The New York Times reported that the Trump administration has secretly authorized the C.I.A. to conduct covert action in Venezuela, according to U.S. officials, stepping up a campaign against Nicolás Maduro.
The Times said the goal is to drive Venezuelan President Maduro from power.
The Times writes:
The new authority would allow the C.I.A. to carry out lethal operations in Venezuela and conduct a range of operations in the Caribbean.
The agency would be able to take covert action against Mr. Maduro or his government either unilaterally or in conjunction with a larger military operation. It is not known whether the C.I.A. is planning any operations in Venezuela or if the authorities are meant as a contingency.
But the development comes as the U.S. military is planning its own possible escalation, drawing up options for President Trump to consider, including strikes inside Venezuela.
The scale of the military buildup in the region is substantial: There are currently 10,000 U.S. troops there, most of them at bases in Puerto Rico, but also a contingent of Marines on amphibious assault ships. In all, the Navy has eight surface warships and a submarine in the Caribbean.
Earlier this month, President Trump ordered an end to diplomatic talks with dictator Vincent Maduro.
The United States has offered $50 million for information leading to Mr. Maduro’s arrest and conviction on U.S. drug trafficking charges.
Secretary Rubio calls Maduro an ilegitimate ruler, and President Trump calls him a narco-terrorist.
The NYT is the liar of record. Any story like this from them is hearsay, a comic book. If the story is real, the leakers should be severely punished.
The left is up in arms over these stories. They like their communist military dictator drug runners. They think Trump is blowing up those boats for kicks.
The CIA has been doing such things for many decades.
Every time Trump does something that has been done by other Presidents, the Main Stream Media makes it sound like it is the first time ever and as if it is either illegal or shockingly immoral.
And millions of hyper gullible people believe every freakin thing the MSM tell them.
Yes, it is nothing new.
Covert Action requires a Presidential Finding, so, few on the “in the know” circle. Whomever leaked this, if true, needs to swing from the gallows for treason. But we know nobody would be held accountable anyhow. Or maybe it’s a fact finding mission to see who the leakers are or to just rattle cages.
If Maduro is a criminal who is attacking the USA with drugs and profiting from that, should he be classified as a legitimate head of government, or a foreign terrorist? Apparently the NY Times has no critical thinkers, just propagandists.
Venezuela is a military dictatorship, since Chavez overthrew the government about 20 years ago. In the last election, polls showed Maduro losing, so the military seized the ballots. I classify Maduro as a military dictator.
Drone strike= to Maduro.