Written by Finian Cunningham; Originally appeared on strategic-culture.org
Germany has taken the lead among European Union member states to back Washington’s regime-change agenda for Venezuela. Berlin’s hypocrisy and double-think is quite astounding.
Only a few weeks ago, German politicians and media were up in arms protesting to the Trump administration for interfering in Berlin’s internal affairs. There were even outraged complaints that Washington was seeking “regime change” against Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government.
Those protests were sparked when Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany, warned German companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline with Russia that they could be hit with American economic sanctions if they go ahead with the Baltic seabed project.
President Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Friday, March 17, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
Earlier, Grenell provoked fury among Berlin’s political establishment when he openly gave his backing to opposition party Alternative for Germany. That led to consternation and denunciations of Washington’s perceived backing for regime change in Berlin. They were public calls for Grenell to be expelled over his apparent breach of diplomatic protocols.
Now, however, Germany is shamelessly kowtowing to an even more outrageous American regime-change plot against Venezuela.
Last week, the government of President Nicolas Maduro ordered the expulsion of German ambassador Daniel Kriener after he greeted the US-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido on a high-profile occasion. Guaido had just returned from a tour of Latin American countries during which he had openly called for the overthrow of the Maduro government. Arguably a legal case could be made for the arrest of Guaido by the Venezuelan authorities on charges of sedition.
When Guaido returned to Venezuela on March 4 he was greeted at the airport by several foreign diplomats. Among the receiving dignitaries was Germany’s envoy Daniel Kriener.
The opposition figure had declared himself “interim president” of Venezuela on January 23 and was immediately recognized by Washington and several European Union states. The EU has so far not issued an official endorsement of Guaido over incumbent President Maduro. Italy’s objection blocked the EU from adopting a unanimous position.
Nevertheless, as the strongest economy in the 28-member bloc, Germany can be seen as de facto leader of the EU. Its position on Venezuela therefore gives virtual EU gravitas to the geopolitical maneuvering led by Washington towards the South American country.
What’s more, the explicit backing of Juan Guaido by Germany’s envoy was carried out on the “express order” of Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, according to Deutsche Welle.
“It was my express wish and request that Ambassador Kriener turn out with representatives of other European nations and Latin American ones to meet acting President Guaido at the airport,” said Maas. “We had information that he was supposed to be arrested there. I believe that the presence of various ambassadors helped prevent such an arrest.”
It’s staggering to comprehend the double-think involved here.
Guaido was hardly known among the vast majority of Venezuelans until he catapulted on to the global stage by declaring himself “interim president”. That move was clearly executed in a concerted plan with the Trump White House. European governments and Western media have complacently adopted the White House line that Guaido is the legitimate leader while socialist President Maduro is a “usurper”.
That is in spite of the fact that Maduro was re-elected last year in free and fair elections by a huge majority of votes. Guaido’s rightwing, pro-business party boycotted the elections. Yet he is anointed by Washington, Berlin and some 50 other states as the legitimate leader.
Russia, China, Turkey, Cuba and most other members of the United Nations have refused to adopt Washington’s decree of recognizing Guaido. Those nations (comprising 75 per cent of the UN assembly) continue to recognize President Maduro as the sovereign authority. Indeed, Russia has been highly critical of Washington’s blatant interference for regime change in oil-rich Venezuela. Moscow has warned it will not tolerate US military intervention.
Russia’s envoy to the UN Vasily Nebenzia, at a Security Council session last month, excoriated the US for its gross violation of international law with regard to Venezuela. Moscow’s diplomat also directed a sharp rebuke at other nations “complicit” in Washington’s aggression, saying that one day “you will be next” for similar American subversion in their own affairs.
Germany’s hypocrisy and double-think is, to paraphrase that country’s national anthem, “über alles” (above all else).
German politicians, diplomats and media were apoplectic in their anger at perceived interference by the US ambassador in Berlin’s internal affairs. Yet the German political establishment has no qualms whatsoever about ganging up – only weeks later – with Washington to subvert the politics and constitution of Venezuela.
How can Germany be so utterly über servile to Washington and the latter’s brazen criminal aggression towards Venezuela?
It seems obvious that Berlin is trying to ingratiate itself with the Trump administration. But what for?
Trump has been pillorying Germany with allegations of “unfair trade” practices. In particular, Washington is recently stepping up its threats to slap punitive tariffs on German auto exports. Given that this is a key sector in the German export-driven economy, it may be gleaned that Berlin is keen to appease Trump. By backing his aggression towards Venezuela?
Perhaps this policy of appeasement is also motivated by Berlin’s concern to spare the Nord Stream 2 project from American sanctions. When NS2 is completed later this year, it is reckoned to double the capacity of natural gas consumption by Germany from Russia. That will be crucial for Germany’s economic growth.
Another factor is possible blackmail of Berlin by Washington. Recall the earth-shattering revelations made by American whistleblower Edward Snowden a few years back when he disclosed that US intelligence agencies were tapping the personal phone communications of Chancellor Merkel and other senior Berlin politicians. Recall, too, how the German state remarkably acquiesced over what should have been seen as a devastating infringement by Washington.
The weird lack of action by Berlin over that huge violation of its sovereignty by the Americans makes one wonder if the US spies uncovered a treasure trove of blackmail material on German politicians.
Berlin’s pathetic kowtowing to Washington’s interference in Venezuela begs an ulterior explanation. No self-respecting government could be so hypocritical and duplicitous.
Whatever Berlin may calculate to gain from its unscrupulous bending over for Washington, one thing seems clear, as Russian envoy Nebenzia warned: “One day you are next” for American hegemonic shafting.
Yup, watching an Germ talk like they have an saying, makes me laugh, and even rise something I never though I had, “maternal instingts”, like when an child is explaining things they dont know much about and insists upon been right, yeah, overbering their drooling, poor thing, and now, Uncle Scam is wipping them for “Our way or Houawei” and I know the Germs will even prentend there is something even remotelly possible to be, in an nice sunny day, look like something we may vaugly define as an ugh…… oposition to the Masters coming from Moronikkka, huh, or maybe be so drunk they manage to down them self in an plendid ilution witch is all selfimposed since the reality isnt there at all, to have anything to say, they simply dont, and Mutti Morekill is stil in charge, yeah, what could possibly go wrong.
My humble recomandation to the last standing Germans, is to hang them all with their own intestrials, or be hanged. The choice, Germs is yours.
But hey, look, an sqirel is trap dancing, sweeeeet.
peace
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Sheeple get a grip, Germany is hardly a free or independent country, it has been occupied by Americunts and even Brit poodles since 1945. Germany is hardly in a position to act with any integrity or freedom.
Just because you act like a vassal to the US does not make you an occupied country. By that logic the Netherlands, the UK, all of Scandinavia and Poland should also be occupied countries to the US. Not to mention that Germany actively opposed the US over its invasion of Iraq. Which it could not have done if it actually was an occupied country. What we have here is a political habit of 70 years of subservience and following the American line in European elites, who are loath to spend any money on defense and whose first reaction when the shit hits the fan somewhere is to look towards the US. And hope that if they obediently follow the US then the US will continue to extend its military protection towards them. This trend was made worse after the end of the Cold War, as European countries slashed their defense spending like crazy and at the same time feared that the US would abandon them as it would reorient itself towards Asia. This is probably why the European elites love it that the US has become so obsessed over Russia again. They themselves couldn’t care less, but now it doesn’t look like the US will militarily abandon them, so they play ball.
In a way its like a marriage where one spouse abuses the other. Even though as the relationship worsens, in this cases increasingly more deranged US foreign policy, the Europeans keep on doubling down on being good vassals, because their US ally used to be so nice and well behaved in the past. And hopefully the US will become nice and well behaved again. Preferably when another Democrat becomes president again. Europeans LOVE Democrats, as they at least pretend to be nice to their European vassals. Like the abusive spouse who becomes nice and attentive again.
Bullsh*t!
What a well thought out and clever argument. You win the Internet!
I am sure it is better than brainwashing. A spade is a spade, like it or not. I can only get into discussion with clever opponents, not “instruments”.
Dismissing any opinion that differs from yours usually IS a sign of brainwashing. That means you only want to hear the ones that agree with you in your little safe space. Have fun in your little echo chamber!
Wrong but you won’t understand. Why waste my time with someone so broadly displaying he is stuck on the status quo? And not only that. He is defending it. If you were such a bright star you would have noticed the diplomats in Germany dancing to the tune that serves them best without jeopardizing the country and its plans while dealing with mentally sick “partners”.