US national security advisor John Bolton has taken charge on foreign policy when it comes to Venezuela, along with special envoy Elliott Abrams, to revive the belligerent neocon doctrine of the 1980s. Russia is angry and reportedly sending troops to the crumbling nation as a result.
This has prompted Bolton, who lacks even a shred of self-awareness, to warn Russia against meddling in the world despite the fact that the mustachioed warmonger wants a US presence in every nook and cranny abroad:
The United States will not tolerate hostile foreign military powers meddling with the Western Hemisphere’s shared goals of democracy, security, and the rule of law. The Venezuelan military must stand with the people of Venezuela.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) March 25, 2019
Russia is claiming that they are not sending troops to the region to fuel a proxy war, but rather, as a part of a long-standing agreement with one of their major strategic partners.
“Military experts are there; they are tasked with the practical implementation of provisions of military-technical cooperation agreements,” said Maria Zakharova, who works as a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, while issuing a video report.
“Russia is not changing the balance of forces in the region and is not threatening anyone,” she added.
The US isn’t buying it. They are enraged that Russian meddling could interfere with their own meddling in the oil-rich South American nation.
“The continued insertion of Russian military personnel to support the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela risks prolonging the suffering of the Venezuelan people who overwhelmingly support interim president, Juan Guaidó,” the US Department of State said on Tuesday.
The US has been pushing for Juan Guaidó to take control. The Trump administration and its allies insist Guaidó is the legitimate ruler of Venezuela despite the fact that he was never elected by the people to be President.
Once again, the people of Venezuela have taken to the streets in support of a peaceful democratic transition to Interim President Juan Guaido. It is time for the Venezuelan military high command to stand alongside its people, not with Maduro’s Cuban patrons. pic.twitter.com/8KS7zZzfb2
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) February 13, 2019
Critics of US foreign policy have warned against a situation developing in Venezuela that could turn out to be another Iraq, Libya, Vietnam or similar US interventionist nightmare.
John Bolton states regime change in Venezuela is about the country’s oil. “It will make a big difference to the United States economically if we could have American oil companies invest in and produce the oil capabilities in Venezuela.” pic.twitter.com/sIHWYk3grq
— Iraqi Christian Foundation (@iraqschristians) January 29, 2019
John Bolton loved the Iraq War. Now he apparently wants 5,000 US troops in Colombia. Only possible reason: to invade Venezuela. Trump’s boys appear to be cooking up another illegal war, 16 years after the disaster in Iraq that killed 1 million people. How do we stop the bastards? https://t.co/ZssGhfW6Y9
— Dr. Jill Stein???? (@DrJillStein) January 29, 2019
Former Texas Congressman Ron Paul warns that Bolton could emerge as the shadow master for Trump in a similar manner as former Vice President Dick Cheney worked under President George W. Bush.
Although the Russians are playing coy, it is clear that US meddling in Venezuela is exacerbating the tensions between the two nations. Trump needs to fire Bolton, Abrams, and others from his administration before the worst foreign policy mistakes of the 1980s are recreated under his watch.