Comment: There is still a long way to go in this story. The Venezuelan people have shown themselves capable of defending their interests in the past. Why would they not do so now? Russia has signaled support, even though it isn't as overt as Mr. Roberts would like. So has Bolivia. It's not over yet.

Moon of Alabama has some thoughts on the matter:

The poor were the winner of the socialist changes. The socialists, first under President Hugo Chavez and now under Nicolas Maduro, used the profits from oil exports to build housing for the poor and to generally lower their plight. These masses will be called upon to protect their government and gains.

The military, which the U.S. already secretly tried to instigate stage a coup, is unlikely to do so. It does well under the socialists and has no interest in changing that. The U.S. also tried to incite Brazil and Columbia to invade their neighbor. But neither country is capable of doing such. The U.S. itself is also unlikely to invade. At the United Nation Venezuela has Russia's and China's support.

Like in 2017 we can expect several weeks of violent protests in Caracas, during which tens or hundreds of police and protester may die. There will also be a lot of howling from the U.S. aligned media. But unless there is some massive change in the political and power configuration, the demonstrations are likely to petter out.

Has the Trump administration a consistent game plan to achieve such a change in the balance of power? I for one doubt that.

• US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, ready to depose President Maduro in 'democratic' coup
• Botched coup: Armed Venezuelan soldiers detained for attempting to stage an uprising against Maduro
• Maduro: Military must be combat ready to defeat 'imperialistic plots'
• Don't meddle in Venezuela, Moscow tells coup-cheering Washington

Comment: France has realized you have to get the kids young. That way, even if dissenting news is available, it will be ignored, as they have been inoculated against 'crimethink'.

Comment: Clearly, DC Metro and all other similar bodies in the US are being told that, henceforth, they must run all contracts through the deep state/MIC for pre-approval.

Comment: This has nothing to do with sex and women's rights, and everything to do with cracking down on dissenters. In Salmond's case, he is 'guilty' on two counts: of seeking Scottish independence from London, and for partnering with RT to produce and broadcast his talkshow.

Dissent will not be tolerated in the New World Order.

UPDATE 17:30 CET

Another reason - pointed out by Craig Murray - why the British state hates Salmond: he's consistently anti-war, which is kryptonite to a regime founded on and addicted to war and weapons sales.

Comment: See also:

• Organ theft, staged attacks: UN panel details White Helmets' criminal activities, media yawns
• Canadian analyst: White Helmets are nothing more than terrorist auxiliaries
• NATO-friendly media & organizations wilfully refuse to address White Helmets' atrocities in Syria

Comment: Trump's deal of the century "peace plan" is essentially dead on arrival. Whatever his tactics, strategy or intentions - and no matter how much he has and will do to please Israel (never mind alienating the Palestinians), Israel, despite what it says publicly - does not want compromise or any semblance of peace. That's the real deal. See also:

• Israeli 'Justice' Minister says Trump's peace plan is a waste of time
• Don't hold your breath: Trump to pressure Netanyahu on Israel-Palestine peace plan
• Curve-ball in the works? Trump envoy warns neither Israel nor Palestine will like new US peace plan for region
• Palestinian UN ambassador: Trump's Middle East peace plan 'dead upon arrival'
• Thierry Meyssan: The Trump/Kushner 'peace plan' is not what you think
• Mahmud Abbas says Palestinians will not accept any U.S. peace plan

Comment: In situations like this, there's no distinction to be made between 'the Trump government' and 'the deep state'. They're all acting as one to one agenda: the US imperial agenda. Even Twitter - bashed for being 'communist' in other contexts - is on Trump's side here, banning Maduro's presidential comms from the platform.

Besides these messages of pro-coup support from Washington, in just the last week Venezuelan military units have been apprehended for attempting to get an insurrection going, while this pretender to the throne - Guaido - has apparently staged a fake arrest to further whip up popular support.

It doesn't matter whether non-Venezuelans believe Maduro is evil incarnate - he's NOT YOUR PRESIDENT.

Americans, TRUMP is your president. Is more illegal breaches of other countries' constitutional orders what you voted him into office for??

UPDATES - 23:00 CET

Venezuela has broken off formal diplomatic relations with the US.

The Venezuelan military - its defence minister anyway - has disavowed Guaido's power-grab, saying they "will not accept a president imposed by dark interests."

American film-maker Mike Prysner - who has reported from Venezuela on multiple occasions - reminds his followers that the opposition's supporters includes violent terrorists:


Brazil's new leader Bolsonaro, clearly working in coordination with the US and allied regional governments, has joined Trump in 'recognizing' the opposition leader as Venezuela's 'legitimate' president.

Wikileaks meanwhile points out that this political maneuver from abroad risks plunging Venezuela into civil war. Which means massive dislocation of people, which means more mass migration...

UPDATE - 24 Jan 08:00 CET

Following in lock-step, the unelected bureaucrats of the EU have thrown their support behind pretender Juan Guaido.

European Union has sided with "democratic forces" in Venezuela, backing the self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido over the elected government of Nicolas Maduro.

Meanwhile, the unelected EU High Representative for foreign policy, Federica Mogherini, likewise declared her support for Guaido's self-proclaimed government, in language strangely reminiscent of EU support extended to Ukraine's coup in 2014.

"Violence and the excessive use of force by security forces are completely unacceptable, and will for sure not resolve the crisis. The Venezuelan people have the right to peacefully demonstrate, to freely chose [sic] its leaders and decide its future," Mogherini said in a statement.

While Venezuelans appear at best divided between Guaido and Maduro, Washington has taken upon itself to declare which government in Caracas is legitimate, throwing its support behind leader of the National Assembly, which was last elected in 2015 and - according to Maduro - replaced by the 2017 Constitutional Assembly.

US allies have followed suit, with most OAS members, Canada, France and now the EU backing Guaido.

Maduro has given US diplomats 72 hours to leave the country, but Guaido has called on them to stay, setting the stage for a possible diplomatic confrontation. Venezuela's military has sided with Maduro.