With Guaidó rapidly losing momentum and credibility after Tuesday’s failed coup, López and his U.S. backers may turn on their own if they think it will benefit or energize their cause or if it could be used to set the stage for foreign military intervention.
by Whitney Webb
Part 3 - It’s Bolton’s baby
Part 3 - It’s Bolton’s baby
Though reports have characterized President Trump as uninterested in a long-term military conflict (likely owing to concern it could harm his re-election prospects), Trump has also “given Bolton wide purview over Venezuela.” In recent months, Bolton has been pushing a reluctant Pentagon to draft war plans for Venezuela.
According to a recent report in the Washington Post:
As he has pushed for a more aggressive policy, Bolton has angered some within and outside the White House. Even before Tuesday’s events, his staff clashed with Gen. Paul Selva, [Pentagon Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph] Dunford’s vice chairman, during a meeting to address the ongoing Venezuelan crisis, according to several officials with knowledge of the exchange.
As he has pushed for a more aggressive policy, Bolton has angered some within and outside the White House. Even before Tuesday’s events, his staff clashed with Gen. Paul Selva, [Pentagon Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph] Dunford’s vice chairman, during a meeting to address the ongoing Venezuelan crisis, according to several officials with knowledge of the exchange.
The soft-spoken Air Force general was giving an update last week on the Pentagon’s view and making the case against a risky escalation by the United States when Bolton aides, including Mauricio Claver-Carone, Western Hemisphere director at the National Security Council, repeatedly interrupted and asked for military options, according to the officials.
The report then added:
A senior administration official said Bolton’s staff was dissatisfied with Selva, who they felt had not presented sufficient military options for Venezuela as expected. Selva, according to people familiar with the interaction, believed the confrontational style of Bolton’s staff was out of line.
A senior administration official said Bolton’s staff was dissatisfied with Selva, who they felt had not presented sufficient military options for Venezuela as expected. Selva, according to people familiar with the interaction, believed the confrontational style of Bolton’s staff was out of line.
A separate report in the New Yorker also noted that Bolton would have “extraordinary latitude” in the event of a crisis or conflict, given that Trump’s national security team currently lacks a permanent secretary of defense, a secretary of homeland security, and an ambassador to the United Nations.
In addition, following Tuesday’s failed coup, Secretary of State and former CIA Director Mike Pompeo told Fox Business on Wednesday: "The president has been crystal clear and incredibly consistent – military action is possible. If that’s what’s required, that’s what the United States will do.”
Bolton, for his part, characterized Tuesday’s failed coup as the “last chance” for top Venezuelan military officials to support the U.S.-backed parallel government led by Guaidó. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan also stated on Wednesday that “all options,” including military options, were being considered for Venezuela.
If a point arises in the not-so-distant future where Guaidó’s lack of popularity and legitimacy conflict with U.S. plans for Venezuela, it seems increasingly likely that those in the U.S. pushing for war may see Guaidó as more useful to their intervention plans dead than alive.
If a point arises in the not-so-distant future where Guaidó’s lack of popularity and legitimacy conflict with U.S. plans for Venezuela, it seems increasingly likely that those in the U.S. pushing for war may see Guaidó as more useful to their intervention plans dead than alive.
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