(Bloomberg) -- Even before the U.S.-backed leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly called on the military to abandon President Nicolas Maduro, the government was trying to stop a surge of desertions and ordered border guards to stop soldiers trying to leave the country without permission. Two documents illustrate the erosion of the armed forces. One lists about 4,300 national-guard officers who deserted since 2014, giving their ranks and serial numbers. Signed by the guard’s commander, Major General Jesus Lopez Vargas, the Dec. 21 order removes them from rolls. All are non-commissioned officers or enlisted men and women and represented about 6 percent of the guard. The second, dated Nov. 13, is signed by Luis Santiago Rodriguez Gonzalez, director of the country’s immigration service.
Current and former members of the military familiar with official papers examined the documents and said they are authentic. Spokesmen from Venezuela’s defense ministry didn’t respond to requests for comment on the desertions or restrictions on soldiers’ travel. The armed forces are Venezuela’s most powerful institution, and a battle for their loyalty is afoot since last year’s disputed election....
About time we had a thread on the bumbling ongoing US coup attempt in Venezuela. Somehow many US nutters, including Trump seem to think that by declaring they recognize a person who didn't run for the Presidency as the 'true' President of Venezuela, they are doing something useful or relevant. For what it's worth, I hereby declare I recognize Nancy Pelosi to be the true US President.
I saw this excellent video today as a reporter tries to talk to US members of congress on the subject:
Out of all the people he talks to, only one congressman actually knows the situation well and gives sensible answers, and that congressman refuses to act to stop the US trying to do a coup in Venezuela, because he's on the Financial Services committee and says financial services, not foreign affairs, is his priority.
Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, and Trump's National Security adviser John Bolton went on Fox News to explain that the US getting its hands on Venezuela's oil is a major factor in this:
"We're in conversation with major American companies now...
It will make a big difference to the US economically if we could have American oil companies really invest in and produce the oil capabilities in Venezuela."
Funny how God mistakenly put so much US oil under other people's land...
Also, let me remind people that there are about 49 countries in the world ruled by dictatorships, and the US supports or endorses or has positive relationships with about 73% of those countries. The very few of them that the US tends to declare are terrible who need to be overthrown, just so happen to be those in the most oil rich nations. Funny how that always coincidentally happens. That US love of democracy and freedom is apparently very malleable and is much more a function of oil reserves than it is the well-being of the populace.
Also, let me remind people that there are about 49 countries in the world ruled by dictatorships, and the US supports or endorses or has positive relationships with about 73% of those countries.
About time we had a thread on the bumbling ongoing US coup attempt in Venezuela. Somehow many US nutters, including Trump seem to think that by declaring they recognize a person who didn't run for the Presidency as the 'true' President of Venezuela, they are doing something useful or relevant. For what it's worth, I hereby declare I recognize Nancy Pelosi to be the true US President.
.
She already thinks she is President.
How about we send Pelosi your way?
No. Nevermind. Maybe the US govt has installed cruel dictators for over 50 years, but I wouldn't want that to happen to your country.
I do realize that the US has acted improperly to many countries over the years. This is policy employed by Democrats and Republicans.
I'm quite happy with the local equivalent of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez currently leading my country, but thanks for the offer.
Maybe the US govt has installed cruel dictators for over 50 years, but I wouldn't want that to happen to your country.
True, and I wouldn't either. Thankfully our oil reserves aren't huge so we aren't in danger of the US overthrowing our democracy and installing a US-oil-interests-friendly dictator anytime soon, like the US did in Iran etc.
I do realize that the US has acted improperly to many countries over the years. This is policy employed by Democrats and Republicans.
Well that's true. Johnson started the Vietnam war over issues he knew were false, Reagan deliberately backed terrorists loyal to the previous dictator against a democratically elected government in Nicaragua, etc. Plenty of wrongdoing by all US presidents. Noam Chomsky has argued that if the criteria used to judge the Nazis in the Nuremberg tribunals were applied then every post-WWII US President would hang for war crimes. Bush Jr was so scared that he'd be tried internationally for his crimes, he got congress to pass a law authorizing the US invasion of Europe to rescue him if he was ever extradited for trial.
About time we had a thread on the bumbling ongoing US coup attempt in Venezuela. Somehow many US nutters, including Trump seem to think that by declaring they recognize a person who didn't run for the Presidency as the 'true' President of Venezuela, they are doing something useful or relevant. For what it's worth, I hereby declare I recognize Nancy Pelosi to be the true US President.
Among those nutters are Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Spain, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Kosovo, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal. They have all recognized Guaidó as Venezuela's president. And the EU Parliament recognizes Juan Guaido as the interim president although Italy blocked making it the official position of the body preferring to stay neutral.
Here in the Western Hemisphere Canada has announced their support of Guaidó. The Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council agreed "to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro's new term." And the Lima Group (which includes many of the same members as the OAS) just announced their opposition to Maduro:
Mexico has vacillated between opposition of Marudo and taking a neutral position.
Other nations calling on Marudo to leave are Australia, Israel and Morocco.
I'm always still in trouble again
"You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" -- starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
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Originally Posted by Starlight
