OF THE
TIMES
There is no official explanation why the Trump administration believed that the comical coup attempt by Juan Guaidó and his master Leopolo López would work.
There are signs though that the government of President Nicolas Maduro set a trap. Several people in the top echelon of the Venezuelan government gave false promises that they would join the U.S. proxy side. They snookered Guaidó into launching his coup to let him fail.
A Washington Post wrap-up says that everyone expected important people to change sides:The chaos in Caracas indicated that, while a plan had been in motion, it may not have unfolded as anticipated.
...
Announcements by senior Maduro officials that they were changing sides did not materialize, and the administration appeared increasingly concerned as it debated next steps.
...
Earlier Tuesday, Bolton had told reporters that Trump is watching political developments in Venezuela "minute by minute." Bolton also put unusual public pressure on individual Venezuela government officials to renounce Maduro and embrace the political opposition.
...
"It's a very delicate moment," Bolton said. "The president wants to see a peaceful transfer of power," which he added would be possible if enough military and government figures switch allegiances.
...
In an apparent attempt to divide Maduro's government, Bolton said senior officials, including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, had been in secret talks with Guaidó, and he called on them to "make good on their commitments" to help oust Maduro.
...
Bolton called by name for three officials in Venezuela - the defense minister, the chief judge of the Supreme Court, and the commander of the presidential guard - to support Guaidó taking power.
...
A senior Latin American official said opposition talks had been going on with Padrino and the other two for "the last several weeks," and that the three had been promised retention in their current positions if they came out publicly in support of "constitutional order" that would allow Guaidó to take power. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the fast-moving and confusing situation, said those involved in the negotiations had no initial explanation for what went wrong, ...
Do you see 'the people'? Thousands of them, hungry and repressed under an evil dictatorship risking their lives for a different democracy?
or do you see a handful of probably paid actors acting out a scene from Elliot's playbook?