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 ...
I have no confirmed knowledge of that. Just read it from someone I know.
” 5 days ago”
If so, at 400 miles per day at routine transit speed (16 knots), she’s already there. And likely not alone.
Watch yourself, friend. Loose lips sink ships!!!
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How so?
Did you never hear that saying?
And Maduro is probably long gone.
Well there isn’t much of the staff left. By 2010, with the exception of one military officer the entire defense attache detachment had been denied return flights or attrited without Chavez allowing a replacement or returning member from abroad. I hate to tell the SecState his business, but a host nation can kick everyone out if they break diplomatic relations with us. Signed Retired Foreign Service.
16 knots at flank speed....that turd would vibrate apart. two 650psi boilers and a single reduction gear/shaft. it does carry about 3K marines. I spent a whole lot of hours in the engine room of her “now coral reef” sister ship.....
Idon’t think the Venezuelan’s will have the same reaction as Iranians.
Mike Pompeo for President, 2024!
Of course I have. But this news has been posted all over the world. It’s silly to tell someone that in this case.
And Maduro is probably long gone.
Maduro will probably appear soon shaking his fist and making threats from Cuba.
I rode the USS Tarawa, LHA-1 for two WestPacs.
16 knots was transit speed. Top speed was about 24kts.
They’re really BIG ships and just look like they’re crawling slow.
With a flat bottom, the Marines would puke for over a week and necessitate turning the fire hoses into the mess decks/main deck.
Any of our amphibs can sustain that speed for over 15 days.
No matter, we have amphibious assault ships for situations like this and anyone with a lick of sense could surmise that we have one or two of them down there or on the way.
Lose lips sink ships doesn’t apply here if we discuss it.
Imagine how living in Cuba would be? What a crap hole.
This ain’t gonna end pretty for Maduro and his supporters if they do anything to our diplomats.
I doubt we leave. I doubt Maduro is still there.
If he is smart, he is long gone.
Pompeo’s point is that we now recognize the other guy as being lawfully in charge. And he invited us to stay.
As for Maduro, I would assume there are non-public USG promises of what will happen should he try a more physical PNG of Embassy staff.
“Watch yourself, friend. Loose lips sink ships”!!!
Besides, there are enough Deep State/Globalists in our CIA, DIA and State Dept. who have probably broadcast this to the Venezuelans and other enemies to sink a ship.
Get real, folks. Discussing this here won’t endanger our military one bit.
Probably not a popular opinion here but as far as I am concerned, there is nothin* there worth spilling US blood. If the people want him gone, they should do the dirty work.
It cannot possibly help our side. It can only cause trouble. No reason to mention troop and ship movements...none whatsoever.
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