The chief point of origin for most illegals who've entered during Biden is Venezuela. This once prosperous nation has been gutted by Maduro whose citizens have flocked to the US when the rest of South America has closed its door. Why we don't take this douchebag out is beyond me. He's a strategic threat to his people and the US.
The U.S. Finally Wakes Up on Venezuela
Biden is so far silent on this blatant election theft in the Americas.
By The Editorial Board, WSJ
Aug. 5, 2024 5:47 pm ET
The Biden Administration finally awakened late last week to the obvious reality that Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro is trying to steal another election. The question is whether the U.S. is willing to do anything other than stomp its feet in protest.
For days the State Department dallied in making a judgment even as Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) had refused to release tallies backing up Mr. Maduro’s claims that he had won. But the opposition had organized thousands of monitors at local polling stations who took photos of the tabulated results, and it has posted them online. They show a dominant opposition victory.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged on Thursday evening. The Organization of American States has also issued a statement acknowledging the opposition victory.
But words won’t be enough to counter Mr. Maduro’s crackdown. He has called in the Cuban special forces group known as black wasps to lead a military crackdown. Local opposition poll monitors are being tracked down and threatened. Mr. González Urrutia and the opposition leader María Corina Machado have gone into hiding and could be arrested at any moment.
Ms. Machado, who was blocked by the regime from running against Mr. Maduro, risked arrest Saturday to speak to thousand who took to the streets of Caracas to protest the election theft. But Mr. Maduro says the regime has already arrested 2,000 people and there will be more.
Mr. Maduro is backed by Cuba, Russia and China. Brazil and Colombia, both with leftist governments that claim to support democracy, are calling for the release of CNE results, but they have to know CNE is fully controlled by Mr. Maduro’s minions.
Mr. Maduro craves at least the appearance of democratic legitimacy, which the Biden Administration granted by easing oil sanctions on Venezuela in return for the promise of a fair election. The U.S. wanted Venezuelan oil on the world market to ease global prices. But Mr. Maduro and Cuba made Mr. Blinken and President Biden look naive.
Will the U.S. do more now to rally nations to speak up for Venezuela’s democrats? Will they reinstate oil sanctions and in particular impose sanctions on individuals in the regime who are stealing the election? The Venezuelan people have demonstrated their bravery in risking their lives and livelihoods to challenge a thuggish regime. The least they deserve is for the President of the United States to speak and act on their behalf.
Comments