VENEZUELA? IT AIN’T OVER

By Cort Wrotnowski, Publisher, Yankee Tea News

That’s right, buckaroo.  Venezuela ain’t over by a long shot.  Interior Minister Cabello is one of several who refuse to accept what has happened.  He stood in front of a camera wearing a bulletproof vest while declaring his defiance. In addition, the vice president, who was sworn in, has already been talking out of both sides of her mouth.  She says she will do what the United States demands, but has also told people to demonstrate  in the streets in favor of the regime.  Which regime are we talking about now?  The one that will still put up a fight or the one that will cooperate  completely with America?

What Did President Trump Really Do?

President Trump is acutely aware of America’s failures in the past when similar efforts at regime change were used in other countries.  One of the lessons is likely that in past efforts, people in our government took too   In the press conference, the president noted that “everything is a deal” as said by the author of “The Art of The Deal”.  It is not clear which kind of deal he has struck with the current leadership of Venezuela.  Will they stay if they behave?  Will they get replaced eventually by more palatable people?

One conjecture is that they will be spared prosecution facing Maduro if they cooperate completely in the dismantling and complete destruction of every last drug cartel in Venezuela.  Furthermore, if they apply their managerial skills to the rebuilding of Venezuela while also dismantling the socialist government infrastructure maybe they will not need to be replaced.  It all depends on what they decide for themselves.  Meanwhile, back in New York…

Who Wants to be Maduro’s Lawyer?

New York City is second only to Washington, D.C. for the number of lawyers per square foot.  Moreover, it is perhaps odd that just as New York City has been taken over by a socialist mayor, Mamdani will help Maduro get some socialist lawyers to defend him.  However, it stands to reason that such lawyers may want to think twice about taking on such a challenge.  They will be facing an opponent, the federal government, with essentially limitless resources for such a high profile case.  Also, the evidence against Maduro is compelling.  There is one more wrinkle for his friends still in power down in Caracas.  Will they get to keep their power if they testify against Maduro and the other defendants?  This would only make the defense lawyer’s job much more difficult.  How do you sully the reputation of the witnesses when they were taking their orders from your client?

The Next Few Months

Those who choose to resist will find themselves in an increasingly untenable situation.  As the months pass, there will be more and more evidence that the lives of the average Venezuelan will improve.  It eventually becomes obvious that the resistance is losing support.  The likelihood that the hold outs will be captured or killed; or they just melt into the population.

There is one last rub to this whole story.  It turns out that most of the people protecting Maduro were Cubans.  If there is any evidence he did not have the support of the people of his country, that would be it.  Still, there are so many problems to solve.  Only time will tell.