Providence: The Confusing Rhetoric out of Washington on Venezuela

"The Confusing Rhetoric out of Washington on Venezuela"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Providence
8 May, 2019
Originally published: https://providencemag.com/2019/05/confusing-rhetoric-washington-venezuela/
 

While discussing the situation in Venezuela, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently stated that “military action is possible.” The remarks came after a new round of violence and an apparently failed uprising against the regime of de facto President Nicolás Maduro.

At this point, it is necessary to discuss the rhetoric utilized by the White House and US Congress regarding Venezuela, compared to how senior US military commanders discuss the situation and the possibility of US military action in the South American country.

Pro-Intervention: Pompeo and Scott

The White House has generally maintained a fiery rhetoric regarding Venezuela. For example, on May 1 on Fox Business Maria Bartiromo asked Pompeo, “Is the US support going to include troops? Are the military troops in the US going to head there and support Guaidó?” He responded:

The president has been crystal clear and incredibly consistent. Military action is possible. If that’s what’s required, that’s what the United States will do. We’re trying to do everything we can to avoid violence. We’ve asked all the parties involved not to engage in that kind of activity

The phrase “military action is possible,” has been widely quoted.

Secretary Pompeo is hardly the only individual that has made such provocative remarks, as Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) made a similar statement at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. During his April 11 speech, he stated that the Maduro regime “represents a clear and present danger to the entire Western Hemisphere,” hence “all options, including the use of American military assets, must remain on the table.” Moreover, given the humanitarian crisis in the South American country, “it is becoming clear that we will have to consider the use of American military assets to deliver aid.”

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Wilder Alejandro Sanchez is an analyst who focuses on geopolitical, military and cybersecurity issues.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of any institutions with which the author is associated.