Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Monday called for a new mass demonstration as a devastating blackout that has left millions without power entered its fifth day and the US said it is withdrawing its remaining diplomatic personnel from Caracas.
Thug ruler Maduro blames America for the difficulties in general and the blackout in particular. I wish we were that good.
If course, there is foreign involvement in enabling this crisis:
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday blamed Russia and Cuba for causing Venezuela's political crisis by supporting President Nicolas Maduro and said he had urged India not to help Maduro's government by buying Venezuelan oil.
Russia and Cuba together again! Seems like old (bad) times. And it would be nice if democratic India eased from their Cold War third way to the West a little bit faster.
It is bad enough that we are clearing out of the way:
The United States will withdraw all remaining diplomatic personnel from Venezuela this week, the U.S. State Department said late on Monday, citing the deteriorating situation in the country after months of political unrest.
It followed Washington's Jan. 24 decision to withdraw all dependents and reduce embassy staff to a minimum in the South American country hit by unrest over a contested presidential election.
We wouldn't want Maduro's Iranian friends to give him any ideas.
It would not be immoral to intervene against Maduro's awful regime.
But I'd rather not get involved. We'd never be forgiven for having to be the solution to the problem.
UPDATE: China offers to help restore electricity:
"China hopes that Venezuela can quickly find the cause of this accident and restore normal power and social order," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular briefing.
"China is willing to offer assistance and technical support to Venezuela to restore the power system," Lu said.
It would be nice if China's offer is for the post-Maduro era, but this is a humanitarian crisis that can't be withheld to punish Maduro. Would Maduro exit the country to get such help?
And the European Union chimes in:
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says no military action from inside or outside Venezuela would be acceptable to resolve the "dramatically" deteriorating situation in the country.
Have no doubt that Mogherini would be far more upset with Brazil if it leads an intervention than if Maduro unleashes his dogs on the opposition. Because she is a thug fangirl.
But I'll be charitable and assume the EU is trying to get Maduro to step down rather than prop him up.
So far that isn't happening:
Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido vowed Tuesday to take Nicolas Maduro's place in the presidential palace "very soon," as thousands of people took to the streets of Caracas to protest.
I hope he can.
