{"id":45010,"date":"2019-04-04T08:21:36","date_gmt":"2019-04-04T13:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/?p=45010"},"modified":"2019-04-04T08:22:32","modified_gmt":"2019-04-04T13:22:32","slug":"vips-urge-trump-to-avoid-war-in-venezuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/?p=45010","title":{"rendered":"VIPS Urge Trump to Avoid War in Venezuela"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VIPS Urge Trump to Avoid War in Venezuela<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

VIPS warn that Trump\u2019s policies regarding Venezuela appear to be on a slippery slope that could take us toward war in Venezuela and military confrontation with Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MEMORANDUM FOR: <\/strong>The President<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FROM: <\/strong>Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUBJECT: <\/strong>Avoiding War with Russia over Venezuela<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. President:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Administration\u2019s policies regarding Venezuela appear to be on a slippery slope that could take us toward war in Venezuela and military confrontation with Russia. As former intelligence officers and other national security practitioners with many decades of experience, we urge you not to let yourself be egged on into taking potentially catastrophic military action in response to civil unrest in Venezuela or Russian activities in the Western Hemisphere. With the recent arrival of two transport aircraft and enduring political support for the government of Venezuela, the Russians are far from crossing any \u201cred line\u201d emanating from the 1823 Monroe Doctrine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfulfilled Objectives in Venezuela<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside Venezuela, U.S. actions have failed to do more than plunge the country into deeper crisis, cause greater human suffering, and increase the prospects of violence on a national scale. President Maduro\u2019s mishandling of the economy and authoritarian reactions to provocations are impossible to defend, but they result in part from the fact that he has been under siege since he was first elected in 2013 and has faced sanctions aimed ultimately at removing him from office. In our view, the advice you\u2019ve received from your top advisors \u2013 Florida Senator Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor John Bolton, Special Representative Elliott Abrams, and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo \u2013 was and apparently continues to be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n