Ace investigative reporter Ken Silverstein reports from Venezuela.
Trump’s strategy in Venezuela is simple and remarkably similar to what the U.S. tried to do in Iraq in the late-1990s and early-2000s before finally throwing in the towel and invading. Starve the country with brutal economic sanctions and either blame the government for the ensuing misery or justify it as necessary to promote freedom.
We are now at about the stage in Venezuela where, in the Iraq case, the Bush administration invaded. Just weeks ago, the Trump administration announced it would recall all of its diplomats from Caracas and the Maduro government, in retaliation, shut down its Washington embassy and brought its personnel home. Trump has recognized as president the leader of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, a former electronics peddler with largely foreign support and now busy rattling sabers and promising that Maduro’s days are numbered.
Silverstein does not prophesize.
Will the U.S. invade? As insane as that sounds, we are dealing with Trump. What about a U.S.-prompted military coup? Or will the CIA once again try to kill Maduro, as it tried to kill Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, and a host of other “enemies”?
Whatever happens, Silverstein thinks President Nicholas Maduro will be able to hold on to power. Unlike most people opining about Venezuela, he’s actually been there. Recently.
Source: Why a Coup Is Unlikely in Venezuela | The New Republic
