Latin America
Related: About this forumWAPO Editorial: Venezuela’s neighbors watch as it spirals downward
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/venezuelas-neighbors-just-watch-as-it-spirals-downward/2014/03/29/e789b8e2-b454-11e3-b899-20667de76985_story.htmlThe problem with this fecklessness is that Venezuela desperately needs outside help. With one of the worlds highest inflation rates and one of its highest murder rates, severe shortages of basic goods, chronic power outages and now daily street confrontations, the country is in danger of collapse. Its polarized political leaders, with no elections in sight, are attempting to destroy each other rather than to compete within the rule of law much less to negotiate.
The chief protagonist of this meltdown is Mr.?Maduro, the former bus driver who succeeded Hugo Chávez a year ago and has since proved himself as crude in his political tactics as he is ignorant of economic fundamentals. The president portrays moderate opponents as fascists, claims that he is the target of incessant plotting by the CIA and increasingly depends on force delivered by riot police or organized groups of thugs to answer popular protests.
The opposition, for its part, is splintering between those who favor a patient strategy of winning over Venezuelans who still support the Chavista movement and militants who hope that building street barricades will somehow trigger the regimes collapse or perhaps a military coup. The violent clashes may be driving away citizens who would support a movement that aimed for change by peaceful and democratic means.
The Obama administration, too, has been a non-factor in the Venezuelan crisis, other than as a foil.....Congress is considering legislation that would sanction Venezuelan officials guilty of human rights offenses; that, too, could be useful. It may be that nothing can stop Venezuelas downward spiral. But it is shameful that its neighbors have not made more of an effort.
djean111
(14,255 posts)How delusional of Maduro to think that the CIA would have anything to do with all the strife!
The US has such a wonderful record when it comes to arrests and unlawful detentions, too - a model for the rest of the world, indeed.
Flatulo
(5,005 posts)all the problems there.
Self-reflection is not a strong suit of Chavistas/Maduristas.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Diosdado Cabello, or someone he picks.
But someone who can add, subtract and get a handle on corruption and keep it down to a dull roar.
Diosdado handed Maduro UNLIMITED POWER--rule by DECREE--last November, for a year.
What he did was give Maduro the rope to HANG HIMSELF.
Bacchus4.0
(6,837 posts)be to call for peace and not much of anything else.
The opposition, for its part, is splintering between those who favor a patient strategy of winning over Venezuelans who still support the Chavista movement and militants who hope that building street barricades will somehow trigger the regimes collapse or perhaps a military coup. The violent clashes may be driving away citizens who would support a movement that aimed for change by peaceful and democratic means.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Diosdado Cabello gave Maduro rule by decree for a reason. So Maduro could fuck up, and Cabello or his proxy could move up.
The opposition doesn't have a hope in hell absent a complete repudiation in the barrios (that may come eventually if things aren't mended, but it's not likely in the very near term) -- the Boligarchs control the military (riddled with Cubans, it is, too) and the challenge will be for Cabello to throw Cuba out of VZ and get it back on track while not getting killed in the process.