Top -Trump -Adjutanten drängen Maduro in Venezuela auf Maduro

[Unpaywalled Link](https://archive.ph/V9vxg)

Submission Statement:

The New York Times reported a few days ago that Trump administration insiders are lobbying for a policy of „regime change“ in Venezuela. The initiative is being spearheaded by Secretary of State / National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, and is reportedly supported by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller (both of whom are unqualified for their jobs and political hacks, in case it even needs to be said).

NBC [previously reported](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-preparing-options-military-strikes-drug-targets-venezuela-sources-s-rcna233734) that the administration is planning targeted strikes on the membership, leadership, and facilities of drug trafficking groups in Venezuela, which could potentially begin within weeks.

The New York Times notes:

> Because administration officials assert Mr. Maduro sits atop Venezuela’s cartel network, they can argue that removing him from power is ultimately a counternarcotics operation.

Also of note:

> Pedro Urruchurtu, an adviser to [opposition leader Maria Corona] Machado, said in an interview that the opposition had developed a plan for the first 100 hours after Mr. Maduro’s ouster that would involve a transfer of power to Edmundo González, who ran for president against Mr. Maduro last year.

> Independent monitors have said that the election was marred by fraud and that Mr. González — who has since been exiled in Spain — was its legitimate winner.

The Trump administration has refused to confirm or deny whether it has held talks about regime change with opposition figures.

The US has deployed several warships off the coast of Venezuela to interdict drug smuggling, including a Marine Amphibious Ready Group. An ARG only embarks one reinforced marine battalion however (about 800 troops), so a serious attempt to depose Maduro would likely entail the deployment of considerably larger forces to the region.

Discussion:

At least some members of the Trump administration have learned nothing and forgotten nothing from America’s wretched experiences with „regime change“.