Top Trump Aides Push for Ousting Maduro From Power in Venezuela

8 comments

1. [Unpaywalled Link](https://archive.ph/V9vxg)

   Submission Statement:

   The New York Times reported a few days ago that Trump administration insiders are lobbying for a policy of “regime change” in Venezuela. The initiative is being spearheaded by Secretary of State / National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, and is reportedly supported by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller (both of whom are unqualified for their jobs and political hacks, in case it even needs to be said).

   NBC [previously reported](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-preparing-options-military-strikes-drug-targets-venezuela-sources-s-rcna233734) that the administration is planning targeted strikes on the membership, leadership, and facilities of drug trafficking groups in Venezuela, which could potentially begin within weeks.

   The New York Times notes:

   > Because administration officials assert Mr. Maduro sits atop Venezuela’s cartel network, they can argue that removing him from power is ultimately a counternarcotics operation.

   Also of note:

   > Pedro Urruchurtu, an adviser to [opposition leader Maria Corona] Machado, said in an interview that the opposition had developed a plan for the first 100 hours after Mr. Maduro’s ouster that would involve a transfer of power to Edmundo González, who ran for president against Mr. Maduro last year.

   > Independent monitors have said that the election was marred by fraud and that Mr. González — who has since been exiled in Spain — was its legitimate winner.

   The Trump administration has refused to confirm or deny whether it has held talks about regime change with opposition figures.

   The US has deployed several warships off the coast of Venezuela to interdict drug smuggling, including a Marine Amphibious Ready Group. An ARG only embarks one reinforced marine battalion however (about 800 troops), so a serious attempt to depose Maduro would likely entail the deployment of considerably larger forces to the region.

   Discussion:

   At least some members of the Trump administration have learned nothing and forgotten nothing from America’s wretched experiences with “regime change”.

2. Good luck with that. That’s going to be an expensive invasion and occupation.

3. As someone with countless Venezuelan friends and loved ones who cannot return home to their country due to this man and his government/partisans, whatever it takes at this point. Viva Venezuela Libre

   Edit: “When I say whatever it takes” was a bad phrase to use. But we saw what happened to their democratic opposition last year and at this point it’s clear that organic, domestic opposition is not going to successfully win there. I have too many friends who have been exiled from that country and they have lost all hope.

4. They want another Afghanistan. Venezuela will be an “easy” forever war to start and maintain

5. No more wars btw.

6. Why are they obsessed with Venezuela?

7. Maduro should have negotiated immunity in exchange for giving up power in the last election. He probably thought that the Democrats would win again and they would continue to search for a compromise. He promised Biden a free and fair election in exchange for easing sanctions, and he made a fool out of Biden.

   He no longer has such options. Maduro only options is to escape to Russia or face eventual death.

8. The US is always itching for war, regardless of who is in power. The MIC is probably feeling bored.

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