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The basics:
Everybody hates Maduro.
Four out of five Venezuelans want him out.
It's not just the U.S.: every major country in the Americas (except Mexico) is calling for him to go.
He has destroyed the country in every way you can imagine, and some ways you can't.
Everybody hates Maduro.
Four out of five Venezuelans want him out.
It's not just the U.S.: every major country in the Americas (except Mexico) is calling for him to go.
He has destroyed the country in every way you can imagine, and some ways you can't.
He hangs on ***EXCLUSIVELY*** because he's managed to keep the Army on his side.
He's kept them onside through patronage.
He's given the generals control of the oil industry.
He lets generals to grow rich through corruption, illegal gold mining and drug trafficking.
He's kept them onside through patronage.
He's given the generals control of the oil industry.
He lets generals to grow rich through corruption, illegal gold mining and drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, many troops and even mid-ranking officers go hungry.
Literally hungry.
They're kept in line through fear: intensive counterintelligence surveillance determined to suss out anyone even vaguely suspected of disloyalty.
Literally hungry.
They're kept in line through fear: intensive counterintelligence surveillance determined to suss out anyone even vaguely suspected of disloyalty.
Army officers suspected of disloyalty are arrested and tortured.
If they hide, their relatives are arrested and tortured until they give up their whereabouts.
This is not just some tweet saying it: Human Rights Watch has documented it.
hrw.org/news/2019/01/1…
If they hide, their relatives are arrested and tortured until they give up their whereabouts.
This is not just some tweet saying it: Human Rights Watch has documented it.
hrw.org/news/2019/01/1…
It's likely most Army officers want Maduro out.
But no officer wants to act first.
That would risk jail, torture, death.
Everyone wants to go second.
So, it's a *coordination* problem.
Today's events —Guaidó's oath, and the international backing— is aimed at solving it.
But no officer wants to act first.
That would risk jail, torture, death.
Everyone wants to go second.
So, it's a *coordination* problem.
Today's events —Guaidó's oath, and the international backing— is aimed at solving it.
Guaido's oath, and the support he got from Canada to Argentina, are designed to communicate to all those secretly anti-Maduro officers: now's the time.
Nobody has to go first.
You can all jump *together.*
Do it now.
That's why no Venezuelan you know will sleep tonight.
Nobody has to go first.
You can all jump *together.*
Do it now.
That's why no Venezuelan you know will sleep tonight.
