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Russian intervention?
Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Friday that private military contractors “who do secret work for Russia” have been dispatched to Venezuela to help beef up Maduro’s security team. Russia’s ambassador to Venezuela, Vladimir Zayemsky, denied the Reuters report, telling Russian state media it was a “spoof story.”
Evgeny Shabaev, the leader of a paramilitary Cossack group with ties to the contractors, told ABC News that the contractors were military veterans who specialize in VIP protection, and that they had been flown into Caracas via Havana on the night Jan. 22, landing the same day that Guaido declared himself interim president.
Shabaev said some of the contractors' relatives had told him the group could be as many as 400 men, flown on two flights. Other sources told Reuters that the numbers were much smaller.
Russian mercenaries have been appearing with increasing frequency around the world, most prominently in Syria but recently also in Africa, including in Central African Republic where they are believed to be guarding the country’s president.
They’ve also been reported in Sudan and Gabon. Shabaev said he did not know who had hired the men for Venezuela. The contractors are often linked to a private company known as the Wagner Group, owned by an oligarch close to Putin. Experts believe the contractors are often hired for sensitive missions where the Kremlin prefers some deniability.
https://abcnews.go.com/beta-story-conta ... d=60629749
Maduro announces military drills to show Venezuela is ‘unassailable’
After US and its allies recognized an opposition leader as president of Venezuela, sitting President Nicolas Maduro announced military drills to show that his country is more than a match to any potential invader.
Venezuela's National Armed Forces will hold massive exercises between February 10 and 15, Maduro told journalists at a press conference on Friday. During the war games, he said, the troops will repel a simulated invasion and enhance their skills in defending the territories, coast and waterways of the Latin American state.
“Our Armed Forces make our country unassailable,” Maduro said, adding that the military is quite capable of standing against any aggressor that sets foot on Venezuela's soil. According to the president, the Venezuelan military has reached the “highest professional level.”
Venezuela indeed commands a sizeable military force, amounting to some half a million personnel, including both male and female soldiers. The military consists of the ground forces, the Navy, the Air Force as well as the National Guard and the National Militia. The Latin American state also continues the modernization of its military equipment, which has been started by Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
Subjected to the US military embargo since 2006, Venezuela turned to Russia and China – among others – to procure weapons and equipment. The Venezuelans currently have Russian-made Su-30MK fighter jets, several types of strike and transport helicopters, as well as a vast arsenal and weapons ranging from Russian laser-guided bombs to air-to-surface and air-to-ship missiles.
The army has remained loyal to the elected government, despite the reports of isolated small-scale uprisings among the lower ranks of the military. Venezuela remains in political turmoil, however, after the opposition leader and head of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, declared himself “interim president” earlier this week, immediately receiving support from the US as well as a number of the Latin American countries.
The troubled country might face something more than a heated internal political conflict. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that “all options are on the table” when asked if Washington considers sending troops to Venezuela, though the White House is “not considering anything” right now.
The head of the Organization of American States (OAS), which has backed Washington’s regime change push, argued last year that a military intervention against Caracas should not be ruled out as a response to the ongoing crisis.
“With regards to a military intervention aimed at overthrowing the regime of Nicolas Maduro, I think we should not exclude any option,” OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro said in September 2018, provoking an angry reaction from Maduro.
Ecuadorian ex-president Rafael Correa told RT this week that the US and its allies could still resort to "military [action], assassinations or kidnappings" in their reckless push for a regime change in Venezuela.
So far, the US State Secretary Mike Pompeo openly urged Maduro to step down and called on the Venezuelan military to support efforts to restore "democracy," in a move which could be seen as encouraging an armed coup.
Washington's actions have been repeatedly criticized by Moscow, which accused the US of "bullying" Venezuela, meddling into its internal affairs, and showing no respect to its sovereignty.
Rowley won elections in 2015. Caricom and other parties the EBC invites deemed it a free and fair election.sMASH wrote:he want dragon gas badddd.
also, if maduro is allowed to be ousted, by the people, it would justify, the rowley administration being ousted. when they calling for order, and recognition of the rules, and adherence, is they low key trying to say to trinidadians, to be quiet, dont rise up.
they done know that what they doing IS good enough reasons for people to riot and throw them out... but, the people eh riot yet.
Venezuela crisis: Maduro given ultimatum by European leaders
Spain, Germany, France and the UK have warned Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that he must call elections within eight days - or they will officially recognise the opposition.
Mr Maduro is under pressure after his rival Juan Guaidó declared himself "acting president" on Wednesday.
Several countries, including the US, already back Mr Guaidó as president.
On Saturday, an attempt by Russia to block a UN Security Council discussion on Venezuela failed.
President Maduro, who has accused Mr Guaidó, head of the National Assembly, of mounting a coup and has cut ties with the US, was sworn in for a second term earlier this month.
But polls were marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging, leading to large-scale anti-Maduro protests.
On Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter: "Spain has a responsibility to Latin America... we do not seek to change or remove governments, we want democracy and free elections in Venezuela."
France and Germany also issued similar statements, in what looked like a co-ordinated demand that elections be held in Venezuela.
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the election in Venezuela had been "deeply flawed", repeating his view that Mr Maduro was "not the legitimate leader".
A UN Security Council meeting is being held to discuss the crisis.
Addressing nations at the meeting, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was time to "support the Venezuelan people immediately".
"No more delays, no more games. Either you stand with the forces of freedom, or you're in league with Maduro and his mayhem," he said.
But Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accused Washington of plotting a coup against Mr Maduro.
Why is Maduro being challenged?
He was re-elected to a second term last year - but the elections were controversial, with many opposition candidates barred from running or jailed.
The National Assembly argues that the presidential position is actually vacant because the election was unfair - and that under the constitution this means that Mr Guaidó, as head of the National Assembly, should take over as acting president instead.
Tens of thousands have held protests over Venezuela's economic crisis - including an annual inflation rate that the opposition says reached 1,300,000% last year.
Mr Maduro has so far retained the support of the country's military, but Mr Guaidó has asked them to "put themselves on the side of the Venezuelan people" and back him instead.
How has the international community responded?
The US, more than a dozen Latin American countries, and Canada have backed Mr Guaidó after he said he was the legitimate president.
On Saturday, the US is expected to demand a UN Security Council statement recognising Venezuela's National Assembly as the country's "only democratically elected institution", Reuters reports.
However Russia, a UN Security Council member, has condemned foreign support for Mr Guaidó, saying it violates international law and is a "direct path to bloodshed".
China, Mexico and Turkey have also publicly backed Mr Maduro.
teems1 wrote:Rowley won elections in 2015. Caricom and other parties the EBC invites deemed it a free and fair election.sMASH wrote:he want dragon gas badddd.
also, if maduro is allowed to be ousted, by the people, it would justify, the rowley administration being ousted. when they calling for order, and recognition of the rules, and adherence, is they low key trying to say to trinidadians, to be quiet, dont rise up.
they done know that what they doing IS good enough reasons for people to riot and throw them out... but, the people eh riot yet.
Basically think an external audit of your elections.
Venezuela does not have this process but instead they ensure the world that the election was not rigged.
Think an internal audit with your job on the line so you do as the CEO says.
No way any nation would agree with the ousting of Rowley the way Venezuela is doing Maduro.
Who cares who shitk1cker takes umbrage at? Growley need to sit his little peong ass down and STFU! The big boys doh give a fcuk what this jackarse have to say. And this fool going to UN for what? It will be like intermission in an Indian movie when he get up to talk. Trump and Putin will be like "who De fack is this"?The_Honourable wrote:PM Responds to US Embassy: I take umbrage at the US Ambassador for making a public statement criticising the government of T&T as we take action in protecting the citizens of T&T.
This is what he sounds like basicallyek4ever wrote:Who cares who shitk1cker takes umbrage at? Growley need to sit his little peong ass down and STFU! The big boys doh give a fcuk what this jackarse have to say. And this fool going to UN for what? It will be like intermission in an Indian movie when he get up to talk. Trump and Putin will be like "who De fack is this"?The_Honourable wrote:PM Responds to US Embassy: I take umbrage at the US Ambassador for making a public statement criticising the government of T&T as we take action in protecting the citizens of T&T.
ek4ever wrote:Who cares who shitk1cker takes umbrage at? Growley need to sit his little peong ass down and STFU! The big boys doh give a fcuk what this jackarse have to say. And this fool going to UN for what? It will be like intermission in an Indian movie when he get up to talk. Trump and Putin will be like "who De fack is this"?The_Honourable wrote:PM Responds to US Embassy: I take umbrage at the US Ambassador for making a public statement criticising the government of T&T as we take action in protecting the citizens of T&T.
Maybe we could beg UK to take us backhydroep wrote:This making the rounds since the Venezuela situation flare-up. Not sure I believe everything he's saying but it could shed some light on what's going on...
ek4ever wrote:Maybe we could beg UK to take us back
pugboy wrote:They done raped and pillaged the countries
At least France does still help out their places and take some refugees
The pnm took down the Dragon from the red house now they want a dragon deal. This funnysMASH wrote:i agree that they need to shelve dragon gas...
ek4ever wrote:Who cares who shitk1cker takes umbrage at? Growley need to sit his little peong ass down and STFU! The big boys doh give a fcuk what this jackarse have to say. And this fool going to UN for what? It will be like intermission in an Indian movie when he get up to talk. Trump and Putin will be like "who De fack is this"?The_Honourable wrote:PM Responds to US Embassy: I take umbrage at the US Ambassador for making a public statement criticising the government of T&T as we take action in protecting the citizens of T&T.
shake d livin wake d dead wrote:Aljazeera talking about the two russian bombers that landed in vene...them thing need parachute to assist in stopping after they land
