One of Chavez’s spies in Miami pleads guilty
The “Maletagate” story hasn’t gotten a lot of (English language) press, but it’s a fascinating look at how Chavez’s tentacles have wrapped all around Latin America. It’s called Maletagate because it involved a suitcase (”maleta”) containing $800,000 from Venezuela allegedly destined for the campaign of Argentina’s leftist President, Cristina Fernandez.
This guy who pled today, Wannseele, is small fry–he’s the driver. The big fish goes on trial in a few months:
The alleged leader of the group, wealthy Venezuelan citizen Franklin Duran, still intends to fight the charges at a trial now scheduled for Sept. 2, his attorney Ed Shohat said. Duran, 40, and fellow defendant Carlos Kauffmann, 36, are shareholders in the Venezuelan petrochemical company Venoco and have done business with Venezuela’s state oil company, which bankrolls the Chavez government.
Kauffman and Moises Maionica, 36, have also pleaded guilty to acting as illegal foreign agents and await sentencing. They also are cooperating with U.S. investigators.
…
The fifth person charged in the case, suspected Venezuelan intelligence agent Antonio Jose Canchica, remains at large.
More background here. It’s pretty sobering to realize that Chavez is conducting operations like this on U.S. soil. Shame we don’t hear more about it.
P.S. Did I mention that I don’t by any gas from Citgo?
MORE: This neoliberal blogger writes in Spanish, but he’s got the indictment of these guys printed out in English if you’re interested.
{Post by See-Dubya.}
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Trackbacks
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: Hugo Chavez
Stop The ACLU
» Even The Washington Post Sneers At Barry School ChoiceGateway Pundit
» Crackpot DA Pounds His Fist & Screams At Judge at Cheney TrialNewsBusters.org
» Chicago Tribune: All Obama, All the TimeRight Wing Nut House
» WILL NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE KILL CONSERVATISM?Redstate
» Obama: Billions for Pork Barrel EarmarksPajamas Media
» Must Conservatives Rally Round the Messiah?Marginal Revolution
» What are the lessons from the New Deal?
I don’t buy Sh*tgo gas either MM. I don’t buy Miller beer either.
I would love to see the “hollywood” sign photoshopped into “HUGOWOOD”.
Hey, C-Dub - Neon Lights?
P.S. I don’t by Citgo either SEE-DUBYA!
I don’t buy gas at citgo either. The U.S. better keep an eye on this guy.
L
Just an off-topic point, perhaps. Can we (as a society) get out of the habit of labeling any scandal as somethinggate? That’s a tired word play.
I wish that Citgo was for sale here in the People’s Republic of Hawai’i. That way I could drive by their stations and not buy their product.
We need to find an alternative oil producer that we can replace 1034 barrels of oil a day we buy from this numb nuts.
Hey, I’m doing my best, Dave.
Funny how the -gate formulation jumped into South American political scandals.
Maybe you missed the news. An Israeli spy also pled guilty. The difference is that the Israeli spy took much more important information. Intelligence sources say that bad guys (Russia in particular) have penetrated Israeli security. Therefore, Israeli spies have essentially given US top secrets to Russia. Uncool.
This is not misdirection but redirection. MM focuses on small slight from the left while ignoring much more important and dangerous slights from the right. Let’s redirect attention to the most important spy stories.
Feel free to redirect yourself here?
Chavez is the left’s hero…as seen watching hollywood. He can do no wrong, in their eyes. The only time I would buy citgo is if I was out of gas…and then only a $1 or 2 to get me to another station, after getting them to change a $50.
Well what about see-dubya, you know, the guy posting this thread?
Giving secrets away isn’t good, so why ignore The NY Times?
lgm said:, I do believe it was See-Dubya’s post.
lgm I forgot to protect this thread with this
I see lgm still doesn’t understand the difference between a democracy (Israel) and a dictatorship (Venezuela).
I agree completely. This Israeli spy is obviously a person from “the right” and the solution? Vote for democrats!!! See! That ought to fix that problem with the Israeli spy from the right when there are no republicans in D.C., right. Whew! I’m glad we got that settled. Now. You can leave. Your mission has been accomplished. Time to go home. Tell your friends that your mission today was a success.
1. Most of us did see the spy for Israel get arrested. What was funny about it to me was why the guy felt the need to spy for nuclear weapons information in the first place since they have been building nukes since the 50’s.
2. Your argument about Russia is a classic logical fallacy.
A. Isreal spied on US nuclear technology
B. Russia (supposedly) was able to break into Isreali intelligence information.
C. Therefore Russia must have gotten US nuclear technology.
Refer to here for why this is a logical fallacy.
While it is possible that Russia could have gotten this information from Israel, I ask again why would they need it? Russia has been 1 small step behind us in nuclear technology from the start and made the worlds largest live nuclear test (record still stands).
Care to name the Israeli agent? Because if you’re talking about Pollard, that’s (1) an old story, and (2) wrong.
Pollard spied for the Israelis, true. The info he gave them was in essence worth little, because it involved weapons systems we ended up giving them anyway. However, the allegation that this information also was passed on to the Russians is false. Later events have proven that the information supposedly obtained from the Israelis actually came from a Russian spy, Aldrich Ames.
You give him too much credit. His missions are never a success.
That poodle won’t hunt, lgm. Michelle did three posts on Larry Franklin, the first of which is here.
He is referring to retired U.S. military engineer Ben-ami Kadish but it was from the same Israeli spy ring as Pollard (intelligence agency enigmatically known as the Scientific Relations Office.)
Old news, rehashed with a new arrest.
Ah, I see, grizzly.
Well, of course Michelle completely ignored Pollard.
(That was sarcasm.)
How embarrassing for the Venezuelan people to have Hugo Chavez as their president! He has no class, and he acts and talks like a looser! Not to mention the kinda of people he associates himself with…
why does lgm come here to get owned like this every day? We all laugh at this pathetic little moron, and it’s really sad. (for him/her/it)
wise-man
It’s how he gets his jollies, seeing his name in print and all.
I wonder how much cold cash Joe Kennedy gets under the table from his “Friends in Venezuela“?
When I read this, I thought MM said his testicals were wrapped around Latin America!
Me either.
I wouldn’t take Citgo gas if it was free…that should tell you all you need to know.
Which poodle is that? Is that the “intelligence sources” lgm cites saying stuff about “bad guys?”
Too bad Michelle didn’t write it.
See-dubya, try putting the byline in bold, 20 pt.
See-Dubya,
I think you should SEE-DUBYA place subliminal SEE-DUBYA words into your SEE-DUBYA threads. That way everybody SEE-DUBYA would know when SEE-DUBYA you are doing the SEE-DUBYA fine work that you do. I know that SEE-DUBYA you could care less about the limelight and SEE-DUBYA want to help Michelle look SEE-DUBYA good. I just think SEE-DUBYA people should know who is posting each SEE-DUBYA thread – IMSEE-DUBYAHO.
JHSII said (#16):
Venezuela is a democracy. Chavez is very popular there. He was re-elected in a landslide. Israel, on the other hand, prevents a large fraction of people living within its effective borders (not legal borders) from voting.
lgm,
Are you stupid on purpose or do you work at it?
lgm… Just when I think I have absolutely no energy to respond to your ridiculous posts…I seem to get a second wind.
Venezuela is not a democracy. Chavez wins by a landslide. Oh boy. So did Hussien. It really would behoove you to do some reading on the political systems of Latin (Central and South) America.
The Argentinian chick is very close to Chavez. Too close. Chavez also bailed out the Argentine economy and helped her get elected there, ad now this. Something smells like bad empenadas to me.
As far as Isreal goes, you are the least of their worries, especially since truth be on their side.
PLEASE LGM….fall back into that manhole and figure it out before resurfacing.
I think I may have used more than the recomended dosage of troll spray on lgm, he’s become delerious.
delirious
well, this ain’t the dumps….i sick of him throwing garbage around.
I’m still waiting for the name of the Israeli spy whose intelligence was passed on to the Russians. Or were you just lying (again)? BTW, Chavez wasn’t popular enough to win the right to be elected indefinitely, was he? Much to everybody’s surprise, he is term limited.
Looks like you’re wrong about Israel too.
HEY LGM
Hey! LGM! Newsflash for ya:
Isreal doesn’t want to destroy the West! Chavez and his OPEC buddies do!
And maybe you haven’t figured this out yet with all your so-called liberal education, but this is a CONSERVATIVE blog.
Thought you outta know.
txvet2, you are wrong. Venezuelans rejected Hugo Chavez’s grab for de facto dictatorship.
As for Israel…well what would you do if you have been threatened multiple times by your loving, caring Arab (Muslim) neighbors since you got re-settled…just let all them muslims immigrate and vote so they can destroy your freedom and rob you of your life.
Sounds kinda like our problem here in the USA, doesn’t it??
Israel has THE right to exist backed by secular history as well as the Bible which predates the Koran, by the way.
Not everything is a morally relative as you would put it, txvet2.
Or have you become an advocate for “Mecca Mean Time” instead of “Greenwich Mean Time” too?
No I wasn’t - he lost the referendum which would have given him effective unilateral control of the government, and in addition would have allowed him to run for reelection indefinitely. Under current law, he is term limited. I was wrong about the spy, however. I had forgotten there was a more recent case. You seem to think I’m the one condemning Israel. I think you have me confused with lgm.
Venezuela is about as democratic as Zimbamwe. Chavez is a tinpot dictator, who will use any means to stay in power, regardless of the people. Egomaniacs are like that. Like the “democratic people’s republic of korea”, a lie to impress the misguided.
Sorry lgm, but Venezuela is a dictatorship, not a democracy. Let me explain to you one of the major differences between a democracy and a dictatorship.
In a democracy the people are represented by the government.
In a dictatorship the leader is represented by the government.
I note that in Venezuela, it is Chavez that is represented by the government - not the people.
And don’t go telling me about how a vote makes a country a democracy. When one man wins 90-100% of the vote, it isn’t because everyone is voting their free will.
It especially isn’t a democracy when Jimmy Carter drops in and declares the “election” valid.
LGM,, not matter how hard you wish no one will ever eliminate Israel and other posts here have explained why Hugo Chavez is far more dangerous. From another post about Nancy P’s phoney bible verse, you have failed to give me the verse that endorses abortion and late term abortion. I would save you a trip from visiting that post. Thank you
You guys can deny it on faith, but
Venezuela is a democracy. First, Chavez was re-elected in a landslide. Second, his attempt to rewrite the constitution was defeated at the polls. Chavez (so far) has respected that result. Yes, Chavez takes some “liberties” with the constitution. But so does our President.
The effective border of Israel is the Jordan River. Within that territory ruled by Israel is a large number of Palestinians who have no say in their government. (Maybe a little, there was a Palestinian election, Hamas won, then Israel supported a Fatah coup to oust the Hamas leaders.)
lgm, the gift that keeps on giving. Yes, he won in a landslide. So did Saddam Hussein. The fact that he tried to rewrite the consitution to instill a permanent dictatorship raises no red flags to you? I thought liberals were against fascist states run under military repression and violence? He has respected those results so far. He also took over private enterprises in many different economic sectors to silence any opposition to him in the media and control all the wealth in the country. Sounds like your kind of leader eh lgm. I say we pitch in and buy you a ticket there… one way.
As for Israel, they may have some Palestinians inside their “borders” but if you think that any sane country that is built on a theocracy (in this case a Jewish state) is going to let Muslims (of the violent, terrorist variety.. you know the same radical islamic jihadi’s the United States of America is at war with) vote for the president of that Jewish state then you truly are insane.
I don’t deny anything on faith, lgm.
I deny things based on fact.
First, Chavez was not re-elected in any kind of landlside. The stamp of approval from Jimmy Carter means that the “election” was anything but honest and fair.
Second, our President (GW Bush) hasn’t taken any liberties with our Consitiution. Maybe you should put a little fact in your post rather than misguided liberal faith.
Before you post more about Israel and the “palestinians” maybe you should get something more than Hamas talking points.
P.S.
Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization officially by:
But then again I would expect your views to fall more in line with Palestine and not the free world.
Not sure what the point is. Germany was also a democracy when Adolf Hitler was elected fuhrer in 1934 with 95% of the vote. The fact that Chavez was democratically elected is irrelevant. His abuse of power and tendency towards totalitarianism is well documented. He’s an avowed enemy of our country, and apparently that’s ok with you.
lgm - a Jew upset because Palestinians do not get to vote in a Jewish state.
Need anything more be said about this persons grip with reality?
The non-sequitur award goes to . . . alaskangrizzly, JHSII, loob, and the perennial favorite On-my-soap-box.
The fact that the Chavez backed constitutional amendment failed shows that Chavez respects elections, making Venezuela a democracy. The fact that you don’t like Hamas does not change the fact that they were democratically elected. Whether Hitler was elected is irrelevant. You say Muslims should not be allowed to vote in Israel because it’s a Jewish state. How about Christians? What about Muslims in our supposedly Christian nation? What about women, blacks, etc.
Remember, this is about who is and is not a democracy. Being democratic doesn’t automatically make you good.
The idiot of the year award goes to everybody’s favorite idiot - lgm.
Go back and read. You can read can’t you?
1. MM did not post it.
2. It is about Hugo’s spies.
3. You thread jacked (as usual).
4. Any award from you will be a welcome addition.
The non-sequitur award should go to lgm, who can’t think for himself even if he is presented with facts.
Again, just because you have a vote doesn’t make you a democracy. In fact, authoritarian governments love to have votes just to impress useful idiots like lgm.
Back to the thread -> Soap
It comes as no surprise to me that chavez has spies in the USA. What does surprise me is that the DoJ actually is prosecuting them!!
Just like calling yourself a democracy when your really not, fools nobody else but pea-brained liberals.
lgm. here’s some homework:
Chavez got elected by a landslide this last election with the lowest voter turnout in the country ( due to an opposition boycott).
Chavez one of the founders of the Bolivarian Revolution (Bolivarianism, or so he says but really, he has twisted this into his own ideological Chavezism. Far worse. Basically, he thinks he’s God.
His whole platform for his election was the redistribution of wealth (socialism) and reunification of all of latin america via use of Venezuelan Oil Profits. Argentina…?
He is now working to merge political parties in support of Boliviarsm into one party after his 2006 Election (Bolivarism = unification) called the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. hmmmmm.
Does that sound very Democratic to you?
Wolf in Sheeps Clothing.
LGM, wake up and smell your makeup….
Holy cow Feebz! You are using the tools favorite tool. WTG! He now has no leg to stand on!
(never mess with a sicilian…..lmao)
The difference is that those of us who actually use our brains can distinguish what is a theocracy, a democracy, and a dictatorship pretending to be a democracy by holding “elections”. But I see feebiebabe already schooled you on that topic so I defer to the sicilian with the iocane tolerance for any further questions on the topic.
ROFL - I love that movie. It sure helps to have iocane tolerance when dealing with trolls.
Democracy means holding elections that count. Venezuela does that. Maybe they elect a socialist who nationalizes industries. Still, he was elected in a fair and free election.
When Obama is elected in the US this November, you’re going to start saying we’re a dictatorship?
#63 -
Elections are not conducted fairly in Latin America (for the most part). It is just a horrible way of life. Period. (BEfore you dispute this lgm, be forwarned…my family is from serveral parts of Latin America…lived there, and have seen political systems first hand)….so whatever excuses you try to throw up on the board….will never go further than my screen,
If Obama is elected….I will not be happy…true, but truth be told, our election system is not without fault….but a FAR FAR FAR cry from those held in other countries.
For this system…I consider myself lucky and accept the outcome.
LGM…really….seriously, anyone that rubs elbows with Russia, Iran, Cuba etc. is not to be trusted.
Hey, clueless.
I live in Florida. Don’t tell me about elections that count. So, we are no longer a democratic country because we now have to let the courts decide who won an election?
Don’t you ever tire of getting hit with a stupid
sticktree?lgm wrote:
The elections in Cuba, the Soviet Union, North Korea, and Saddam’s Iraq counted too but that still didn’t make the Soviet Union or Saddam’s Iraq democracies, nor has it made either Cuba or North Korea democracies.
There was nothing fair nor free about the Chavez election. Btw, a rubber stamp from dictator-loving Carter is actually evidence against free and fair.
Your side said we were a dictatorship ever since GW Bush was elected.
That’ll leave a mark!