Venezuela coming to a head

[WillBrink]

Venezuela looks like it's going to kick off. If we/they're lucky, those with the guns will decide it's time to back another horse, and back the new guy. But the corruption and such, probably not going to happen, and thugs and tyrants always double down when put in a corner.

So, Trump admin backs new guy (Juan Guaidó) as pres of Venezuela, and makes it clear actions against US diplomats etc by Maduro's thugs will be dealt with swiftly. Now that US does not recognize D bag officially and labeling him a criminal and or terrorist if he does not follow along, that makes it easier to justify dealing with D bag internationally, and it's a clear challenge to him. He's stuck between a rock and a hard place there, and his ilk only knows one way to deal with it. Apparently Rubio may have brokered this one. Russia (as well as China and Iran) however warns the US not to intervene, as they now have leverage and $ sunk into the region and don't want to lose it. Personally, I think the line in the sand crossed was when Iran became a known player in the country, (1) but all happened under the spineless prior admin, so that's a mess inherited:

The Rubio doctrine: U.S. recognition of new Venezuelan leader is Florida senator’s work

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nat...cyUfm5CRFK9UkU

Russia warns U.S. against military intervention in Venezuela

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/r...ezuela-n962091

(1) https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...ight=Venezuela

[thopkins22]

I spent much of my youth in Venezuela. I lived there when Chavez was elected. I remember the embassy and our companies giving everyone emergency plans, which thankfully weren’t needed. I saw a woman hang herself in protest outside of my building. I sincerely hope they dump Maduro.

We should definitely keep our noses out of it though. Obviously we shouldn’t have a military intervention, but our spooks need to be very careful as well, as it was their perceived(and somewhat real) intervention that cemented many moderates into the Chavista camp for a bit.

[26 Inf]

I spent much of my youth in Venezuela.

Did you dad work for an oil company, if so which one?

My ex-BIL was the UP's account manager for Champlain, his job went away pretty quickly.

[thopkins22]

Did you dad work for an oil company, if so which one?

Yep. He did completions for Schlumberger.

There’s a good chance they might know each other or have a mutual friend. The expat world is pretty small.

And yeah, we were gone before much time passed.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Venezuela coming to a head

... on a stick...

[grnamin]

I spent much of my youth in Venezuela. I lived there when Chavez was elected. I remember the embassy and our companies giving everyone emergency plans, which thankfully weren’t needed. I saw a woman hang herself in protest outside of my building. I sincerely hope they dump Maduro.

We should definitely keep our noses out of it though. Obviously we shouldn’t have a military intervention, but our spooks need to be very careful as well, as it was their perceived(and somewhat real) intervention that cemented many moderates into the Chavista camp for a bit.

Even if anti-maduro actions were completely and genuinely internal, maduro will still blame the US. That's the chavez playbook.

[Circle_10]

*sigh* If only they had real socialism in Venezuela, none of this would have happened, amirite folks?

[thopkins22]

Even if anti-maduro actions were completely and genuinely internal, maduro will still blame the US. That's the chavez playbook.

Oh absolutely. But we’re watching the natural outcome of price controls and government controlled capital interests. We don’t have to do anything. And our interference will likely prolong the revolution or at the very least have unforeseen consequences...as it has in the vast majority of instances throughout history.

[sundance435]

I think we're pretty sufficiently removed from any direct action in the Americas anymore, unless it's like "Clear and Present Danger" covert, completely disavowable. I've been so S. America a few times and loved it, but it's annoying how little Americans know about the history of our southern neighbors. Hoping this works out for the Venezuelan people without a civil war and/or thousands of bodies. It (Venezuela) has the potential to destabilize a lot of South America, especially Colombia and Central America.

[WillBrink]

Even if anti-maduro actions were completely and genuinely internal, maduro will still blame the US. That's the chavez playbook.

I know a lot of people in, and from, Venezuela, and none of them believe that BS, so at least he has few in the population being manipulated by the propaganda it appears. They know who is ultimately to blame, but they also disarmed the population in 2012 following the Commie Dictator handbook 101 to assure the population can't do anything about before complete takeover: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-18288430



Gee, never would have seen that coming!