Imperialists Invade Venezuela

Asked on Friday about the deteriorating situation in Venezuela, President Trump said “I’m not going to rule out a military option.” But he has yet to articulate the geopolitical dimension of the Venezuelan crisis. An Aug. 5 rebel raid on a weapons arsenal at Fort Paramacay, Valencia, suggests that factions of the armed forces are ready to break with strongman Nicolás Maduro. This is logical since rank-and-file military from middle-class families have been hit hard by food shortages. And some soldiers are constitutional loyalists. They have kept silent to preserve their careers, but they are surely unhappy. Venezuela’s civilian population, particularly in rural areas, is well-armed. With 80% of the country opposed to the Maduro regime, a fracture inside the military raises the odds that a popular rebellion might succeed. More…