Venezuelan Govt. accused of being complicit in sex slave trade

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

Anybody else remember this famous Bushism? When his admin dropped a $200 million loan guarantee to Venezuela because of the above accusation?

I actually googled it and could find no references, but I swear to you, I am not making it up...

Or how bunnypants talked incessantly about it in his September 2002 address to the UN when he was supposed to make the case for war?

Or am I in a nightmare? IF so, please ask President Gore to call me and wake me up...

[RubyCat]

1. Check out this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=392459

[Tinoire]

2. Ugh. We know these things

but it's still upsetting to see them still happening.

I'd like to see those life-disrespecting hypocrites dropped into the same hell-hole and left to their own devices, left to starve and suffer.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

4. Holy shit...thanks for that...

lying bastards that they are...

[RubyCat]

14. Your outlook on the world changes after reading about all that

evil and how it extends to the very top of our government. Not to make light of it, but it's like taking the red pill in the Matrix.

Jeff Smith of the Frugal Gourmet was a minister himself whose show got canceled because he was accused of child molestation. It was hard to believe it at the time since it occured years before the pedophile priests scandal broke. Knowing how prevalent pedophilia is in the church, it makes a little more sense now.

We're now find ourselves asking the question whether * Sr. and associates may be pedophiles too. The nature of their crimes is even worse than the church's given how human trafficking, kidnapping, State Department complicity, and the blackmailing of US politicians and foreign dignitaries is involved. The story is not for the weak-minded.

I don't care if they're Democrat or Republican, I hope they all go down.

[Tinoire]

13. RubyCat. Welcome to DU!

:toast: I was so shocked by your thread that I didn't even notice how 'new' you are. I put that in quotes because you've probably been lurking a while. Good to see you post and provide such valuable references.

Welcome

[RubyCat]

15. Hi Tinoire. I didn't get involved with DU until after the election.

I'm among the newbies who came here because I believe the election was stolen by the machines. I've never really visited political web sites before then. I listened to Air America Radio when it started up earlier this year. They made reference to things I never heard of, like the Atrios blog, or the Daily Kos. That's how I learned about DU.

It's a great refuge from the craziness of the right wing media.

[Tinoire]

17. Yes it is indeed!

I'm very happy you signed up and started posting. Welcome! You'll enjoy it and learn a LOT here.

Hope to run into you often RubyCat. Anyone who can pull the kind of thread you did is my kind of person :)

[Tinoire]

3. Yes. I distinctly remember it. Cuba too. Here you go

Venezuela "sex trade" Bush

Bush orders sanctions against Venezuela for sex trafficking. Venezuela fires back

Bush orders sanctions against Venezuela for sex trafficking

GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer | Friday, September 10, 2004

(09-10) 16:08 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

President Bush on Friday ordered a partial cut in U.S. assistance to Venezuela because of its alleged role in the international trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation.

The action means the United States will not support $250 million in Venezuelan loan requests expected to come before international lending institutions during the next fiscal year, a State Department official said.

If Venezuela secures sufficient support from other governments, its loan requests could be approved without U.S. backing.

Bush took the action under legislation that calls for sanctions against countries that fail to crack down on international trafficking in persons. The legislation is designed to encourage countries to take decisive action against the practice.

Bush's decision was announced in a White House memorandum to Secretary of State Colin Powell

(snip)

http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2004/09/12/citing_sex_trade_us_to_oppose_loans_to_venezuela/
http://resist.ca/story/2004/9/15/61956/8705


Venezuelan Statement to UN:

The Permanent Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations, complies in manifesting that, according to a press release on Friday, September 10, 2004, the President of the United States of America, George W. Bush, informed of his determination to express to international financial organizations in which that country participates, its opposition to the concession of credits to Venezuela.

The reason given to justify this decision consists of an alleged negligence on the part of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to act properly against illegal human trafficking by transnational organized crime. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela not only contemplates in its internal legislation human trafficking as illegal, but it is also part of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as well as the Protocol to Prevent & Sanction the Traffic of Persons ... especially women and children ... treaties that went into effect on December 25, 2003.

On the other hand, the United States of America is not party to the aforementioned international treaties, given that it has not ratified them. It is rather surprising therefore, and unjustified, that the Government of said State ... in the most hostile and bellicose practice of unilateralism ... eight months after the referred international treaties went into effect (without being a part of them), tries to give itself a right that it does not have in international law to evaluate Venezuela's compliance with those international treaties.

On these premises, the said action, in addition to not contributing to the improvement of relations between Venezuela and the United States of America, also constitutes a new form of aggression on Venezuelan national sovereignty; an action that we can do nothing but categorically reject since it is contrary to International Law and due respect among States.

Finally, this UN Permanent Mission wishes to highlight that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, as a member of the United Nations, will continue providing (as has been doing up until this point) update information concerning Venezuela's compliance with international treaties, exercising the most scrupulous multilateralism, only to proper authorities, such as the United Nations and its legal and legitimate representatives.

Translated by Vanessa Carolina del Valle Marcano

En Espanol:

Venezuela rechaza agresión a su soberanía

Venpres: La Misión permanente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela ante las Naciones Unidas emitió este martes un comunicado oficial, mediante el cual fija posición respecto a las razones esgrimidas por el gobierno de EEUU sobre la determinación de actuar ante las instituciones financieras internacionales para oponerse a la concesión de créditos a Venezuela.

El comunicado en cuestión señala lo siguiente:

La Misión Permanente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela ante las Naciones Unidas, cumple en manifestar que, según publicaciones periodísticas no desmentidas, el viernes 10 de Septiembre de 2004, el Presidente de Estados Unidos de América, George Bush, informó sobre la determinación de actuar ante las instituciones financieras internacionales de las cuales es partícipe dicho Estado, para oponerse a la concesión de créditos a Venezuela.

La razón esgrimida para justificar esta decisión consiste en una supuesta negligencia del Gobierno de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela en actuar debidamente contra el tráfico ilegal de personas por la acción de la delincuencia organizada transnacional. Al respecto cabe destacar que la República Bolivariana de Venezuela no sólo contempla en su legislación interna el referido tráfico como ilícito, sino que también es parte de la Convención de Naciones Unidas contra la Delincuencia Organizada Transnacional, así como del Protocolo para Prevenir y Sancionar la Trata de Personas, especialmente Mujeres y Niños, instrumentos que entraron en vigor el 25 de Diciembre de 2003.

Por el contrario, los Estados Unidos de América, no son parte de los mencionados convenios internacionales, pues no los ha ratificado. Resulta por ello sorpresivo, insólito e injustificado a todas luces, que el Gobierno de dicho Estado, en la mejor práctica hostil y belicosa del unilateralismo, apenas transcurridos ocho meses de la entrada en vigor de los citados convenios internacionales y sin ser parte de ellos, pretenda adjudicarse un derecho, que no tiene en términos jurídicos internacionales, a evaluar el estado del cumplimiento de los mencionados acuerdos internacionales por parte de Venezuela.

Por esta razón, dicha actuación, además de no significar aporte alguno al mejoramiento de las relaciones entre Venezuela y los Estados Unidos de América, constituye una nueva forma de agresión contra la Soberanía nacional venezolana, que no podemos sino rechazar categóricamente por ser contraria al Derecho Internacional y al debido respeto entre los Estados. Finalmente, esta Misión Permanente desea puntualizar que la República Bolivariana de Venezuela como Estado Miembro de las Naciones Unidas sólo seguirá suministrando, como lo ha hecho hasta ahora, información actualizada sobre el cumplimiento de los convenios internacionales de referencia, en ejercicio del más escrupuloso multilateralismo, sólo a quien corresponda, es decir, a los órganos competentes de las Naciones Unidas, sus legales y legítimos interlocutores. --

http://resist.ca/story/2004/9/15/61956/8705

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

7. Thanks tinoire...

I guess this has nothing to do with Chavez giving the poor of his country better access to his country's oil wealth? Or giving people a chance to actually own unused land that has been gobbled up by the wealthy elite of Venezuela either, right?

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that 13,000 Cuban doctors are in his country treating people?

I mean, in all seriousness (barf bag alert) how can we disagree with the Time Person of the Year on this one?

F*** Bush...forever...Hell is too kind of a place for him...

[Tinoire]

8. Anytime

& I love your moniker! Welcome to DU! :toast: I was gone for a while so forgive me for being so late in welcoming you.

You can bet that if you give take the profit from US corporations to give to the poor that the lovers of freedom fries will come after you for not stopping THEIR mafia friends from trafficking young women.

What a world.

You're right. 4 more years of hell.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

9. Hey Tinoire - I have been seeing your posts and

have just added you to my buddy list (you're the first)

What exactly does that mean???

[Tinoire]

10. Thank you! That's an honor though I blush to confess

that i'm not sure what the buddy list does. When you find out, let me know lol.

I'm one of those plain-vanilla people when it comes to fancy features; my cell phone company hates me for it lol :)

As soon as I get my donation in, I'll test out that buddy list with you.

4 more years of hell... brrrrrrrr

[Robbien]

11. The buddy list isn't very useful

It is only a handy place to put the people you PM so that you don't have to go searching for a post to click on the PM button.

[Tinoire]

12. Ah ok! An address book then

Thanks for explaining... Can you do a blast e-mail, distribution list style, with it? I mean one e-mail to everyone on it?

Thanks Robbien

[Robbien]

16. Nope. Nothing fancy, just a list which

gives you an quick way to locate a poster you may want to PM, one buddy at a time.

[Tinoire]

18. Thanks and OUCH

What a quote in your sig line! When did he say that? He is totally correct.

[Tinoire]

5. Bush, Electoral Politics and Cuba's "Illicit Sex Trade"

Bush, Electoral Politics and Cuba's "Illicit Sex Trade"
By NELSON P. VALDES

Fraud and falsehood only dread examination.

Thomas Cooper

On October 10, 2003 President George Bush spoke to about 100 rightwing Cuban exiles at the Rose Garden. There he stated his commitment to bringing about "regime change" in Cuba. At one point during his brief speech he stated that, "A rapidly growing part of Cuba's tourism industry is the illicit sex trade, a modern form of slavery which is encouraged by the Cuban government. This cruel exploitation of innocent women and children must be exposed and must be ended. " He used the accusation as the reason to make travel to the island as difficult as possible.

This article will examine the charge and respond to it by noting that although Cuba is not a serious case of prostitution or illicit trafficking of women and children, the United States is.

First, however, we should be conscious of the lack of clarity in the presidential declaration. The statement conflated prostitution and the trafficking of women and children for sexual purposes, as if they were one and the same thing. The disingenuous phrase "illicit sex trade" suggests that sexual prostitution and the "sex trade" are the same thing, which they are not. Prostitution (or sex work) could be consensual. The world wide trafficking in women and children, using force and coercion, is a profoundly different phenomena.

Moreover, the statement accuses the Cuban government of "encouraging" both. But where is the evidence of government "encouragement"? None was presented by the White House, which apparently wants us to assume that the mere existence of prostitution implies "encouragement." If that is the case, then we would have to say that the US government, and all state and city governments in the United States, encourage prostitution -- and that's not even counting Nevada, where the "oldest trade" is legal!

(snip)
http://www.counterpunch.org/valdes10182003.html
====
Bush stresses liberty in world (Bush Speech)

DURING Human Rights Day, Bill of Rights Day, and Human Rights Week, we celebrate the founding ideals of our nation and emphasise the importance of protecting human liberty throughout the world.

As a nation, we cherish the values of free speech, equality, and religious freedom, and we steadfastly oppose injustice and tyranny. Since the founding of America, the Bill of Rights has protected basic human rights and liberties. In the United States, all citizens have the opportunity to voice their opinions, practice their faith, and enjoy the blessings of freedom.

After the tragedies of World War II, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as part of a global effort to curb the cruelty and systematic injustice that had destroyed so many lives.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the inalienable rights of people everywhere.

In the time since, progress has been made in ensuring that human dignity is respected, and we have witnessed the rise of democratic governments around the world. No other system of government has done more to protect minorities, secure the rights of labour, raise the status of women, or channel human energy to the pursuits of peace than democracy.

My administration continues to encourage free and open societies around The world. In Burma, we have called on the ruling junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and engage in dialogue to bring democracy to that country. We are helping lead the international effort to end the suffering in Sudan. We seek to help the people of North Korea, who are struggling to survive under severe repression and difficult living conditions, and our nation continues to stand with those who strive for democracy in Belarus, Cuba, Iran, and Zimbabwe.

My administration also has advanced the fight against human trafficking and the abuse and exploitation of women and children, particularly of young girls in the sex trade.

In addition, we have expanded our nation’s support for democracy promotion programmes globally and have increased the budget for the National Endowment for Democracy to strengthen support for free elections, free markets, free speech, and human rights advocacy around the world.

Freedom and dignity are God’s gift to each man and woman in the world. During this observance, we encourage all nations to continue working towards freedom, peace, and security, which can be achieved only through democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law.

Now, therefore, I, Georege W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2004, as Human Rights Day; December 15, 2004, as Bill of Rights Day; and the week beginning December 10, 2004, as Human Rights Week. I call upon the people of the United States to honour the legacy of human rights passed down to us from previous generations and to mark these observances with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

http://www.timesofoman.com/newsdetails.asp?newsid=7473
http://www.uspoliticstoday.com/news.php3?wid=45472866

[Robbien]

6. Oh crap, what an awful time all this was

Knowing all this crap and having to listen to Bushie make a complete mockery of the SoTU address with his bald-faced lies.