Venezuela to create new workers militia

[Zorro]

Source: AP

Venezuela's president has ordered the creation of a new workers' militia to defend the country's "Bolivarian revolution" at a time when the government faces economic problems and political turmoil.

President Nicolas Maduro gave few details about the militia, including how many members it would consist of, but said it would be part of the Bolivarian Militia created by late President Hugo Chavez, which consists of roughly 120,000 volunteers. Analysts have said only about one-fourth of that force is combat ready.

Maduro's announcement in a speech in Caracas late Wednesday got little attention in the Venezuelan media.

The president said he had ordered military leaders to "move forward as fast as possible in the establishment and organization of the Bolivarian Militias of Workers."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-create-workers-militia-165808807.html

[socialsecurityisAAA]

1. Economic problems and political turmoil???

Biased statement. Western countries that abhor socialism want us to perceive Venezuela as a wasteland of desperation. Fortunately the poor and underprivledged Venezuelans are better off than the American middle class. America could learn some lessons from THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT DONATES ENERGY TO POOR AMERICANS! Venezuela gives poor Americans access to free oil for heating!

[Zorro]

2. Ha ha ha

You so funny.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

7. Give Oliver Stones "South of the border" a moment of your time spent watching glen beck.

You will find very little amusing about how America portrays Venezuela and why they lie have to lie about Venezuela and other South American nations.

[Zorro]

8. You should refrain from posting whoppers yourself

"...the poor and underprivledged Venezuelans are better off than the American middle class..." is a pretty ridiculous statement.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

12. Socialism in Venezuela protects people and makes sure they have absolute necessities.

In America there are no such protections for the underemployed or underpaid. Often underpaid or underemployed members of the middle class do not qualify for government assistance. They are left to depend on corporations.

[Zorro]

15. Socialism in Venezuela protects people and makes sure they have absolute necessities.

Well, except for toilet paper.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

17. 1 minor issue solved. When something in the U.S. becomes scarce the price skyrockets and people can

die. When people can't afford drugs or other necessities because of high costs it is a tragedy indeed.

[MADem]

48. And flour for arepas.

http://elimpulso.com/articulo/kilometrica-cola-para-comprar-harina-de-maiz-precocida-fotos#.UaBS4kDVCSp

And chickens....and milk....and butter....and sugar....

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/9312

(the cite is the "sunny side up" propaganda arm of the Boligarchian regime, too--of course, what they don't bother to mention is that this problem has been serious for many years now.)

The place is going to hell in a handbasket!

[djean111]

52. Whereas we have plenty of that stuff - but people who who have no money and

do not qualify for food stamps can only look at it. In some cases, I feel hunger is actually inflicted on poor Americans, as a punishment. "If you feed the poor, it only encourages them to breed", "teach the kids to dumpster dive", etc - sentiments expressed by some of our elected officials and influential pundits.
"The place is going to hell in a hand-basket!" - as are we all, some days.

[MADem]

57. Well, that is certainly an issue, and one in which I have involved myself over the years, but

hunger and shortages of essentials are two very different things and they represent two very different issues. One is a problem of compassion -- or a lack thereof on the part of lawmakers, the other is a problem of basic competence of government as well as corruption and greed in government.

These shortages are being inflicted across the board in VZ. That's not the case in USA.

Certainly, as with everything, there's a black market for these items, but in VZ one would have to be middle class and up to afford them, AND the money people use to buy these items on the black market is money that isn't going to stimulate the VZ economy in other ways--Fire the housekeeper, we want chicken and arepas and we haven't enough money for both.

[cheapdate]

44. Amen.

It's important to realize that when people talk about the progress Venezuela has made in reducing poverty, it's a relative measure. The starting place was very low. Venezuela has some serious economic problems to deal with, namely extraordinary inflation.

[whistler162]

30. Sorry Oliver Stone is a hack.....

I've boycotted his films since Born on the Fourth of July. When he decided to play fast and loose with the anti-war movement at Syracuse University for whatever "artistic" reasons he demonstrated his lack of judgement.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

31. Too bad. The movie is full of interviews and footage LARGELY CENSORED by the MSM.

Dislike him if you must, the movie is about SOUTH AMERICANS not Oliver Stone.

[naaman fletcher]

53. The movie was good

But that doesn't mean there aren't economic problems in VZLA. Your statement that the poor there are better off than the middle class in america is simply absurd. I think you should go to VZLA and check it out.

[hack89]

19. 30% inflation, routine food shortages and a sky rocketing murder rate

I really don't think they have it better than the American middle class.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

23. Those numbers are from a biased western corporate, no doubt one who has an interest in perpetuating

The anti-Bolivarian narrative. Nice try though. However food inflation has hit higher than 30% in the United States during the recession. Sad indeed.

[hack89]

25. "Venezuelan Government Recognizes Record Murder Rate"

The Venezuelan government has confirmed that over 16,000 people were killed in 2012, while over 2,000 were murdered during the first two months of 2013, pointing to little letup in the ongoing violence.

As EL Universal reports, figures released by national police agency the CICPC counted 2,576 murders in Venezuela during January and February 2013.

http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/venezuelan-government-recognizes-record-murder-rate

America had about 12,000 murders. Venezuela has more murders with a fraction of the population.

The inflation rate in Venezuela was recorded at 29.44 percent in April of 2013. Inflation Rate in Venezuela is reported by the Central Bank of Venezuela.

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/venezuela/inflation-cpi

As you were saying.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

33. I know the government has denied those numbers and claimed

Corporations incite violence in the country using SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS(a military training academy) to indoctrinate foreigners to hate their native countries and use violence to spread PRO AMERICAN FREE MARKET PROPAGANDA.

[hack89]

35. Those were the official government numbers

if you disagree, I think it time for you to provide some links.

[name not needed]

84. Well clearly the Venezuelan Government has been infiltrated by dirty American capitalists.

No doubt assisted by the CIA and the Trilateral Commission.

[Pelican]

88. Oh my...

[bitchkitty]

54. Guess who else has an interest in perpetuating the anti-Bolivarian narrative? n/t ;)

[Ken Burch]

28. The poor wouldn't be better off with stores full of food

that they couldn't afford. And THAT is all that "free market" solutions can ever offer Venezuela.

The key lies in getting the rich to stop hoarding.

[hack89]

36. The rich are not hoarding

the economy has been mismanaged. Price controls and central planning never work. Never.

[Ken Burch]

38. "free" markets never help the poor, as far as that goes.

We've had three decades in this country now that PROVE that a rising tide does NOT "lift all boats".

More consumer and worker-owned co-ops might be the answer...but greater profits for the rich can't be.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

37. Yes

But in America the problem is much worse than the hoarding rich.

[joshcryer]

47. Erm, Citgo is only part of Citizens Energy Corporation.

Citgo is not the only ones providing aid to poor Americans.

Funny how we'd celebrate a globalist anti-environmental corporation on these forums though.

[MADem]

49. It ain't "we," though, really.

It's a small group of very determined people who, for reasons that are entirely unclear to me, value propaganda and a 'rosy scenario' narrative over the plain, unvarnished truth. The doubling down and determination to prosecute a completely false picture just has to produce some serious cognitive dissonance. It's kind of pathetic, actually. Even the government is admitting now that things are fucked up, yet you'd never know it if you listened to a few acolytes in this corner of DU.

[dbackjon]

65. Lmao

[aristocles]

3. A workers militia? Like in North Korea? nt

[socialsecurityisAAA]

4. Democratic Venezuela has nothing in common with N. Korea.

Other than the fact that U.S. corporations hate the fact they don't have access to cheap labor in either country.

[Pterodactyl]

80. And shortages of goods the people need.

And wacko leaders.

Other than that, totally different.

[quadrature]

5. Mugabe's veterans... Iran's revolutionary guard

just wonderful

[lsewpershad]

6. Hopefully

an org to fight for workers rights. Time for American workers to wake and smell the coffee being offered by the bosses.

[Zorro]

9. It's not an org to fight for workers rights

It's an org to maintain the government status quo.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

14. The people voted to maintain the bolivarian revolution:)

[Zorro]

16. Barely.

Even with all the Chavez reverence and emotional attachment, Manuro squeaked by.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

20. He won. The people repeatedly support the Bolivarian revolution.

And while the opponent enjoys political support from RICH TAX EVADING CORPORATIONS they keep loosing.

[Zorro]

22. Whatever you say, Brainiac

[socialsecurityisAAA]

24. Typing on phone, misspelling happens. Unfortunately you have no position to support or

respect for Venezuelan democratic rights. Sad. Name calling......Childish.

[Zorro]

26. Blah blah blah

Typing on the phone is your excuse for misspellings.

What's your excuse for not knowing about Venezuelan murder and inflation rates?

[socialsecurityisAAA]

29. I know the rates quoted are complete fabrications

Similar to false claims made by the U.S. denying C.I.A. instigation of a deadly coup against the people of Venezuela. LIKE I SAID GIVE OLIVER STONES "SOUTH OF THE BORDER" A WATCH. Turn of fox news for a few hours and try watching something educational for a change. HOW MUCH DOES ORANGE JUICE COST IN NORTH AMERICA COMPARED TO A DECADE AGO? Now that's inflation.

[Zorro]

32. Deaf, dumb, and blind is no way to go through life, kid

I paid $2.49 last week for a 59 oz. jug of Tropicana. Pretty good price even compared to the price 10 years ago.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

34. Try 6.50 for some brands. 100% more.

Nice try though. Tropicana produces a lot of watered down blends. Why are you unable to debate without lying to people in an attempt to MANIPULATE them following that with insults? You aren't like most of the polite and respectful people I encounter on DU.

[Zorro]

39. In addition to your silly BS about Venezuela

sounds like you're a lousy shopper to boot.

[bitchkitty]

55. Typical response when you defend the indefensible.

Attack the messenger.

The bullshit about toilet paper was proven to be bullshit, everyone knows it's bullshlit, but you keep bringing it up. I wonder why? Actually, I don't wonder at all. I know why. Everyone knows why. You are painfully obvious.

[Zorro]

56. You appear to be a Venezuelan toilet paper shortage denier

Just because you enjoy Livin' la Vida Caca doesn't mean that everyone else does.

The Venezuelan government apparently doesn't, either, which is why they approved funding to import an estimated 39 million rolls.

[Judi Lynn]

60. " Livin' la Vida Caca?" Is this "wit" in your environment? n/t

[Zorro]

63. You wouldn't know "wit"

even if it "wit" you on the ass.

[bitchkitty]

64. Poddy humor. What more can you expect from such a person? n/t

[bitchkitty]

61. Ha. ha. ha.

You are so funny, my sides hurt. You're probably a riot at parties.

[socialsecurityisAAA]

13. Workers militia...... A union by another name.

[mwrguy]

10. We could learn a lot from Venezuela

[Zorro]

11. A government-sponsored public militia

sounds like a teabagger wet dream to me.

[hack89]

21. Sure - lets have private armies answerable to no one but the president.

would could possibly go wrong?

[Ken Burch]

27. They are basing this, in part, on what happened in Chile in '73.

When the military moved to crush democracy, the workers and the poor had no means of defending it. We all know what resulted.

The same thing would happen today if a coup occurred against Maduro. There's no way it could lead to anything OTHER than a fascist takeover. The opponents of Maduro and the PSUV want the poor to be crushed.

[railsback]

40. I really find it interesting to see all the Oligarch lovers here

They wish everything on Venezuela that they despise here. Bizarre.

[Zorro]

41. Do you think government-sponsored "worker militias" is a good idea?

I don't.

I think more guns will end up contributing to Venezuela's skyrocketing murder rate.

[railsback]

42. Our founding fathers thought it was a good idea

We're not even supposed to have a standing army.

[Zorro]

43. So you think it's a good idea also?

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

79. The purpose of our Militia has always been to maintain security, not to protect a partisan ideology

The problem of the threat of a standing army being misused to maintain power was addressed after the post-Civil War reconstruction. Regular military are prohibited by law from being called to enforce state laws. Even when the federal government stepped in to enforce its own court decisions in the 1950s and 60s, it used a federalized militia (National Guard) rather than federal military. Some people remain outraged even by those events, but they are in the minority.

[Ken Burch]

95. You're forgetting that in this country "security" is often a euphemism for "up the status quo"

There's no country anywhere in which "security" is a politically neutral term.

The main reason we've never significantly reduced the size of our war machine since World War II(we should have reduced it as soon as that war was over)was to make sure that we never have a return to the near-revolutionary situation we had during the Depression, and the potentially revolutionary situation we were in in the mid to late 1960's.

"Security" is really just code for "the stuff the rich want".

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

96. Security, to me, means all people living their lives without the threat of others telling them

Last edited Wed May 29, 2013, 10:41 AM - Edit history (1)

how they should live them, what to say or do, or what to believe.

"Security" is really just code for "the stuff the rich want".

It's also stuff the poor want, and stuff the middle class want.

What we're discussing in this thread appears to be potential conscription by a partisan government of zealous, naive poor people into a cadre of thought police.

You're forgetting that in this country "security" is often a euphemism for "up the status quo"

I thought this thread was about something happening in Venezuela, but I'd certainly take the status quo here over a society in which my personal affairs are subject to monitoring by brown-shirts.

BTW, maintaining the status quo in Venezuela appears to be precisely the purpose of the proposed goon squad.

[Ken Burch]

99. I was talking about what "security" means to the political establishment

in most "free market" countries. Not what it meant to you, because your notion of it is irrelevant to those who want to overthrow Chavismo and put the poor back in their place.

As to Venezuela, the workers' militia isn't going to be a "thought police"...it's going to be a defense against U.S.-backed coups. We can assume that any well-armed opposition group would have been invented by the CIA and exist solely to restore austerity capitalism(no armed Left opposition to Chavismo could ever possibly exist, because the Left in Venezuela remembers history), and that the overthrow of the PSUV can only produce a Pinochet-style dictatorship with no social humanity at all.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

101. A defense against a US-backed coup, and also against any potential coup of domestic origin.

To maintain the status quo. To protect the people from the installation of an oppressive government, they must be closely monitored and oppressed if needed. New ideas are not permitted.

...the Left in Venezuela remembers history), and that the overthrow of the PSUV can only produce a Pinochet-style dictatorship with no social humanity at all.

I see a failure of imagination wrapped in blind loyalty to a party, to be maintained by a cadre of useful idiots. How sad.

[Ken Burch]

105. The thing is, there isn't anybody in Venezuela calling for a left-wing revolt

against Chavez. And since any of the guns that would ever be obtained for any revolt would have to come from the U.S., that fact by itself guarantees that any large-scale armed revolt in that country could ONLY be right-wing.

Sorry, but there's not a better socialist option available in that country at the moment. And anything that made the place more free-market would have to involve inflicting horribly increased suffering on the poor.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

106. You're saying that the only political schools of thought now are "left" and "right"?

Aren't there other dimensions to it, such as libertine vs. totalitarian, or secular vs. state religion?

[Ken Burch]

107. I think you meant "libertarian", not "libertine"

No, there are other schools of thought. But in Venezuela, it isn't about any of those. Chavismo isn't being resisted by anyone because of any alleged "totalitarian" acts(if it was totalitarian, they wouldn't keep having free elections), but solely based on class. A few working-class folks have gone anti-chavismo because the rich have deluded them into thinking that "free market" economics will give them a better life(despite the fact that free markets never benefit anyone BUT the wealthy).

The notion that the PSUV is a police-state party is solely an American-made myth. And nobody who is going on about "free speech" and "new elections" and all that actually cares about the poor. If they did, they wouldn't be obsessed with getting the PSUV out of power. The only reason anyone wants that is to restore the pre-PSUV old order. No one who uses the code words like "free speech" and "human rights" in the Venezuelan context ever does with any humane or egalitarian intent.

"Free speech",while admirable, doesn't really exist anywhere, and is never worth making life worse for the poor. Once the poor have lost ground once, they can almost never ever regain it....and conventional "democratic" politics, there as well as here, are always rigged against the poor and the workers. "Elections", in most countries are just a method to decide which faction of the austerity consensus administers the status quo. Elections are not about freedom or about giving anybody a truly better life.

What happened in this country after 2008 proves that.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

116. The modern "left" certainly has a lock on populist rhetoric. Huey Long would be impressed.

It's too bad the government of Venezuela can't produce enough electricity, or toilet paper.

[Zorro]

108. The Silva recordings indicate the threat of a coup is from the "left-wing"

Diosdado Cabello, to be precise.

http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/130524/transcript-of-mario-silvas-recording

Arming these militias may be an act of desperation/paranoia to prevent a coup originating from within the ranks of the current Venezuelan government.

[David__77]

45. Not a bad idea.

there is no use pretending that the state does not have an ideological basis; in fact, all states in the world today are firmly founded upon and operate on definite ideological premises. Venezuela is making an attempt to govern on a socialist ideological basis (or at least a social democratic basis). Venezuela should be free to do that without any foreign diplomatic interference. Moreover, there is nothing more ideological or political in nature about this move than the everyday existence of the United States Armed Forces.

[joshcryer]

46. It's probably better than armed tupamaros.

But I expect this is more boliviating.

The last thing Venezuela needs is more guns on the streets.

[Leontius]

58. What part of the "socialist ideological basis" is the leaders of the government

building huge personal fortunes based on?

[BillyRibs]

50. Don't feed the trolls! wow this thread is

Full of Oligarchy lovers. Yeah, that and anti bolivar plants. See how they lower themselves to the level of trolls with insults and name calling. churning the pot trying to drag every one else down their sewer level of "discussion". don't fall for it, and Please Don't feed the Trolls! This Is Keeping it real classy guys!

[penultimate]

66. I don't see any trollish behavior on this thread...

I see people with different opinions and views discussing the news story.

[BillyRibs]

67. Please see comments #'s

22, 26, 32, 39, & 63. Then Google The term Troll.

[Zorro]

68. Lookin' for a little special attention, newbie?

[bitchkitty]

69. Now you're threatening people?

You're such a class act.

[Zorro]

70. Hissified kitties sure are over-sensitive

[penultimate]

92. Those are some rather snarky comments...

I here under the name octothorpe up until recently, but I nuked my account 'cause I get stupid sometimes. Anyway, I'm actually surprised by those posts.

[BillyRibs]

72. See what I mean!? The very definition of troll!

BTW it's never smart to feed the trolls. It's best to ignore then that way their trollish behavior is plain for everyone to see. It's even more fun to watch them not get any reaction from you at all.

[Zorro]

82. Perhaps you should follow your own advice

if you have nothing of substance to contribute to the subject of the original post.

Just sayin'.

[BillyRibs]

86. Listen Kid, I might be New here But I'm not new to Politics.

I'm older than dirt and twice as gritty.

[bitchkitty]

74. Just curious...

What are your opinions and views on this issue?

[BillyRibs]

85. Well, Seeing that Chavez had ( let me walk this billy goat accross the bridge.)

a NGO (I think not, more like CIA) sponsored Coup that he had to overcome, I think if I were Him, (The Venezuelan President) I'd be Hedging my bets too! Do I like it? No. Do I see the reasoning behind it? Absolutely! do I think the US government should should mind it's own f&*kinG Biz, and govern the nation, (Oh yeah Jobs come to mind.)? again, Absolutely! For what it's worth that's my 2 Cents.

[bitchkitty]

87. Thanks hon -

I was asking penultimate but I don't think he's going to answer me...

[penultimate]

91. I'm indifferent.

Mostly because it's their country and they elected who they wanted. Whether it's bad or good, I dunno. I don't live there and I don't know the situation on the ground. I do like reading debates and discussions about things I don't have experience with.

[bitchkitty]

93. Thank you. n/t

[Flatulo]

51. I think it's never a good thing when half the population arms itself to either protect or overturn

the status quo.

At least in the USA, everyone has the right to bear arms, but VZ has banned civilian firearm ownership. Except for people in the militia, I guess. Or people who've got their minds right.

The question to ask yourself is, would you be more comfortable if only certain people, based on political ideology, had access to firearms?

I'd rather it be everyone/no one.

[Pterodactyl]

100. Strangely, that's the system we're creating in the US.

By increasing gun control in Dem states and having gun rights in Repub states, we're creating a system where one ideology has guns and the other does not.

[Flatulo]

103. Exactly. What could possibly go wrong?

[Pterodactyl]

111. We should probably back off on that gun control thing.

[Flatulo]

113. Is a touchy subject. I strongly support one's right to self-defense, but I also support what

many consider to be 'reasonable' restrictions.

Its kind of a moot point here in the US. There are 300 million guns out there, and realistically, there's no way to get rid of them that wouldn't infringe on our 2A rights to possess them.

That pesky Constitution, eh?

[Pterodactyl]

117. Well said.

[socialist_n_TN]

59. Sound good to me. That's basic Bolshevism.....

I never did think that Chavez's "revolution" went far enough.

[bitchkitty]

62. Viva Maduro! n/t

[Bradical79]

71. Just another power hungry conman. -nt

[bitchkitty]

75. Well, golly!

Yew fergot to say dicktater.

[freshwest]

73. I still want the reasons behind the TP, butter, milk, etc. shortages.

Venezuela is not a desert or a hopelessly barren rocky country. It has rain, trees, soil, people. From which to make TP, butter, milk, etc. in whatever quantities are needed.

There should be no shortage in a country, socialist, communist or otherwise, of such basic goods. Americans don't have to import these goods. Why is Venezuela doing so?

A system of government and society that isn't manufacturing its necessities is terribly out of balance. I have asked this a couple of times.

Personally, I liked Chavez. He definitely was not perfect, and Venezuela is not the USA in culture, education, opportunity, religion and whatever. But it's not a desert.

Why the heck are these things being imported? Why were they not being produced in a socialist country, where one expects full employment and making those things are good employment?

Do Venezuelans all work in the oil industry and disdain doing agricultural work? What is going on there?

This is very disappointing to hear of this going on, it makes no sense in what is supposed to be a country organized to take care of its people.

The situation cannot be blamed on globalists or the USA. Is the idea that foreign countries are preventing Venezuelans from exploiting their own bounty of nature for themselves?

They've had land reform. The oil industry is nationalized, which is a good thing. I find these figures of shortage to either be wrong - or else there is something wrong with Chavez or now Maduro's government

Please chime in, those with an opinion...

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

76. A paramilitary to defend an ideology in the face of economic problems and political turmoil

What could possibly go wrong with that?

[socialist_n_TN]

77. Or a paramilitary to defend a revolution....

(well sort of a revolution) from the encroaching greed of neo-liberal, capitalist restorationists. If the capitalist stand down, there's no need for a workers' militia.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

78. A sound political system is self-adjusting and will stand on its own merits

Societies that resort to policing thought and morality by force always seem to have some fundamental problems.

[socialist_n_TN]

83. So you're saying the capitalist system won't attempt to stage a .....

counterrevolution?

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

89. I'm saying that any system that relies on authoritarian control of the populace will ulitmately lose

Because sooner or later people always become aware that they are imprisoned, and they rebel against the system one way or another.

counterrevolution?

That term adds no value to any discussion. One person's "counterrevolution" is another person's revolution.

[Pterodactyl]

81. Are they going to be armed? I assume "militia" means they'll have guns.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

90. If members provide their own weapons, they're a traditional militia. If government arms them

or if a corporation, labor union, or political party arms them, then they are a goon squad.

That has been true throughout recorded history.

[Pterodactyl]

94. It's probably the goon thing.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

97. Yes, I believe so. And I am alarmed by the eagerness of some of our fellow travelers

to buy into it. The assumption that a government that is seen as benevolent now will always be so shows a kind of naivete that most people in my time grew out of from necessity.

[Pterodactyl]

98. Yes. A gang of folks with guns and government authority - all wearing the same color shirt!

Sounds familiar. But since it supposedly helps the poor somehow, people around here love it.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

102. I discovered a wonderful thing called Google Images and looked up Bolivarian Militia

They have snappy uniforms and some obsolete yet still potent military rifles. Fusil Automatique Léger or FAL if I am not mistaken; designed in the early 1950s.





The late former President liked Kalashnikovs.



Which were designed with female soldiers in mind, with the dearth of men in the Soviet Union after World War II. They look most fearsome. I wonder who these ladies are planning to gun down. Whoever they are ordered to, I suppose. Independent thought is not required in an ordinary infantry.



Of course an old Mauser always gets the job done.



Real militia members use flintlocks. In the rain.

[COLGATE4]

104. Charming photos. But these don't take into account

the 'People's Militias, loosely organized well-armed (by the government) paramilitary groups that essentially control many of Venezuela's poorest neighborhoods.

[Pterodactyl]

112. Maybe we should have a militia like that in the US, hmm?

[Ken Burch]

109. You sound like you want these revolutions to be utterly helpless against U.S.-backed coups

as a gesture of good faith.

Read about what happened in Chile. It was done YOUR way, and Pinochet's takeover was the result.

Sorry, but some of us don't want the poor to be dispossessed again in the name of "purity".

"Free speech" is meaningless when you're poor and all your gains have been taken away from you.

If you really want things like this to stop, organize campaigns to get the U.S. to agree never to intervene in any Latin American country again.

If you're against doing that, you really have no right to judge these countries as they try to prevent the nightmare of new Pinochets or new Videlas or new Somozas seizing power and soaking the streets with blood.

A uniform is just a uniform. DO you get this freaked out about U.S. National Guard uniforms?

[Psephos]

110. But you don't apply the same reasoning to arming US citizens.

I fear the US government having a monopoly on firepower. History has my back.

[Ken Burch]

119. Arming U.S. citizens wouldn't make any difference.

If the U.S. government wanted to put down an armed U.S. uprising, it would use drone strikes and, if it really came to it, nukes. They wouldn't take any chances.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

115. Are you seriously suggesting that President Obama would undermine the will of Venezuelans?

Any US-backed military or paramilitary operation, or any diplomatic or covert effort to change the government of another nation, would surely be at the pleasure of the President.

The President is the Commander in Chief of our armed forces. He has ultimate authority over the actions of our Department of State, and has sole authority over the actions of the Central Intelligence Agency.

What are you saying, Mr. Burch? That President Obama cannot be trusted to do the right thing vis-a-vis Venezuela's internal affairs?

Do you support President Obama, Mr. Burch?

[Ken Burch]

118. It happened in Honduras.

And Obama won't be president forever.

I support the guy, but I don't give ANYBODY unqualified trust.

Plus, he doesn't ever seem to condemn anything the U.S. did historically in Latin America.

[brooklynite]

114. Maybe they could add a "neighborhood watch" component...

...to report on anyone exhibiting "counter revolutionary tendencies".