BEDMINSTER, N.J. (Reuters) –
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened military intervention in Venezuela, a surprise escalation of Washington’s response to Venezuela’s political crisis that Caracas disparaged as “craziness.”
Venezuela has appeared to slide toward a more volatile stage of unrest in recent days, with anti-government forces looting weapons from a military base after a new legislative body usurped the authority of the opposition-controlled congress.
“The people are suffering and they are dying. We have many options for Venezuela including a possible military option if necessary,” Trump told reporters in an impromptu question and answer session.
The comments appeared to shock Caracas, with Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino calling the threat “an act of craziness.”
The White House said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro requested a phone call with Trump on Friday, which the White House appeared to spurn, saying in a statement that Trump would gladly speak to Venezuela’s leader when democracy was restored in that country.
Venezuelan authorities have long said U.S. officials were planning an invasion. A former military general told Reuters earlier this year that some anti-aircraft missiles had been placed along the country’s coast for precisely that eventuality.
In Washington, the Pentagon said the U.S. military was ready to support efforts to protect U.S. citizens and America’s national interests, but that insinuations by Caracas of a planned U.S. invasion were “baseless.”
Trump’s suggestion of possible military action came in a week when he has repeatedly threatened a military response if North Korea threatens the United States or its allies.
Asked if U.S. forces would lead an operation in Venezuela, Trump declined to provide details. “We don’t talk about it but a military operation – a military option – is certainly something that we could pursue,” he said.
Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized Trump’s new stance.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster at Trump’s golf estate in Bedminster, New Jersey U.S. August 11, 2017.Jonathan Ernst
“Congress obviously isn’t authorizing war in Venezuela,” he said in a statement. “Nicolas Maduro is a horrible human being, but Congress doesn’t vote to spill Nebraskans’ blood based on who the Executive lashes out at today.”
MUST BE THRILLED’
The president’s comments conjured up memories of gunboat diplomacy in Latin America during the 20th century, when the United States regarded its “backyard” neighbors to the south as underlings who it could easily intimidate through conspicuous displays of military power.
The U.S. military has not directly intervened in the region since a 1994-1995 operation that aimed to remove from Haiti a military government installed after a 1991 coup.
Trump’s more aggressive discourse could be an asset to Maduro by boosting his credibility as a national defender.
“Maduro must be thrilled right now,” said Mark Feierstein, who was a senior aide on Venezuela matters to former U.S. president Barack Obama. “It’s hard to imagine a more damaging thing for Trump to say.”
The United States sanctioned Maduro and other Venezuelan officials in July after Maduro established a constituent assembly run by his Socialist Party loyalists and cracked down on opposition figures. The assembly’s election drew international condemnation and critics have said it removed any remaining checks on Maduro’s power.
Maduro says only continuing the socialist movement started by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, can bring peace and prosperity to Venezuela, which is suffering from an economic collapse and widespread hunger.
Washington has not placed sanctions on the OPEC member’s oil industry, which supplies America with about 740,000 barrels per day of oil.
Venezuela possesses a stockpile of 5,000 Russian-made MANPADS surface-to-air weapons, according to military documents reviewed by Reuters. It has the largest known cache of the weapons in Latin America, posing a concern for U.S. officials during the country’s mounting turmoil.
The United Nations Security Council was briefed behind closed doors on Venezuela in May at the request of the United States. At the time, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Washington was just trying to raise awareness of the situation and was not seeking any action by the 15-member Security Council.
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COMMENT: HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG
I supported Trump throughout his campaign.
I had seen what Bill and Hillary Clinton did to Haiti as they forced Aristide back, and invaded my Nation, in direct violation of six or seven Articles of the OAS Charter. Here is one, to keep it simple. Of course, the Americans, and othe OAS member states, ignored the OAS when they invaded Haiti with 23,000 soldiers, and then inflicted the criminally incompetent MINUSTAH upon us.
The OAS Charter was written to block the American “Might is Right” scenario that seems to be a major foundation in the Oaf Trump’s policy. He is worse than any drunk Irishman in a bar. Loud mouthed, crude, overbearing, challenging everyone to a fight to show he is the best.
Where is the old adage, in words to the effect, – “Walk quietly an carry a big stick,” ??
For the exceptionally ignorant, rude buffoon Trump, here is Article 17 of the OA Charter, unless, of course, he wishes to withdraw the United States from this grouping.
ARTICLE 17
The territory of a State is inviolable it may not be the object, even temporarily, of military occupation or of other measures of force taken by another State, directly or indirectly, on any grounds whatever. No territorial acquisitions or special advantages obtained either by force or by other means of coercion shall be recognized.
Why is Trump pissing off a guy what can cut off our supply of petroleum and destabilize the world markets?
DUMB! DUMB! DUMB!
But then, his real claim to fame is that of a “Reality Star” on American television and we all know there is little “Reality” in the United States.
God protect us from an ignorant, megalomaniac. Napoleonic, American President.
At some point someone will challenge Trump to “Put up od shut up.” The results may be disastrous as he endeavours to save face at all our expense.
Venezuela.
North Korea?
Here is a link to the entire OAS Charter:
https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20119/volume-119-I-1609-English.pdf
“I’m proud to be a Canadian…
Could be the chorus line of a new country song… by Lee Greenwood
And I’m proud to be an Canadian where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land – Ca-na-da the free.
Ellison: Kim Jong-un ‘Acting More Responsible’ Than Trump
The deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee realized he’d fumbled his response, as he quickly retracted his assertion after the session.
Gideon Resnick
Gideon Resnick
08.11.17 7:19 PM ET
Christopher Aluka Berry
Atlanta, GA—Representative Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), who also serves as the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, cautioned against President Trump’s rhetoric on North Korea at the Netroots Nation conference on Friday, initially saying that the foreign leader was acting more responsibly than Trump. He later said he regretted the remarks.
“North Korea is a serious thing,” Ellison said in response to a question from an attendee at a late afternoon panel at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta. “You have this guy making bellicose threats against somebody else who has very little to lose over there. Kim Jong-un, the world always thought he was not a responsible leader well he’s acting more responsible than this guy is. And what I’m telling you is once you start seeing missile launches, you’re going to see—the time for cranking up the anti-war machine is right now. So if you don’t want to get caught, deer-in-the-headlights, start calling for diplomacy in North Korea immediately.”
After leaving the panel, Ellison retracted the initial remarks in an exchange with Dave Weigel, a reporter for The Washington Post while The Daily Beast was present.
“That was one of those I wish I’d not said,” Ellison said as he was leaving. “It’s tailor-made for somebody to misuse. I’d say, he’s being incredibly irresponsible, and he’s putting us in a situation where you could have an accidental launch. I mean, his rhetoric might make Kim Jong Un think that he needs to strike first. What we need is someone bringing calm to the situation, not spiking it.”
Colombian President to Pence: No US military intervention in Venezuela
By Steve Brusk, CNN
Updated 0436 GMT (1236 HKT) August 14, 2017
Venezuela to US: Military action a ‘crazy act’
Venezuela to US: Military action a ‘crazy act’
Venezuela to US: Military action a ‘crazy act’ 01:19
Story highlights
Vice President Pence is on a trip to four Latin American countries
Speaking in Colombia, he said, “In Venezuela, we’re seeing the tragedy of tyranny play out before our eyes”
(CNN)Two days after US President Donald Trump said he would not rule out a military option to intervene in Venezuela, the President of Colombia had a message for his American counterpart: Rule it out.
Speaking alongside visiting US Vice President Mike Pence, Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos said Latin American nations favor “other measures” to bring about change in Venezuela.
“Since friends have to tell them the truth, I’ve told Vice President Pence the possibility of military intervention shouldn’t even be considered,” Santos said.
“The Latin American continent, every country in Latin America, would not favor any form of military intervention and that is why we are saying we are intent on looking into other measures some of which are already underway and others to be implemented in the future,” Santos added.
Venezuelan President's son threatens to seize White House with rifles
Venezuelan President’s son threatens to seize White House with rifles
“But a transition in the Venezuelan regime toward democracy must be a peaceful transition. It must be hopefully a democratic transition. And it must be done quickly.”
Pence, who made Colombia his first stop on a four-country Latin American trip, said, “We have many options for Venezuela, but (President Trump) also remains confident that working with all of our allies across Latin America, we can achieve a peaceable solution.”
“In Venezuela, we’re seeing the tragedy of tyranny play out before our eyes,” Pence said. “Venezuela is sliding into dictatorship, and as President Trump has said, the United States will not stand by as Venezuela crumbles.”
Venezuela calls Trump's warning of possible military action a 'crazy act'
Venezuela calls Trump’s warning of possible military action a ‘crazy act’
On Friday, Trump stepped up rhetoric directed at the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who Trump has called a “dictator.”
Asked about the possibility of a military intervention in response to the mounting crisis in the country, Trump said that is something the United States “certainly could pursue.”
“We have many options for Venezuela. And by the way, I am not going to rule out a military option,” Trump said. “We have many options for Venezuela.”
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino called Trump’s talk of possible military action a “crazy act.”
5 reasons why we should care about the crisis in Venezuela
5 reasons why we should care about the crisis in Venezuela
“As Minister of Defense and as a citizen I say this is a crazy act, an act of supreme extremism,” Padrino said via phone on state-owned television network VTV.
Protests against the Maduro regime have rocked the streets of Caracas and other Venezuelan cities in recent weeks, and more than 120 people have died in protest-linked incidents since April. The Trump administration slapped sanctions on Venezuela after a July 30 vote that allowed Maduro to replace the opposition-dominated National Assembly with a new 545-member Constituent Assembly filled with his supporters.
Responding Sunday to a question about Trump’s threat of military action, Pence said, “President Trump is a leader who says what he means and means what he says, but the President sent me here to continue to marshal the unprecedented support of countries across Latin America to achieve by peaceable means the restoration of democracy in Latin America, and we believe it is achievable by those means.”
CNN’s Monte Plott and Dan Merica contributed to this report.
My friend Caroll O’Connor’s Archie Bunker is now being replayed by Trump in the White House.