In Fact...

EXAMINING THE VENEZUELA COUP--GINGERLY

Recently, Washington editor David Corn examined contacts maintained by the Bush Administration and the National Endowment for Democracy with individuals and political parties in Venezuela who would become involved in the two-day coup there in April [see "Our Gang in Venezuela?" August 5/12]. The issue, he noted, is whether "discussions between Americans and Chavez foes--such as those involving NED--encourage[d] or embolden[ed] the coup-makers and their supporters." A new report from the State Department Inspector General concludes, Well, sort of. The report does say the IG found "nothing to indicate that the [State] Department or Embassy Caracas planned, participated in, aided, or encouraged the brief ouster of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez," and it declares that NED and the US government acted legally. But, the study maintains, "it is clear that NED's, [the Pentagon's], and other US assistance programs provided training, institution building, and other support to organizations and individuals understood to be actively involved in the events of April 11-14."

The IG's work was not comprehensive. For instance, the investigators decided not to interview any Venezuelans. Consequently, it heard from no witnesses who could challenge what embassy officials told the IG. Indeed, the report merely skims the surface of a very murky episode.

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