OMNI's War and Warming Anthologies: OMNI VENEZUELA ANTHOLOGY #10, December 12, 2025

OMNI

VENEZUELA ANTHOLOGY #10,

December 12, 2025

Compiled by Dick Bennett for a Culture of Peace, Justice, and Ecology

What’s at stake: LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND UNITED NATIONS CHARTERS: Tariq Ali, Bush in Babylon, Chapter 7, “Empires and Resistance.” Both Charters protest empire and preemptive invasions, and affirm self-determination and international law. See pp. 191-93 particularly.

But the Nobel Peace Prize was given to a coup leader backed by US?

“María Corina Machado is a far-right Venezuelan coup leader who has been funded by the U.S. government since at least 2003.

The Donald Trump administration is waging war on Venezuela, and if it can succeed in overthrowing the leftist government of President Nicolás Maduro, Machado would help to lead the new pro-US regime in Caracas.

Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, despite the fact that she openly supports Trump’s war on her country. She has for years called for a U.S. military intervention to violently topple President Maduro.

If Trump and his powerful Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio can manage to put Machado in power, she has pledged to sell off her country’s assets to U.S. corporations.” Ben Norton.

CONTENTS by Authors and Publications (Nov. 20 to Dec. 14, 25 items).

Nick Turse. The Intercept.

Brad Reed. Common Dreams.
Gerry Condon. Common Dreams.
Jeffrey Sachs. Consortium News.
You Tube.
Roger Harris. Counterpunch.

Emran Feroz.   Truthout.
Michael Fox. Truthout
World Beyond War.
Vijay Prashad. People’s Dispatch.
Niles Stanton. Common Dreams. Via VFP.
Roots Action.
Eric Ross. Consortium News.
Phyllis Bennis, Khury Petersen-Smith.    Common Dreams.
Michelle Ellner.   Common Dreams.

Mellor and Stute. Common Dreams.
Ben Grosscup of People's Music Network,
3 Events by ANSWER, YouTube, Facebook
Andreína Chávez. The Burning Spear. Via MR.
John Mearsheimer (via VFP). “Venezuela's Deadly Warning to Washington. “
Ben Norton. Geopolitical Economy Report.
Adam Russell Taylor. Sojourners.
Gerry Condon. Veterans for Peace

TEXTS VENEZUELA ANTHOLOGIES #10

Brad Reed . “Trump Escalates in Venezuela With 'Illegal' US Seizure of Oil Tanker. “ Common Dreams (Dec. 10, 2025).

“Millions of civilians will be at risk if the economy deteriorates and tensions rise," warned one anti-war group.

“U.S. Realizes It Can Seize Boats After All. “ The Intercept (12-11-25). Nick Turse. After months of extrajudicial killings in the waters off Venezuela, the Trump administration opted instead to capture an oil tanker.
Read More →

[VFP-all] “The Case Against American Intervention in Venezuela.” Common Dreams. Gerry Condon via uark.onmicrosoft.com 12-14-25.
There is no strategic, legal, or moral justification for surrounding Venezuela with the most lethal naval assets on Earth. The Gerald R. Ford is not defending American shores; it is intimidating a smaller nation whose only “crime” is political independence. The United States must withdraw its fleet. It must halt its reckless rhetoric. And President Trump—whether sitting in the Oval Office or aspiring to return to it—must apologize to the lawmakers defending constitutional duty and make unambiguously clear that illegal orders will not be tolerated.

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/against-intervention-venezuela

Jeffrey Sachs. “Trump’s Thuggish Empire.” Consortium News (12-13-25).

The Venezuelan tanker seizure and Denmark’s anxiety about Greenland both show the White House’s bullying 2025 National Security Strategy in brazen action. Read here...

“Cuban rep's point of order righteously brings the us rep back from lala land” forward by David Druding.

Dec 11, 2025

to bcc: me
Trump Representative Publicly Humiliated at UN.”

https://youtube.com/shorts/05pUea6n7wU?si=NtKufISdsSOjDI16

“US State Department Travel Warning on Venezuela: What Washington Fears Most.” Roger Harris. Counterpunch. December 7, 2025.

Following his earlier threat that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s days are numbered, US President Donald Trump announced on social media he was closing Venezuelan airspace. He then immodestly proclaimed the “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, commending his nineteenth century predecessor for presciently envisioning “a superpower unlike anything the world had ever known.” On December […]

IT’S EVEN WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT.

What we’re seeing right now from Donald Trump is a full-on authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government.

This is not hyperbole.

Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse. News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation.

Yet far too many are still covering Trump’s assault on democracy like politics as usual, with flattering headlines describing Trump as “unconventional,” “testing the boundaries,” and “aggressively flexing power.”

The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/12/07/us-state-department-travel-warning-on-venezuela-what-washington-fears-most/

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Roger Harris is on the board of the Task Force on the Americas, a 32-year-old anti-imperialist human rights organization.

Saturday, December 13, 2025

The so-called war on terror laid the foundations for Trump to turn international waters into one-sided battlefields. Emran Feroz | Truthout

Truthout. Friday, December 12, 2025.

The administration’s National Security Strategy signals a return to more outwardly interventionist policies.. Michael Fox | Truthout.

“We Can Prevent a War Right Now.”

World BEYOND War

Fri, Dec 12, 2025

Both houses of Congress are expected to vote — compelled by privileged resolutions (H. Con. Res. 64 and S. J. Res. 98) — during the week of December 15, 2025, on whether or not to block war on Venezuela. The votes are expected to be close.

This is a rare opportunity to prevent a war by speaking up loudly enough and in great enough numbers to make Congress listen!

Click here to email your Representative and Senators.

Take Action Now

Similar votes in the Senate narrowly failed in October and November, with the White House promising senators there would be no war and thus no need to vote to prevent a war.

Recent corporate media trends have made it harder to pretend to believe such promises or to continue accepting the murders of boaters suddenly recognized as murders by many media outlets.

Email your Representative and Senators Now!

Thank you for all you do for peace! Please ask others to help as well!

World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and affiliated organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of war.
Donate to support our people-powered movement for peace.

[VFP-all] “Why did Trump send his warships to Venezuela? “ Vijay Prashad

Gerry Condon via uark.onmicrosoft.com

Fri, Dec 12, 2025

Trump’s escalation against Venezuela is about more than oil, it is about regaining control over the “natural” zone of influence of the United States at a moment where its hegemony is slipping.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/12/12/why-did-trump-send-his-warships-to-venezuela/

HANDS OFF VENEZUELA!

[VFP-all] “Why US Troops Must Refuse an Illegal War in Venezuela.” Niles Stanton.

Gerry Condon via uark.onmicrosoft.com 12-12-25

to Gerry

A soldier’s oath is to the Constitution, not to unlawful commands. If the United States launches a ground invasion of Venezuela without congressional authorization or international sanction, service members have a duty to say, “No.”

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/troops-refuse-war-venezuela

Nile Stanton was a professor for the University of Maryland University College for 20 years, both online and in five European countries. All of his students were active-duty members of the US armed forces. During that period, he taught 32 iterations of the advanced course called "Law, Morality, and War." He learned a few things from the troops.

NO WAR ON VENEZUELA

Refuse to Fight Illegal Wars!

“We're putting THIS in front of the U.S. Capitol.” 12-12-25

Hi Dick,

Votes are expected next week in both houses of Congress on resolutions to prevent war on Venezuela, and the votes are expected to be very close.

While we're pressuring Congress in all the usual ways, we are also going to send a video mobile billboard around the Capitol, White House, and downtown Washington, D.C., next week with this message on one side:

Not another war for OIL.
No war on Venezuela.

this on the other side:

The genocide never stopped.
No more weapons to Israel.

And this on the back:

No More Regime-Change Wars.

We can do more with your support.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation to RootsAction -- will go through immediately:

Chip in $12

Chip in $27

Another Amount

Above is part of what we'll have on one side of our mobile billboard truck. Can you help us do more of this?

Your help could just make the difference in getting those one or two more votes needed to pass resolutions against yet another war.

In Solidarity, The RootsAction Team

Read more about militarism and foreign policy at Progressive Hub.

“Venezuela & U.S. Imperialism in Latin America.” Consortium News (Dec. 10, 2025).
Eric Ross on Washington’s longstanding project to shape the hemisphere in ways that would entrench U.S. power further and protect the profits of Western multinationals. Read here...

Phyllis Bennis, Khury Petersen-Smith. “Asking the Right Questions When Lawless US Officials Go on a Murder Spree.” Common Dreams (Dec. 10, 2026).

From Venezuela to Yemen to Iran, the extrajudicial slaughter of civilians has been allowed to continue. What we are witnessing in the Caribbean and elsewhere today has been years in the making. Who will put a stop to it?

Michelle Ellner. “Stop Trump's Murder Spree and We Could Also Stop a War With Venezuela.” Common Dreams (12-10-25).

Under international law, executing people outside a genuine armed conflict is an extrajudicial killing. Nothing about these strikes meets the legal threshold for war. But if we don't hold the president to account, a war is exactly what we may get.

Rachael Mellor, Dr. Norbert Stute. “Francesca Albanese. Winner of the Lay Down Your Arms Award.” Common Dreams (12-10-25).

An alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize honors those who truly align with Alfred Nobel's original will and celebrates their achievements.

[VFP-all] “One short music video and three (3) online events, the first is TONIGHT at 7pm ET, all re: No war on Venezuela!”

Gerry Condon via uark.onmicrosoft.com

Dec 10, 2025,

Here is a new song (3 min.) by Ben Grosscup of People's Music Network, "The Money They Stole" (from Venezuela), a direct response to the escalating military and economic war on Venezuela:

· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctjIPoycAG8

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1023489316627334

And below you'll find information on three (3) upcoming online events opposing US war on Venezuela and beyond:

(1) Tonight (Wednesday) webinar at 7:00 pm ET, sponsored by ANSWER, with speakers Brian Becker from the ANSWER Coalition & Manolo De Los Santos from The People’s Forum

(2) Tomorrow (Thursday), 1:30 - 4:30 pm ET, webinar "Caribbean Voices for Peace: No to Trump's War," With speakers from Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Venezuela.

(3) Monday, December 15, 1:30 - 3:00 pm ET (6:30 pm in the UK) emergency online rally with many voices from the UK including Jeremy Corbyn, MP

(1) TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY)

"NO WAR ON VENEZUELA" sponsored by ANSWER

Featured Speakers: Brian Becker from the ANSWER Coalition & Manolo De Los Santos from The People’s Forum

In the wake of the powerful Nationwide Day of Action for "No War on Venezuela" where over 65 cities mobilized to demand an end to the US war drive on Venezuela, we gather again to assess the current moment and chart the path forward.

This webinar will provide space to evaluate the impact of our mobilizations against a potential war with Venezuela and discuss how we can deepen anti-war consciousness in our communities.

Brian and Manolo will also evaluate the Trump administration's new National Security Strategy and its meaning for Latin America.

As U.S. threats and manufactured narratives escalate, our responsibility to build a broad and politically grounded anti-war movement becomes even more urgent.

(2) TOMORROW (THURSDAY)

"CARIBBEAN VOICES FOR PEACE: NO TO TRUMP'S WAR"

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caribbean-voices-for-peace-no-to-trumps-war-tickets-1975641745644

Overview

With speakers from Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Venezuela.

Speakers:

Chester Humphrey, former Senator, Grenada David Abdulah, peace activist, Trinidad & Tobago

Luke Daniels, CLS president, Guyana Jospeh Antoine, Environment activist, Grenada

David Denny, peace activist, Barbados Bernard Regan, CSC Executive Committe

Francisco Dominguez, VSC Secretary Chair: Nadine Finch, Caribbean Labour Solidarity Executive

Based on a monumental lie ("Venezuela is a narco-state" and the "US is at war with drug traffickers") the Trump administration has deployed the largest war fleet in the Caribbean Sea in three decades.

The fleet includes over a dozen warships, some with guided-missiles, bombers, helicopters, the world's largest aircraft carrier and even a nuclear submarine.

Thus far, US military power has been discharged against over 20 small boats (very likely fishermen and traders) murdering over 80 civilians in what constitutes extra-judicial killings.

This frightening US fleet is ominously closing in on Venezuela, using Puerto Rico and, especially, Trinidad and Tobago as potential platforms to launch an overwhelming military attack against Venezuela with the explicit aim to bring about violent "regime change." The real objective is to take possession of Venezuela's oil reserves - the world's largest.

The US government, through its State Secretary, Marco Rubio, architect of the plan, has sought to cajole, bully and threaten governments in the Caribbean to turn them into complicit collaborators in the war threat against Venezuela.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Persad-Bissessar, is the most enthusiastic participant in the planned military aggression against Venezuela. However, thereare many influential Caribbean voices who are speaking out against yet another US militaristic adventure, strongly oppose turning the Caribbean, declared a zone of peace by the UN in 2014, into a horrible US-theatre-of-war, and vigorously defend the national sovereignty of the regions' nations and their sacred right to self-determination.

(3) MONDAY, DECEMBER 15

Protest voices from the UK

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vfp-all/DS7PR19MB58056DC442AD70379602103FDFA0A%40DS7PR19MB5805.namprd19.prod.outlook.com.

Preview YouTube video The Money They Stole (from Venezuela): a song about US economic warfarePreview YouTube video The Money They Stole (from Venezuela): a song about US economic warfare

Andreína Chávez. The Revolution will not be Terrorized.” Editor. mronline. Originally published: The Burning Spear on November 28, 2025 by Andreína Chávez Alava (more by The Burning Spear) | (Posted Dec 02, 2025)

Movements, State Repression, Strategy, War Americas, Caribbean, United States, Venezuela Newswire Zong Massacre This is a guest essay submitted by Andreína Chávez from Caracas, Venezuela.

Andreína Chávez traces a chilling line from the Zong Massacre to the U.S. military terror now unfolding in Caribbean waters.

John Mearsheimer (via VFP). “This could spin out of control really fast. Russia's Missiles Target U.S. Navy — Venezuela's Deadly Warning to Washington. “ [This video is not available. If you discover why, let me know. –D]

[VFP-all] [baza] “US/ VENEZUELAN SELLOUT.”

'b.bowes@verizon.net' via VFP-all vfp- 11-21-25all@googlegroups.com via uark.onmicrosoft.com
From: Elaine Antonia" (via baza Mailing List) <baza@lists.riseup.net>To: Elaine Antonia <ea642394@gmail.com>Sent: Friday, November 21, 2025 at 02:51:14 PM EST
Ben Norton. “ ‘Massive privatization’: María Corina Machado offers to sell $1.7 trillion of Venezuela’s assets to U.S. corporations.” Geopolitical Economy Report (Nov. 19, 2025). By Ben Norton (Posted Nov 19, 2025 ). Originally published: Geopolitical Economy Report on November 13, 2025 (more by Geopolitical Economy Report) . Empire, Imperialism, Inequality, Movements Americas, United States, Venezuela Newswire María Corina Machado

María Corina Machado is a far-right Venezuelan coup leader who has been funded by the U.S. government since at least 2003.

If Trump and his powerful Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio can manage to put Machado in power, she has pledged to sell off her country’s assets to U.S. corporations.

Machado proudly told a group of U.S. corporate executives in Miami, Florida that she is planning a “massive privatization program”, offering “a $1.7 trillion opportunity” to exploit Venezuela’s oil, natural gas, infrastructure, gold, and other minerals.

https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1988937942933598578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1988937942933598578%7Ctwgr%5E88b4550ef65e0a63bff8dfa56679e5d0b82a1084%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeopoliticaleconomy.com%2F2025%2F11%2F13%2Fprivatization-maria-corina-machado-sell-trillion-venezuela%2F

The far-right Venezuelan opposition leader made these remarks in a virtual speech at the America Business Forum on 5 November.

Machado spoke before Donald Trump appeared on stage at the same event. She was interviewed by the Republican mayor of Miami, Florida, Francis Suarez, a loyal right-wing ally of Trump and Rubio. (He is also the son of Xavier Suarez, who previously served as Miami’s mayor.)

“Staying quiet when murder becomes foreign policy.”

Sojourners sojourners@sojo.net via uark.onmicrosoft.com

Nov 20, 2025,

to James


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In this week’s SojoMail: Why Christians should speak out about the administration’s killings in Venezuela, a pastor explores the “holy rage” found at ICE protests in Broadview, and the exploratory faith elements of Rosalia’s new album.

“The Cost of Staying Quiet When Murder Becomes Foreign Policy.”

If every life bears God’s image, Adam Russell Taylor wants to know why we are watching Venezuela in silence:

The Trump administration is blowing boats to pieces off the coast of Venezuela.

At different points this year, I’ve been left with the unsettling feeling that I don’t have the emotional bandwidth to fully process—let alone respond to—all of what’s happening. Early in the year, we all acknowledged that this overwhelmed feeling was by design, part of the Trump administration’s “flood-the-zone” strategy, intended to weaken and divide its opposition.

I’ve been wrestling with this in light of the attacks the Trump administration is orchestrating in Venezuela. On one hand, I’m perplexed at why such a costly, unlawful, and frankly evil operation isn’t garnering louder public outcry; on the other hand, I know there is so much else on people’s minds. It’s not that we don’t care about it all—from Chicago to Palestine to Sudan to so many other places where we know there’s urgent suffering—but there’s only so much outrage we can process before weariness takes over.

And yet I can’t ignore what’s happening in Venezuela. In the midst of what can often feel like overwhelming crises, I can hear Paul’s inspirational words and remember the faithful, instructive witness of the early church.