Top US diplomat to meet with Venezuela officials amid crisis

[Zorro]

Source: AP

A senior U.S. diplomat was scheduled to meet Tuesday with Venezuelan officials to jumpstart dialogue between the normally hostile governments as the socialist-run nation is torn apart by daily food protests and a campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

Thomas Shannon, a career diplomat with extensive experience in Latin America, flew to Caracas after weeks of looting and hunger riots in Venezuela. The riots led to hundreds of arrests and several deaths.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Shannon, who now serves as undersecretary of state for political affairs, hoped to foster dialogue about the social, economic and political challenges facing the oil-rich country. He was to meet with leading opposition figures and was also expected to meet with Maduro and other government representatives.

The visit comes as the Organization of American States is set to meet later in the week in Washington to debate the mounting crisis and weigh sanctioning Maduro for allegedly stamping out political dissent in violation of regional commitments to democracy.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/top-us-diplomat-meet-venezuelan-officials-163600702.html

[fasttense]

1. Meeting with opposition leader?

That's like meeting with Trump then meeting with Obama. It gives tacit approval to Trump and the opposition. The US is determined to destroy the socialist government of Venezuela. The oligarchs lose control under a socialist government. Can't have that.

[brooklynite]

3. I'd say the Socialist Govt is doing a good job of destroying itself.

[fasttense]

4. And you would be mistaken

This socialist government has had more US interference than Chavez had and he had a US backed coup try to kill him.

[NobodyHere]

6. Too bad the coup didn't work

The Venezuelans might be able to afford food right now.

[snooper2]

8. LOL, I wonder if people really believe the stuff they type sometimes

[anigbrowl]

7. Is the government willing to meet with him?

On past form I'm guessing the answer is no. You just can't seem to deal with the possibility that the Venezuelan government might have dug themselves into this hole.

[FLPanhandle]

2. Do not send our tax money down there!

It's just a black hole. The Venezuelan government, through their own incompetence, got themselves into this mess, let them get themselves out of it.

We have homeless, hungry people here. We have millions struggling to get by. If anyone needs aid, it's our own country.

[fasttense]

5. Don't worry the only US money going there is to the opposition

The Line item in the US budget reads for support of the opposition. It does Not give any of your tax dollars to help feed and care for the people.

And the Koch brothers are very happy with that arrangement.