But more troubling than this is the apparent evidence of Russian collusion with the Trumpists, which might also explain why the Chavists are still in power.
So let's look at all the main pieces of "inconvenient" factual evidence that don't quite line up with the official government narrative.
(1) There is clear evidence that Russia began quietly evacuating the families of its diplomats from Caracas one-to-two weeks before the strike. This was cited by sources like the Associated Press, who got the story via European intelligence and witnesses observing diplomatic vehicle convoys outside the embassy.
Although the US strike only went in on January 3rd, the plan was initially set for execution around Christmas Day, around a week earlier, but was delayed due to adverse weather conditions and overlapping US strikes in Nigeria.
In short, the Russian diplomatic evacuation dovetails almost perfectly with the US strikes. Yes, the Russians knew something was on, even though Congress was kept entirely in the dark.
Although the US strike only went in on January 3rd, the plan was initially set for execution around Christmas Day, around a week earlier, but was delayed due to adverse weather conditions and overlapping US strikes in Nigeria.
In short, the Russian diplomatic evacuation dovetails almost perfectly with the US strikes. Yes, the Russians knew something was on, even though Congress was kept entirely in the dark.
(2) No Russians were killed in the strikes, despite Russians previously playing key roles in Maduro's personal security as well as manning the Russian-sourced air defence systems that were, oddly, powerless to stop an armada of helicopters flying into the heart of Caracas.
The best estimates for the death toll put it at 55–57, of whom around 32 (more than half!) were Cubans and zero Russians.
The best estimates for the death toll put it at 55–57, of whom around 32 (more than half!) were Cubans and zero Russians.
There are other, more contentious pieces of evidence, some of which you can read here, but just these two clear and obvious pieces stand out like the proverbial sore thumb and point to some level of collusion between the Trump and Putin regimes.
The only other possibility is that Russian espionage or signals intelligence got wind of the U.S. strike, but in that case, they could have (a) either saved Maduro or (b) provided a nasty surprise for U.S. special forces that would have deeply embarrassed Trump, so, in either scenario, there is a clear element of collusion.
If there was a literal deal between Trump and Putin over Venezuela, its exact nature is hard to fathom, as there are no clear winners yet. However, it is not hard to see Putin throwing Maduro under the bus in return for Trump promising to help him in Ukraine, or possibly by destabilising and even destroying NATO, a project that Trump seems to be enthusiastically engaged in with his aggressive and even deranged rhetoric against Greenland.
How Iran fits into this picture, remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: it is better to have Russians as enemies than friends.
The only other possibility is that Russian espionage or signals intelligence got wind of the U.S. strike, but in that case, they could have (a) either saved Maduro or (b) provided a nasty surprise for U.S. special forces that would have deeply embarrassed Trump, so, in either scenario, there is a clear element of collusion.
If there was a literal deal between Trump and Putin over Venezuela, its exact nature is hard to fathom, as there are no clear winners yet. However, it is not hard to see Putin throwing Maduro under the bus in return for Trump promising to help him in Ukraine, or possibly by destabilising and even destroying NATO, a project that Trump seems to be enthusiastically engaged in with his aggressive and even deranged rhetoric against Greenland.
How Iran fits into this picture, remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: it is better to have Russians as enemies than friends.
___________________________________
Colin Liddell is the Chief Editor of Neokrat and the author of Interviews & Obituaries, a collection of encounters with the dead and the famous. Support his work by buying his book here (USA), here (UK), and here (Australia), or by taking out a paid subscription on his Substack.
Follow on Twitter and Bluesky
Follow on Twitter and Bluesky
No comments:
Post a Comment
All Comments MUST include a name (either real or sock). Also don't give us an easy excuse to ignore your brilliant comment by using "shitposty" language.