Posted on 05/12/2019 9:37:12 AM PDT by Kaslin
After self-declared interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaido failed in calling on his nation’s military to oust dictator Nicolas Maduro, the attempted revolt appeared to have been strangled in the cradle. Only a handful of military leaders came over to his side and the civilian protests in the major cities fizzled for the most part. Guaido himself still hasn’t been arrested, but his deputy and several other opposition party leaders in the National Assembly have been locked up. This week, Guaido seemed to be getting a bit more nervous and he sent out an even more emphatic “invitation” to the United States. This announcement is as close as he’s come to a direct plea for American troops to ride to the rescue and take Maduro into custody themselves. (Associated Press)
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó on Saturday said he’s instructed his political envoy in Washington to immediately open relations with the U.S. military in a bid to bring more pressure on President Nicolás Maduro to resign.
The leader said he’s asked Carlos Vecchio, who the U.S. recognizes as Venezuela’s ambassador, to open “direct communications” toward possible military “coordination.”
The remarks, at the end of a rally Saturday, mark one of his strongest public pleas yet for greater U.S. involvement in the country’s fast-escalating crisis. While Guaidó has repeatedly echoed comments from the Trump administration that “all options” are on the table for removing Maduro, few in the U.S. or Venezuelan opposition view military action as likely nor has the White House indicated it’s seriously considering such a move.
Guaido’s desire to have a military “coordination” plan is understandable, given his current position. He certainly holds the moral high ground and enjoys some broad support among the citizenry. There’s also a definite argument to be made that he is technically the interim president, though a more formal recognition process would have been helpful. But the fact is that without the support of the military in his own country, he lacks the ability to exert true control or rule the nation.
And that should remind us that what Guaido is looking for is not military “coordination” between our two countries. He’s asking for an invasion, but the military doesn’t answer to him and would not follow his directives. Meanwhile, Maduro has not only the military leadership in his corner but also the secret police, armed militia units, Russian special forces, and Cuban troops.
I would love to see Maduro gone as much as anyone else. The guy is a monster, growing fat off of the plundering of his nation’s coffers while his people literally starve in the streets. But if he’s to be removed, it needs to be done by Venezuelans, not a foreign invasion force. Even setting aside our country’s history of military misadventures in South America, this is obviously not a war we want or deserve. The presence of foreign military units in Venezuela complicates it even further.
We should stand ready to support Guaido if he is able to take power and perhaps even give Maduro a free lift to safety (as the President has suggested) if that helps ends the conflict peacefully. But sending a squadron of B-2s to conduct a midnight bombing run on Caracas would simply not end well and could very likely subject us to the law of unintended consequences.
Exactly right. Those who want freedom need to fight for it and get it for themselves.. True freedom is not acquired at the cost of others bloodshed.
As much as Maduro needs to go, so does Socialism in Venezuela. When the Venezuelan people stop voting for one form of socialism over another and really want to be free they'll take matters into their own hands and do what our country did in 1776.
Not one single drop of precious American blood should ever be spilled in a Socialist country.
Hugo Chavez won his first election fair, unofrtuanely, but there is reason, from what I know, that he won his second with fraud. Also, totalitarian societies are frightently good at turning their people into cowed sheep. Chavez disarmed the Venezuelan people, if you remember, and he probably made sure to put politically reliable cronies in the Venezuelan military officer corps.
Social democrat, actually, from what I’ve heard. He might well be the best possible option in that country.
It is RUSSIA who is directly intervening in Venezuelan affairs. While I cannot confirm its accuracy, it was said that Maduro was actually on the runway ready to flee to Cuba when the Russians came with his Spetznaz troops. The only reason that Maduro and his cabal loyalists in the military and security forces are still controlling things is through Russian support.
We have every right to prevent such support. This even includes military consultation (not intervention) with President Guaido’s allies, though at this point would not be necessary. Finally, if Guaido and the majority of the populace of Venezuela request ANY military assistance from the U.S., providing such requests are verified six ways to Sunday, then damn the Democrats and provide such assistance. But ONLY if asked for by the president and a majority of his constituents.
Did Maduro truly win? Or did he use fraud?
They can’t even pretend Guaido won the election. He never ran for President. Sanctions are an act of war. We did not elect President Trump to put Darth Vader in charge of our foreign policy.
If we support the Legislature illegally removing their President, what’s to stop our Legislature from doing the same?
“It may inflame the population to revolt”
Why do you believe the population is ready for revolution? The history of the past two years strongly suggests that Maduro has strong popular support.
The MOST you could say about this is “we don’t know”. That presents the WORST scenario for a US military intervention I could possibly imagine.
You’re not alone on FR. I share your sentiments. I would like to add that sanctions are an act of war. By that commonly accepted situation the US has declared war on a lot of countries.
“But ONLY if asked for by the president and a majority of his constituents.”
Under existing circumstances, it is impossible to determine the will of the people living in Venezuela.
Did Maduro truly win? Or did he use fraud?
All I know is there was an election, but Guida wasn’t even a candidate. Yet Guida says he needs to be installed as president. Sounds like the Democrats in US calling for Trumps ouster
Maybe the Russians need to airdrop some arms so they can retake the factory?
Bert: You said to rintintin: “Your comparison is stupid”. No, it isn’t. When I grew up we supported freedom and wanted to spread the values we embraced. Saudi Arabia is not a friend. It’s a benefactor of our militaristic ways. Add to that, it wasn’t even a nation until European mapmakers made a mess of things after WW1.
They’re allies....
Balderdash....... you are both wrong and bigoted
.
During a goodwill trip through Latin America, Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by an angry crowd and nearly overturned while traveling through Caracas, Venezuela. The incident was the dramatic highlight of trip characterized by Latin American anger over some of America's Cold War policies.
The trip began with some controversy, as Nixon engaged in loud and bitter debates with student groups during his travels through Peru and Uruguay. In Caracas, Venezuela, however, things took a dangerous turn. A large crowd of angry Venezuelans who shouted anti-American slogans stopped Nixon's motorcade through the capital city. They attacked the car, damaged its body and smashed the windows. Inside the vehicle, Secret Service agents covered the vice president and at least one reportedly pulled out his weapon. Miraculously, they escaped from the crowd and sped away.
In Washington, President Eisenhower dispatched U.S. troops to the Caribbean area to rescue Nixon from further threats if necessary. None occurred, and the vice president left Venezuela ahead of schedule.
Blockades can be considered an act of war. Sanctions are not. That’s just silly.
Socialism sounds wonderful until you are under it.
AMEN, you are RIGHT!
Allies to WHOM? OFFICIAL Venezuela is under control of the Constitutional government headed by President Guaido. He CERTAINLY wants NO part of the Russians in his country. At this point, Russia is an uninvited presence who “allies” with the illegal cabal of Maduro.
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