7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
The Russians, Cubans and Chinese have over the past weeks been attacked for using the Corona pandemic to make themselves look good. Which I think we can all agree is totally unacceptable. So after we all share a breath of relief for HUAWEI reducing their mask shipments to Europe due to *drumroll* European political pressure, let’s all ponder about what you should do instead.
For some reason the same transatlantic media outlets that attacked the aid shipments have been less outspoken about telling us what you’re supposed to do, when sending medical personnel and equipment to combat the epidemic is apparently wrong.
So if any of you plan on running a country any time soon, I shall give you just that:
7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
1: Block IMF emergency credits for countries that needed them to buy emergency medical equipment to deal with the pandemic. Venezuela, Iran
2: Cut off a country hard hit by the pandemic from international payment, thereby effectively destroying its ability to buy medical equipment for it on the international markets.
But don’t worry. You do so with the best intentions. It's their fault, after all.
3: Try to escalate a currently semi-peaceful situation militarily as the country you hate is currently somewhat preoccupied with the pandemic.
Originally Posted by ”New York Times”
The Pentagon has ordered military commanders to plan for an escalation of American combat in Iraq, issuing a directive last week to prepare a campaign to destroy an Iranian-backed militia group that has threatened more attacks against American troops.
But the United States’ top commander in Iraq has warned that such a campaign could be bloody and counterproductive and risks war with Iran.
[...]
Some top officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Robert C. O’Brien, the national security adviser, have been pushing for aggressive new action against Iran and its proxy forces — and see an opportunity to try to destroy Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq as leaders in Iran are distracted by the pandemic crisis in their country. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/w...ronavirus.html
4: Ramp up the preparations for a military invasion by putting a 15$ mil bounty on the president of a sovereign country based on Trump-ed up charges.
Let’s all ignore for a moment that remarkably few drugs transit through Venezuela, given it’s size and strategic location (acc. to the database of the US govt it can’t be more than 7% of the totalhttps://adamisacson.com/2016-suspect-trafficking-maps/”][link 2][/url]), which definitely would be far more if this was an operation with state backing. Let’s also ignore for a moment that there are several current and former US backed presidents in the region with proven cartel links, and that there’s a historic link between cartels and the Latin American far right. Let’s try not to laugh at the fact that the US apparently accidentally indicted one of their own stooges (the “leader of pro-Guaidó military personnel” Alcalá). Let’s all instead enjoy the absolutely pristine irony of what the president of Venezuela (the one anointed by god’s and US’s graces), is up to:
President nonelect Guaido with a member of the Los Rastrojos cartel:
The same guy wearing the same clothes (both photos have thus very likely been taken on the same day) as he's received by the Colombian presidential honour guard:
But seriously though: We all at least heard about Noriega and the US invasion of Panama, with 4000 dead. Since Trump’s handling of the pandemic is so bad that the virus might be winning the 2020 election for the Democrats, the current administration might very well find itself in the need of a war to stay in power (like it tried in 2008). I’m thus very much inclined to believe Venezuela’s Communication Minister Jorge Rodríguez’s claim that these groups were planning to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to attack military units and plant bombs. He also linked the groups to Alcalá, who, finding himself wanted by both the Venezuelan government as well as the US, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-venezuela-dea-exclusive/alleged-maduro-accomplice-surrenders-to-us-agents-will-help-prosecution-sources-idUSKBN21E3IQ?il=0”]immediately surrendered to the US[/url], but not before putting a video up that pretty much confirmed this. Don’t worry about the guy too much though. He’s going to be a witness against a guy whom he's publicly opposed since pretty much day one.
Originally Posted by Guardian
Another of the accused, Clíver Alcalá, broke from the Maduro camp in 2013 and and has admitted to plotting to overthrow Maduro with a mercenary army based in Colombia.
Reached by the Guardian in the Colombian city of Barranquilla where he still lives, Alcalá said he had been mistakenly accused.
“The Colombian authorities know where I am. They know I’m at home, and have no plans to run away,” he said. “I support the indictments against the Maduro regime but I’m a false positive. I shouldn’t be included.”
The charges portray Venezuelan drug smuggling as a major national security issue. The justice department statement on the indictments said: “Maduro and the other defendants expressly intended to flood the United States with cocaine in order to undermine the health and wellbeing of our nation. Maduro very deliberately deployed cocaine as a weapon.”
But US data for 2018, which shows 210 tons of cocaine passing through Venezuela, shows that six times as much passed through Guatemala in the same period.
“The evidence they point to against Maduro is thin, which suggests this is more about politics than about drugs,” said Geoff Ramsey, director of the Venezuela programme at the Washington Office on Latin America thinktank.
The fact that Barr put his name on the list should tell you everything you need to know about the level of effort was really put into this.
5: Cut your contributions to health care in a country that’s being waged a war against with your backing, and whose people have a much reduced immune defense, given that they’re half starved to death thanks to a blockade, which, again, is going on with your backing.
Originally Posted by ”New York Times”
Officials with the United States Agency for International Development said the decision to halt funding, reported earlier by The Washington Post, included exceptions for “critical, lifesaving activities, including treatment of malnutrition as well as water, sanitation and hygiene programs aimed at keeping people healthy and staving off disease.”
But humanitarian officials said the agency’s exceptions did not provide for continued funding of basic health care programs, which are heavily reliant on foreign aid, and did not seem to take into account what might occur when the coronavirus begins to spread.
6: Try to buy exclusive rights for a potential vaccine being developed in Germany. Because of course you do.
7: Just to be fair, though this one's at least aimed to curb the pandemic in their own countries, let's finish on something NOT done by the US: Completely cut off your friendly neighbour from medical supplies. Shipments to Switzerland going through either France or Germany get seized en route.
No links to the last two, since those are old news and probably known by all.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Bonus: Can I interest you in a soft coup? No? Netan gonna give yahoo one anyway.
Gonna keep this one short: Ignore the president ordering your rival to form the new government, keep the parliament out of business as it would likely result in you losing your power, ignore the supreme court as you do so, close courts due to the pandemic, which it’s quite lucky, given that your trial was supposed to start March 19th, rule the country using emergency regulations.
Gantz has since bowed to the pressure and made a power sharing agreement with the president4lyf, whereby Netanyahoo’s supposed to hand over the presidency in 18 months’ time. I think we all know how this will go.
Originally Posted by Cookiegod
From Socrates over Jesus to me it has always been the lot of any true visionary to be rejected by the reactionary bourgeoisie
Re: 7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
Maduro could always step down. The health care situation there is a direct result of his rule. Or better yet agree to the interim government proposal from the US.
Re: 7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
Hmmm, Venezuela, formerly one of the wealthiest countries in the world and after decades of socialist rule now assembles its Presidential Guard on a dirt road.
Re: 7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
Originally Posted by B. W.
Hmmm, Venezuela, formerly one of the wealthiest countries in the world and after decades of socialist rule now assembles its Presidential Guard on a dirt road.
Colombia and Venezuela are not the same country chief.
Re: 7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
Originally Posted by Vanoi
Maduro could always step down. The health care situation there is a direct result of his rule. Or better yet agree to the interim government proposal from the US.
Originally Posted by B. W.
Hmmm, Venezuela, formerly one of the wealthiest countries in the world and after decades of socialist rule now assembles its Presidential Guard on a dirt road.
Yes, I'm sure the American sanctions got nothing to do with it.
Originally Posted by Cookiegod
From Socrates over Jesus to me it has always been the lot of any true visionary to be rejected by the reactionary bourgeoisie
The shortages and failing economy strech back to 2010.
Removing sanctions will do nothing. Venezuela's problems began long before sanctions. Maduro and Chavez ran their country into the ground. Oil has crashed meaning removing sanctions won't help Venezuela at all.
Forming a new government to help deal with the bad economic choices of Maduro and Chavez and dealing with corruption is the best option.
Re: 7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
So they put the sanctions up for zero effect, right? The sanctions are just there for the lulz, with no impact whatsoever.
And you think inventing fake drug charges against a sitting president and supporting politicians with actual ties to drug cartels are the best way to go about it? Stopping Venezuela from getting aid in dealing with the pandemic is also a good price to pay if that helps the regime change, right?
Originally Posted by Cookiegod
From Socrates over Jesus to me it has always been the lot of any true visionary to be rejected by the reactionary bourgeoisie
Re: 7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
Originally Posted by Cookiegod
So they put the sanctions up for zero effect, right? The sanctions are just there for the lulz, with no impact whatsoever.
Oh they have impact. But getting rid of them at this point wouldn't help.
And you think inventing fake drug charges against a sitting president and supporting politicians with actual ties to drug cartels are the best way to go about it?
Stopping Venezuela from getting aid in dealing with the pandemic is also a good price to pay if that helps the regime change, right?
Maduro charged Guaido so fair's fair. And what ties to cartels does he have?
Venezuela has gotten help from various nations and loans and not a thing has changed. China and Russia can send aid but due to the corruption of Maduro and his government i bet most of the aid would be squandered or just stolen.
Accept the proposal for the interim government and things could move forward.
7 proper ways to do foreign policy during a pandemic
Originally Posted by ”New York Times”
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