Peralta Community College District's Only Student-Run Publication
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen

Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen

Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen

Peralta Trustee Paulina Gonzalez Brito addresses the crowd at Berkeley City College’s 50th anniversary celebration. The event featured a block party along with a groundbreaking ceremony for the college’s new Milvia Street building. (Photo: Marcus Creel/PCCD)
‘We’re still rising’: BCC celebrates 50th anniversary
College throws block party and breaks ground on new building
Sam O'Neil, Associate Editor • May 6, 2024
College of Alameda jazz professor Glen Pearson demonstrates his musical talent on his classroom piano. Hes one of the newest members of the Count Basie Orchestra, a historic 18-piece jazz ensemble that took home a Grammy this year.
The humble Grammy-winning pianist leading CoA’s music program
Desmond Meagley, Staff Writer • March 4, 2024
Archives
PCCDs classified employees pose for a pic at the first-ever professional development day for classified professionals. PCCD Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson reflected on the event in her report to the Board of Trustees. (Source: PCCD)
Peralta’s leadership search, CCC public safety earmark, and “rumors” discussed at 4/9 meeting of PCCD Trustees
Desmond Meagley, Staff Writer • April 24, 2024
Student Trustee Naomi Vasquez, who was sworn onto the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees on Dec. 12, 2023, sees her role as an opportunity to uplift her fellow students and advocate for the value of a community college education.
Student Trustee Naomi Vasquez aims to lift voices and empower students at PCCD
Isabelly Sabô Barbosa, Social Media Editor • February 28, 2024
Archives

    Welcome to the ‘Spring’ — Power plays in Venezuela are reminiscent of what happened in the Arab…

    by Tarek ElJarrari

    Tarek ElJarrari, Faculty of Psychology/Co-Chair, Social Sciences Department

    Talk about foreign meddling — how can a member of the opposition simply declare himself president, and then have most countries in the western hemisphere, some of which claim to champion democratic values, recognize him overnight?

    The Venezuelan crisis is uncannily reminiscent of what happened during the 2010 Arab Spring. Just look at what happened in Libya. Granted, there are sociological, political, cultural and historical differences. Nevertheless, the parallels are intriguing.

    The formula seems to start out with an ideological thorn in the side, like Qaddafi, or Chavez/Maduro, presiding over an oil-rich country. Beacons of democracy, they are not. These leaders may very well be corrupt, criminal tyrants, but when did the U.S. government start really caring about that?

    Forms of “hard power” are moderated, with tactics such as sanctions, to coerce these leaders into submission. When that fails, we resort to more aggressive and direct forms of coercion.

    There is no better vehicle for direct intervention than using the local population. Inciting, encouraging and supporting a local “uprising” paves the way for more forceful measures, with the presence of willing “mercenaries” on the ground who can be co-opted into furthering our agenda.

    This is exactly what happened in Libya. Soon after the first protests took place, and Qaddafi hardened his stance, the U.S. enlisted the service of its proxies in the region, like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.A.E. to channel arms to the protestors.

    Most forms of media, including Western, commercial, mass and social, were quickly weaponized.

    Before long, “Qaddafi lost all legitimacy, and had to go,” President Barrack Obama said.

    Most countries in the Western Hemisphere did not disappoint, and jumped eagerly on board to promote the U.S.’s fictitious claim of “protecting civilians.”

    I have no doubt that weapons are already being stockpiled in Colombia, awaiting orders from the U.S., to begin distribution in neighboring Venezuela. I am equally convinced that American military “advisors” are being briefed, and strategic sorties are being planned — complete with targets and objectives.

    Maduro may be finished, but if the Venezuelan people are successfully baited by the U.S. into taking up arms, it could spell disaster for the country for years, if not generations, to come.

    About the Contributor
    In the fall of 2019, The Laney Tower rebranded as The Citizen and launched a new website. These stories were ported over from the old Laney Tower website, but byline metadata was lost in the port. However, many of these stories credit the authors in the text of the story. Some articles may also suffer from formatting issues. Future archival efforts may fix these issues.  
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