This is my first diary, so let me first apologize for any shortcomings. Today was the first I had seen anything about this, but apparently last week the house agreed to (by voice vote) an ammendment by Rep. Mack (R-FL) to "authorize the Broadcasting Board of Governors to initiate radio and television broadcasts to Venezuela for at least 30 minutes a day of balanced, objective, and comprehensive news programming." It is attached to the State dept. appropriations bill H.R. 2601.
The Bush administration's interference in progressive South American democracies is really starting to get to me. The lack of attention to this in the media and even in the blogspere is also infuriating. I wouldn't be surprised if the administration is setting the stage for more U.S.-backed coups throughout South America. They are definitely hell-bent on keeping Bolivia from bolting from the control of the oil and gas industry. I also wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a CIA hand in the 'scandals' surrounding president de Silva's party in Brazil.
Radio Free Venezuela?
"The flimsy justification for force-feeding U.S. government and CIA propaganda onto the airwaves which is used for Cuba - that the government does not allow opposing views in the media - should be laughable to anyone who has spent one day in Venezuela. Newsstands and television stations overflow with big-budget anti-Chavista media. Not a single journalist has been jailed or censured under Hugo Chávez's presidency, while government censorship was rampant under several previous rightwing administrations."
Bolivia a Leftist Target