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Unrest in Venezuela Spawns a Folk Hero
Wall Street Journal ^ | Feb. 26, 2014 10:42 p.m. ET | David Luhnow and Ezequiel Minaya

Posted on 02/27/2014 7:14:28 AM PST by Texas Fossil

CARACAS, Venezuela—A gun-toting retired Venezuelan general has become a folk hero to the country's opposition and galvanized a protest movement by defying the government of President Nicolás Maduro, engaging in a Rambo-like standoff with security forces sent by the president to arrest him.

Angel Vivas has been holed up in his home in a hilly Caracas suburb since last weekend, when Mr. Maduro, on live television, ordered his arrest for having backed student protests that have convulsed this oil-rich nation.

When black-clad officers from military intelligence went to the retired Army general's house Sunday morning, he emerged wearing a flak jacket and armed with a semiautomatic rifle and pistol, warning that the only way he would be taken was in a body bag. Scores of neighbors came out in support of Gen. Vivas and heckled security forces, who eventually backed down.

"I have a right to self-defense," Gen. Vivas said in an interview inside his bunkerlike home, which is decorated with family pictures and mementos to his 40-year career in the army, including old rifles and swords.

"At no time did I order anyone to commit violence," he said, after the government said his tweet giving defense advice caused a death. "I was helping unarmed civilians defend themselves….A priest recommends prayer, a doctor recommends medicine, a military man recommends how to defend."

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; defiance; general; venezuela; vivas
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Mass Defiance and long term demonstrations are in order. Chavez has removed many from the Military who would resist the Cuban takeover, but some still remain. Will there be enough to affect a popular overthrow of Communism?

Guess we shall see.

God Bless Freedom Lovers in Venezuela.

1 posted on 02/27/2014 7:14:28 AM PST by Texas Fossil
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To: Texas Fossil

Bump ... our Military Generals know it (below) may come to their neighborhoods too. Bow to obama and next hillary clinton or else, so says the lame-stream.


2 posted on 02/27/2014 7:23:11 AM PST by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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sorry ... right face or last sentence!


3 posted on 02/27/2014 7:24:07 AM PST by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: Texas Fossil

Too bad more citizens in Venezuela don’t have guns like the general.


4 posted on 02/27/2014 7:28:11 AM PST by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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To: Texas Fossil

The governor and atty general of Connecticut should pay attention.


5 posted on 02/27/2014 7:36:56 AM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Texas Fossil; Travis McGee; NFHale

Viva Vivas!

6 posted on 02/27/2014 7:40:10 AM PST by Old Sarge (TINVOWOOT: There Is No Voting Our Way Out Of This)
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To: no-to-illegals

Bow NOT!

FUBO


7 posted on 02/27/2014 7:42:23 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!)
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To: Old Sarge

Say hello to he’s leeeeetle friend!


8 posted on 02/27/2014 7:44:31 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
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To: Old Sarge

I had a few occasions to work with soldiers cut from his cloth in Central America.

Their stoicism is legendary and they will die for a point of honor without flinching, with that same expression on their face.


9 posted on 02/27/2014 7:46:01 AM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Travis McGee

Yes, and their congress critters too.


10 posted on 02/27/2014 7:46:08 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!)
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To: Old Sarge

Bump!


11 posted on 02/27/2014 7:46:28 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!)
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To: Old Sarge

Where is OUR General Vivas???


12 posted on 02/27/2014 8:01:03 AM PST by HOYA97 (twitter @hoya97)
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To: Texas Fossil

Not to go totaly off subject here but could the uprising
in Venezuela have something to do with that spy ship that
is parked in Cuba?


13 posted on 02/27/2014 8:01:59 AM PST by Slambat
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To: Slambat

Don’t have a clue about the “spy ship” off Cuba.

With Obozo at the controls nothing is clear any more. Absolutely anything is possible.


14 posted on 02/27/2014 8:04:40 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!)
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To: HOYA97
Where is OUR General Vivas???

Long dead and buried. The replacements are properly castrated and house-trained.

15 posted on 02/27/2014 8:09:31 AM PST by ScottinVA (Obama is so far in over his head, even his ears are beneath the water level.)
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To: Old Sarge; Texas Fossil; Travis McGee

Stand tall, General...

In a better world, there would be an army throwing a protective cordon around this heroic man, muzzles pointing OUT towards the communist thugs... saying “No, by God, not one step more.”

Disgusts me how the bad guys always seem to outnumber us...


16 posted on 02/27/2014 8:11:45 AM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: NFHale

Did you see the unarmed civilians at the barricades in Ukraine?

Some of those were X-military. Many were clearly crazy. But they were clearly Patriotic.

We shall see if Putin allows them to live freely.


17 posted on 02/27/2014 8:14:26 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!)
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To: Travis McGee; Texas Fossil; Old Sarge

“...When black-clad officers...”

Thugs love black, “scary” uniforms, ever notice?

“...Scores of neighbors came out in support of Gen. Vivas and heckled security forces, who eventually backed down...”

Bet they’d have backed off quicker if those “scores” were pointing muzzles at them as well.


18 posted on 02/27/2014 8:15:59 AM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: Texas Fossil

Bump for later


19 posted on 02/27/2014 8:16:07 AM PST by painter ( Isaiah: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,")
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To: ScottinVA

The beginning.

Retired US Generals Vallely and Mattis support demonstration in DC on May 16th.

http://thelastgreatstand.com/lgs/2014/02/02/another-retired-army-general-to-tea-party-group-i-would-lead-a-coup-against-the-u-s-government/


20 posted on 02/27/2014 8:16:22 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!)
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