Wednesday, February 13, 2019




VENEZUELA. HOW DOES IT PLAY OUT?
Okay. Back on track. Back to covering what I wanted to talk about, at least for now, Venezuela and it’s neighbors. So, Mr. or  Interim President, you pick, Guaido states the aid sitting in Columbia will make it into Venezuela. He has “ volunteers” to bring the aid in through routs he knows of. Here is my question. Is he campaigning already? He knows those that don’t want Maduro are insisting on new elections. So, is Guaido already in platform mode? Is he out to help the people or is he out to win the Presidency?  As the “ Interim” it would be expected he would try to convince the people better days are coming, but his delivery of that message has to be carefully crafted or he runs the real risk of being framed as an opportunist and just another power hungry politician in a collapsed country.
Talks with China:
            Guaido holds “talks” with the Chinese? How does that play out in DC? Is he attempting to show the Dragon the oil will continue to flow? Is he looking for their undeclared support, because it would be just that, undeclared. Could the Chinese convince the Russians to allow things to change in Venezuela? Showing a divide between Russia and China over Madruo is not going to happen. He is not that important. So, what took place in those talks with the Dragon? Just how much knowledge does DC have on the topic? My guess, a great deal.
Bigger Question:
             When it comes to Venezuela, what is the issue the US has struggled with? Is it the personality of Maduro? No. Is it the fact he and Mr. Baseball have driven the people into poverty? Well, there’s poverty in every corner of the world, so my guess is, kids eating from trash cans is not the flashpoint some think it should be. How about relationships? Mr. Baseball and the Big Eddie Munster both had nurtured a bond with Iran and Hezbollah. Shocked. You shouldn’t be.  Is the issue with Venezuela not about the status of the people, but about the status of relationships the current government has with the US’s enemies? Has everyone forgot the Russian Bombers landing in Venezuela? Is China out just to secure Venezuela’s fuel? What deals have been cooking with the Dragon on the issue of ports and trade? I bet the US’s IC knows, or they better know.
Same Mistakes:
            If you don’t learn from history, you are bound to repeat it….right? That’s how the saying goes. Is the path the US is taking? Is this all about keeping the US’s enemies out of Central and South America? Is Guaido a friend today and a turncoat tomorrow? Is history going to repeat itself? Is this just another chapter in the failed US policy on Central and South America? I have to tell you, it sure smells like that’s what is cooking. If the Dragon is going to stand on the sidelines of this one, then there is something they expect in return. If they are expected to convince the Russians to let go, then both sides are going to want a payoff. My hunch is….don’t start cheering for Juan Guaido just yet. Side note. Mr. Putin is so busy tying puppet strings to the backs of other proxy nations, he fails to feel the strings the Dragon is attaching to his.
 To paraphrase a classic, “ CAN YOU SMELLLLLL……. WHAT THE DRAGON HAS COOKING”?