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US-VENEZUELA-ATTACK
US officials met Venezuela officers to discuss coup bid: report
WASHINGTON, Sept 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Officials from President Donald
Trump’s administration met secretly with Venezuelan military officers to
discuss plans to oust President Nicolas Maduro but eventually decided not to
help, The New York Times reported Saturday.
Trump has been harshly critical of Maduro’s leftist regime, as Venezuela
has spiraled downward into a grave economic and humanitarian crisis that has
sparked violent protests and prompted a wave of emigration into nearby
countries.
A National Security Council spokesman in remarks to AFP, said that: “US
policy preference for a peaceful, orderly return to democracy in Venezuela
remains unchanged.”
“The United States government hears daily the concerns of Venezuelans from
all walks of life… They share one goal: the rebuilding of democracy in
their homeland,” added spokesman Garrett Marquis.
“A lasting solution to Venezuela’s worsening crisis can only arise
following restoration of governance by democratic practices, the rule of law
and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms.”
The Times, citing unnamed American officials and a former Venezuelan
military commander who took part in the secret talks, said the coup plans
stalled.
After explosives-laden drones allegedly blew up near Maduro at an August 4
event in Caracas — he blamed the US, Colombia and his domestic enemies —
the State Department condemned the “political violence” but also denounced
what it said were the arbitrary detentions and forced confessions of
suspects.
US national security advisor John Bolton insisted there was “no US
government involvement” in the incident.
In August 2017, media reports said Trump asked top advisors about the
potential for a US invasion of Venezuela. Around the same time, he said
publicly that he would not rule out a “military option” to end the chaos
there.
The collapse of Venezuela’s oil-based economy under the increasingly
authoritarian Maduro has led to dire shortages of food and medicine.
Maduro has angrily blamed the US for many of his problems. The idea that
the Trump administration might have even considered backing a coup attempt
seems sure to fuel such charges.
Mari Carmen Aponte, who was a top US diplomat for Latin American affairs
under Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, told the Times that “this is going to
land like a bomb” in the region.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0836 hrs