VP Mike Pence: US not going to stand by while Venezuela 'crumbles'

ABC News ^ | August 14, 2017 | Veronica Stracqualursi

[2ndDivisionVet]

Vice President Mike Pence, speaking from Colombia, emphasized today the U.S. has "many options" when it comes to dealing with the crisis in Venezuela.

"What's appropriate is for the United States of America to make it clear that we have, as the president said, many options on Venezuela," Pence said in an interview with NBC News. "We're simply not going to tolerate seeing Venezuela collapse into dictatorship."

"President Trump has made it clear - we’re simply not going to stand by while Venezuela crumbles," he continued.

Venezuela has recently been rocked by violent protests and political unrest. In a controversial vote in July, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro installed a constitutional assembly of his supporters, with the power to rewrite the country's constitution......

[Poison Pill]

"President Trump has made it clear - we’re simply not going to stand by while Venezuela crumbles,"

Why not?

[ModelBreaker]

“They just didn’t do their Socialism correctly.”

Yes. It’s too bad they didn’t to their socialism purely. Venezuela would be a paradise.

[Electric Graffiti]

There’s a reason why this rino putz is constantly on a ‘world tour’, he’s interfering with MAGAing.

[Pining_4_TX]

I thought Trump promised not to get the US entangled in any futile foreign conflicts? This is nuts.

[piasa]

Imagine the numbers of refugees that are going to erupt from that country when it finishes imploding

[piasa]

Yep

[piasa]

Didn’t read Flynn’s book on Iran?

[DesertRhino]

Just what we need a guerrilla war in a jungle infested South American country. And for what to help another oil-producing country to get back on its feet so it can compete with us? Good going Pence.

[faucetman]

Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States and now, Venezuela.

[trebb]

Don't they have the world's largest oil reserves?

Didn't Obama give them permission to drill in areas while keeping our own companies from doing the same?

[momincombatboots]

Didn’t read the part prez trump has made it clear... just deflecting blame from trump. Sounds like the blind bots of th previous admin. Pence clearly spoke on trumps Venezuela policy. His statement made me wonder if he supports it or not, personally.

[ETL]

Mike Pence on Putin and Russia:

(from the VP debate on Oct 5, 2016)

“When Donald Trump and I observe that, as I’ve said, in Syria, in Iran, in Ukraine, that the small and bullying leader of Russia has been stronger on the world stage than this administration, that’s stating painful facts. That’s not an endorsement of Vladimir Putin — that’s an indictment of the weak and feckless leadership of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. ...”

What we’re dealing with is the — you know, there’s an old proverb that says the Russian bear never dies, it just hibernates.

And the truth of the matter is, the weak and feckless foreign policy of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has awakened an aggression in Russia that first appeared a few years ago with their move in Georgia, now their move into Crimea, now their move into the wider Middle East.

And all the while, all we do is fold our arms and say we’re not having talks anymore. ..."

_________________________________________

How Russia arms America's southern neighbors

Ioan Grillo
May 9, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Russia's push into Ukraine has put many on edge. But less known is that Russia is also strengthening its military links south of the Rio Grande and re-establishing itself as a power in the region.

Vladimir Putin has been strengthening military links here, and Russia is now the largest arms dealer to governments in Latin America, surpassing the United States.

Russia has even floated the possibility of building new military bases in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and putting its warships permanently in the Caribbean.

In the midst of the Ukraine crisis, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov recently visited Cuba, Peru, Chile, and Nicaragua, where he announced that Russia would also pour money into the new Central American canal project. ..."

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140508/russian-arms-military-trade-latin-america
___________________________________________________

Russia Boosts Arms, Training for Leftist Latin Militaries

Moscow defense minister inks deals with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua for joint exercises

BY: Bill Gertz
February 20, 2015

Russia agreed to provide military training for three leftist regimes in Latin America and increase military visits and exercises following a visit last week to the region by Moscow's Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, Pentagon officials said.

Shoygu met with defense and military leaders in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and signed several agreements on warship visits and military training during the visit, which ran from Feb. 11 to 14. It is not clear whether any new arms deals were completed during the visit.

Defense officials said the Russian leader is seeking bases in the region for strategic bomber flights that Shoygu recently promised would include flights over the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russia-boosts-arms-training-for-leftist-latin-militaries/

[okie 54]

The US would be well advised to steer clear of the Venezuelan quagmire. With 30+ years working in various South American countries, Venezuela is by far the worst of the lot. The people are generally lazy and want the government to give them everything, much like many of our own here in the USA. Their politicians make ours appear honest. They have lots of natural resources and yet they have squandered $billions since the Chavez socialism was enacted. YOU CANNOT FIX STUPID

[zeugma]

WTF??? They voted for their evil government. Why the hell is that our problem?