Canada’s imperialist multilateralism in the race for a seat on the UN Security Council

By Margaret Villamizar

A notion that has been pushed a lot, especially since the Trudeau government decided to enter the race for a seat on the UN Security Council in 2021, is that Canada is a champion of multilateralism. In this way Canada’s meddling foreign policy is presented as different and presumably better than Trump’s obnoxious “America First” unilateralism. Canada’s imperialist multilateralism is based on its preferring to do its meddling as part of coalitions and other groups of like-minded countries rather than on its own. Canada’s attempt to convince other countries to support its bid for the UN Security Council seat is not likely to be helped by drawing attention to the defining feature of its foreign policy: its appeasement of U.S. imperialism, all down the line. Therefore a kind of diversion is put in place with a lot of noise being made about Canada’s “multilateral agenda” without explaining what it really means.

Venezuela: Who is Ben Rowswell?

Note to readers: This post provides essential information on the background of the “former diplomat” known as the “combat diplomat” and is based on a profile written in 2015. The original article is now very much a work in progress as more information comes to light. It is being re-organized, rewritten and expanded for this publication. Contribution of information is welcome. – TS, 4 February 2019. Last updated 19 July 2020.

Since January 23, 2019 Ben Rowswell has been put forward in the monopoly media as the condescending saviour to promote Canada’s open support for the counterrevolutionary forces that seek to overthrow the democratically-elected government of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. In the run-up to the February 4, 2019 emergency ministerial meeting hosted by Canada of the Lima Group, a gang of countries it is working with to try to force regime change in Venezuela, he was featured three times on CBC TV on January 24, which has yet to find a Venezuelan to interview who is not from the family of an ex-army officer living comfortably in Montreal, and then again on January 28 in the Globe and Mail. Held in Ottawa, it was the group’s first face-to-face meeting since the self-proclaimed “interim president” of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó swore himself in. The U.S., to whom he owes his new position, is not ostensibly a member of the Lima Group, but recognized their puppet immediately with Canada and other members of the Lima Group following soon after. 

Venezuela: Politics of assassination

Bodyguards cover president Nicolás Maduro as drones carrying explosives are shot down close to his platform (@XHNews / Twitter)

By TONY SEED*

(August 5, updated August 9, 14) – Both CBC and CTV national news on August 4 and August 5 openly contested that the terrorist drone attack in Caracas of August 4 constituted an attempted assassination of the president of that country, Nicolás Maduro, as affirmed by the Venezuelan government that night as well as video and photographic evidence provided by independent news sites in that country. They all but openly declared that the assassination attempt simply did not happen.

Canada: Actions in defence of Venezuela’s sovereignty and right to be

Click to enlarge

Canadians from all walks of life are in action to reject the U.S. government’s intensifying plans to undermine the democratically-elected government of Venezuela, under the bogus pretext of defending human rights and democratic freedoms. Through demonstrations, press conferences and public meetings, they aim to block this disinformation and defend Venezuela’s sovereignty, the Venezuelan people and their Bolivarian Revolution. With utter shamelessness, the U.S. imperialists and monopoly media repeat bankrupt lies about Venezuela in the vain hope that they can fool the gullible. It is equally shameful that the Canadian government and MPs, who posture as defenders of human rights, are utterly silent on this fundamental violation of international law and human rights – the right of the Venezuelan people to democratically decide their own affairs.

ALL OUT TO SUPPORT VENEZUELA! CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Venezuela: More evidence of Canada’s dirty work

Rally in Ottawa, February 20, 2014 opposes Canadian and U.S. interference in Venezuela.

On February 13, when reporting on television about the thwarted coup against the Bolivarian government of Venezuela, President of the National Assembly Diosdado Cabello referred to a Canadian link. President Nicolás Maduro has alleged that the failed coup was organized and financed by the United States government.

Canadian diplomats trained in social media … in Washington

First published on September 14, 2014

Canadian Ambassador to Venezuela Ben Roswell reported (tweeted) on June 17, 2014 on the training of Canadian diplomats in social media and “direct” and “digital diplomacy.” The photo (right) clearly shows that the training is being conducted in Washington, USA, of all places.

Roswell is the leading practitioner and theorist in the Department of Foreign Affairs of “direct” and “digital diplomacy.” His interventionist activities are condemned in Venezuela. In a recent article, I pointed out:

“‘Digital diplomacy’ is a euphemism for cyberwarfare through the use of anti-social media as well as hacking and other means. The anti-social media such as the Twitter service being embraced by the Harper government is integrated with the U.S. state military and espionage agencies.”

It seems that Harper’s digital warriors are so delighted with their craven role as fifth columnists that they openly tweet and boast about it:

 

 Ben Rowswell @benrowswell

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@mclaugm leading the charge on training Cdn Consuls-General on #socialmedia here in DC.

1:49 PM – 17 Jun 2014

Venezuela: Dirty activities of Canadian embassy

By TONY SEED

Opposition is being expressed in Venezuela to the activities of the Canadian embassy and its new ambassador, Ben Rowswell. Rowswell was appointed by Stephen Harper at the end of February 2014 and took up his new post in Caracas in March without a lot of fanfare. The news did not slip by us nor a number of independent media outlets.* Recently, the Canadian online publication, TML Daily, provided a revealing update from Venezuelan sources.

Mision Verdad, a blog from Venezuela described by its authors as providing “information to inform and expose” free from the manipulation that characterizes the media controlled by the rich, carried a report on the activities of the ambassador, titled “Who is the Canadian Ambassador to Venezuela?”

Venezuelans expose dirty activities of Canadian embassy in Venezuela

The use of “smart power” and “digital diplomacy” to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign countries

Opposition is being raised in Venezuela to the activities of the Canadian embassy and its new ambassador to Venezuela, Ben Rowswell. The official was appointed by Stephen Harper at the end of February 2014 with little fanfare. He took up his new post in Caracas in March.