Banana Republic Newsflash

[Sigma_Orionis]

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was just here. La Di Dah, as if that is going to help in any way.

Funny. In that same article they mention US Senator RIck Scott talking about Russian Influence in Venezuela...

In the meantime, yup if we're not a failed state yet, we're getting close. At this rate I don't think there will be any government presence outside the capital by the end of this year.

[SciFiFisher]

Holy crap!

[Sigma_Orionis]

Yeah.

Whoopee

[Sigma_Orionis]

This guy was the head of Maduro's Intelligence service. He jumped ship during the events of late April. Don't know how much of what he says is true of course.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Here we go again....

Venezuela crisis: Maduro says 'fascist' coup foiled

[SciFiFisher]

Here we go again....

Venezuela crisis: Maduro says 'fascist' coup foiled

So.. pretend there was a coup attempt. Which gives you a reason for cracking down even more. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Here we go again....

Venezuela crisis: Maduro says 'fascist' coup foiled

So.. pretend there was a coup attempt. Which gives you a reason for cracking down even more. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

He needed a fresh excuse after the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights said that he should free all political prisoners...

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well, at this rate it won't matter if the Military are with or against Maduro...

Venezuela crisis: Outrage over navy captain's death in custody

[geonuc]

If Captain Acosta was a respected officer, some members of the navy may be a bit upset over this incident.

[SciFiFisher]

I keep thinking there has to be a tipping point or a breaking point.

[Sigma_Orionis]

if the current rumors are true, It's a moot point. The rumor mill says that Maduro has the Military peppered with Cuban spies to keep them in line. Considering that it's public knowledge how dependent is Maduro on Cubans, it could pretty well be true.

[Sigma_Orionis]

This stuff from the article I posted makes me wonder though.

Two men have been charged in connection with his death, according to Venezuela's attorney general.

Tarek William Saab said that the men were members of Venezuela's General Directorate of Military Intelligence and have been charged with homicide.

Considering how far down the shitter we are, it's not hard to believe that if those two people actually worked for the DGIM, they must be patsies. However, if Maduro is willing to screw over members of his own internal security apparatus. I think they'll turn on him. I don't care how many Cubans bodyguards Maduro (allegedly) has or how many spies he's got within his own military and/or security forces. Shit like that makes an organization collapse. Specially if it's fragile to begin with (as all of our institutions are) either they'll turn on him or they'll become so useless that they'll fail to stop real conspiracies.

[SciFiFisher]

If you study history it's almost always the praetorian guard who takes down an emperor or they become so corrupt and incompetent that it leaves the emperor vulnerable to assassination.

All it takes is one man or woman who can get close enough. I suspect that at this point if Maduro were eliminated Guaido might have a decent chance of taking charge.

[Sigma_Orionis]

True, there are plenty historical examples.

I agree with you that if Maduro's gone. Gauido, has a chance of taking over. The opposition this time has been wise enough to gather international support. However I also think that, that is also hindering the chances of Maduro leaving. The people around him probably want to take over as well. If the piece from the Washington Post I posted earlier is any indication. Maduro's inner circle might want him to go. But, they want to take over themselves, not hand over power to Gauido. If anything, because most of them have been linked to international drug trafficking.

[SciFiFisher]

True, there are plenty historical examples.

I agree with you that if Maduro's gone. Gauido, has a chance of taking over. The opposition this time has been wise enough to gather international support. However I also think that, that is also hindering the chances of Maduro leaving. The people around him probably want to take over as well. If they piece from the Washington Post I posted earlier is any indication. Maduro's inner circle might want him to go. But, they want to take over themselves, not hand over power to Gauido. If anything, because most of them have been linked to international drug trafficking.

Yes. Having made their deal with the devil they are finding it extremely hard to break the deal. Or to badly paraphrase an old Chinese proverb. It's easy to ride the Tiger. Getting off the Tiger is hard.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Yeah.

A couple of weeks ago. I mentioned that I was more and more convinced that the only way to get rid of Maduro was to have wealthy expat hire a PMC (yes, fancy name for MERCENARY Army) and have them invade. Again, as dangerous and irresponsible as that would be.

Guess that Erik Prince though it would be a good idea. The news piece is from April, the interesting part is how it passed under the table.

[Sigma_Orionis]

A couple of things that passed under the table...

1)The Russkies DID leave. But they left 3 weeks after Trump tweeted. And (according to to them anyways), did so because they finished the maintenance work on the Missiles Maduro bought from them.

2) According to the Washington Post, Trump is losing interest in Venezuela (which I find very much in character). Bolton's still raising a stink on twitter though.

The last thing Trump said was that patience was needed in Venezuela (whoopee).

And all of a sudden: a new round of negotiations in Barbados.

A week ago, Gauidó said that any further negotiations would be pointless. I wonder what happened. Particularly because it's already public knowledge that Maduro only negotiates to stall for time.

[SciFiFisher]

A couple of things that passed under the table...


A week ago, Gauidó said that any further negotiations would be pointless. I wonder what happened. Particularly because it's already public knowledge that Maduro only negotiates to stall for time.

Maybe Gauido is hoping that time is on his side.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Maybe Gauido is hoping that time is on his side.

Well, I think it's a waste of time.

It's been known that Maduro favors Hindu mysticism. Not to mention that little incident where he claimed that Chavez talked to him through a bird. If he's pushing that crap I suspect negotiations are going to be a waste of time.

According to the always reliable nutjobs from Aporrea, Maduro is pushing to include some Hindu "spiritual leader" as a "mediator" in the negotiations, Guess he's been talking to to Marianne Williamson.

I don't know if this means that these negotiations wll be a bigger joke than usual or if Maduro is scared shitless.

[SciFiFisher]

The worse things get the more likely Maduro is losing his grip. The question becomes will he go like Stalin or like Mussolini?

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well, I certainly hope he doesn't go like Stalin. Because we'll be long dead by the time that happens

[SciFiFisher]

Well, I certainly hope he doesn't go like Stalin. Because we'll be long dead by the time that happens

Well, I was hoping for a stroke and dying rather soon.

[Sigma_Orionis]

The only reason I have against him going out like Mussolini is that the last thing we need is a civil war...

[Sigma_Orionis]

I'd like to laugh. But....

[SciFiFisher]

I'd like to laugh. But....

I am guessing he insists on being paid in U.S. currency.