The eyes of the world are upon Venezuela as the crisis there continues to grow out of control. The Maduro regime's pro-government militias have now begun to open fire on civilian protestors, killing at least for and injured about a dozen others.
What's worse is that Maduro, who has kept humanitarian aide from coming into his country by blocking bridges with semi-trucks, has begun burning similar humanitarian aide-carrying trucks on the bridge leading into Venezuela from Cucuta, Colombia.
Colombia and President Ivan Duque are now on a clock of sorts. Maduro has just severed diplomatic ties with Colombia and expelled its dignitaries.
Duque will soon have to make the decision of how far he will have to go to counter Maduro.
Will Colombia, and possible Brazil, be put in situation where military intervention is the only option left in dealing with Maduro?
It is looking more and more like that will be the case, and considering that President Trump has already stated that he is ready to use military force against Maduro if needed, Colombia should feel comfortable that if they go in, Trump will back their play.
Mr. Maduro danced the salsa with his wife on stage in an event that was broadcast on national television. Even as the National Guard clashed with protesters elsewhere in the country, he told Venezuelans, “I am stronger than ever.”
He criticized the opposition and called Mr. Guaidó a “puppet of imperialism.”
“Why am I here? Because you are the ones who decide, not Donald Trump,” he said.-LA Times
Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders recently stated that he believed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido was not the legitimate leader of Venezuela, but stopped short of saying that Maduro was.
The images coming out of Venezuela are horrifying.
Destroying humanitarian aid is a crime against humanity. #AidVenezuela #VENEZUELA #MADUROCONOETUMADRE pic.twitter.com/xxN6CMglnv
— Vanessa (@VaneVeruzka) February 23, 2019
Video from Puente Francisco de Paula Santander shows the boxes of humanitarian aid that were saved from the 2 burning trucks #Venezuela #23F pic.twitter.com/A8GycBjoF0
— CNW (@ConflictsW) February 23, 2019
