Back earlier this month on Feb 4th, 2019 there were meetings of the LIMA Group, and then this interview on Power and Politics with Canada's Foreign Minister - who is a rather influencing cog in the group - perhaps an axle or bearing even, I don't know.
It is interesting to listen to the language from the minister, though; the deflections (and nuances from the interviewer who might have had other things she wanted to say and held herself at bay), the repeats - 'we are working hard on it,' the deferring and sometimes her subtle self-aggrandizing ways. Of course, she is a powerful minister so some self-flattery is due if only to go over some people’s heads, not the insiders, though, they likely get the message.
It is interesting also because it is now near a month later and you can see the moves in the field (the above post point to this); the waxing support, the AID and regrouping, the comments and continuous pressure that is being brought to bear on Venezuela – and it is also failing. The minister of course is in the weeds of all this, and note her non-military declarations in these actions; guided with the ability to just point the finger, if it happens, to Trump and the American's should things escalate. However, the interviewer kept at her on these military action points - and that was interesting as she seemed to be saying things in her mind - I'm mean they know damn well what actions they are prepared to take as this is not some simple matter. It has been in the works for long time.
A couple of comments come out in the interview reflecting her other dated memories of (she calls them dictatorships or whatever) transitions to democracy; remember she co-owned (or did) an apartment overlooking the Maidan Nezalezhnosti at the same time as that of the preamble to the eventual coup. That must have been just coincidental having Ukrainian roots and certain friendships inside and outside the US establishment.
The interviewer shifts and brings up China after the arrest of the Huawei executive in Vancouver and then the counter detainment of Canadian's in China as well as the khashoggi affair - with a hint to the continued military contract obligation to the House of Saud when questioned. Therein, diplomacy ruled the discussion, yet she is no Lavrov.
www.cbc.ca
It is interesting to listen to the language from the minister, though; the deflections (and nuances from the interviewer who might have had other things she wanted to say and held herself at bay), the repeats - 'we are working hard on it,' the deferring and sometimes her subtle self-aggrandizing ways. Of course, she is a powerful minister so some self-flattery is due if only to go over some people’s heads, not the insiders, though, they likely get the message.
It is interesting also because it is now near a month later and you can see the moves in the field (the above post point to this); the waxing support, the AID and regrouping, the comments and continuous pressure that is being brought to bear on Venezuela – and it is also failing. The minister of course is in the weeds of all this, and note her non-military declarations in these actions; guided with the ability to just point the finger, if it happens, to Trump and the American's should things escalate. However, the interviewer kept at her on these military action points - and that was interesting as she seemed to be saying things in her mind - I'm mean they know damn well what actions they are prepared to take as this is not some simple matter. It has been in the works for long time.
A couple of comments come out in the interview reflecting her other dated memories of (she calls them dictatorships or whatever) transitions to democracy; remember she co-owned (or did) an apartment overlooking the Maidan Nezalezhnosti at the same time as that of the preamble to the eventual coup. That must have been just coincidental having Ukrainian roots and certain friendships inside and outside the US establishment.
The interviewer shifts and brings up China after the arrest of the Huawei executive in Vancouver and then the counter detainment of Canadian's in China as well as the khashoggi affair - with a hint to the continued military contract obligation to the House of Saud when questioned. Therein, diplomacy ruled the discussion, yet she is no Lavrov.
Min. Freeland on Venezuela: what's next after Lima meeting
'I think what history shows is once a leader of an authoritarian regime discovers there are no alternatives, that is when you see democracy restored,' says Freeland.
