Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

The Arrogant Imperialist: The United States Demands American Mercenaries Release After Failed Coup Attempt

In the afternoon of Wednesday, Mike Pompeo threatened  to use “all means” to repatriate mercenaries who entered Venezuela as part of the U.S. company SilverCorp and were captured in the failed military action on the country’s coasts.

Facebook Twitter Share

The double standards and imperialist arrogance of the United States are once again on display. SilverCorp, a mercenary company based in the United States, employed former active military officers to train dissident Venezuelan military men for the common goal of coming together to overthrow the Maduro government. The Trump government, with its policy of interference, economic aggression, and open support of coup attempts, is now facing the repercussions. After the resounding failure of this military action, the Trump government is demanding the return of its mercenaries and is threatening action.

Between the dawn of Sunday, May 3 and the following day, a series of incidents took place on the coast of Venezuela as part of “Operation Gideon.” Dozens of dissident members of the Venezuelan Armed Forces tried to reach the mainland. Eight died while being repelled in La Guaira and a seperate group was captured in Chuao. Another participant was later captured on the coast of Aragua. Venezuelan military officer, Javier Nieto Quintero, sent a message along while abroad with Jordan Goudreau, a former Green Beret, to a representative of the mercenary company claiming credit for the action and calling on the Armed Forces and the people to support them.

In an interview with Patricia Poleo, a right-wing journalist based in the United States, Goudreau announced a contract signed with Juan Guaidó — an employee and protégé of Washington — and his political advisor, J.J. Rendón, for financing and support of the incursion. He claims that Guaidó and the Colombian government failed to comply with the agreement. The group of American and Venezuelan operatives had been training in Colombia for months under the direction of SilverCorp and he purported they had the endorsement of both the United States and Colombian governments. 

Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State, declared this afternoon that the U.S. government was not behind this action. However, as if to show the arrogance of the self-proclaimed judges and policemen of the world, he added: “if we were involved it would have gone differently.

Additionally, he warned, “If the Maduro regime decides to hold them, we will use all the tools at our disposal to bring them back.” Imagine what would happen if mercenaries of Venezuelan origin (or any Latin American country) participated in a military incursion into U.S. territory with the aim of overthrowing the U.S. government. Surely the U.S. government would assert its right to hold and try them? But since they are Yankee mercenaries who tried to enter the territory of a Latin American country to overthrow the government of that country, the U.S. wants to guarantee them impunity. The government wants to deny Venezuela the right to judge those involved with the coup while threatening to use all its power to get them back home.

The statement of the Workers League for Socialism (LTS), which we published on May 6th, points out that these actions are part of the general framework of the U.S. imperialist aggressions against Venezuela. In the text, they point out that their rejection and condemnation of these actions in no way implies giving political support to the Maduro regime and the Armed Forces. It warns against the probable use of these events  by the national government  to deepen the curtailment of the democratic freedoms of the working people.

In the face of these incursions, we fully reject the country’s subjection to the actions of these by-products of U.S. imperialist policy, such as the ‘contractors,’ which are nothing more than private companies that profit from the United States’ wars of invasion and from the blood of the peoples on which U.S. imperialism sets its sights. It is in the context of the invasions and wars waged by the United States against other peoples, causing mass devastation and deaths, that these war dogs are trained.

Mike Pompeo’s statements show the imperialist arrogance within the way the U.S. relates to Latin American countries, attempting to continue relations with semi-colonial subjugation. A policy to which the right-wing opposition sector represented by Guaidó openly pays tribute.

First published on May 6 in Spanish in La Izquierda Diario Venezuela.

Translation: Marisela Trevin

Facebook Twitter Share

La Izquierda Diario Venezuela

Our Venezuelan sister site, part of the international network of La Izquierda Diario

Latin America

Declaration on the Migrant Crisis: Socialists From the U.S., Mexico, Venezuela, and Costa Rica Denounce Anti-Immigrant Policies

In light of the unprecedented migration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, we present the following international declaration from the Revolutionary Socialist Organization of Costa Rica, the League of Socialist Workers of Venezuela, the Socialist Workers Movement of Mexico and Left Voice of the United States, all members of the Trotskyist Fraction - Fourth International, alongside the chapters of the international feminist organization, Bread and Roses, of these countries.

Historic Election for the Anticapitalist Left in Jujuy, Argentina

Alejandro Vilca, Trotskyist, sanitation worker and representative of the Workers’ Left Front socialist coalition, earned 13 percent of the vote in Sunday’s gubernatorial election. It’s an achievement unmatched in 40 years.

U.S. Prepares Ultimatum to Mexico Over Energy Dispute: Give Us Your Markets, Now

The United States has accused Mexico of violating the USMCA free trade agreement, arguing that western powers should be free to access the country’s electricity industry. As of now, Mexico is standing firm against the corporate raiding.

Arturo Méndez

April 15, 2023

Reflections on the Peruvian Uprising

A comrade from Argentina shares their experience of the Peruvian Uprising

Matías Busi

April 7, 2023

MOST RECENT

Tracking, Deportations, Internment: European Countries Go on the Hunt for Migrants

On May 10, German chancellor Olaf Scholz strengthened Germany’s anti-migrant policy. This means more deportations, border patrol reinforcements, and economic agreements with sending countries. The new policy is being deployed throughout Europe.

Leo Stella

May 25, 2023

#AllthatsLeftPod: Three Years Since the George Floyd Uprising:

In this episode of the podcast, we reflect on the 2020 George Floyd uprising, which began three years ago. We discuss how to turn the energy of a mass uprising into a sustained movement, and the kind of revolutionary leadership that's required to do so.

Left Voice

May 25, 2023

Fight Capitalism, Fight for Neurodivergent Liberation

Neurodivergent and disability liberation will have to come from the overthrow of capitalism and the building of a socialist system which values different forms of human behavior and directs resources to meeting human needs.

Sam Carliner

May 23, 2023
Prof. Gail Green-Anderson of LaGuardia Community College at a rally outside Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Manhattan office on Thursday.

Rekindling the Militant Spirit of CUNY’s Past

Mayor Eric Adams has announced an austerity budget that includes significant cuts to the City University of New York among other city agencies. In order to defeat these cuts, students, faculty, and other workers across the city must unite our struggles and be prepared to shut the university down.

James Dennis Hoff

May 22, 2023