THIS FAR AND NO FURTHER
A Timeline of Events Surrounding the Radical Right's Attempt to Subvert American Democracy
Written and Compiled by Black Max
2001
Early 2001
"One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures." -- George W. Bush
- Early 2001: Venezuela's Hugo Chavez signs the "Law of Hydrocarbons,"
Oil profiteering and the "oiligarchy"
which mandates that the major oil extractors in the country, Shell, Exxon, and BP, can only keep 70% of the sales revenue from the Venezuelan crude oil they sell. Their former share was 84%. Within weeks, the Bush administration plans its response, with Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemispheric Affairs Otto Reich meeting clandestinely with Venezuelan billionaires to plan a coup. On April 11, 2002, Chavez will be kidnapped; for 48 hours, oil company lawyer Pedro Carmona declares himself president, with the immediate support of the US and the endorsement of the New York Times. The military refuses to support the coup, and 100,000 Venezuelans take to the streets in angry protest; the coup attempt collapses, and Chavez is returned to the presidential palace with apologies. (Albion Monitor, WSWS, Observer, Greg Palast)
