Venezuelan Border Clashes Turn Violent As Maduro's Government Blocks Aid Shipments

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Emily Zanotti - The Daily Wire


https://i.imgur.com/Pxvb4fGl.jpg

Clashes erupted along the Venezuela-Columbia and Venezuela-Brazil borders this weekend as forces loyal to Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro worked to block protesters and Venezuelan citizens from accessing trucks full of aid supplies, including medicine and food.

CNN reports that aid from the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom "is piling up" along both borders following an order from Maduro to seal off roadways from both Columbia and Brazil, preventing the aid shipments from reaching Venezuelans, more than 10% of whom are said to be starving. Maduro believes the aid is a precursor to a United States-led coup designed to pull him from power and replace him with opposition leader Juan Gerardo Guaidó Márquez.

Guaidó, the head of the country's parliament, has declared himself president of Venezuela following what he says is Maduro's illegitimate re-election. Guaidó, who is, himself, a socialist, says Maduro manipulated the election results, bringing a swift end to Maduro's regime under the country's constitution.

Guaidó has been trying to shepherd the trucks full of aid across the border but so far only two trucks have made it to their destination. Convinced they are full of arms for Venezuela's military groups, the Venezuelan government has sent riot police and Venezuelan troops to prevent the trucks from making it to the people.

Maduro is not totally opposed to aid; he accepted a whopping $9 million from the United Nations at the end of 2018, but he told the country this week that he was refusing physical supplies because "Venezuelans are not beggars."

Friday, the blockades turned violent, leading to clashes across Venezuela's borders with both Brazil and Columbia. Trucks were torched, tear gas was deployed, around 300 people were injured and at least four people were killed, according to the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet.

"People have been shot and killed, others have reportedly received wounds from which they will never completely recover, including losing eyes," she told reporters. "These are disgraceful scenes. The Venezuelan government must stop its forces from using excessive force against unarmed protesters and ordinary citizens."

The United Nations called on the government of Venezuela to recall its troops, but maintained that they would not get involved any further in the clashes, having already judged providing aid to Venezuelan citizens as an untenable "political" act.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also cataloged the violence on Twitter.

"The U.S. condemns the attacks on civilians in #Venezuela perpetrated by Maduro’s thugs. These attacks have resulted in deaths and injuries. Our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died due to these criminal acts. We join their demand for justice," Pompeo tweeted above a photo of the burning supply trucks.
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Maduro spent the weekend at a dance competition.

[perrhaps]

Other than the fact that Venezuela has lots and lots of oil, how is this any of America's business?

[Hal-9000]

Other than the fact that Venezuela has lots and lots of oil, how is this any of America's business?

Without rustling feathers, can't the same question be asked regarding other disputes going back over 50 years?

[RBP]

Other than the fact that Venezuela has lots and lots of oil, how is this any of America's business?You take issue with the United Nations attempting to provide food supplies to starving people?

[perrhaps]

You take issue with the United Nations attempting to provide food supplies to starving people?

No, I take issue with America taking asides in other countries' civil wars.

[RBP]

No, I take issue with America taking asides in other countries' civil wars.

And when we don't we are the evil rich nation doing nothing to help the oppressed. There's never a correct answer.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

And when we don't we are the evil rich nation doing nothing to help the oppressed. There's never a correct answer.

:qft:

We're damned if we do, and damned if we don't.

[lost in melb.]

No, I take issue with America taking asides in other countries' civil wars.

It's not just America. The bigger voice is the one most heard.

[Muddy]

No, I take issue with America taking asides in other countries' civil wars.

Oh boy, here we go again.. We got a rogue in here...

https://i.imgur.com/5cqtSrz.gif

[lost in melb.]

Oh boy, here we go again.. We got a rogue in here...

https://i.imgur.com/5cqtSrz.gif

He's one of your boys. I'll let you deal with it :fu:

[Muddy]

He's one of your boys. I'll let you deal with it :fu:

Thats right, Richards yours.. :lol:

[RBP]

:lol:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

No, I take issue with America taking asides in other countries' civil wars.

Like it or not though, that's how the world works, and it's been this way for a long time as I am sure you are well aware. Like Lost said, the bigger voice is the one most heard. This goes back forever in history, but just in recent history, between the Soviet Union and the United States, and now it's the Russians and the Chinese and the United States. So do we go back into being isolationist like we did after WWI, where you can argue that our lack of participation in things helped bring about the rise of Nazi Germany (or at least let it get as powerful as it did). Or do we at least choose sides? Because if we just sit here on our hands, you know for a fact that the Russians and the Chinese most certainly won't. And at this stage of the issue in Venezuela, at least in front of the curtain, all we're doing is throwing our weight and support behind humanitarian efforts to get much needed food and supplies to the starving populace. Even though Maduro is blaming us for making the whole thing up. Yet there they are, average Venezuelans just trying to get food and being thwarted by the military.

Now do I want to see us yet again involved in another military conflict? Of course not. After nearly 20 years in Afghanistan and Iraq, I'm as sick of war and dead Americans as every one else. But right now we're not at that point and I see no issue with the United States throwing its weight around to try and help the UN feed starving and dying people in Venezuela and saying we prefer the opposition to Maduro. Which by the way, we're not the only country to recognize the opposition over Maduro right now.

And it's rich hearing the Russians lecturing us on meddling, when they have their fingers in so many jars themselves (Syria, Iran, blatantly invading Ukraine and annexing part of it, etc.).

[Hal-9000]

Yes but isn't there proof that when any major power offers aid to other countries, it puts the country in need in debt to the giver and creates a situation of dependence for years afterwards? They in effect create a relationship where the county in need now has to forfeit some form of resources as part of whatever restitution is agreed upon.

Don't misunderstand my post. Providing food and water to any country in crisis is a good thing and I will always support the efforts made. People on the street need the immediate aid and are lucky to receive it. But that doesn't stop the political capital gained from the act and to be blunt, countries giving aid often create this form of dependence through the process of helping.

And I'm too much of a cynic not to think the aid-givers want to see or help bring about a certain political structure as they decide who needs the help. Simply put, there are countries in peril all over the world but aid is only given in certain instances.

Again, what America and my country do in terms of helping people in need is commendable. I do think though there is another component behind it we rarely hear about.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Yes but isn't there proof that when any major power offers aid to other countries, it puts the country in need in debt to the giver and creates a situation of dependence for years afterwards? They in effect create a relationship where the county in need now has to forfeit some form of resources as part of whatever restitution is agreed upon.

Don't misunderstand my post. Providing food and water to any country in crisis is a good thing and I will always support the efforts made. People on the street need the immediate aid and are lucky to receive it. But that doesn't stop the political capital gained from the act and to be blunt, countries giving aid often create this form of dependence through the process of helping.

And I'm too much of a cynic not to think the aid-givers want to see or help bring about a certain political structure as they decide who needs the help. Simply put, there are countries in peril all over the world but aid is only given in certain instances.

Again, what America and my country do in terms of helping people in need is commendable. I do think though there is another component behind it we rarely hear about.

There is no doubt that there is always going to be a quid pro quo when it comes to things like this. While some of it is altruistic (the immediate aid) there is also some self-serving stuff going on as well (we'll recognize you as the leader of the country now if you give the US preferential treatment when it comes to helping develop your country back up). But that's also how the world works unfortunately. There is rarely, if any, purely altruistic things that go on in this world any more.

But like I mentioned in my other post, if the United States (as well as other western powers) don't step in, the the Russians and/or Chinese surely will.

[Hal-9000]

There is no doubt that there is always going to be a quid pro quo when it comes to things like this. While some of it is altruistic (the immediate aid) there is also some self-serving stuff going on as well (we'll recognize you as the leader of the country now if you give the US preferential treatment when it comes to helping develop your country back up). But that's also how the world works unfortunately. There is rarely, if any, purely altruistic things that go on in this world any more.

But like I mentioned in my other post, if the United States (as well as other western powers) don't step in, the the Russians and/or Chinese surely will.

Yes and that's a good point. What type of aid is best for the country based on who provides it.


I read a horrible account of the Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict where the US stepped in to help some Croatian refugees. They stayed and provided aid, but left the area in poverty conditions which caused massive marches of people across the countryside in search of food and shelter. Yes, those same people could have been in a worse situation without the intervention, yet most felt the helping countries created a situation where further help and infrastructure were needed due to the fighting and bombings. They were left alone after the conflict and most had less than before it started it terms of clean water and food.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Yes and that's a good point. What type of aid is best for the country based on who provides it.


I read a horrible account of the Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict where the US stepped in to help some Croatian refugees. They stayed and provided aid, but left the area in poverty conditions which caused massive marches of people across the countryside in search of food and shelter. Yes, those same people could have been in a worse situation without the intervention, yet most felt the helping countries created a situation where further help and infrastructure were needed due to the fighting and bombings. They were left alone after the conflict and most had less than before it started it terms of clean water and food.

In a perfect world, there would be no need for 'nation building' as it's so colloquially called nowadays. The wealthier countries would just step up, provide aid (food, medicine, clothing, clean water, etc) and then just go back about their business while the country in need would then be able to build itself back up. But unfortunately, most of these countries that require aid the most, are some of the most corrupt governments on the planet and couldn't care less about the immediate population. We've all seen how the dictators live in luxury while the people languish in poverty and hunger.

And that's the fine line the western countries walk now, when we show up with aid we're hailed as saviors...until it's time for us to pack up and leave and then we all get blamed for not doing nearly enough because we didn't rebuild your country for you and help you with absolutely everything, which is what their government was supposed to be doing. Like I said earlier in this thread, when it comes to helping out, we're damned if we do, and damned if we don't. There's no way to win.