Targeting Hugo Chavez

SAVE AS FAVORITE

VIEW FAVORITES

By Stephen Lendman (about the author) Page 2 of 3 page(s)

opednews.com Permalink

In December 2007, Duran and three businessmen came to Miami. Their purpose - to advise their business partner, Guido Antonini, a Venezuelan-American businessman who was caught with the money months earlier in a Buenos Aires airport. At the time, Argentine judge Marta Novatti ordered his arrest, but he evaded authorities and returned to Miami where he lives in its wealthy Key Biscayne suburb. Argentina twice requested his extradition on charges of money laundering, but US authorities refused and instead used him to advantage.

Antonini wasn't charged. In return, he allowed the FBI to wire him to record conversations with Duran and the others. At trial, he was the star witness after proceedings were at first delayed. All four defendants originally pleaded not guilty. Then, after threats and bribes, three agreed to plea bargains, including Venoco's co-owner, Carlos Kauffman, who testified against Duran at trial.

Edward Shohat represented him. He denounced it as a "political circus" and said he plans to appeal because the FBI entrapped Duran, the charges are false, and the whole scheme is an attack against America's ideological Latin American enemies, especially Chavez.

Early in the trial, Shohat filed a motion to dismiss and was rejected. He argued that the law Duran supposedly broke is unconstitutional because it's vague as to what type behavior is illegal so its use is solely for political purposes.

He referred to 18 USC, 951 - "Agents of foreign governments." It states:

"the term 'agent of a foreign government' means an individual who agrees to operate within the United States subject to the direction or control of a foreign government or official, except that such term does not include -

(1) a duly accredited diplomatic or consular officer....;

(2) any officially and publicly acknowledged and sponsored official or representative of a foreign government;

(3) any officially and publicly acknowledged and sponsored member of the staff (thereof - from paragraphs 1 and 2); or

(4) any person engaged in a legal commercial transaction" - except if "such person agrees to operate within the United States subject to the direction or control of a foreign government or official."

Most often, this law only applies to enemy spies in wartime or against agents committing espionage. In other words, individuals engaged in activities violating the nation's security. Against Duran, it involved a mysterious cash-filled suitcase having nothing to do with security or any connection to Chavez and his government. Antonini and Kauffman testified otherwise. That Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA, supplied it, and Chavez directed the operation and cover-up from his office. Of course, it's their word with no proof.

On tape, Duran and his co-defendants said Chavez and Kirchner promised Antonini protection if he was charged in an Argentine court. At trial, Duran said that he lied to convince Antonini to be tried in Argentina if it came to that. For its part, Argentina accused Antonini of working for the CIA. It's quite possible given his known links to Chavez opposition groups. He worked for Venoco from 2000 - 2002 when its then owner, Isaac Perez Recao, was involved in the April 2002 (two-day aborted) coup. Venezuela's 48-hour president, Pedro Carmona, also headed Venoco at the time. The connection between him, Recao, and Antonini seems more than coincidental.

Duran's defense learned more about Antonini as well. That the FBI paid him $30,000 and, through a letter, that he asked Chavez for $2 million to stay silent about the affair. It also came out that the FBI tried to bribe an Argentine customs officer to testify falsely for the prosecution. The usual type FBI shenanigans seen often in other show trials. Against innocent targets of political persecution. Most often Muslim victims of the "war on terrorism." A topic this writer frequently revisits and discusses on-air.

In her commentary, O'Grady continued her attack and accused Chavez of directing his "intelligence chief to find a way to shut up (his) bagman (Antonini)." She claims Duran and Kauffman "were sent to Florida to warn Mr. Antonini to remain silent....The exposure of this thuggish behavior of the Venezuelan government is embarrassing enough." What's worse, she claims, is that there was another $4.2 million with Antonini on the same plane "and that there had been other operations to smuggle cash into Argentina for political purposes. Another "$100 million to spend on Bolivia" as well.

Not a shred of evidence for proof, and she forgets about the open-ended millions Washington directs to CIA, the National Endowment for Democracy, International Republican Institute, USAID and other US agencies for political mischief, including coups against democratically elected leaders. Funds also to opposition groups and candidates in Venezuela, Bolivia, and wherever else less than fully US-supportive governments exist, either democratic or despotic.

In contrast, Chavez supplies low-cost oil to his neighbors and to US cities that accept it. He also engages other nations cooperatively as opposed to Washington's global predation. He seeks unity, promotes world solidarity, and practices the kind of democracy Americans can't even imagine.

1 | 2 | 3

I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.