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[mid83]

Just got an alert from the AP app that the Venezuelan opposition leader has been taken from his leader by authorities per his wife. There isn't any text to the story at this point but I'll update if more info comes out.

Pretty terrifying situation continues to get worse in Venezuela.

Update: CNN just posted a story, which reports that two leading opposition leaders have been taken from their homes.

Former Mayor of Caracas and prominent opposition figure Antonio Ledezma has been taken from his home where he was under house arrest by the Venezuelan intelligence service, according to tweets from his wife and children.

CNN is reaching out to family members for more information and to the intelligence service for comment.

Leading Venezuela opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez has been taken from his home, according to tweets from his wife.

"They just took Leopoldo from the house. We do not know where he is or where he is being taken. Maduro is responsible if something happens to him," Lopez's wife Lilian Tintori tweeted early Tuesday morning.

Lopez, who was released to house arrest in July, was taken from his home shortly after midnight, his wife said on social media. Tontori also posted video that she says shows her husband being taken away.

It's not confirmed who took him or where he was taken, but the video posted by Tontori shows Lopez being driven away in a car marked "SEBIN" which is an abbreviation for the Venezuelan Intelligence Service.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/01/americas/venezuela-election-unrest/index.html?adkey=bn

 

[GrizzleBoy]

Whaaaaat.

Edit: This is crazy man.....

 

[IaN_GAF]

This whole situation is becoming more messed up by the minute.

 

[Blablurn]

shocking scenes :/ sad world

 

[tolkir]

Video

Former Caracas mayor has been taken too. Edit: beaten with the update.

 

[BocoDragon]

Holy shit.

I have not been following Maduro's regime. Is he significantly more batshit than Chavez, or is this the nature of their party?

 

[Lowmelody]

Pullin a Putin.

 

[His Majesty]

get fucked Maduro

 

[Bedameister]

Holy shit.

I have not been following Maduro's regime. Is he significantly more batshit than Chavez, or is this the nature of their party?

Things are getting out of hand. I don't think the regime will last.

 

[Xando]

Things are getting out of hand. I don't think the regime will last.

Unless you wanna start military action the regime will last until the international community sanctions their oil and force a default

 

[Funky Papa]

Holy shit.

I have not been following Maduro's regime. Is he significantly more batshit than Chavez, or is this the nature of their party?

He's more incompetent.

He's also losing the grip on the population, which means that he's going to act more despotic in order to keep himself in power.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

I feel like this thread isn't getting enough attention, particularly when we had a plant the other day telling us how well the opposition was being treated by Maduro.

Hopefully this shit won't last too much longer, considering there's not a whole lot of 'worse' that you can from here.

 

[Linkark07]

Things are getting out of hand. I don't think the regime will last.

With how the military is completely under Maduro's control, only way to throw him out is through international intervention. Either with sanctions or sending their armies, just like the US did for overthrow Noriega in Panama.

 

[Dubbedinenglish]

Holy shit.

I have not been following Maduro's regime. Is he significantly more batshit than Chavez, or is this the nature of their party?

Yes and infinitely more stupid. His solution to food scarcity was for everyone to own a chicken, he even said he has them and that's all they eat. The dude is a lost cause.

 

[darkwing]

you just know what is going to happen to them :/

more people should know about this

 

[FerDS]

With how the military is completely under Maduro's control, only way to throw him out is through international intervention. Either with sanctions or sending their armies, just like the US did for overthrow Noriega in Panama.

Sanctions are already in place. Yesterday or the day before the US put sanctions on Maduro himself

 

[Linkark07]

Sanctions are already in place. Yesterday or the day before the US put sanctions on Maduro himself

I don't mean Maduro only. Sanctions to the country itself. Venezuela depends too much on the oil for survive and not go into default.

And besides, there are some people in the government without sanctions. Vladimir Padrino, who is the Defense Minister, or Diosdado Cabello, who was one of the most loyal followers of Chávez and is also Maduro's, don't have any kind of sanction from the U.S.

 

[FerDS]

I don't mean Maduro only. Sanctions to the country itself. Venezuela depends too much on the oil for survive and not go into default.

And besides, there are some people in the government without sanctions. Vladimir Padrino, who is the Defense Minister, or Diosdado Cabello, who was one of the most loyal followers of Chávez and is also Maduro's, don't have any kind of sanction from the U.S.

Those are also under consideration since the ilegal elections on July 30th, per US spokesperson

 

[Linkark07]

Those are also under consideration since the ilegal elections on July 30th, per US spokesperson

Well, the U.S. Government should decide and fast. Things will get even worse now in Venezuela.

 

[ultratruman]

I don't mean Maduro only. Sanctions to the country itself. Venezuela depends too much on the oil for survive and not go into default.

Part of the reason why all this is happening is because the oil price has plunged and the Venezuelan economy has collapsed.

 

[OraleeWey]

Well, the U.S. Government should decide and fast. Things will get even worse now in Venezuela.

But, why? Don't US citizens hate it when USA intervines ?

 

[Mondrian]

But, why? Don't US citizens hate it when USA intervines ?

Venezuela has oil!

 

[Stinkles]

This is just biased Western Media's version of it. What actually happened was that the Venezuelan government did come and take him from his house, but they took him to a waterslide park for the day.

 

[FerDS]

But, why? Don't US citizens hate it when USA intervines ?

When they interven directly, imposing sanctions is somewhat accepted

 

[Linkark07]

But, why? Don't US citizens hate it when USA intervines ?

No idea now, but back in 1989 when the US invaded Panama, most of the population backed Bush move, according to Wikipedia.

That said, I understand the POTUS can't order a military invasion unless he has the approval of the Congress and Senate. Is that right?

 

[GregLombardi]

When I worked on some projects that involved Venezuelan currency a couple years back, I could see this happening at that time. Now that it is coming home to roost, I am saddened.

It will get worse before it gets better unfortunately.

 

[Netherscourge]

Well, the U.S. Government should decide and fast. Things will get even worse now in Venezuela.

Neither Trump nor the GoP will care.

Venezuela is an example of failed Socialism. If anything, they'll just stand back and let it burn to make a point that Socialism is bad for America.

My right-wing friends are always making reference to Venezuela whenever the topic of Socialism or Social programs are brought up in our conversations.

 

[Xando]

Neither Trump nor the GoP will care.

Venezuela is an example of failed Socialism. If anything, they'll just stand back and let it burn to make a point that Socialism is bad for America.

My right-wing friends are always making reference to Venezuela whenever the topic of Socialism or Social programs are brought up in our conversations.

They'll care when the country descends into full civil war and thousands of refugees try to get to the US

 

[FerDS]

Neither Trump nor the GoP will care.

Venezuela is an example of failed Socialism. If anything, they'll just stand back and let it burn to make a point that Socialism is bad for America.

My right-wing friends are always making reference to Venezuela whenever the topic of Socialism or Social programs are brought up in our conversations.

Please, the US has shown to not only care but also has taken different actions against the Venezuelan government. No, the aren’t going to invade the country, nor they should.

 

[DeviantBoi]

Venezuela right now is where I imagine Honduras would have been if they hadn't removed Mel Zelaya from the presidency.

The world shat upon Honduras when they kicked Zelaya out of office. I guess they wanted Honduras to descend into chaos that would have take decades to get out of before it was okay to remove a wannabe dictator from office.

 

[Netherscourge]

They'll care when the country descends into full civil war and thousands of refugees try to get to the US

They won't be let in with this administration running things.

All these assholes want to do is build walls.

 

[OraleeWey]

What about other countries intervine like, Mexico or Canada? Why does it always fall back to US's responsibility? Just curious.

 

[clemenx]

They'll care when the country descends into full civil war and thousands of refugees try to get to the US

That's already happening and is only going to get worse. And not only USA should be worried but our neighbors need to act as well. Last Friday alone about 25k people fled to Colombia by foot.

 

[Linkark07]

What about other countries intervine like, Mexico or Canada? Why does it always fall back to US's responsibility? Just curious.

Mexico has too many problems with drug trafficking, so scratch Mexico. Besides, Peña Nieto wouldn't dare to attack another country with how awful is his popularity, which got even worse when it was reported he was (and probably still is) spying political opponents.

Colombia, I also doubt Santos would dare move his troops. Low popularity plus he has the problem with the FARC.

Brazil can't either. Temer is fighting for not get impeached.

About Canada, can't comment about them.

Most they can do is also put sanctions on Venezuela. But again, the main resource that Venezuela uses for survive is oil, which the US is the main market.

 

[UberTag]

This is just biased Western Media's version of it. What actually happened was that the Venezuelan government did come and take him from his house, but they took him to a waterslide park for the day.

That wouldn't be such a bad way to go really.
I mean, sure it's the kind of park where they hold your head under the water until you drown once you hit bottom... but at least you got to go down a fun slide first.

 

[OraleeWey]

Mexico has too many problems with drug trafficking, so scratch Mexico. Besides, Peña Nieto wouldn't dare to attack another country with how awful is his popularity, which got even worse when it was reported he was (and probably still is) spying political opponents.

Colombia, I also doubt Santos would dare move his troops. Low popularity plus he has the problem with the FARC.

Brazil can't either. Temer is fighting for not get impeached.

About Canada, can't comment about them.

Most they can do is also put sanctions on Venezuela. But again, the main resource that Venezuela uses for survive is oil, which the US is the main market.

USA has its problems too. With Trump being president, would you say that USA intervention is for the benefit of Venezuela or for the benefit for Trump?

The situation in Venezuela is fucked though. That president needs to go.

 

[Linkark07]

USA has its problems too. With Trump being president, would you say that USA intervention is for the benefit of Venezuela or for the benefit for Trump?

The situation in Venezuela is fucked though. That president needs to go.

In that we can agree at least.

But as another poster said, if the international community doesn't do something, the entire region will suffer the consequences of Maduro's stupidity and greed for power. And not only Latin America, but also North America too.

 

[Schlep]

Watching Trump's Twitter for the eventual praise of Maduro...

 

[BlackLagoon]

Holy shit.

I have not been following Maduro's regime. Is he significantly more batshit than Chavez, or is this the nature of their party?

The opposition in Venezuela were the ones running the country before Chavez, and were generally a seen as bunch of corrupt crooks who mainly wanted to enrich themselves and did little to address the widespread poverty in country.

Now people want the crooks back.

That's how bad it's gotten.

 

[CTLance]

Aw man, stay safe, Venezuela-GAF. :'(

 

[clemenx]

Also, until now most countries haven't cared about our immigration because most Venezuelans that fled at first had college and even graduate degrees. But poor people who have nothing are starting to flee as well, illegally in a lot of cases and as ugly as it sounds no one is going to want those immigrants.

 

[Binabik15]

I'm glad that my mother's cousin went back to Germany a couple years ago after a decade+ of owning a business in Venezuela.

Going from a POS to a dumb POS. Yay.

 

[Eylos]

I readed that zapatero IS there trying to negotiate, Hope he is sucessful, nobody should be persecuted by political position.

 

[Mr. Poolman]

Can the military and Maduro keep the whole country hostage?

How long until a breaking point is reached?
There are still food shortages?

 

[Giant Panda]

He's more incompetent.

He's also losing the grip on the population, which means that he's going to act more despotic in order to keep himself in power.

I'm not sure that he's more incompetent. I don't see Chavez doing particularly better than Maduro had he lasted this long. I think instead the major difference is that Chavez was seen as very charismatic by many Venezuelans while Maduro never really has.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

I'm not sure that he's more incompetent. I don't see Chavez doing particularly better than Maduro had he lasted this long. I think instead the major difference is that Chavez was seen as very charismatic by many Venezuelans while Maduro never really has.

Chavez enjoyed high oil prices that even allowed him to support socialists in other countries .

 

[Funky Papa]

I'm not sure that he's more incompetent. I don't see Chavez doing particularly better than Maduro had he lasted this long. I think instead the major difference is that Chavez was seen as very charismatic by many Venezuelans while Maduro never really has.

He was very charismatic, but he was also more politically inclined, which is quite a thing for a coupist. His international reach was kind of disproportionate and allowed him to make a number of friends overseas.

Maduro can't tie his own shoes. Chavez was a bad leader, but Maduro is just plainly unfit.

 

[FerDS]

There’s some misinformation in this thread. Many countries have intervened in the situation, including Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, Spain, etc etc

The US is clearly particularly important because well, it’s the US but most importantly because about 90% of Venezuela’s income comes from selling oil to USA

 

[gutter_trash]

Dictatorship installation 70% complete

 

[Billy_Pilgrim]

Fairest elections in the world iirc