Bolton and Pompeo Threaten Russia Over Venezuela
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
When it comes to Venezuela and other world hot spots, Russia is on the side of the angels, supporting the rule of law, opposing naked aggression, its actions polar opposite US rage to dominate other nations – by brute force if other tactics fail.
Bolton earlier threatened Russia, China, and other countries, warning them of serious consequences if circumvent (illegal) US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and/or other nations.
Days earlier, he put foreign banks “on notice,” threatening sanctions on any maintaining normal ties with Venezuela, saying:
“The United States is putting foreign financial institutions on notice that they will face sanctions for being involved in facilitating illegitimate transactions (sic) that benefit Nicolas Maduro and his corrupt network (sic),” adding:
The Trump regime “will not allow Maduro to steal the wealth of the Venezuelan people (sic).” Separately he tweeted:
“To those who are helping send the Venezuelan people’s wealth out of the country to benefit Maduro and his cronies (sic), you are on notice today that the United States is watching.”
On Monday, Bolton tweeted: “The United States will not tolerate hostile foreign military powers meddling with the Western Hemisphere’s shared goals of democracy, security, and the rule of law” – notions Republicans and undemocratic Dems abhor, tolerating them nowhere, especially not at home.
In mid-March, Pompeo turned turned truth on its head, falsely accusing Russia and Cuba of “undermining the democratic dreams of the Venezuelan people and their welfare,” blaming them for harm caused by Trump regime war on the country by other means.
US political, economic, financial, and sanctions war are largely responsible for hard times in the Bolivarian Republic.
Days after Maduro accused the Trump regime of stealing $5 billion from the country, “allocated for the purchase of the main substances for the production of medicine in Venezuela and its delivery to hospital networks, pharmacies, and ambulance networks,” Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said the following:
Guaido-led opposition forces “resorted to stealing the assets that Venezuela holds in different banks. This money is being confiscated at the request of (Trump regime hardliners). Over $30 billion has been stolen in the past couple of months.”
In early March, Maduro said “(n)o one should let themselves be fooled! The Venezuelan opposition and the US government do not want to help the country. On the contrary, they want to seize our natural resources. They want to unleash an ‘oil war’ to invade our homeland and rule here! But they will fail!”
On Monday, Pompeo threatened Sergey Lavrov over Russian involvement in Venezuela. The State Department said he told his counterpart that the US won’t “stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela (sic),” adding:
“The continued insertion of Russian military personnel to support illegitimate Nicolas Maduro (rule) in Venezuela (sic) risks prolonging the suffering of the Venezuelan people who overwhelmingly support…Guaido (sic).”
Most Venezuelans revile him. It’s unreported what Lavrov told his US counterpart. How do you say go to hell in Russian?
It’s what should be told him and other Trump regime officials without mincing words – most of all demanding they keep dirty hands of Venezuela, designating a red line Russia won’t tolerate if crossed.
A Final Comment
On Monday, Sputnik News said around 100 Russian military personnel arrived in Caracas, quoting a Defense Ministry source, saying they’ll “take part in bilateral consultations,” adding:
There’s “nothing mysterious” about the visit. It’s related to “a number of (bilateral) contracts, which are being implemented, including contracts on military and technical cooperation.”
Two Russian aircraft arrived on Saturday with its personnel and 35 tons of cargo. Along with most other countries, Moscow respects Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, as well as the nation’s sovereign independence.
Under Republicans and undemocratic Dems, the US operates by a different standard – flagrantly breaching the rule of law time and again, demanding all other nations submit to its will or else.
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