Trump Reportedly Reluctant to Intervene in Venezuela Militarily
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Put nothing past him. Straightaway in office, he sold out to dark forces controlling his geopolitical and domestic policies — serving their interests at the expense of world peace, equity and justice.
In tweets, public addresses, and other remarks, he called for regime change in Venezuela. During an August 2018 Oval Office meeting, he reportedly pressed aides, asking why can’t the US invade Venezuela to topple Maduro.
According to AP News, then-Secretary of State Tillerson and then-national security advisor McMaster rejected the idea, according to an unnamed regime official “familiar with what was said,” AP reported.
McMaster reportedly explained that US military action against Venezuela is opposed by Latin American countries. Employing this option would risk losing their support.
Reportedly, Trump pushed back, citing earlier “gunboat diplomacy” in Central America, AP saying “(t)he idea, despite his aides’ best attempts to shoot it down, would nonetheless persist in the president’s head.”
He raised the issue again, including with then-Colombian narco-terrorist president/Nobel Peace Prize recipient Juan Manuel Santos. Separately, he said “(w)e have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option, if necessary.”
In September 2017, he discussed it on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with four Latin American leaders, including Santos, according to Politico.
AP said his talk of military action against Venezuela “unnerve(d)” Latin American leaders. In early February on CBS News’ Face the Nation, he said military intervention against the Bolivarian Republic is an “option.” It’s “something” he’s considering.
In his Presidents’ Day address in Miami, he indirectly raised the issue as an option, saying “(w)e seek a peaceful transition of power (sic), but all options are open,” adding:
“We’re here to proclaim a new day is coming in Latin America. It’s coming. In Venezuela and across the Western Hemisphere, socialism is dying, and liberty, prosperity, and democracy are being reborn (sic).”
“The people of Venezuela are standing for freedom and democracy, and the United States of America is standing right by their side (sic).”
On Wednesday, Pompeo said “military action (against Venezuela) is possible. If that’s what’s required, that’s what the United States will do.”
Bolton added: Trump “has been clear and concise on this point. All options are open. We want a peaceful transfer of power (sic). But we are not going to see Guaido mistreated (sic)…”
Pentagon commanders are less enthusiastic, a statement saying no White House orders were given to prepare for war. Joint Chiefs chairman Joseph Dunford said “(t)o date, most of our actions have been diplomatic and economic.”
According to unnamed White House aides, Trump is reluctant to order military action against Venezuela, Bolton pushing for it — DLT reportedly saying he’s eager for more wars.
While hesitant to get into a longterm conflict in Venezuela, he most often goes along with what Pompeo and Bolton urge.
During a White House meeting on Venezuela, Joint Chiefs vice chairman General Paul Selva reportedly clashed with Bolton over his aggressiveness for military intervention.
During February testimony before Senate Armed Services Committee members, SOUTHCOM commander Admiral Craig Faller said “(w)e are prepared to protect US personnel and diplomatic facilities in Venezuela (militarily), if necessary” – despite no threats facing them.
He lied calling Maduro “illegitimate.” He lied saying he’s “starv(ing) (Venezuelans) by using food as a weapon, while corrupt generals are rewarded with money from illegal drug trafficking, oil profits and businesses, all at the expense of the population and the rank and file military.”
“(W)hen our neighbors are threatened, we are threatened,” adding regional “partnerships” are critical to the “layered defense of our homeland.”
The US earlier and now supports a rogue’s gallery of fascist Latin American regimes. Instead of combatting terrorism, the US supports it, the Pentagon and CIA involved in recruiting, arming, funding, training and directing the scourge of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other groups it pretends to oppose.
If the Trump regime gets involved in Venezuela militarily, it’ll be for the first time since Franklin Roosevelt withdrew US forces from Haiti in 1934.
The vast majority of Venezuelans oppose US military intervention along with virtually all Latin American ruling authorities.
Is it coming anyway? If Trump regime war by other means fails, anything is possible — most likely proxy war using regional and perhaps imported paramilitaries, maybe getting US-controlled ISIS foot soldiers involved.
A Final Comment
Around 50 activists are living in Venezuela’s Washington embassy along with its remaining skeleton staff — their actions supported by Maduro’s government.
On May 1, White House secret service and DC police surrounded the facility, blocking the entrance — so far not storming the embassy (sovereign Venezuelan territory) to arrest its occupants, a flagrant international law violation if things play out this way.
On May 2, an email I received from one of the embassy protectors said the following:
“I am writing to alert you to a dangerous emergency situation at the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown in Washington, DC where Venezuelan opposition protestors are blockading all entrances and exits to the building and refusing to allow medicine and food to be brought inside to the activists who have been living inside the embassy for the past 2 1/2 weeks to protect it. Police are on the scene but are refusing to help.”
A second email said: “A peaceful gathering outside of the Venezuelan Embassy in DC was disrupted when CODEPINK co-director Ariel Gold began throwing food up to the group inside the embassy who had been without food for a day.”
“The Guaido opposition are camped out at the door blocking the entrance for food and medicine for those living inside.”
“As Ariel was throwing the food onto the balcony, she was tackled to the ground by an opposition member and both were arrested by the police. Another CODEPINK activist began throwing more food up and was then arrested.
“The people inside the embassy are being starved of food and medicine like those inside Venezuela from US sanctions.”
Actions outside the Venezuelan DC embassy were ordered by Trump regime hardliners. Perhaps they’ll cut off electricity and telephone lines next.
Activists with cell phones will still able to communicate with allies on the outside — explaining what’s going on to passed on to supporters everywhere.
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