Documents Show CIA Knew of Venezuela Coup

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/3/04 | Christopher Toothaker - AP

[NormsRevenge]

CARACAS, Venezuela - The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (news - web sites) knew dissident military officers were planning a coup in 2002 against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, according to purported U.S. intelligence documents posted on the Internet.

Citing the documents, Chavez lashed out at U.S. officials on Thursday, saying they knew a coup was brewing but failed to tip off Venezuela's government.

"The CIA (news - web sites) knew that a coup was coming ... the government of George Bush (news - web sites) knew," said Chavez, whose so-called "peaceful revolution" for the poor and close ties to Cuban leader Fidel Castro (news - web sites) have often put him at odds with U.S. policies.

The apparent declassified CIA documents are posted on the pro-Chavez Web site www.venezuelafoia.info, which contains links to other requests for U.S. documents by freelance investigative reporter Jeremy Bigwood.

An April 6 senior intelligence executive brief — just five days before a coup that briefly ousted Chavez — said "disgruntled senior officers and a group of radical junior officers are stepping up efforts to organize a coup against President Chavez, possibly as early as this month."

As early as March 11, another brief noted "increased signs that Venezuelan business leaders and military officers are becoming dissatisfied with President Chavez" and said if the situation were to further deteriorate "the military may move to overthrow him."

The authenticity of the documents could not be immediately confirmed, though the scanned briefs, with certain portions whited out, appeared to be formerly top secret documents that are regularly circulated among top officials in the Bush administration.

A 2002 State Department review of U.S. policy, however, said the U.S. government did warn Chavez of impending plots.

In his speech broadcast on state-run television Thursday, Chavez said documents showing U.S. involvement in the coup "are emerging" and "will continue to surface."

"Having a government of this type in the United States is a threat to the world," added Chavez, who accused the Bush administration of actively supporting the short-lived coup.

U.S. officials have repeatedly denied U.S. involvement in the coup of April 11, 2002, which was spurred by the killing of 19 people during a massive opposition-led protest.

Loyalists in the military returned Chavez to power after interim president Pedro Carmona dissolved the constitution and vowed to hold elections within a year.

Relations between Caracas and Washington have been strained in recent years, but diplomats from both nations have made efforts to improve ties.

William Brownsfield, U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, said differences between the two countries can be resolved, according to a report published by the Venezuelan newspaper El Universal on Thursday.

The newspaper also said he rejected allegations that U.S. officials backed Venezuelan coup leaders or endorsed Carmona's interim government, saying Washington considers the events in April 2002 "a closed chapter."

"We are willing to work with the Venezuelan government to improve relations," Brownfield was quoted as saying.

The State Department in July 2002 released a review of its policy and the U.S. Embassy's actions in Venezuela from November 2001 to April 2002, in which it confirms knowledge of plots to oust Chavez.

But it says that "far from working to foment his overthrow, the United States alerted President Chavez to coup plots and warned him of an assassination threat that was deemed to be credible."

___

On the Web:

U.S. State Department's 2002 review of policy before and during Venezuela coup attempt:

http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/13682.pdf

Pro-Chavez Web site with documents:

http://www.venezuelafoia.info

[blakep]

That's the point of the CIA.

DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're caught redhanded AP

[counterpunch]

What's the point of the CIA?
To leak documents to the media?
To constantly try to embarass the president?

[onedoug]

So?

More's the pity the coup failed. Gear up another.

[maestro]

Operation Aldrich Ames...........?

..........................................Good work!.....well done!

/CNN

[JustAnotherOkie]

I should hope they knew. If they didn't then there would really be something wrong with the Completely Incompetent Agency.

[Brilliant]

"The authenticity of the documents could not be immediately confirmed..."

Seems like they should have done that before publishing this. Dan Rather's new job?

[Paul Ross]

A 2002 State Department review of U.S. policy, however, said the U.S. government did warn Chavez of impending plots.

So, any surprise the coup failed? Whoever did this should be shot as a traitor to U.S. national security.

Venuezuela sends a Million Dollars to Al-Quaeda after 9-11. And we try to protect that government??????!!!

We need to be pragmatic when we are confronted with another Castro wanna-be. In this case, we should simply have quickly decertified the old government as terrorist supporters, recognized the new government, and sent in security and help to "rebuild" the country...and "technical assistance" to make sure there were no "guerrillas" threatening the status quo. The Continuing fiddling of the State Dept in South America is reminiscent of the same bunch of 3-name Communists who Lost China....

Hello, is anybody paying attention in Colin Powell's office???? Oh, silly me, I forgot, he also saw nothing troubling regarding the Chinese bribing their way into control of the Panama Canal...

[Semper Paratus]

The CIA probably thought the coup was a 'slam dunk'.

[Cicero]

The CIA screwed up. The coup came off, and we failed to support it. Chavez is a dangerous termite.

[Cicero]

I suspect it was more complicated than that. Why did the CIA leak to the weenies in the State Department but not to Bush, who seems to have been taken by surprise and not to have acted quickly enough.

George Tenet?

[KC_Conspirator]

The documents have not been verified. Porter Goss can't fire these peopel fast enough.

[Paul Ross]

That would be a good guess.

Did you know that neither Tenet nor Clark EVER briefed the incoming security team as to Al-Quaeda's Operation Bojinka (the massive hijack-plane attack plan disrupted by the Phillipine police in 1995).

[Paul Ross]

The CIA probably thought the coup was a 'slam dunk'.

Not if they were warning the Chavez regime....

[drpix]

The only thing anyone needs to read in this STORY is the fourth paragraph:

" The apparent declassified CIA documents are posted on the pro-Chavez Web site www.venezuelafoia.info ." [Emphasis added.]

I'm sure Fidel Castro & Dan Rather will vouch for it's authenticity!
Chavez: New vintage. Same Wine!

[fr_freak]

Chavez lashed out at U.S. officials on Thursday, saying they knew a coup was brewing but failed to tip off Venezuela's government.

Two things:
1) Is Chavez aware that the CIA is an American intelligence agency? If he wants intelligence, he can fund his own damn agency.
2) If Chavez didn't know that a coup was a-brewing in his own country against him, how can he possibly be competent enough to run the country?

[VaBthang4]

"...according to purported U.S. intelligence documents posted on the Internet...."

Did not get past that line.

[drpix]

The article also cites a "freelance investigative reportor", Jeremy Bigwood, as one who is FOIAing additional documents from the CIA.

Do a google on this clown., and all you see is his work with commie guerillas in Columbia, Peru, El Salvador ...... The search also returns many DU postings. Another reputable source! Looks like he trying to be the next Dan Rather:

HERE'S BIGWOOD WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE HIS BET ON AN UP AND COMING COMMIE GUERILLA:

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks, if he has survived this long in South America traipsing with the guerillas , he is either very lucky or very suspect. Methinks the latter.

Plus, Bigwood? Uhh, I wonder if he's related to Bob of bigwood fame. ;-)