Raul Castro Plays Both Sides

Raul Castro Plays Both Sides / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya
Posted on March 19, 2015

Maduro states that the Yankees [Americans] will not set one foot on
Venezuelan soil, while Raul Castro will roll out the red carpet welcome
for them, thus dismissing XXI Century Socialism. Goodness, Maduro,
neither political agreements nor ideologies are worth a dime in matters
of capital.

Cubanet, Miriam Celaya, HAVANA, 16 march 2015 — The recent U.S.
declaration that Venezuela constitutes a threat to U.S.National
Security, as well as the sanctioning of seven employees of that South
American country –six of whom are in the military — have offered the
tenant of the Palace of Miraflores an ideal opportunity to call a
meeting of the National Assembly to request an Enabling Law that will
"allow for the defense of the country against any imperialist
aggression." And, of course, he got that law passed, though there has
not been any deployment of maneuvers to justify such a call to
slaughter. So far, the dreaded imperialistic onslaught has been limited
to freezing the assets of the so-called employees "of the people" in
U.S. soil and financial institutions (??!!) and forbidding their entry
into that country.

Obviously, all indications so far are that some "Venezuelan boots" have
trodden on "Yankee" territory, and not the opposite. While it is fair to
say that the six military and civilian staff members affected by the
empire's alleged belligerence did not come to the US to make war, but to
safeguard their personal profits – resulting from privileges granted to
them by the government and who knows what other shady deals — while
their compatriots grow poorer every day.

Chief Nicolas Maduro's bleating trumpets have even shaken up the
near-death specter at Ground Zero [n.b. Fidel Castro], who, happy for
this opportunity – possibly his last — of waging another war of lies
against the imperialist foe, has once again come out of his feebleness
to congratulate the Joker for his "brilliant and courageous speech
against the brutal plans of the U.S. government."

The Grand Island Madman

It is conceivable that the Grand Island Madman might have already hung a
map of Venezuela on the walls of his lair and riddled it with colorful
tacks indicating where, according to his (nonexistent) judgement,
Marines might land to invade Bolivar's motherland. And to think that
some of his detractors say that Mr. F. has no sense of humor!

Meanwhile, the "revolutionary government" of Cuba issued a statement
against the interventionist act of "government authorities and the US
Congress" that threatens Latin America and the Caribbean, a "Peaceful
Zone". A message which aims to brand a de jure Latin Americanist
position, while Castro II and his cohorts continue with their de facto
negotiations with that Giant of the Seven Leagues, which is, after all,
the more tangible ace in the olive green deck of cards. The situation is
confusing, as it is when one is playing both sides, but if one looks at
it carefully, it encompasses a twisted certain twisted logic: rather
than "to win" it is about not losing too much of the Latin Americanist
pose, without risking too much the profits that are expected from a
reconciliation with Uncle Sam.

However, this new North-South escalation, when many Latin American
countries are facing very complex internal situations, is a preview of
how controversial the approaching America's Summit meeting will be,
where, in addition, a new stage show will take place, since both the
Cuban government and the Independent Civil Society are being invited to
attend. For the first time, Cuban dissidents will be represented at a
hemispheric conclave, a thorn on the side of the dictatorship which –
like it or not — it will have to swallow.

The erosion of the system

Everything indicates that the warmongering media hysteria is looking to
create an anti-imperialist climate in time for the Summit. The
protagonists of the alleged US invasion of Venezuela are, and not by
chance, these two aberrations known as revolutions, the Cuban and the
Bolivarian. Both would be uncomfortable with an agenda that – among
other points — will set out the constant human rights violations in Cuba
and Venezuela. The satraps and their lackeys are closing ranks and
preparing the trenches for the battle ahead. There is nothing as
encouraging to dictatorships and nationalist unpleasant aftertastes as
the winds of war. The predictable strategy might well be "Latin America
against the Empire and its mercenary allies and traitors." Or, if
necessary, they might even, as a last resource, abstain from attending
the meeting, under the pretext of imperialist hostility and impertinence
against the sovereignty of our peoples.

So, if Chief Nicolás has launched this warmongering bravado on the
advice of the Cuban regime, he had better think twice. After all, while
oil in recent times has been plummeting, the dollar has been rising…
while Castro II has been negotiating secretly with the common enemy.
Sooner or later, Maduro will be left alone in that contest, because, as
far as capital is concerned, not even the most rancid nationalists,
political agreements or ideologies are held very firmly, though the
dogmas taught in the classrooms of the Communist Party High School may
preach otherwise.

At this time, the tower of the olive green power — in its funny
transmutation to capitalist entrepreneurship — will have tallied their
accounts to see who is worth more as a long-term ally, and perhaps their
clerks have filed away XXI Century Socialism with the long list of
system losses. So, while Maduro states that the Yankees will not take
one step on Venezuelan soil, Cuba's President-General, with more haste
than pause, will welcome them by rolling out the red carpet.

Translated by Norma Whiting

Source: Raul Castro Plays Both Sides / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya |
Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/raul-castro-plays-both-sides-cubanet-miriam-celaya/