Well, we haven't invaded...some there may argue the Russian's have...or they know Maduro is their puppet...either way the US doesn't have to do much...there is enough critical mass already...and Maduro loyalists obeying unlawful orders to run over their citizens should impel things.
But
this allegation (while not the first) is unverified represents the kind of escalation that is as dangerous as it is stupid...and could invite all manner of unfortunate outcomes.
I can't believe Putin would be that reckless but desperate people can and do batshyt crazy things. Another thing to hang around the necks of the demonazi's who've set US-Russia relations back 60 years!
And this
Gringo Empire stuff, did El Jefe come up with that all by his self? LOL! Anyway...at least Guaido has the support of legislature and therefor the people...doesn't the MFM crow about popular support = democracy all the time? Folks ought to be riding this bandwagon!
Besides, Guaido is a transitional figure, if these people are allowed to shake off the rot of socialism and be truly independent and not anybody's puppet they'll have to figure it out...but Russia cannot afford loss of hegemony over any of their pals, no matter what despot might be at the helm, so the chance looks dicey without some help from somewhere else...
Meanwhile...military is told defectors will be dealt with harshly...how does he think those following unlawful orders will be dealt with by the people?
https://twitter.com/i/status/1123255787403530243We'll see if Maduro, his loyalists, the Russian advisors, the 20k Cubans and sundry mercenaries escalate against the people or just try to hang on and wait things out.
At this point I think all the US has to do is embargo the nation and support logistically (non-lethal) in-country rebels...and let neighboring friends support (with lethal) them.
Oh, let us not forget about Mr. Sanctions -
Sums up my opinion and what POTUS should do -
And the USA? Well, I was appalled by how the Obama misadministration handled Venezuela. We were in full retreat; we rarely if ever responded to the attacks, insults, and lies hurled at us by that criminal regime. We allowed Chavez/Maduro to challenge us in our Hemisphere, and did little about it. Trump has handled it much better with his targeted sanctions, tough honest talk, and, of course, by unleashing our own energy potential, a fact that is undermining not only the crooks in Venezuela but in Russia and Iran, as well.
I do not want to see US military intervention in Venezuela. It would be a mistake. The challenge posed by the disaster in Venezuela is more for Colombia, Brazil, and others in the region than for the USA. We should encourage the Latin Americans, who seem finally to have woken to the calamity that is Venezuela, to handle the situation. Let them intervene if they want, not us. We should be ready to help as part of an international humanitarian effort, but that's it--with one exception, see below. The last thing we want is to own this mess.
Russia? Well, they stand to become the big losers in all this. If the Maduro regime goes down, it is not at all clear that Russia (or China) will get back their huge investments and loans. Even more important for the Russians, a collapse of Venezuela will unravel what remains of the Soviet play in Latin America. Can Nicaragua and Cuba be far behind?
This brings me to the one exception of my rule of no US intervention mentioned above. Aside from humanitarian assistance, our great contribution can be to make clear to the Russians and the Chinese that they must stay out; they cannot try to run the game in Venezuela; if they do they will face consequences from us.
Best of luck to the people of Venezuela.
https://www.thediplomad.com/2019/04/venezuela-socialism-poster-boy.html