As the BBC is reporting, either President Maduro really believes the U.S. is preparing to invade his country, or he has just gone off the deep end. But believe it or not, that’s what he told his people when he deployed 500,000 army and civilian militia troops around the capital and in ‘every strategic region’ this past weekend.
Of course, he called the military exercise “Operation Independence 2016” just to keep up appearances, but the military was sent out to fight anti-government protesters. Once Maduro rejected the 1.85 million signature petition to start a recall referendum process, riot police have used tear gas and often clashed violently with the angry crowds.
The Daily Caller reports that Venezuela’s Defense Minister Gen. Vladimir Padrino Lopez, a staunch supporter of Maduro, says the presence of the military on the streets is necessary because “Venezuela is threatened. This is the first time we are carrying out an exercise of this nature in the country. In terms of national reach, it’s going to be in every strategic region.”
On Saturday, according to sbs.com, Maduro, with Lopez at his side, gave a stirring speech to kick off the deployment of his troops, barking, “We have never been more prepared than this,” evoking Venezuela’s great military heroes of the past, including Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
Lopez said that “U.S. spy planes” have been detected “violating” Venezuela’s airspace at least twice this month. This was proof, the general said of a planned invasion by Washington, and this was the reason Venezuela’s armed forces should be placed on full alert.
But what is really happening in Venezuela. Commentators are saying Maduro is using a tired, old tactic that really doesn’t work anymore, trying to turn international attention away from the real problems in his country.
What the world does not see are the hospitals full of patients, some lying on gurneys and others lying on the floors in corridors. Unless a patient can afford to buy their own antibiotics, dressings, splints or other types of medicines, there are none available. Operations, when they are done, are carried out in operating rooms with open, filthy, fly-infested drains, according to a BBC reporter.
But it is not just the desperately poor health care system that is concerning. It is the lack of diapers, flour, rice, fresh meat, and the list goes on. many people talking to the reporter said they had once been supporters of the socialist government, calling themselves “Chavistas.” But after living in an economic crisis that has gone from bad to worse over the last two years, a recall is what the people want.
