Oh my. Just had a thought. Just a thought, mind you. Nothing more… Are you listening, Nancy?
The European Union, Brazil, and the U.S. – among many other nations – are supporting Juan Guaido, the duly and indisputably rightfully elected representative of the directly elected (i.e.: as in he/she who gets the most votes wins the election) representatives in Venezuela, as he claims the office of the Presidency because Venezuelan President Maduro rose to power through a
> rigged election,
> has caused havoc in the business of governance,
> is de-stabilizing democratic institutions,
> has surrounded himself with criminal elements, and
> is a puppet of a foreign county…
Hmmm, are you listening Nancy?
What I don’t quite understand – what I have yet to figure out – is why Putin is allowing Trump to show support for Venezuela… (Though it is becoming clearer; read on.) Unless of course, they are doing this to show to the world that Trump is not Putin’s puppet… Or, is this a diversion from their end game, total destabilization of the US to the point of submission?
Remember that Russia plays the long game. Theirs is one of empire building through military might and power. The US plays the much shorter game of immediate economic profits for the uber rich so they can enjoy it today, damn tomorrow.
In Russia’s eyes a weakened US from the perspective of perceived aspirational power is a clear battle win – not the end of the war, but certainly a battle that must be won. That is, Russia wins when the US is no longer looked at as the beacon of democratic hope; when aspiring people throughout the world discard the US theoretical democratic model as a model for governance, and instead turn to the simplistic personality driven strong man model.
These strong man model of governance are much easier to control than democracies where power is shared in different branches of government, dissent is allowed, and an independent judiciary is truly independent. These strong men are more willing to join the international mafia that is Russia. Democracies are messy and much more difficult to buy than single nations governed by strong man, troikas, or uber rich families… However, like what is going on with Venezuela, democracies must be supported – but only to lure the masses to think that you care.
As nations throughout the world turn to the strong man model of governance, in many ways thanks to Russia’s intentional destabilization whether through military power (Syria) or more savvy technological warfare that requires not a single shot (rigging elections in US and Brittan), Russia gets closer and closer to their end game, winning the war.
Is there any doubt that the Venezuelan crisis will be solved only when if and how Russia wants it to? This has nothing to do with democracy. This has nothing to do with the Venezuelan people. This has everything to do with how Putin wants to divvy up the oil fields of Venezuela. To the extent that he needs international American companies to do his dirty work, he will instruct Trump to do his bidding. To the extent Putin decides to go at it alone, Trump will of course abide.
Getting rid of Maduro has nothing to do with his socialist bent. It has everything to do with his ineptness in ensuring the efficiencies of the oil industry. He us being fired because his boss (Putin) is allowing him to be fired. And Putin is using his puppet, Trump, to do the firing. Nada mas.