Members of Congress Question IMF on Coup in Venezuela

One activity you can't do too much: challenge the hollowness of the Bush Administration's rhetoric about "supporting democracy." And, so long as this Administration is in office, it's not too late for Congress to demand straight answers about past actions.

Last week five progressive Democrats -- Reps. Dennis Kucinich, Raul Grijalva, Jose Serrano, Barbara Lee, and Tammy Baldwin -- sent a letter to the head of the International Monetary Fund, Rodrigo de Rato, asking about a statement by IMF spokesman Thomas Dawson in 2002, hours after a military coup overthrowing the democratically elected Venezuelan government, in which Dawson, reading from a prepared text, said "we stand ready to assist the new administration in whatever manner they find suitable."

This was a remarkable statement, given that the IMF, a U.S.-taxpayer funded institution, is not supposed to interfere in countries' political affairs. It's hard to imagine a more dramatic interference than endorsing a military coup as it's unfolding.

The Members of Congress asked the IMF:

How, when, and by whom was this decision made?
Did IMF officials have any advance knowledge a coup would take place?
Has the IMF ever decided this quickly to support a government that had taken power by military coup?

They also asked for all documents and records relating to the decision.

So far there has been no response from the U.S. taxpayer-funded IMF.

It's virtually impossible that this decision was taken without the knowledge of Bush Administration officials.

The question is: which officials? Who gave the green light?

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