Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaidó declares 'final phase of Operation Freedom'

[dfwgator]

The Press is just chomping at the bit to proclaim this Trump's "Bay of Pigs".

[TomSea]

"U.S. military action in Venezuela is possibility if 'required': Pompeo"

Not "NO," but "HELL NO!"  Venezuela supported and voted in socialism.  It's THEIR fight, not ours!  They are not worth one drop of American blood.

Maybe you wish for there to be millions of refugees in the US but I'm not for that. We already have 260,000 Venezuelan refugees in the US.

Maduro is not an elected leader currently. The people did not vote for his leadership.

We've been sanctioning them all the way going back to Chavez.

Additionally, they may well be the largest drug cartel in the Western hemisphere as Bolton/Pompeo said, I forget which.

Sorry, if there are people who want Russian nukes pointed at us from Venezuela.

[TomSea]

Typical "Blame Trump" tripe from the WaPo.  The only way Trump would "fail" is by intervening militarily.  THAT would be an unmitigated disaster.

They were just asking questions.

I don't see how that is worse than someone who wouldn't mind Russian nukes pointed at us from Venezuela, many millions of refugees more and smuggling poison into the US that can kill thousands of Americans.

[dfwgator]

If you strike at the king, you had better kill him.

Mr. Guaido better win this putsch.
If he doesn't, chances are he'll be a dead man walking...

Got Pinochet?

[TomSea]

One of the best and the best imho, English-language coverage on Venezuela,  Trish Regan on Fox Business News Channel, I believe this is from last night. Her show comes on I believe at 7 PM CST and is repeated later.   This was on last night's show:



Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

The questions have to be asked but I think the Venezuelan people can win this thing....

How hellish, Maduro has to control the people, in part at least, NOT with the Venezuelan army who in pockets have abandoned him but

Cubans at the least, are helping do the oppression.

[Fishrrman]

dfw wrote:
"Got Pinochet?"

You're absolutely right.
The face of a commie-hater. And that's ok with me.

I'm perhaps the only member of this forum who advocates full U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.

Either we go in there and clean Maduro and his lackeys out, or it won't be long before the Russians (and Chinese) have a good foothold there, a la Cuba in the early 60's. Missiles and all.

But none of this "Bay of Pigs" b.s.
Go in there with OUR military, and smash the he** out of their army.
Sumthin' tells me it wouldn't take all that long.

No army behind him = no bus driver.

[TomSea]

That editorial posted about two weeks ago by a Venezuelan student said even if we parked a bunch of our Naval ships outside of Venezuela in the sea, that would spook 'em.

I will try to see if he has said anything since.

I wii find that story later and link.  Informative.

[Sanguine]

This story just hit, plane landed to remove Maduro...landed in Dominican Republic, Puna Cana.

Looks like this story could be  out of .. Dominican Republic it is
Not vouching for accuracy of story.

Let's hope it's true.  Now the Venezuelans get the softer socialist. 

[TomSea]

Governor of Florida:

Rick Scott
‏Verified account @SenRickScott
15h15 hours ago

It’s inhumane what’s going on in #Venezuela. Mothers and children are in dangerous situations attempting to survive. This is a genocide caused by @NicolasMaduro.

Enough is enough, it’s time to come together to get humanitarian aid to the people.

https://twitter.com/SenRickScott/status/1123944271349014529

Again, as bad as things are to use the word, "genocide"???  Anyway, maybe he's right. I'm wary of going over board... I mean, to have genocide, technically, you need to have certain conditions met. If those conditions are met, there may be indeed, international treaties, laws that say you have to go in and help the people.

Also, unsure of this next bit though, it came up under keyword #venezuela :

Joseph M. Humire
‏ @jmhumire

Thank you @tedcruz for speaking passionately and accurately about external actors in #Venezuela at @securefreesoc #theVRIC

https://twitter.com/jmhumire/status/1123971745025789954

If Cruz gave a speech as it says, it would be interesting to know what he said.

Sounds like an idea, to start a twitter roundup on the latest.

And plenty more that could have been posted.

[Smokin Joe]

"U.S. military action in Venezuela is possibility if 'required': Pompeo"

Not "NO," but "HELL NO!"  Venezuela supported and voted in socialism.  It's THEIR fight, not ours!  They are not worth one drop of American blood.

If Venezuelans don't want to fight hard enough to restore their rule of law, we should not impose it.

[mountaineer]

Dinesh D'Souza   Verified account @DineshDSouza

The Cubans and the Russians have thousands of officers inside Venezuela today.
And that's just what we know about.
Venezuela is less than 2,000 miles from our border.
This is a national security threat.

6:30 PM - 2 May 2019

[TomSea]

BNL breaking news website (I don't see this anywhere else, could be totally meaningless):

BNL NEWS
‏ @BreakingNLive

BREAKING: Reports of heavy military jet activity over Venezuela, including two armed F16’s. Reasons currently unknown.
Developing...
11:15 AM - 3 May 2019

https://twitter.com/BreakingNLive/status/1124377046300463104

Also, one of Guiado's main assistants had a warrant issued for his arrest, he fled into the home of a Spanish diplomat where he may have asylum:

Venezuela crisis: Spain vows to protect opposition figure at embassy

Spain has said it will not allow Venezuelan authorities to enter its embassy in Caracas and arrest a leading opposition figure, Leopoldo López.

Mr López sought refuge there on Tuesday after appearing with opposition leader Juan Guaidó to call for a rebellion to oust President Nicolás Maduro.

Speaking to reporters, he said more "military movements" were on the way.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-48143894

[TomSea]

I've got to post this, this video and it's source and as to what it purports to show has been a topic of discussion. It's not a controversy to me as to whether it could be fake or show something else but others have said that.

Can This be True? Video of Military Vehicles Ramming Into Venezuelan Protesters Surfaces

Published May 2nd, 2019 - 07:14 GMT

Shocking videos have been circulating social media of military vehicles running into protesters in Venezuela.

The video shows armored vehicles attacking protesters in streets and violently running into and injuring many of them who fell to the ground.

While the alleged videos' exact place and timing were not confirmed, it is still unknown whether the armored vehicles were backed by President Nicolás Maduro’s government or the opposition leaders who have been trying to unseat the president for weeks.

https://www.albawaba.com/node/can-be-true-video-military-vehicles-ramming-venezuelan-protesters-surfaces-1283531

And... the Maduro/Russian side has basically come out with a counter argument as noted in article at link, that these vehicles were stolen by the opposition side.

[Sanguine]

I've got to post this, this video and it's source and as to what it purports to show has been a topic of discussion. It's not a controversy to me as to whether it could be fake or show something else but others have said that.
Published May 2nd, 2019 - 07:14 GMT

Shocking videos have been circulating social media of military vehicles running into protesters in Venezuela.

The video shows armored vehicles attacking protesters in streets and violently running into and injuring many of them who fell to the ground.

While the alleged videos' exact place and timing were not confirmed, it is still unknown whether the armored vehicles were backed by President Nicolás Maduro’s government or the opposition leaders who have been trying to unseat the president for weeks.

https://www.albawaba.com/node/can-be-true-video-military-vehicles-ramming-venezuelan-protesters-surfaces-1283531

And... the Maduro/Russian side has basically come out with a counter argument as noted in article at link, that these vehicles were stolen by the opposition side.

I appreciate that you're not taking a stance on the accuracy of the Maduro/Russian claim, and would note that if I were a God-less socialist/communist, I would probably make the same claim in order to CYA.

[Smokin Joe]

I appreciate that you're not taking a stance on the accuracy of the Maduro/Russian claim, and would note that if I were a God-less socialist/communist, I would probably make the same claim in order to CYA.

Yep. The reason Communists and Muslims get along is that they both lie in order to get/keep what they want.

[TomSea]

Report: U.S. missed chance to woo Venezuela generals
Associated Press

May 3, 2019, 5:32 PM CDT

By Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela — Around May 2017, an unusual request from a prominent Venezuelan general made its way to the White House: Gen. Ivan Hernández, head of both the presidential guard and military counterintelligence, wanted to send his 3-year-old son to Boston for brain surgery and needed visas for his family.

After days of internal debate, the still young Trump administration rejected the request, seeing no point in helping a senior member of a socialist government that it viewed as corrupt and thuggish but wasn't yet prepared to confront.

That decision, revealed to The Associated Press by a former U.S. official and another person familiar with the internal discussions, might have gone unnoticed if National Security Adviser John Bolton hadn't admonished Hernandez this week on live TV as one of three regime insiders who backed out of a plan — allegedly at the last minute — to topple President Nicolás Maduro.

More at: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/report-u-s-missed-chance-woo-venezuela-generals-n1001936

Marco Rubio
‏Verified account @marcorubio
2h2 hours ago

#maduroregime officials among most money hungry ever

They would sell Venezuelan passports to Hezbollah without hesitation. And for right price would sell some of their 5,000 SA-24 MANPADS & to cartels & terrorists

That’s a serious natl security threat

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1124458268850622465

[TomSea]

U.S. Southern Command
‏Verified account @Southcom

NEWS RELEASE: SOUTHCOM Commander Meets with Senior Leaders at the Pentagon to Discuss #Venezuela Crisis. @DeptofDefense @StateDept @WHAAsstSecty

https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/1124439678432813058

[/quote]

Marco Rubio
‏Verified account @marcorubio
1h

Want to understand why some remain “loyal” to #MaduroRegime? It’s not leftist or anti-American ideology They don’t want to lose the millions they make from schemes such as the looting of #Venezuela’s “CLAP” food program Read @USTreasury advisory:

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1124504047686496256

[mountaineer]

Thugs from Maduro’s socialist dictatorship in Venezuela carry out ISIS-style beheadings of opposition
May 4, 2019 by Alberto de la Cruz   

... During the last few day a video has spread all over social media, and via WhatsApp groups, in which two thugs loyal to the regime show the heads of two men they have just beheaded as trophies. Among laughter, while showing both heads, they say: “Look, this one and this one were supporting President Guaidó.”

Like ISIS, the intention of these groups of thugs loyal to the regime record and disseminate these terrorist acts to intimidate and send a threat to the followers of President Guaidó. They seek to sow fear among Venezuelans.  ...


Read more at BabaluBlog

[Sanguine]

Thugs from Maduro’s socialist dictatorship in Venezuela carry out ISIS-style beheadings of opposition
May 4, 2019 by Alberto de la Cruz   

... During the last few day a video has spread all over social media, and via WhatsApp groups, in which two thugs loyal to the regime show the heads of two men they have just beheaded as trophies. Among laughter, while showing both heads, they say: “Look, this one and this one were supporting President Guaidó.”

Like ISIS, the intention of these groups of thugs loyal to the regime record and disseminate these terrorist acts to intimidate and send a threat to the followers of President Guaidó. They seek to sow fear among Venezuelans.  ...


Read more at BabaluBlog

I wonder if the thugs are Russian or Cuban?

[TomSea]

I wonder if the thugs are Russian or Cuban?

The thugs would likely be Cuban, the "Collectivos" as they are called... I'm still a bit skeptical of this report but I haven't and won't hunt it down if it is a graphic video, I take it exists.

"President Juan Guiado", they sure tie up any loose ends there.  Honestly, see if anyone else reports on this. I don't see it.

[Sanguine]

Glenn Beck had a guy on, I think it was Friday, named Felix Rodriguez who was a pivotal player in the Bay of Pigs incident, and a number of incidents afterwards, including in Vietnam, in Dallas when Kennedy got shot and when Ché was captured and killed.  He worked for the CIA and has some pretty amazing things to say about those historical events.  You can listen at Glenn Beck's website.  Very, very interesting.

[TomSea]

Glenn Beck had a guy on, I think it was Friday, named Felix Rodriguez who was a pivotal player in the Bay of Pigs incident, and a number of incidents afterwards, including in Vietnam, in Dallas when Kennedy got shot and when Ché was captured and killed.  He worked for the CIA and has some pretty amazing things to say about those historical events.  You can listen at Glenn Beck's website.  Very, very interesting.

Thanks. I will look this up.  Bookmark.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lix_Rodr%C3%ADguez_(soldier)
-----------

Carla Angola is a reporter who is pretty popular, Venezuelan in Miami, her twitter:  https://twitter.com/carlaangola

Translated tweet with very short video of instance, Code Pink are the ones who apparently have gotten on the Venezuelan embassy grounds behind the fence and yelled and protested against the Venezuelans protesting outside the embassy. Cops on the scene too in DC:

José Aristimuño: "Yesterday my wife, Mariana Umaña, pregnant with 27 weeks, was violently attacked by one D members of the organization, Code Pink, who have taken embassy Vzla DC. We will be taking legal action against the individual and the organization Code Pink "

https://twitter.com/carlaangola/status/1124803375390973952

Venezuelan army helicopter crashes near Caracas, killing seven
By REUTERS
May 5, 2019 04:39

A Venezuelan military helicopter crashed close to Caracas on Saturday morning, killing all seven people on board, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The helicopter was to fly from Caracas, the capital, to the west-central state of Cojedes when it "went to ground," the Defense Ministry said, adding that authorities were investigating the cause of the crash.

Read more at: https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Venezuelan-army-helicopter-crashes-near-Caracas-killing-seven-588752

No paywall at NYT until tomorrow, Marco Rubio said

Marco Rubio
‏Verified account @marcorubio

This analysis on #Venezuela is good

Disagree with a couple of tactical points

But its one of the first to recognize that regime officials will be behind whoever gives them the best chance of staying out of jail or exile & keeping their illicit wealth

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1124702722899492867

And then, if one wants to read the article he refers to:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/opinion/venezuela-democracy-military-guaido.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

I'm still reading it myself.

[TomSea]

This is amazing:

4 Soldiers including General Silva Zapata, director of the Training School of Professional Troops EFOTROP and 2 police officers have been killed in an ambush in Magdaleno, Aragua. They were returning to El Libertador airbase when they were ambushed at 2am #Venezuela

https://twitter.com/ConflictsW/status/1124688045280825351

CNW does ask a question if it is possible this General Zapata fell out of favor with Maduro, Rubio was saying, they could be having their "night of the long knives" right now against possible conspirators and others. Bottomline, maybe the Government did the hit on Gen. Zapata??

CNW, Conflict News or something like that, they have so much stuff about multiple conflicts, I usually don't read it, too much info.

https://www.sebgorka.com/venezuela-why-it-matters/
Seb Gorka, Venezuela, why it matters.

Also, we had this other thread talking about what Trump said about Russians in Vzla? Maybe Governor Senator Scott is referring to this:

Rick Scott:

Glad Putin agrees with @POTUS’ goal of a peaceful resolution & will remove his troops & assets from #Venezuela. I look forward to it happening this weekend.

Full tweet: 

https://twitter.com/SenRickScott/status/1124439341206593538

[mountaineer]

Is Venezuela’s military really loyal to Maduro — or its own survival?
By Antonio Maria Delgado
May 04, 2019 02:02 PM, Updated May 04, 2019 02:35 PM
Miami Herald

The Venezuelan military officers, summoned to the feared headquarters of the Military Counter Intelligence Agency, found themselves in a room wondering what was looming behind the piece of cloth covering the bulletin board facing them.

Having to be there was bad enough. The agency, known by its acronym DGCIM, is notorious for holding some 200 to 300 officers and military personnel who have been sent over the years for punishment after being arrested on accusations of conspiring to depose the socialist regime headed by Nicolás Maduro. Reports of dire conditions and torture abound, the term “hell” often used to describe what it’s like to be in DGCIM custody.

So when the cloth was pulled off, what this recent group of uniformed officers saw chilled their blood.

“Pinned to the board were pictures of their wives, their parents, their children and their grandchildren,” said ex Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma, who got first-hand accounts of the incident. Ledezma is a key ally to Venezuela’s interim President Juan Guaidó, whose challenge to Maduro’s rule is backed by the U.S. and some 50 other nations.

As the summoned military officers absorbed the images of their loved ones, DGCIM officials issued this warning, according to sources familiar with the gathering: “We know what you have been doing and we will make them disappear if you continue talking to Guaidó.”   ...

[Smokin Joe]

Is Venezuela’s military really loyal to Maduro — or its own survival?
By Antonio Maria Delgado
May 04, 2019 02:02 PM, Updated May 04, 2019 02:35 PM
Miami Herald

Well, they have a choice. Knuckle under and continue to live in fear for themselves and their loved ones, or take it hot and kill every SOB who threatens them right up to the top (while moving their loved ones to safety if possible).
They are in an ugly place, but it will get no better if allowed to continue.