Mike Pompeo claims Russia stopped Nicolas Maduro leaving Venezuela for Cuba

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: CNN

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed Tuesday that embattled Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was preparing to leave the country for Cuba, but was talked out of it by Russia.

"We've watched throughout the day, it's been a long time since anyone's seen Maduro," Pompeo said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room."

"He had an airplane on the tarmac, he was ready to leave this morning as we understand it and the Russians indicated he should stay."

"He was headed for Havana," Pompeo said.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mike-pompeo-claims-russia-stopped-nicolas-maduro-leaving-venezuela-for-cuba/ar-AAAKusd?li=BBnb7Kz

[madaboutharry]

1. My first thought

was “How do we know Pompeo isn’t lying?”

You can not believe a single word so why should we believe this?

[Atticus]

2. Exactly. nt

[Iliyah]

3. t-rump, the administration,

cabinet, WH, WH counsel, GOPs - all are liars and corrupt as hell.

[Perseus]

9. It is hard, but...

1. Maduro is a known coward and things are not looking good for him. He and hiw wife have robbed so much money, they are billionaires, and I am sure they think they can enjoy retirement somewhere else.
2. Putin has been flying his people into Venezuela the last two months, not good for the USA.
3. The Cubans have been in Venezuela since Chavez, they have infiltrated the military and the government. Not good for the USA.
4. Maduro lacks intelligence, if you think the orange buffoon lacks intelligence? you have not seen anything yet, the buffoon is a scholar when it comes to Maduro.
5. Maduro is not wanted anywhere else, and his adolescent years were spent in Cuba, its his 2nd homeland, the 1st is Colombia as that is where he was born.
6. The military is turning against him, slowly but surely, and that only means jail and possibly execution, after a little bit of torture, of course.
7. The regime has ripped the country from its private industries, its natural industries, they have nowhere to pull money from anymore
8. Maduro has always been a useful puppet for Cuba and the crooks that surround him, he is no longer useful. I think they feel that if they get rid of Maduro they can pretend to change course and start working for their country, so getting rid of Maduro buys them time.

I don't believe anything this administration says, but Pompeo, although a puppet, is a very intelligent man, and I am hoping he understands the implications of keeping the regime intact and the fact that Russia wants to take over, so although like you, I don't believe anything they say, I am hoping this time they are telling the truth.

[rpannier]

13. THis sounds more like a divide comments

Make those that support Maduro think he was planning on abandoning them, to weaken their support

[Ghost Dog]

19. He is lying.

Pathetically.

See MI6-Guardian report here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/01/venezuela-crisis-maduro-claims-victory-over-deranged-us-backed-coup-attempt

Maduro called Tuesday’s “coup-mongering adventure” part of a US-backed plot to destroy the Bolivarian revolution he inherited after Hugo Chávez’s death in 2013. “I truly believe … that the United States of America has never had a government as deranged as this one,” he said, calling Guaidó and his team “useful idiots” of the empire.

He also scotched claims from the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, that he had been preparing to flee Venezuela for Cuba on Tuesday morning, until he was told to stay put by his Russian backers. “Señor Pompeo, please,” Maduro said.

In a day when the struggle for power on the streets appeared to hang in the balance, Donald Trump made no mention of Russia when he tweeted on Tuesday evening, threatening Cuba.

“If Cuban Troops and Militia do not immediately CEASE military and other operations for the purpose of causing death and destruction to the Constitution of Venezuela, a full and complete embargo, together with highest-level sanctions, will be placed on the island of Cuba,” Trump said in a series of tweets. “Hopefully, all Cuban soldiers will promptly and peacefully return to their island!”

Incidentally, we also have, in this context, from CIA-APnews:

https://apnews.com/8a18145f858e41e88475360b9a7decee

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel rejected Trump’s threat with a tweet of his own. “We vigorously reject Trump’s threat of a complete and total blockade against Cuba. There are no Cuban military operations or troops in Venezuela ... Enough lies, already.”

And from 5-eyes-Reuters:

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-venezuela-politics/venezuelas-guaido-calls-for-largest-march-in-history-in-uprising-effort-idUKKCN1S734K

Russia on Wednesday denied a claim by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a day earlier that Maduro was prepared to leave the country but nixed his plan after Russia intervened. A spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry told reporters the comments were part of an “information war.”

[Red Mountain]

4. Pompeo says Trump is soooooo broken up with

Putin. See? We're acting against his wishes. Wink wink.

[yaesu]

5. can't believe a word coming out of our fascist administration but what I understand is

the corporate backed Guaido's plans to overthrow the elected pres was found out, he was going to be arrested, bribed his way out of that mess with the help of deep pockets in US, Canada & decided to go full out since he has nothing to lose now. If he doesn't cause the overthrow he will either be arrested by someone untouchable or have to flee.

[Judi Lynn]

7. The Making of Juan Guaido: How the US Regime Change Laboratory Created Venezuela's Coup Leader

The Making of Juan Guaido: How the US Regime Change Laboratory Created Venezuela’s Coup Leader
Juan Guaidó is the product of a decade-long project overseen by Washington’s elite regime change trainers. While posing as a champion of democracy, he has spent years at the forefront of a violent campaign of destabilization.

January 29th, 2019
By Dan Cohen and
Max Blumenthal

GrayZone Project — Before the fateful day of January 22, fewer than one in five Venezuelans had heard of Juan Guaidó. Only a few months ago, the 35-year-old was an obscure character in a politically marginal far-right group closely associated with gruesome acts of street violence. Even in his own party, Guaidó had been a mid-level figure in the opposition-dominated National Assembly, which is now held under contempt according to Venezuela’s constitution.

But after a single phone call from US Vice President Mike Pence, Guaidó proclaimed himself as president of Venezuela. Anointed as the leader of his country by Washington, a previously unknown political bottom dweller was vaulted onto the international stage as the US-selected leader of the nation with the world’s largest oil reserves.

Echoing the Washington consensus, the New York Times editorial board hailed Guaidó as a “credible rival” to Maduro with a “refreshing style and vision of taking the country forward.” The Bloomberg News editorial board applauded him for seeking “restoration of democracy” and the Wall Street Journal declared him “a new democratic leader.” Meanwhile, Canada, numerous European nations, Israel, and the bloc of right-wing Latin American governments known as the Lima Group recognized Guaidó as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

While Guaidó seemed to have materialized out of nowhere, he was, in fact, the product of more than a decade of assiduous grooming by the US government’s elite regime change factories. Alongside a cadre of right-wing student activists, Guaidó was cultivated to undermine Venezuela’s socialist-oriented government, destabilize the country, and one day seize power. Though he has been a minor figure in Venezuelan politics, he had spent years quietly demonstrated his worthiness in Washington’s halls of power.

More:
https://www.mintpressnews.com/the-making-of-juan-guaido-how-the-us-regime-change-laboratory-created-venezuela-coup-leader/254387/

[Perseus]

10. Here you go

Dan Cohen is an American author, journalist, and blogger. A Washington DC-based journalist, he works for RT America.

Max Blumenthal (born December 18, 1977) is an American author, journalist, and blogger. He was awarded the 2014 Lannan Foundation Cultural Freedom Notable Book Award for his book Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel.[1][2] He was formerly a writer for AlterNet,[3] The Daily Beast, Al Akhbar, and Media Matters for America,[4] as well as a Fellow of the Nation Institute.[5] He is the author of three books, one of which, Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party (2009), appeared on The New York Times bestsellers list

Granted that Max Blumenthal's record is impressive, not sure why he wrote that article with Dan Cohen who works for RT, I wonder if he, like Greenwald, also has his price which made him contribute with an RT reporter.

Kind of an odd couple, Blumenthal's career has been writing for progressive and publications that lean left, I wonder how left now, RT is part of the unwanted left, not progressive but funded by the corrupt regime of Putin.

Interesting that article would be something that I am sure Putin would approve.

[rpannier]

15. Other side of that coin could be

Blumenthal researched it, and he found when all the rocks were turned over that Guiardo is slime

[Judi Lynn]

17. Why not focus on the information and try to grasp its value instead of attacking the author?

You don't seem to be aware that Democrats have been taunted since the 40's or longer by right-wingers who've called us "commies," "pinkos," "useful idiots," "Castro lovers," "Marxists," etc., etc.

All because right-wingers hope to slur conscientious people who can see right through them, always. It's an old, tired game.

Can't begin to understand why you are trying to attack the progressive publications. Democrats have ALWAYS been progressive. Democrats already know that, wouldn't be interested in attacking themselves.

Spend time trying to find out about principles, conscience, and dealing respectfully with human beings.

[yaesu]

33. Yes, & Greg Palast pointed out today that 50k protested for Guaid but the media is ignoring the

250k protesting for Manduro.

[oldsoftie]

6. I wouldnt doubt that hes trying to escape. He knows the end is near & he's stolen billions.

Why stay & die? Put your fat ass on a beach in cuba spending the people's money

[Ghost Dog]

20. Good grief.

Facepalm.

[oldsoftie]

22. So he HASNT stolen the peoples money? Pay attention.

[Eugene]

8. Venezuela crisis: Maduro claims coup has been 'defeated' - live updates

15m ago 3:00

Maduro denies planning to flee to Cuba

Maduro, who has now finished his speech, says some of the military officials involved in the rebellion had fled to the Brazilian embassy in Caracas.

He also denied the claim by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo earlier that he had been preparing to flee to Cuba until the Russians, who have given Maduro their full backing, said he should not leave the country.

-snip-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/apr/30/venezuela-opposition-leader-juan-guaido-claims-coup-underway-live-news

[roamer65]

11. Just wait until the Russians put nuclear weapons in Venezuela.

[rpannier]

16. That's an interesting thought

Largely because, when people talk of a new cold war it's likely not going to be an east vs west thing
Countries like Vietnam (formally the 'east' side) have tied themselves to Japan, which is tied to the US
Instead of it fitting a nicer geographic puzzle, it could become a patchwork of countries around the world.

[yaesu]

34. tRump already had his Cuban missile tweet, trying to out do JFK

Link to tweet

[Xolodno]

12. Well, if this was Bolton's operation....

...he just blew it, badly.

This will put Venezuela firmly under Russia's thumb.

[flamingdem]

14. Bolton is an idiot

A disgusting idiot

[Judi Lynn]

18. Why Does the United States of America Want to Overthrow the Government of Venezuela?

Published on
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
by Common Dreams


A look at what drives the US to persist in its interventions—diplomatic, economic and military—against the Venezuelan government

by Vijay Prashad

Since 1998, the United States of America has tried to overthrow the government of Venezuela. What threatened the government of the United States since then was the Bolivarian dynamic set in motion by the election of Hugo Chávez as president of Venezuela that year. Chávez won the elections with a mandate from Venezuela’s workers and poor to overhaul the country to tend to their long-neglected needs.

Venezuela, with the world’s largest proven oil reserves, had enriched the U.S.-based oil companies and its own oligarchy. Venezuela’s key oil minister in the early 1960s (and architect of OPEC—the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso rightly called oil the “devil’s excrement.” It promised so much and delivered so little. Chávez arrived as the embodiment of popular hope. He threatened the oil companies and the oligarchy, which is why the United States tried to overthrow him.

The first attempt at a coup came in 2002, when the United States egged on the military and the oligarchy to overthrow Chávez. They failed. He was supremely popular, the Chavista base eager for change that would improve their lives. They had no faith in the United States or the oligarchy, both of whom had suffocated them for the past century.

Never has the Monroe Doctrine—which the United States invoked to control the American hemisphere—done much good for the millions of people from the southern tip of Argentina to the northern reaches of Canada. It has helped along the big corporations and the oligarchs, but not the ordinary people—the base of the Chavistas.

More:
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/02/12/why-does-united-states-america-want-overthrow-government-venezuela

[oldsoftie]

21. No one's buying this BS anymore. Too many people starving to death; too many people lost everything

[srobertss]

23. And what is this statement about?

Also from the article, Pompeo said,

‘“Mr. Maduro understands what will happen if he gets on that airplane."

"He knows our expectations," Pompeo said when repeatedly pressed on the question.’

What were we going to do if he got on that plane? That’s very strange.

[sandensea]

24. Brings to mind the "promise" Pinochet made to Allende during the 1973 coup in Chile

"Get in the helicopter," Pinochet assured him in that high-pitch bark of his, "and we promise you and your wife safe conduct. "

Years later, after his regime ended, declassified Chilean records showed that Pinochet in fact planned to down that helicopter mid-air and publicize it to the world as a "tragic accident."

[srobertss]

25. Don't they want him to leave?

Even if they were planning an accident, why telegraph it? Just more stupidity?

[sandensea]

28. Not so much stupidity as arrogance

The mentality seems to be "with Tromp behind us, we can get away with anything!"

[Ghost Dog]

29. Thanks for paying attention, folks.

Much appreciated.

[sandensea]

30. You bet

And you know, that's probably one of the things that most distinguishes us, progressives, as a group from our Republican friends:

We generally value being informed, or trying to at least.

Right-wingers, on the other hand, prefer having their prejudices confirmed - the facts be damned.

Qué será.

[Ghost Dog]

31. Truth.

[Judi Lynn]

32. Absolutely. Well said. Thank you. n/t

[Ghost Dog]

35. Yeah. We all know here, well-informed, Judi.

We're watching your/their/our backs, too.

[Chin music]

27. +1

[Chin music]

26. I hope the ruskies don't put nuke missiles in Venezuela OR Cuba,

trumps no JFK.