A Real Plot! Failed…

A real conspiracy to overthrow Maduro is behind the arrests of several active military in the last months, according to Bloomberg’s Ethan Bronner, Andrew Rosati, and Fabiola Zerpa. The failed plot, code-named Operation Constitution, wanted to capture Maduro and put him on trial. Bloomberg reporters interviewed one escaped conspirator, who claims the plot was betrayed by a double agent. The government has been trying to link opposition leader Maria Corina Machado with the plot, but Bloomberg’s source denies that link.

“Bottom line,” says Bloomberg Businessweek, “A military coup to topple Venezuelan President Maduro -the most serious threat he’s faced in his five years in office- was quashed when dozens of plotters were arrested.”

Colombian Government Planning a War against Venezuela

“A series of military incidents and provocations are being prepared by the Colombian government of Juan Manuel Santos, from the Colombian territory and inside the Venezuelan territory, in order to generate an armed conflict between Colombia and Venezuela,” Maduro told National Bolivarian Armed Forces officers yesterday during a ceremony.

The Venezuelan armed forces should therefore be on guard, Maduro said: “I ask you, military officers of Venezuela, to raise your guard, be on the alert all along the Colombia-Venezuelan border. Operational Strategic High Command, take all the intelligence, counter-intelligence and logistical measures to nullify any provocation or incident that the outgoing Colombian government would like to leave behind as a rotten pot  against the Colombian Venezuelan relations.”

Maduro also asked the Colombian security forces not to be part of its government plot: “From here I send a message to the Colombian military, to the Colombian police forces, not to lend themselves to the dirty dealings [marramucias], the traps that the outgoing Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos wants to leave incubating: a military conflict, doing the errand for the North American Imperialism against the independent and sovereign Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I trust you, Colombian military, not to lend yourselves to a conflict between brothers.”