One of these things doesn’t… Oh wait they’re all the same, hmmm…
All of these are the logos of youth movements in different countries that have either removed, or are working towards removing, governments undesirable to Washington. All have been organized and funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, the Freedom House, and other CIA organizations. Washington was instrumental in strengthening and supporting these groups, as well as similar groups in the Ukraine, Belarus, and others. The objective is to co-opt popular youth movements against a controversial government in order to open the country to Washington’s neoliberal interests. They have succeeded in many places, and though we have no evidence of CIA backing of the youth movement in Venezuela, we can see now that they are here in Venezuela as well.
From Chris Carlson’s Gringo in Venezuela blog, he writes a full piece at Venezuela analysis here-
The new imperial strategy includes something called “American Corners.” These “corners” are small offices set up by Washington throughout the target country that basically serve as mini-embassies. It is not completely clear what exactly these “corners” do, but inside you will find an array of information about the United States, including study abroad opportunities, English classes, and pro-U.S. propaganda. On top of this, the mini-embassies also organize events, trainings, and lectures for young students.
Interestingly, they seem to be very abundant in countries that Washington seeks to destabilize. The former Yugoslav countries have a total of 22 American Corners, including 7 in Serbia. The Ukraine has 24, Belarus 11, Russia 30, even Iraq, with 11. By far the highest concentration of the “corners” is in Eastern Europe, where Washington has focused its destabilization efforts in recent years.
There are at least 4 “American Corners” in Venezuela, the most for any Latin American country, and the U.S. also finances literally hundreds of organizations throughout the country, to the tune of more than $5 million a year.
25 July, 2007 at 8:49 pm
And they dare to appropriate the raised fist as a symbol of American imperialism?? Next thing you know they will be using images of Che Guevara. This makes me so angry. Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!! I feel like I am trapped in a fucked up Kafka-esque world.
25 July, 2007 at 8:55 pm
So we co-opt! In the age of stencils, how long would it take to get this (or a clever subversion thereof) on the streets of Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Australia, and the UK? How much would that confuse them.
25 July, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Good plan Dave. It might just work – cue stroky beard time and wistful gaze out of window……..
25 July, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Even better on the streets of Washington-
‘Hey wait are we overthrowing ourselves?’
Kafka indeed.
25 July, 2007 at 9:48 pm
it’s basically just a slightly customised fist; i can see stars-and-stripes-and-middle-finger working pretty well as a motif.
25 July, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Hey Rickb, get to work on Photoshop godammit!!!
25 July, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Not surprised, not one bit. Washington loves to exploit proxies, who naively believe that they are allies in a common cause and then find themselves paying a big debt to the Empire.
25 July, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Ok, I’ll have a tinker tomorrow, does the CIA operate under creative commons?
Rafael- it is really cynical that they harness youth movements and as Korova said, to hijack the symbolism of struggle. I think if maybe it gets known that this particular design is a fake, perhaps become known as the Imperial fisting! That would be good and duping people sincerely struggling for reform is unspeakably foul. Yeah, they’ll think they got democracy then suddenly corporations they’ve never heard of own everything. And liberty will be a matter of how much money you have. Meet the new boss etc.
25 July, 2007 at 11:52 pm
I had a go with MS paint. That was just depressing.
But “imperial fisting” is glorious, I think we have a T-shirt design in the making.
26 July, 2007 at 12:00 am
I’ve heard tell of MS paint, don’t parents tell their children that if they are naughty they will have to edit graphics on it?
I’m going to sleep on it and let inspiration find me in my dreams.
26 July, 2007 at 7:11 am
Those look like old SDS posters.
Power to The People.
Right On!
26 July, 2007 at 1:48 pm
And SDS were compromised by the FBI and cointelpro, they probably just scanned an old flier, cheeky sods.
26 July, 2007 at 4:05 pm
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