Venezuela Coup? "Live Fire" Exchanged Outside Contested Air Base, Armored Car Plows Into Protesters | WHAT REALLY HAPPENED


update 5: As predicted, what Guaido dubbed “Operation Liberty” — a full on coup attempt for which he appealed for Venezuela's military to rise up against Maduro — appears to have failed to achieve significant momentum, given Caracas officials are taking to the air waves to declare the "mediocre" coup attempt successfully put down.

“A mediocre coup d'etat attempt has failed,” said defense minister Vladimir Padrino on a state radio broadcast Tuesday afternoon, following prior statements saying he was ready put down the rebellion by force. And in a television appearance Padrino further called the day's events "ridiculous".

Meanwhile national security advisor John Bolton has stated this is "not a coup" given that the US already sees opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's president. Bolton said of the rapidly unfolding and increasingly violent events that "it is not a coup for Juan Guaido to try and take command of the Venezuelan military."

Donald J. Trump

Guaido, Lopez and their supporters attempted to reach the city center of Caracas, the symbolic stronghold of the government, but were blocked even before leaving the eastern district of Chacao. National police, guardsmen and armored vehicles blocked a main artery and turned back crowds with volleys of tear gas and plastic buckshot.

The number of dead or wounded amidst Tuesday's clashes is yet unknown, and the situation remains fluid.

update 4: In a dramatic escalation, Bloomberg reports that an armored car has plowed into a crowd of protesters demonstrating outside the La Carlota Air Force base in Caracas — scene of prior clashes and reported exchanges of live fire.

Webmaster's Commentary: 

No, Mr. President: this country does NOT stand for the Freedom of the Venezuelan people; it stands for controlling their massive oil reserves, and insuring that Venezuela's oil will only be sold for US dollars.

I have heard the soundbite "Everything is on the table", floated as a description of further potential ways for the US to get Maduro out of power, whatever they may be.

War against Venezuela for its oil?!?

Right now, I would not bet against it.

But were I in the Pentagon "war room", I would have to ask; "If we invade, what will Russia, which already has troops in position, decide to do?"

This could get ugly, quickly, and in ways for which the US government perhaps has not either thought through, or didn't consider: and that, folks, is what concerns me most.