Venezuela downhill
 

National guards and pro-government militia shooting or intimadating protesters, periodists, etc... government trying to blackout internet and all media to avoid dispersion of news. Economic chaos in a country floating on oil.

What is more pathetic than the chaos in Venezuela (which has been slowly brewing for many years under Chavez, the Castros and now this clown Maduro, for anyone who is not living under a rock) is the silence and hypocrisy of the region. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia and Ecuador are supporting Maduro for economic reasons and political affinity. Many of these populistic and pseudo-democratic regimes are not doing exactly the same in their countries (taking all the power available, leaving an empty shell of democracy) just because their cannot currently do it, not for lack of wanting.

I don't understand why this country isn't a much bigger national security priority for us.

I can not believe you asked that RL. Have you forgotten who is in command now:rolleyes: They used to have a great country that I loved to travel to pre Chavez but now I will not even go there if you paid for the ticket.

Just another SA failed state claiming to be Democratic. They are only one in a long list down south.........

Because the focus of the POTUS is elsewhere.

Latin America has traditionally been overlooked by our leadership as a sort of second or third front.

This has generally worked to our disadvantage.

TR

It was a rhetorical question!

There is no such thing as Rhetorical, there is only is....

When it's not obvious, use (?) for rhetorical questions. ;)

Pat

Just to be fair to current POTUS, administration after administration for some reason has failed to put together a successful and coherent Latin American policy. The only policy I can see that was moderately successful was the anti communist stance. That seems to have been somewhat successful although nearly all LATIN American governments are heavily socialistic.

*** I am aware there are those here who are highly specialized in LA and would be interested in their thoughts.

But don't despair, Oliver Stone says he misses Hugo Chavez on his deaths commemoration (...who really knows the date of chavez death?).

http://www.latintimes.com/venezuela-...oadcast-157212

http://www.ultimahora.com/oliver-sto...z-n772363.html

Stone: "In many dinners I've had fights with people about democracy in Venezuela, and you cannot explain it to americans because they don't understand that there is more democracy in Venezuela than in the USA".

Goodness....

Except for a welcome lack of press coverage.

Regardless, I'm gonna miss Guri Dam. ;)

Agreed…….I would think Venezuela is 10X more important from a strategic geopolitical standpoint than Ukraine.

I'm far more worried about Iranian/Cuban/Russian/Chinese influence on Venezuela's future than the "invasion of Crimea".

Venezuela troops occupy Polar food distribution warehouses
 

Venezuela troops occupy Polar food distribution warehouses

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0Q42JJ20150730

"Venezuelan troops occupied a Caracas warehouse complex used by local food giant Empresas Polar and Nestle to distribute food and beverages, workers and company officials said on Thursday.

The move follows months of accusations by President Nicolas Maduro that Polar, the country's largest private employer, is working to sabotage the economy. The company denies this...."

So private businesses gather food stuffs to distribute and sell, government seizes the food stuffs and say they will pass them out to the poor. How long do you think that cycle can continue?

They need an LBGT crisis then Obama would take note.

And the communist domino effect will soon see Venezuela in complete revolution. As private businesses leave for fear of criminal prosecution the country collapses under communist control. Sad, such a beautiful country too...... I'm sure Cuba will send as many communist soldiers as the Venezuelan government requests to oppress the Venezuelan people.