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Venezuelan official Alex Saab, a Maduro ally, deported to US (www.reuters.com)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/worldnews@lemmygrad.ml
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[–] 10 points 3 months ago (1 child)

I'm trying to find a better source on this than reuters. Here is where the statement appears to originate from: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYampbnN8fG/

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  • [–] 25 points 3 months ago (1 child)
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  • [–] 9 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    I'm curious, what's your assessment (if you have one) of the implications of this given everything you've read/posted about Venezuela in the past? It's easy for me to read it as a capitulation of some kind on the surface, but I don't know anything about Saab's actual history and whether he has meaningful ties to the revolution. The reuters source has this:

    Saab could provide U.S. authorities with information to strengthen their criminal case against Maduro, according to sources familiar with the matter.

    Maduro and his wife, ​Cilia Flores, ​were taken to ⁠New York in January to face criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism. They deny ​the charges.

    But like, what would this even mean substantively. Maduro is obviously not a "narcoterrorist." But is Saab an important figure in Venezuelan political power or is this chasing ghosts and that's why the Venezuelan government is willing to go along with it? I guess the crux of what I'm wondering is, is it a move that consolidates power of a new order or is it a performative survival move to keep distracting the US from worse pressures? Like what is the material result of doing this.

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  • [–] 14 points 3 months ago* (2 children)

    I don’t know anything about Saab’s actual history and whether he has meaningful ties to the revolution.

    Well, let's start first to discuss who is Alex Saab and his contributions to the Venezuelan revolution. Hope I don't sound like I am rambling because the information that helps contextualize this is disperse like sand.

    First of all, Alex Saab Morán is a Colombian diplomat and businessman who served as Minister of Industry and National Production in Venezuela from October 2024 to January 2026. He was a special envoy for the Venezuelan government, tasked with managing humanitarian and commercial missions and procuring essential goods and services, helping the country circumvent the sanctions imposed by the United States.

    Recently, in January, he was declared innocent by Italy in a ruling that undermines years of media narratives and international legal persecution.

    Back to the sanctions part, it was Saab who helped find financing schemes to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Venezuela.

    In 2021, the Americans realized that Venezuela was funding prominent politicians and business leaders in the US in an effort to improve economic relations. Today, the consequences of those actions are being felt. Very similar to the California Case where a Major was arrested because she lobbied for China. Basically, they played by the unwritten rules of using the US lobbying system(or "legal" bribery) against them but it didn't work.

    Saab, due to his proficiency in business schemes, was a target by the US gov't for a long time and he was actually arrested. However, he was freed as part of an exchange program where 10 US mercenaries were traded for him. During this time, there were active protest by the Venezuelan gov't that called for his freedom. The slogans were #FreeAlexSaab.

    Now, from a material perspective, this doesn't change anything to the Venezuelan gov't. From an immediate perspective, it doesn't affect the working class in Venezuela nor it brings material benefits to the USA's ruling class. However, this might help to keep the charade behind the illegal case against Maduro. Let's not forget that this a political persecution from the USA. The US doesn't give a rat ass about corrupt people or narcos as they have shown to pardon narco like JOH from Honduras or parade the Syrian terrorist Al Julani. The case against Saab and Maduro is just for show.

    Now, this is my criticism regarding the Venezuelan gov't but this is a moral failure. There was no need to deport him and, if he did commit any crime, then he should be trialed IN Venezuela. Ugh, things really are complicated. Honestly, I didn't like this move.

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  • [–] 8 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Thank you for taking the time to put it in clearer context.

    Now, this is my criticism regarding the Venezuelan gov’t but this is a moral failure. There was no need to deport him and, if he did commit any crime, then he should be trialed IN Venezuela. Ugh, things really are complicated. Honestly, I didn’t like this move.

    Yeah, it's a strange decision to me. I was hoping further context might make the decision make more sense, but it only seems stranger in a way with more context. The only strategic explanation I can think of (that is not some form of intentional capitulation) is that the Venezuelan leadership is hoping for the US legal show to drag on as a distraction from doing worse things to them while giving them time to prepare for a more overt confrontation.

    The angle that they are intentionally capitulating for their own (the leadership's) interests is darker to consider, but the strategy of that would be strange in its own way if so. Typically US imperialism is not exactly subtle about changes in power and resulting changes in policy, and Trump is anything but subtle himself. Overall, it seems to me like the goal is to keep the revolution intact. But what kind of compromise is too far? This seems to cross a line for people on here, though I'm unsure how everyday Venezuelan people feel about it.

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  • [–] 13 points 3 months ago* (1 child)

    But what kind of compromise is too far?

    My red line is the Commune system. The Commune is the building block of worker's power and it is part of the socialist construction. A good book on this is Chris Gilbert's book:

    Also, if we take a look at the worker's impact, it has been positive so far:

    So far, none of the decisions have a direct negative impact on workers and the Commune system. Both of these are growing. However, I am completely honest when I say that I didn't like this move to deport Saab. It doesn't look good and I am confident that my comrades in Venezuela will voice this concern to the leadership. For now, we have to wait.

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  • [–] 8 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    There was no need to deport him

    Isn't "the US demanded it" the need? If the oil thing can be explained by the US being a bully and venezuela being too weak, then why not this as well?

    Maybe i misunderstood something.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

    If the oil thing can be explained by the US being a bully and venezuela being too weak, then why not this as well?

    Well, you are right that this could be explained by what you wrote. Maybe, it is just that it leaves a bitter taste.

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