from Minnesota (where I have stayed with Colleen and her husband in their home).
I was explaining that, in a week of going all round Caracas, I had yet to see a checkpoint, that nobody had at any stage asked me who I am, what I was doing or prevented me from going anywhere, and that the shops, bars and restaurants are all functioning normally.
Colleen reported from Minneapolis that there were checkpoints everywhere, that the streets are full of heavily armed men, that people are frequently stopped, questioned, asked to produce documents, and diverted, and that many shops bars and restaurants are closed because the staff are afraid to venture out into the streets. Colleen is heavily involved in detainee support and in getting supplies to people sheltering in their homes.
Remind me again, which of us is in a supposed dictatorship?
...
Sanctions against Venezuela did not start after the disputed 2024 election; they have been applied by the Western powers more or less since the very start of Chavez' socialist experiment. The repression of socialism in Latin America has been US policy for a century, and the more Chavez succeeded the more the west sought to suppress it. France refused to provide spares for the Mirage jets of the Venezuelan air force, and equally refused to supply spare parts for the trains of the Metro service.
The gold and foreign currency reserves abroad of the government of Venezuela have simply been stolen by foreign governments, and the blocking of Venezuela from the Swift bank transfer system for a while caused havoc. It has however spurred BRICS to develop an alternative, not fully adopted, not finished but working in Venezuela, which accounts for the full stocks in the shops and ultimately might represent a significant moment in international economics.
Slowly, unwillingly, the Socialist Party under Maduro has been forced precisely by the crippling effect of sanctions to allow more space for the private sector and move from a fully socialist to a more social democratic model - though to describe the reforms under Maduro as "neoliberal" is ridiculous. It may theoretically be possible to build socialism in one country, but if the major economic powers join forces to destroy you, it becomes very difficult indeed.
A dangerously simplistic narrative about what has happened in Venezuela has taken hold in the West, fuelled by Trump, CIA and Machado/Miami sources.
On this reading, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez is in collusion with Trump, betrayed Maduro and stood down defences on the night of his kidnap, and is now instituting neoliberal policies, including a new petroleum law which states only the USA may ship Venezuelan oil and that payments for it will go exclusively through the US in Qatar.
In fact this is not true at all. Venezuela's new petroleum legislation contains no provisions banning oil exports to China or Russia and no provision for payments to be routed through the USA. The new Petroleum law is in fact legislation which sets out a new commercial basis for the operation of the Venezuelan petroleum sector on the same kind of concession, licensing and royalty basis as pertains in almost every other oil producer.
The key point is that the legislation was drafted under Maduro, with extensive consultation and debate. It came for its first reading to the Assembly literally the day after Maduro was kidnapped. That was already scheduled, not a result of the kidnapping. The notion that Maduro opposed the legislation and Rodríguez had to get rid of him to get it thorough is patent nonsense.
...
The line that Delcy Rodríguez agrees to both the kidnap of Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia, and to the hijacking of Venezuelan oil sales and revenues, has been deliberately spread by the US and its acolytes, despite Delcy Rodríguez's furious denials.
If Rodríguez really was Trump's placed woman, then boasting about it would fatally undermine her within Venezuela and bring about her downfall - which obviously would be entirely counterproductive were there any truth in the claim.
So why is this rumour being spread? Well the obvious reason is precisely to undermine Rodríguez and destabilise the government of Venezuela.
But perhaps a more important factor is Trump's obsessive need to claim victory. He gathered a massive military force off the coast of Venezuela, and stood in danger of mockery as the Grand Old Duke of York if he simply sailed it away again.
The seizure of Maduro has in fact changed nothing in policy terms within Venezuela, but it has provided a spectacular operation for Trump to claim as a victory. In truth, as a demonstration of the capabilities of the United States' offensive military technology, it was indeed technically impressive.
Ctd ...
Re: Craig Murray: He brings clarity: Well done Craig!
I have been aware of Venezuelan socialism since 2016 after attending a meeting where the essence of the movement was discussed. Sorry, can't remember the name of the speaker, but it was edifying.
nmThe last working-class hero in England. Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ??? - 4 November 2021 Georgina the cat ???-4 December 2025
It's a question, dickhead.The last working-class hero in England. Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ??? - 4 November 2021 Georgina the cat ???-4 December 2025
It's a question, dickhead ... ffs you are dripping with narcissism there
I agree with ceemac's reading of your post. It's not just a question, it's a pointed one at that, suggesting that you believe she betrayed him. Effing obvious (you've heard of Ruski nuances?).
You could have reacted in a civil manner, but no, the narcissism kicks in. What a pitiful performance.
TwatThe last working-class hero in England. Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ??? - 4 November 2021 Georgina the cat ???-4 December 2025
You inferred my motives then judged them wanting, you selfish shit.The last working-class hero in England. Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ??? - 4 November 2021 Georgina the cat ???-4 December 2025
Who the fuck are you to infer my meaning and then try to hold me responsible for it, you fucking hypocritical bastard.The last working-class hero in England. Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ??? - 4 November 2021 Georgina the cat ???-4 December 2025
Own it, hypocrite.The last working-class hero in England. Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ??? - 4 November 2021 Georgina the cat ???-4 December 2025
I grant you the last word.The last working-class hero in England. Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016 Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018 Jasper the Ruffian cat ??? - 4 November 2021 Georgina the cat ???-4 December 2025
Here's one, probably from the days of Sanctions on Chavez. Little has changed. This is what sanctions do. They hit the poorest of the poor. Stop making these people invisible by trying to pretend everything is hunky dory. Talk to the poorest not those in restaurants.
Would you deny her a voice? That's fecking appalling. It's just an interview, for feck sake. Listen and find out how a young 17 year old from Venezuela is forced by the sanctions to go leave her home and become a homeless prostitute on the Venezuelan Colombian border to feed her 9 siblings who are starving at home in Venezuela. Might it not be because to stay in Venezuela means to die.
If Craig can't figure out why there are no prostitutes in Caracas it's because he's not using his brain.
And she wasn't a prostitute before the sanctions! nm
2005–2006 (Initial Targeted Sanctions): The U.S. began imposing targeted sanctions on specific individuals and entities due to a lack of cooperation in anti-drug and counter-terrorism efforts. In 2006, the U.S. prohibited all commercial arms sales and retransfers to Venezuela. 2014–2015 (Human Rights Focus): Following the 2014 protests, the U.S. Congress passed the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014. In March 2015, President Obama issued Executive Order 13692, declaring a national emergency and sanctioning seven high-ranking officials for human rights abuses. 2017–2018 (Financial and Debt Sanctions): Under President Trump, the U.S. moved toward broader economic pressure. Executive Order 13808 (August 2017) prohibited the Venezuelan government from accessing U.S. financial markets, including new debt from state oil company PdVSA. Further orders in 2018 prohibited transactions involving Venezuelan digital currency (EO 13827) and the purchase of Venezuelan debt (EO 13835).
2019 (Sectoral Sanctions and Full Blockade): In January 2019, the U.S. designated PdVSA for operating in the oil sector, effectively freezing its U.S. assets and prohibiting transactions. In August 2019, Executive Order 13884 froze all property of the Venezuelan government in the U.S., establishing a comprehensive economic blockade. 2023–2024 (Eased Relief and Reinstatement): In October 2023, the Biden administration temporarily lifted some oil, gas, and gold sanctions following the Barbados Agreement. These were mostly reinstated in April 2024 after the U.S. determined the Venezuelan government had not fulfilled its commitment to free elections. 2025–2026 (Recent Escalations): Following disputed 2024 elections, the U.S. imposed new sanctions on election and judicial officials. In early 2026, the U.S. military captured Nicolás Maduro to face narco-terrorism charges, leading to the creation of a "Post-Maduro" energy deal and selective rollback of certain oil sanctions.
Which particular sanctions Der?
You must be simply delighted by the comments "This is what happens under a socialist dictator".
Have you even looked at the comments? Have you any idea what's going on?
What point do you think I was trying to make by posting that interview with that unfortunate young woman?
"Which particular sanctions, Der?".
Why is that remotely important? Obviously, the relevant US/UK/EU sanctions that drove her to leave Venezuela and sell her body so as to get money to feed her starving siblings back home in Venezuela. Your extensive research into the sanctions just shows that she lived her entire life under sanctions.
Could you just talk English and make your point? What are you trying to say? What's your agenda?
What are you on about Der? Where do you get your silly ideas from?
You must be simply delighted by the comments "This is what happens under a socialist dictator".
You pulled that out of your behind methinks.
Have you even looked at the comments?
Give me a good reason to do so.
Have you any idea what's going on?
Not according to you obviously.
The point is, obviously, that you giving a single example does not prove your point. Logic. More data required, obviously (eyes roll). Secondly, young women selling their bodies to feed their family is not a new thing. It's been going on forever. The problem that you have is to prove that this happens all over Venezuela specifically due to a particular sanction i.e. sanctions have been around basically forever.
What you also chose to ignore is that Craig reported no prostitution in Caracas. Zero comment from you. Why not?
What's your agenda?
None. I just respond to false narratives. I am embarrassed to see these comments on 'our' board. Take it as you will.
A single interview .. no exceptions .. ffs I do despair about logic on this board
"Stop making these people invisible by trying to pretend everything is hunky dory..."
You do say the strangest things. Craig's point is surely that Venezuela as a whole isn't living under a repressive dictatorship set on making people's lives a misery. This latter is though the actual aim of the sanctions which he is clearly aware, are indeed damaging lives.
-I don't really get your criticism: it's pointless.
on February 3, 2026, 3:00 pm