IMAGE: Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS
The existing system of the international relations and the current world order are collapsing under strikes of the US establishment amid the developing global economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploiting the current tense situation around the world, Washington conducted more agressive actions against Venezuela. The US offered a $15m reward for help to ‘arrest’ the country’s president Nicolas Maduro. The US actions immidiately instigated the already tense situation in South America and will inevtiably lead to further tensions in the region. By its illegal and blatant actions, the Washington establishment is pushing the entire world towards a new global conflict.
US State Dept offers $15 MILLION REWARD for help arresting Venezuela’s Maduro after indictments (source):
The US State Department is dangling millions of dollars in reward money in exchange for information that could be used to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, his VP, or other senior officials on drug trafficking charges.
The eye-popping reward of up to $15 million is being offered for “information related to Nicolas Maduro Moros” with regard to his alleged involvement in “international narcotics trafficking,” the State Department announced on Thursday, signaling a hard shift in its regime-change policy against the socialist nation.
Tips leading to the narcotrafficking arrest or conviction of National Constituent Assembly President Diosdado Cabello Rondon, retired generals Hugo Carvajal Barrios and Clive Alcala Cordones, or Minister for Industry and National Production Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah can net as much as $10 million, the statement continued.
The rewards were unveiled on the same day as the US Justice Department unsealed indictments against the Venezuelan leaders for the same drug trafficking crimes – suggesting that Washington’s evidence isn’t as solid as Attorney General William Barr has claimed.
Indictments in Miami and New York accuse the officials of participating in a “narco-terrorism conspiracy” with Colombian guerrilla group FARC, to “flood the United States with cocaine.” But if evidence against Maduro and his compatriots is at such a premium that the State Department will pay $15 million for it, the Venezuelans are unlikely to see the inside of a US court anytime soon.
The one-two punch is a profoundly cynical move in the US’ continuing assault on sanctions-starved Venezuela, especially in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic.
After over a year of pushing its preferred leader, Juan Guaido, accomplished nothing except wearing out the latter’s welcome in the opposition National Assembly, Washington appears to have lost patience with their golden boy’s failed coup attempts, pushing him aside to play hardball.
The last Latin American leader charged with drug trafficking by the US was Panama’s Manuel Noriega, whom Washington essentially stabbed in the back after a long and profitable partnership running drugs with the CIA, invading his country and hauling him back to Miami to stand trial on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
Washington brings NARCO-TERRORISM charges against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (source):
The US has indicted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on “narco-terrorism” charges. The play is a familiar one, as Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega was slapped with similar charges before a US invasion 30 years ago.
Maduro and 14 current and former Venezuelan government and military officials were indicted on Thursday by courts in Florida, New York and Washington DC. According to the Justice Department, Maduro and his cohorts conspired with Colombian guerillas to “flood” the US with cocaine, transporting the drug to American shores by air and sea.
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) March 26, 2020
“The Maduro regime is awash with corruption and criminality,” Attorney General William Barr said at a press conference on Thursday. “This cabal lines their pockets with drug money, and this has to come to an end.”
Barr did not provide any evidence of drug seizures, but claimed the US authorities have observed the trafficking operation at work in Central America.
The State Department offered the $15 million bounty for Maduro, along with rewards of up to $10 million each for information on five Venezuelan political and military leaders.
The indictments – filed against a sitting head of state – are a bold move. Yet Washington has spent more than a year attempting to remove Maduro from power. After Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself ‘interim president’ last January, Washington was quick to recognize him as the Latin American country’s legitimate leader. Rounds of sanctions against the Maduro government followed, and military action was at one point rumored.
Maduro, however, kept the loyalty of his police and military, and remains in power in Caracas.
The US’ chances of actually arresting and prosecuting Maduro are slim, though Barr did say that the Justice Department is “exploring all options” when it comes to apprehending the Venezuelan leader. Short of arranging his kidnapping by the Venezuelan opposition, Barr only said that the US authorities could strike while Maduro and his associates are traveling, itself a remote possibility amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The US has indicted only one sitting head of state before Maduro – Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega, in 1988. As with Maduro, Washington did not recognize Noriega as Panama’s legitimate leader at the time.
Once an ally of the US, Noriega was eventually captured by US special forces following an invasion of Panama in 1989, and convicted by a Miami court three years later. When asked on Thursday whether military action could be used to capture Maduro, Barr did not comment.
Hahahahaha u Yankee zio fools
US is the principle entity that is responsible for International Law collapsed and the UN has failed miserably upholding their mandate then foreign governments should post “Wanted, dead or Alive” on US citizens who have committed crimes against humanity, created wars and colour revolutions.
The problem with the UN is that there is no practical enforcement. Understand that International Law is established by consent of the member states. The only way to ensure enforcement is for all member nations to give up their sovereignty. In other words, the Head of State would be the UN SecGen. We’re seeing the resurgence of Nationalism so no one is going to give up their own sovereignty, especially after witnessing the shenanigans of the EU.
So true Ian, then there really is no necessity for a UN or UNSC. It does look like the UN executive staff are being fraudulent by accepting payment when they are unable/willing to perform.
true but im happy to see how this communist dictator goes down .
Why? He is chosen by his people. Isn’t that what you want?
US gov/CIA has interests in flooding the US with drugs. A dysfunctional, crime-ridden society is easier to exploit. Nothing new.
Anyway, Venezuela seems pretty prepared for what might come. https://twitter.com/Libertad020/status/1237021804352471042
Yeah it’s pretty rich the US government accusing Maduro of narco-terrorism. Takes one to know one.
Taking out a competitor?
Who is blaming allegations on the Venezuelan government protocol and its head the Yankees zios who are the biggest center of narcotics hahahahaha. The Venezuelan president is a not a zio druglord and agent like escobar and noriega whom they makes them them hero and suddenly demonised them as evil criminals. He is not a street goon and drug suppler or small cartel master so the so called Yankees hero special forces on behalf of humanity arrest or kill him. If the zios could changed the so called evil regime they would have done it a long time ago they tried numerous times and failed and the satanic media is failed badly in Syria and Venezuela these are just new ways to demonised the so called evil regimes. Ciao Dajjal u bastard and ur unseen empire
Who says the US does not want to be the global policeman? They love it, it’s profitable, gives a legal fig-leaf to their imperial policy etc. Shall we bring a case against the US for narco trafficking from Afghanistan?