Trump to Maduro: Get Out or Get Dead

I'm sure Tucker Carlson will bring up lots of conspiracy theories about monied Venezuelans controlling our country and pushing us towards war.

Oh wait, they're not Jewish. Forget it.

President Trump gave Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro a strongly worded ultimatum as tensions flared with the South American nation -- telling him to resign and leave or else, according to a bombshell report.

During a call between Trump and Maduro, the socialist president demanded that he be allowed to maintain control of Venezuela's military if he paved the way for free elections there, said the Miami Herald, citing sources. Maduro also reportedly sought global amnesty for all of his alleged crimes.

Trump's refusal on both counts was said to be swift as he followed up with an offer that Maduro may not be able to refuse: Leave now or else.

The pair's talks quickly broke down, with a US pol Sunday lamenting that the ongoing "war" between the two sides is already deadlier than Vietnam for his state.

"It killed 100,000 Americans last year," McCormick said of the drug trade. "That's twice the number of people that died in eight years of Vietnam -- 4,000 Pennsylvanians."

After the phone call between Trump and Maduro failed to reach a detente, the US president announced he was closing the airspace around the South American country, as America's largest warship, the USS Gerald F. Ford -- and a Marine expeditionary unit, capable of amphibious invasion -- float offshore.

Trump also warned over the weekend that military operations inside Venezuela could begin "very soon."

Trump only told reporters Sunday that he spoke with Maduro recently, adding, "I wouldn't say it went well or badly."

...

Trump informed Maduro during their chat that Maduro, his wife and son would be allowed to leave Venezuela safely, but they must do it immediately, sources said.

"First, Maduro asked for global amnesty for any crimes he and his group had committed, and that was rejected," a source familiar with the call told the Herald.

"Second, they asked to retain control of the armed forces -- similar to what happened in Nicaragua in '91 with Violeta Chamorro. In return, they would allow free elections," the source said.

That proposal was also rejected, while the demand that Maduro resign immediately was made.

The offer of amnesty was also extended to Maduro's top allies, the Herald noted.

After the breakdown, Trump ramped up pressure on Venezuela and warned that the US would target drug-trafficking networks "by land" soon.

By Saturday, he made an announcement on social media that Venezuela's airspace should be considered "closed in its entirety," stoking fears of a looming war in the South American country of 28 million people.

It remains unclear how Trump intends to enforce the no-fly decree, as the US has no authority over Venezuelan airspace.

But by Sunday afternoon, a FlightRadar24 map showed that there were no international planes flying over Venezuela.

posted by Ace at 05:30 PM

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