Rumors naming the high level Venezuelan official who handed Maduro to the US military, and cooperated with the CIA, have been flying all day. A breaking report in The Wall Street Journal Monday evening names the name top on everyone’s list, confirming the rumors or what was becoming increasingly obvious to close observers:
A recent classified U.S. intelligence assessment determined top members of Nicolás Maduro’s regime—including Vice President Delcy Rodríguez—would be best positioned to lead a temporary government in Caracas and maintain near-term stability if the autocrat lost power, people familiar with the matter said.
The analysis by the Central Intelligence Agency was briefed to President Trump and shared with a small circle of senior administration officials, according to two of the people. It was a factor in Trump’s decision to back Maduro’s vice president instead of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, some of the people said.
The assessment provides insight into Trump’s decision not to support the opposition’s bid for control of Venezuela following the brazen U.S. military operation to capture Maduro last week and bring him to the U.S. for trial. As in his first term, Trump was convinced that near-term stability in Venezuela could be maintained only if Maduro’s replacement had the support of the country’s armed forces and other elites.
What next? There are obvious fears of some kind of insurgency or political chaos akin to the post regime change Libya or Iraq years. Meanwhile…
President Trump says “we have to fix” Venezuela before the country holds elections to replace deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, according to an interview with NBC News.
