Posted on 01/23/2019 7:53:18 PM PST by Texas Fossil
Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro lacks “the legal authority” to expel American diplomats, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.
“The United States does not recognize the Maduro regime as the government of Venezuela,” Pompeo warned in a statement. “Accordingly the United States does not consider former president Nicolas Maduro to have the legal authority to break diplomatic relations with the United States or to declare our diplomats persona non grata.”
Maduro ordered the departure of American officials earlier Wednesday after President Trump announced his support for a leading opposition figure who has claimed the constitutional authority to supplant the socialist strongman. Trump backed Maduro’s ouster by affirming that National Assembly President Juan Guaido stands as the interim president of the country, days after the lawmaker declared Maduro’s inauguration invalid and invoked a constitutional provision authorizing him to assume the presidency and oversee new elections.
“The United States maintains diplomatic relations with Venezuela and will conduct our relations with Venezuela through the government of interim President Guaido, who has invited our mission to remain in Venezuela,” Pompeo said.
Maduro pledged to remain in office and ordered the State Department team to leave within 72 hours.
“We do not want to return to the 20th century of gringo interventions and coups d’etats,” Maduro said after Trump’s announcement, according to the New York Times.
Pompeo warned “the Venezuelan military and security forces”...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Sounds like we intend to remain in Venezuela in spite of Maduro's sputter.
I was thinking that one or two of our amphibious assault ships might be there or headed that way.
Thanks.
And Caracas is right on the coast. Lol
It’s unfortunate that Noriega is no longer with us. He could have made Maduro feel at home at his future new digs at a Supermax facility.
Watch yourself, friend. Loose lips sink ships!!!
Trump daring him to attack the US Embassy.
I don’t think Trump will have the same response as Carter did with Iran.
Suspect Maduro is unable to pay the majority of his soldiers in hard currency. Thugs won’t work for free and his officers are may not want to die or be imprisoned.
Turkey is backing Muduro. Lots of angles and issues. Saudis aren’t fans of Turkey, Israel is ramping up against Iran. Lots of brush fires to watch.
“Pompeo warned “the Venezuelan military and security forces” not to attempt to remove the diplomats by force or retaliate over their refusal. “We call on all parties to refrain from measures that are inconsistent with the privileges and immunities enjoyed by members of the diplomatic community,” he said. “The United States will take appropriate actions to hold accountable anyone who endangers the safety and security of our mission and its personnel.””
translation of Pompeo’s diplomatic statement into the vernacular:
“We double-dog dare you to touch a single hair on a single one of our diplomats ... we’re just itching for a excuse to send in troops to “rescue” any “hostages” ...”
Good, then Maduro and the worst of them will boogie out to survive. Or stay and die.
Nope, and Pompeo will know exactly what to do.
An LHD is certainly adequate to handle any threat to US interests there.
And could easily evac the entire US mission on short notice.
All non-essential personnel/family members should already be on a plane headed out.
Watch yourself, friend. Loose lips sink ships!!!
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How so?
Trump is not just speaking for the US. I’m sure this is a consensus of OAS and other participants. Maduro’s goose is cooked.
Trump does mean business. Lefties had better hold on to their rears.
“Suspect Maduro is unable to pay the majority of his soldiers in hard currency.”
the real problem for Maduro is that the bulk of his military are soldiers who are peasants who have peasant families and not only are their peasant family starving to death, the soldiers are too as well.
Yes. Good point.
I’d like to see Maduro there, but I doubt that will happen.
Yep.
Have all the dependants left?
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