Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado is a far-right Venezuelan coup-plotter funded by the US government. She supports Israel as it commits genocide and is key to Trump's regime-change war.
When Trump said he got a phone call from Machado telling him he deserved the peace prize, I immediately started to investigate who she was. Then, I saw the post from Ben Norton and as usual he was all over this. I have watched what was done to Chavez and Venezuela and realized the only people that liked Chavez were the Venezuelan people. As a Chomsky follower for over 40 years, I know what the US has been responsible in South America. Just wanted to thank Ben Norton for a job well done. You can be rest assured I will continue to get the word out on your behalf. As Chomsky always said, people don't even know what they know. Thank for the truth.
You know, I'm rooting for Venezuela. Any country attacked by US Imperialism including Russia and China et all, deserves the critical support of anti Imperialist elements in the West. But the support must be critical not blind. Maduro's government is not revolutionary, nor is Russia's or even China's. At best, these are reformist Capitalist countries. But these three countries are not Imperialist, they do not prey on others to enrich their economic elite. That is enough to justify their defense in this context. To refer to Venezuela as "revolutionary" is actually somewhat dangerous in that it communicates a false idea of what revolution means and what it looks like in practice.
In the eyes of the world’s hegemon, Maduro’s crimes is standing up for the sovereignty and independence of his country. He may not fill Chavez’s shoes as the visionary architect of the Bolivarian revolution, but his government, in response to popular pressure, has now established a Ministry of Communes (see Chris Gilbert’s book Commune or Nothing! Venezuela's Communal Movement and Its Socialist Project). This is a remarkable development, one of the most ambitious revolutionary projects of the 21st century, as it taking place in a country that has suffered the brutal consequences of US imperialism. As this piece makes abundantly clear, the U.S. has engaged in repeated coup attempts and imposed crippling sanctions, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and plunging Venezuala’s economy into a deep crisis. The Racket , as Matt Kennard has aptly describes the U.S. imperium, can install and work with the most odious dictators, but if a national government opposes their imperialist dictates, then every means including political assassinations and fascist coups will be deployed to bring them to heel. As a Canadian, I am outraged and sickened by my government’s vile machinations, in league with its puppet-masters in Washington and the most retrograde fascistic elements in Venezuala, against the democratically-elected Maduro government.
Again, I would recommend reading Chris Glibert’s book on the commune movement in Venezuala. This movement took root when Chavez read and then met István Mészáros, the brilliant Hungarian Marxist philosopher, and took measures to adapt his ideas to Venezuala’s revolutionary movement. That Maduro’s government, albeit in response to popular pressure, has taken measures to support the commune movement speaks volumes about the nature of the present Venezualan government. So, applying the term ‘revolutionary’ to Venezuala, far from dangerous, may indeed have merit.
I'm curious, what is your criteria for determining whether a government is revolutionary? I imagine it's not a Marxist criteria or even a criteria based on the French Revolution.
My crtieria are derived from Marxist theory, specifically from the writings of István Mészáros. Applying that criteria, I would argue that the current regime has deeply contradictory political elements. Based on my limited knowledge of Venezualan politics, I understand that Maduros, in the face of deep crises largely precipitated by U.S sanctions, tacked toward more neoliberal policies than had been the case under the previous Chavez regime. That is clearly not a sign that tthe of a revolutionaryBut on the other hand, the communal movement, which has won at least the partial support of the government, is clearly a revolutionary movement in the Marxist sense, as based on the ‘free association of producers’ - radical economic democracy from below. But, as you point out, the Maduros government is standing up to a savage U.S. imperialist onslaught, which should enjoy the support of all all progressive forces worldwide.
Edited version: My crtieria are derived from Marxist theory, specifically from the writings of István Mészáros who I consider the most important contemporary Marxist thinker. Applying that criteria, I would argue that the current regime has deeply contradictory political elements. Based on my limited knowledge of Venezualan politics, I understand that Maduros, in the face of the deep crises largely precipitated by U.S sanctions, tacked toward more neoliberal policies than had been the case under the previous Chavez regime. That is clearly not a sign of a revolutionary strategy unless it was considered in the Leninist framework, of ‘two steps backward, one step forward.’ In other words, a matter of the survival of a progressive socialist government in the face of an overwhelmingly superior force. On the other hand, Venezuala’s communal movement, which has won at least the partial support of the government, is clearly a revolutionary movement in the Marxist sense, as based on Marx’s stipulation in Critique of the Gotha Programme that genuine socialism must fundamentally be based on a ‘free association of producers’, i.e., radical economic democracy from below (Mészáros applies this criteria trenchantly in explaining the failure of socialism in the Soviet Union - see his The Necessity of Social Control). But as you point out, the Maduros government is standing up to a savage U.S. imperialist onslaught (which could escalate to direct military intervention) which should earn the support of all all progressive forces worldwide.
Nobel “Peace” prize is an award for ACT of TERRORISM not for peace. María Corina Machado is calling for the massacre of innocent Venezuelan lives, is a TERRORIST, NOT a PEACEMAKER. This prize is legitimising TERRORISM. The non fascist wests recognise President Maduro as the democratically elected leader by the people of Venezuela, Machado was NOT ELECTED by the people, She LOST. She is now committing act of TERRORISM against Venezuela. María Corina Machado IS a TERRORIST legitimised by the Nobel “Peace” prize against humanity.
Yes, but many of his inventions were for other explosives that were used for ammunition, the awards were set up as an 'atonement' for the many deaths his inventions caused.
What a sick joke these "peace prizes" have become.
Great piece Ben !
US Foreign policy never changes. Here's hoping for the Venezuelans to stand strong against these criminal maniacs.
Pinochet en una falda
When Trump said he got a phone call from Machado telling him he deserved the peace prize, I immediately started to investigate who she was. Then, I saw the post from Ben Norton and as usual he was all over this. I have watched what was done to Chavez and Venezuela and realized the only people that liked Chavez were the Venezuelan people. As a Chomsky follower for over 40 years, I know what the US has been responsible in South America. Just wanted to thank Ben Norton for a job well done. You can be rest assured I will continue to get the word out on your behalf. As Chomsky always said, people don't even know what they know. Thank for the truth.
"the revolutionary Chavista government"
You know, I'm rooting for Venezuela. Any country attacked by US Imperialism including Russia and China et all, deserves the critical support of anti Imperialist elements in the West. But the support must be critical not blind. Maduro's government is not revolutionary, nor is Russia's or even China's. At best, these are reformist Capitalist countries. But these three countries are not Imperialist, they do not prey on others to enrich their economic elite. That is enough to justify their defense in this context. To refer to Venezuela as "revolutionary" is actually somewhat dangerous in that it communicates a false idea of what revolution means and what it looks like in practice.
In the eyes of the world’s hegemon, Maduro’s crimes is standing up for the sovereignty and independence of his country. He may not fill Chavez’s shoes as the visionary architect of the Bolivarian revolution, but his government, in response to popular pressure, has now established a Ministry of Communes (see Chris Gilbert’s book Commune or Nothing! Venezuela's Communal Movement and Its Socialist Project). This is a remarkable development, one of the most ambitious revolutionary projects of the 21st century, as it taking place in a country that has suffered the brutal consequences of US imperialism. As this piece makes abundantly clear, the U.S. has engaged in repeated coup attempts and imposed crippling sanctions, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and plunging Venezuala’s economy into a deep crisis. The Racket , as Matt Kennard has aptly describes the U.S. imperium, can install and work with the most odious dictators, but if a national government opposes their imperialist dictates, then every means including political assassinations and fascist coups will be deployed to bring them to heel. As a Canadian, I am outraged and sickened by my government’s vile machinations, in league with its puppet-masters in Washington and the most retrograde fascistic elements in Venezuala, against the democratically-elected Maduro government.
Again, I would recommend reading Chris Glibert’s book on the commune movement in Venezuala. This movement took root when Chavez read and then met István Mészáros, the brilliant Hungarian Marxist philosopher, and took measures to adapt his ideas to Venezuala’s revolutionary movement. That Maduro’s government, albeit in response to popular pressure, has taken measures to support the commune movement speaks volumes about the nature of the present Venezualan government. So, applying the term ‘revolutionary’ to Venezuala, far from dangerous, may indeed have merit.
I'm curious, what is your criteria for determining whether a government is revolutionary? I imagine it's not a Marxist criteria or even a criteria based on the French Revolution.
My crtieria are derived from Marxist theory, specifically from the writings of István Mészáros. Applying that criteria, I would argue that the current regime has deeply contradictory political elements. Based on my limited knowledge of Venezualan politics, I understand that Maduros, in the face of deep crises largely precipitated by U.S sanctions, tacked toward more neoliberal policies than had been the case under the previous Chavez regime. That is clearly not a sign that tthe of a revolutionaryBut on the other hand, the communal movement, which has won at least the partial support of the government, is clearly a revolutionary movement in the Marxist sense, as based on the ‘free association of producers’ - radical economic democracy from below. But, as you point out, the Maduros government is standing up to a savage U.S. imperialist onslaught, which should enjoy the support of all all progressive forces worldwide.
Edited version: My crtieria are derived from Marxist theory, specifically from the writings of István Mészáros who I consider the most important contemporary Marxist thinker. Applying that criteria, I would argue that the current regime has deeply contradictory political elements. Based on my limited knowledge of Venezualan politics, I understand that Maduros, in the face of the deep crises largely precipitated by U.S sanctions, tacked toward more neoliberal policies than had been the case under the previous Chavez regime. That is clearly not a sign of a revolutionary strategy unless it was considered in the Leninist framework, of ‘two steps backward, one step forward.’ In other words, a matter of the survival of a progressive socialist government in the face of an overwhelmingly superior force. On the other hand, Venezuala’s communal movement, which has won at least the partial support of the government, is clearly a revolutionary movement in the Marxist sense, as based on Marx’s stipulation in Critique of the Gotha Programme that genuine socialism must fundamentally be based on a ‘free association of producers’, i.e., radical economic democracy from below (Mészáros applies this criteria trenchantly in explaining the failure of socialism in the Soviet Union - see his The Necessity of Social Control). But as you point out, the Maduros government is standing up to a savage U.S. imperialist onslaught (which could escalate to direct military intervention) which should earn the support of all all progressive forces worldwide.
Maduro’s crime i
I guess Trump 'won' the Nobel after all...
Kissinger dropped 2 756 000 tons of bombs on Cambodia, and the next year he was given the Nobel Peace Prize..
youtu.be/COqq7862wcU?t=388
https://archive.org/details/1974-genocide-plan-by-henry-kissinger
Just like Obama..
youtube.com/watch?v=hwMvS4S_rbw
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A war criminal and a Nobel peace prize recipient…who would have thought..
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"Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel peace prize."
-Tom Lehrer
Juanita Guaido
She deserves it more than anyone. Peace will come to my country!
shame for Nobel giudicants pannel.
Nobel “Peace” prize is an award for ACT of TERRORISM not for peace. María Corina Machado is calling for the massacre of innocent Venezuelan lives, is a TERRORIST, NOT a PEACEMAKER. This prize is legitimising TERRORISM. The non fascist wests recognise President Maduro as the democratically elected leader by the people of Venezuela, Machado was NOT ELECTED by the people, She LOST. She is now committing act of TERRORISM against Venezuela. María Corina Machado IS a TERRORIST legitimised by the Nobel “Peace” prize against humanity.
For a Canadian perspective on Machados see https://yvesengler.com/2025/10/14/why-is-ottawa-assisting-us-powerplay-against-venezuela/ The author, Yves Engler is running for the leadership of the New Democratic Party (NDP) on radical Left program.
As always Ben, You’re knockin’ it out of the park.
Xcellent Report 💎🩵🦋
Alfred Nobel must be turning like a dervish in his grave!
The inventor of TNT
Yes, but many of his inventions were for other explosives that were used for ammunition, the awards were set up as an 'atonement' for the many deaths his inventions caused.