Threatening Military Intervention in Venezuela During a Pandemic?
by Medea Benjamin and Leonardo Flories Posted on April 16, 2020
Unbeknownst to most Americans, as we are grappling with this terrifying pandemic, the Trump administration is currently carrying out the largest military operation in Latin America in 30 years, and has made it clear that alleged Venezuelan “narco-terrorism” is the target. It’s worth noting that the last deployment of similar size took place at the time of the 1989 US military intervention in Panama to remove General Manuel Noriega.
President Trump announced the deployment at the beginning of an April 1 COVID-19 press conference.
According to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, “included in this force package are Navy destroyers and littoral combat ships, Coast Guard Cutters, P.A. patrol aircraft, and elements of an Army security force assistance brigade.” General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added that there are “thousands of sailors, Coast Guardsman, soldiers, airmen, Marines involved in this operation.”
The announcement came a week after Attorney General William Barr unsealed an indictment against President Maduro and 13 other current or former Venezuelan officials. The officials were accused of “narco-terrorism” and millions of dollars in cash rewards were offered for information leading to their capture, including a $15 million reward for Maduro’s capture.
Read more:
https://original.antiwar.com/mbenja...-intervention-in-venezuela-during-a-pandemic/
