Secretary of State Mike Pompeo admitted in private that keeping up opposition efforts against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been “devilishly difficult” — a far cry from the administration’s public position on the strength of the effort to oust Maduro, The Washington Post reported.
Pompeo made the admission in an audio recording of a private meeting, which was obtained by the Post.
“Our conundrum, which is to keep the opposition united, has proven devilishly difficult,” Pompeo reportedly said. “The moment Maduro leaves, everybody’s going to raise their hands and [say], ‘Take me, I’m the next president of Venezuela.’ It would be 40-plus people who believe they’re the rightful heir to Maduro.”
Pompeo added that he knew Maduro would eventually be forced out of power, but “I couldn’t tell you the timing.”
Pompeo’s remarks differ from official statements delivered by the Trump administration about the cohesive support behind Maduro’s opposition, led by Juan Guaidó, the National Assembly leader who more than 60 countries support as the true leader of Venezuela.
In other criminal leader news
Who knew regime change could be so “devilishly difficult”? Bozos like Pompeo. don’t know what the fuck they’re doing. Worse, they have no business doing what they’re doing.
Another thing is the failure too understand how Venezuela was run before Chavez took power. It was basically an alternation of power from two parties each supported by a different set of aristocratic families, one was more socially conservative and was supported by the old money landowner families, and the more liberal party by newer rich city based families. But both parties ran the country for the benefit of their masters, social spending in education, or health was at a minimum. A large percentage of the population received access to medical service for the first time under Chavez.
The economy has been all about oil since at least the 1940s, I have never bought anything that says “Made in Venezuela”, there is no export industry besides oil, a friend of mine was looking for a product with enough quality to export and the only thing he could came was baseballs. Crisis cause by swinging of the oil market (and government thievery) were cyclical, although this time the crisis is worse because Maduro is extra-stupid, and the old aristocrats were replaced by even greedier louts.
In fairness, in the last century we’ve repeatedly proven that regime change is devilishly difficult and we’re not good at it…which adds support to your last statement.
“Ignorance paired with arrogance (naïveté) is logical, but arrogance paired with awareness (ego) is toxic.” ― Richie Norton