International Venezuela, The Socialist Dystopia, v2: The region's worst humanitarian crisis in decades

[ShinkanPo]

yalls president looks like he survived a drone attack to his nose lol

 

[computer fogie]

It looks like it wasn't an attack at all. Three of the firefighters there said it was only a gas tank exploding in a nearby apartment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45077057

 

[KeepItRealist]

Maybe next he can stage a fake coup as an excuse to arrest the opposition like Turkey did.

 

[ShinkanPo]

It looks like it wasn't an attack at all. Three of the firefighters there said it was only a gas tank exploding in a nearby apartment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45077057

So Maduro is bullshiting us then.

 

[Rematch]

It looks like it wasn't an attack at all. Three of the firefighters there said it was only a gas tank exploding in a nearby apartment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45077057

Good thing is that when someone actually does try to assassinate Maduro, it will be met with skepticism.

 

[Arkain2K]

Venezuela 'drone attack': Six arrests made
05 August 2018

Charred windows were seen near the place where President Maduro was speaking


Six people have been arrested in Venezuela for involvement in an apparent assassination attempt on President Nicolás Maduro, the interior minister says.

Nestor Reverol said they were part of a group that loaded two drones with explosives and set them off during a military parade in the capital Caracas.

Mr Maduro has warned the perpetrators face "maximum punishment".

He has blamed Colombia for the incident but provided no evidence.

Colombia said the accusation was "baseless".

The government has also pointed the finger at the opposition, prompting fears of a new crackdown.

Many opposition leaders have already left the country citing government harassment and there are reported to be more than 200 political prisoners in the country's jails.

Meanwhile Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez declared his unconditional loyalty to the president on national TV.

"We are determined, determined to defend our homeland, our constitution, our democracy, our institutions," he said.

Correspondents say Mr Maduro has relied heavily on the armed forces to keep power in the midst of an economic crisis and political turmoil.

What is known about the alleged attack?

The incident happened when Mr Maduro was speaking at an event to mark the anniversary of the national guard.

A bang is heard and footage of his speech shows the president suddenly looking upwards and dozens of soldiers running away.

Two drones loaded with explosives went off near the president's stand, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said.

Seven soldiers were injured, the Venezuelan authorities said.

Later Mr Maduro said the incident had strengthened his resolve.

"I am fine, I am alive, and after this attack I'm more determined than ever to follow the path of the revolution," he said.

"Justice! Maximum punishment! And there will be no forgiveness."

Interior Minister Reverol said six "terrorists and hired killers" had been arrested, several vehicles seized and hotels raided.

Who could be behind this?

Mr Maduro accused neighbouring Colombia and elements within the US of instigating "a right-wing plot" to kill him.

The Colombian government has denied any involvement, saying there is "no basis" to Mr Maduro's allegations.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton denied any US involvement in the incident, adding that it could be "a pretext set up by the regime itself".

Mr Rodriguez accused Venezuela's right-wing opposition of carrying out the attack.

"After losing the vote, they failed again," Mr Rodriguez said.

He was referring to May's presidential elections, where Mr Maduro was re-elected for another six-year term.

However, Hasler Inglesias, a youth leader with the opposition Voluntad Popular Party, told the BBC: "It's hard to believe that the opposition is going to make an attempt when they have never made an attempt in this way in 20 years."

Meanwhile, a little-known group called Soldiers in T-shirts said on social media that it was behind the alleged attack.

The claim was not backed up by any evidence, and the group did not respond to media requests for comment.

To add further to the confusion, firefighters at the scene disputed the government's version of events, the Associated Press reports.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, three of them said the incident was actually a gas tank explosion inside an apartment, but did not provide further details, the news agency says.

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-latin-america-45077057

 

[Arkain2K]

Good catch lol

So at least now we know the combat readiness of Venezuela's pampered and fattened Generals around explosions, hahaha.

 

[Rematch]

So at least now we know the combat readiness of Venezuela's pampered and fattened Generals around explosions, hahaha.

War is Hell, but loud noises... That's something else.

 

[Rematch]

During the 1950s there was quite literally a progressive tax rate.

You were taxed on a scale from 20%-91% based on your income starting at 22% for $4,000 yr.

Support what you said. That's not what you said in regards to most others paying 50-89% in taxes. Sources would be a good idea as well.

 

[Arkain2K]

@Lead or @panamaican : Can you give these guys their own thread on U.S tax rates so they don't derail our discussion on Venezuela? Thanks.

Start from this post, and you can include all the off-topic responses from there. You'll know it when you see it, for they stood out like a sore thumb in the middle of the discussion on Maduro's "assassination".

 

[Rematch]

@Lead or @panamaican : Can you give these guys their own thread on U.S tax rates so they don't derail our discussion on Venezuela? Thanks.

Start from this post, and you can include all the off-topic responses from there. You'll know it when you see it, for they stood out like a sore thumb in the middle of the discussion on Maduro's "assassination".

Sorry. I just saw some craziness I felt needed to be addressed. I will cease now.

 

[ElKarlo]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/venezuelan-military-gives-maduro-unconditional-backing-174130138.html real or not, he's not going to let this opportunity slip. I see more crack downs and more excuses for more heavy handedness

 

[Sivo The Ram]

 

[b-hop]

There is so many proves that socialism is abomination, starting by the communist killers, is pretty much like nazism.

 

[Arkain2K]

Venezuela detains 6, hunts more in "drone attack" on Maduro
SCOTT SMITH and CHRISTINE ARMARIO | August 5, 2018

Signs of smoke cover the apartment complex where an allegedly armed drone crashed, causing a fire, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018.​

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Investigators hunting for assailants behind a failed attempt to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro with explosives-laden drones have raided hotels and seized vehicles while grilling six suspects for details of the plot.

Venezuela's socialist government alleged Sunday that the detained suspects conspired with others in Miami and the capital of neighboring Colombia, though they offered no specific evidence. Opposition leaders criticized Maduro for broadly singling out his political opponents, and they warned that he might use the attack to further suppress his critics.

The attack came as Venezuela is reeling from an economic and humanitarian crisis and Maduro has grown increasingly isolated. Foreign nations, including the United States, are slapping economic sanctions on a growing list of high-ranking Venezuelan officials and decrying his government as an autocratic regime.

Maduro and his allies called the attack direct proof that an international plot to overthrow his socialist administration exists, while also saying that the military's response shows he still has the loyalty of Venezuela's soldiers.

But analysts said the images broadcast live on television when the attack struck during a Maduro speech Saturday evening made him appear vulnerable.

"Seeing trained soldiers fleeing in apparent panic and disarray before an explosion strongly contrasts with the idea of monolithic control and loyalty of security forces that Maduro prides himself on," the New York-based Torino Capital investment firm said.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, appearing on state television Sunday, said the attackers were trying to wipe out Venezuela's entire top leadership along with Maduro.

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said two drones, each packed with a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of C-4 plastic explosive, were flown toward Maduro, his wife and other top leaders as the president spoke to hundreds of troops during an event celebrating the 81st anniversary of the National Guard. One of the drones was intended to explode above Maduro and the other was to detonate directly in front of him, Reverol said.

The military managed to knock one of the drones off course electronically and the other craft crashed into an apartment building two blocks away, Reverol said.

"We have six terrorists and assassins detained," he said. "In the next hours there could be more arrests."

Reverol said two of those arrested had previous run-ins with the government, although he did not give their names. He said one took part in 2014 anti-governments protests that rocked Venezuela's as it descended deeper into an economic crisis that is now worse than the Great Depression. The other had a warrant out for his arrest for participating in an attack on a military barracks, the interior minister said.

Investigators continued searching the blackened apartment building near the speech site, and authorities said officers also raided six hotels, where some of the suspects were arrested and "film" evidence was collected. Officials gave no details.

Two witnesses who live in nearby apartment buildings said they saw a drone hovering over a residential street Saturday evening and then heard an explosion.

One witness showed The Associated Press cellphone video of a drone crashing into a building. He said the drone fell to the ground and exploded, igniting a fire in an apartment.

Another witness, Mairum Gonzalez, described running in panic to her fifth-floor balcony, where she heard the second explosion and saw smoke rising.

"It was so strong the building shook," she said. "It terrified me."

In an address to the nation later Saturday night, a visibly shaken Maduro blamed the attack on the "far right," and he called on U.S. President Donald Trump to hold the "terrorist group" accountable.

Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, said: "If the government of Venezuela has hard information that they want to present to us that would show a potential violation of U.S. criminal law, we'll take a serious look at it."

The Broad Front, a coalition of opposition groups in Venezuela, accused the government of making an allegation without proof.

"It's evident that the initial reaction of the government isn't aimed at attempting to clarify what happened but rather to take advantage of the situation and irresponsibly and sweepingly attack the 'opposition,'" the group said in a statement.

A little-known group calling itself Soldiers in T-shirts claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it planned to fly two drones loaded with explosives at the president but soldiers shot them down. The authenticity of the message could not be independently verified, and the organization did not respond to a message from the AP.

"It was not successful today, but it is just a matter of time," the group said in a tweet.

Venezuela's government routinely accuses opposition activists of plotting to attack and overthrow Maduro. The former bus driver has moved steadily to consolidate power as the nation struggles to reverse hyperinflation that the International Monetary Fund projects could top 1 million percent by year's end.

Last year, amid deadly, near-daily protests, rogue police officer Oscar Perez flew a stolen helicopter over the capital and launched grenades at several government buildings. Perez and several comrades were killed in a gunbattle with police after more than six months at large.

Maduro said the attack left him convinced of the military's support and undeterred in carrying forward the socialist revolution begun by the late Hugo Chavez.

"Venezuela will continue on the democratic, independent and socialist path," Maduro said.

Analysts believe Maduro still holds the military's support, but also said the attack was an embarrassment for a government that prides itself on control and invincibility.

"We continue to hold as our scenario one in which Maduro remains in power for coming years," Torino Capital said in its analysis. "However, given the regime's unpopularity and the depth of the country's economic crisis, we believe it is important to monitor events that can become catalysts for broader protest movements leading to regime change."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/venezuela-detains-6-hunts-more-drone-attack-maduro-040044901.html

 

[Thesnake101]

Make next he can stage a fake coup as an excuse to arrest the opposition like Turkey did.

That's a real possibility, I mean, he's already arrested key people from the opposition before, so I wouldn't bat an eye if it were to occur again.

 

[Thesnake101]

Venezuela detains 6, hunts more in "drone attack" on Maduro
SCOTT SMITH and CHRISTINE ARMARIO | August 5, 2018

Signs of smoke cover the apartment complex where an allegedly armed drone crashed, causing a fire, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018.​

Of course most of the military personnel will be there for him; they have some of the best salaries in the whole country, not to mention that military leaders aren't exactly the nicest of people.

 

[Arkain2K]

Of course most of the military personnel will be there for him; they have some of the best salaries in the whole country, not to mention that military leaders aren't exactly the nicest of people.

Their salaries in bolivares are utterly useless.

It's already established that they're loyal to him because he let them be in charge of the country's scarce food supply.

Venezuelans may be starving, but not the military.

 

[ElKarlo]

Their salaries in bolivares are utterly useless.

It's already established that they're loyal to him because he let them be in charge of the country's scarce food supply.

Venezuelans may be starving, but not the military.

Indeed, this is slower becoming another North Korea like state.

 

[ShinkanPo]

Indeed, this is slower becoming another North Korea like state.

And like in the old days people with guns control the food! Or basically people who can wield power controls the food and bully the un armed and powerless.

When the militar starts to bully the populace they are no longer the peoples Militia nor patriots they are already thugs and goons no different than the barbarians of old who just by virtue of strength controls an entire populace.

Hence forth the Military should be punished by the people in the event their whole society collapses for they are complicit the people should eat them and their families!

They better hide their tattoos that identifies them as part of the MIlitary elite!