Venezuela: Do US sanctions seek regime change? Maybe not in the short term ...

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | September 8, 2017 | Howard LaFranchi

[Jagermonster]

To Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, the harsh economic sanctions, coupled with Trump's threat to use force, sounded like a bid for regime change. But it's a longer and more complex process, say analysts.

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration slapped tough sanctions on Venezuela last month that for the first time aimed to restrict the teetering southern neighbor’s access to international financial lifelines.

And it raised a smoldering question: Is the United States gunning for regime change?

For some – including embattled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro – any doubts as to the answer were erased by President Trump himself. He punctuated the sanctions decision with a threat of US military intervention if Venezuela’s slide into what he called “dictatorship” is not reversed.

Mr. Trump’s reference to a “possible military option” conjured up the region’s memories of “Yanqui” interventions past, many of which had the sole purpose of removing a leader the northern power didn’t like. And the whiff of an old-style super-power play has also attracted the attention of a prominent regime-change opponent and US rival, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But few regional analysts equate the financial sanctions with a blatant stab at full-on regime change.

Rather, what some experts see in Trump’s actions are aggressive steps that, while perhaps aimed at reversing the course of Mr. Maduro’s government, will instead stiffen the resolve of both the government and the most obdurate factions of the anti-Maduro opposition.

[Jagermonster]

Excerpted per rules.

The economic sanctions on Venezuela annoy me. While I don't want the Venezuelan people to have to suffer, I was hoping that their burned hand might teach them a lesson about socialism. Instead, now Maduro and the international left can point to U.S. sanctions as why things are bad in Venezuela, instead of letting the blame fall squarely where it belongs.

Also, what is it with tinpot dictators and medals? (See photo at the link). Is there some sort of strongman 'pieces of flair' minimum?

P.S.

The Monitor's focus in this article is on "Models of Thought - meaning how an issue is framed or looked at, the values and ideals at play, and how thought may be shifting."

[tsomer]

What are he odds of a CIA driven effort to arm and equip a resistance movement? Block Cuba and establish a Maduro-free section, then commence systematically and incrementally annex section until they leave the country.
Then get the hell out.

It seems less cruel than a block aid on a country already suffering a food crises.

[okie 54]

Folks there is no cure for Venezuela. The people still think of Chavez as some sort of deity. They are not smart enough to realize the current situation in Venezuela is the fruits of his labor. They truly think he was on the right course and Maduro screw it up. Like the young generation in the US they are lazy and expect the government to take care of them. Socialism is just great and if implemented correctly it is utopia. Well many have tried and they all have failed.