A bungled armed raid last week targeting Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro appears to have backfired badly, seriously undermining the political legitimacy of the country’s internationally backed opposition and raising questions about US involvement. Venezuelan forces killed eight men in the first of two attempted landings, and 50, including two ex-US marines, have been arrested. Proved unreliableThe aides said it was just one of several options they considered and that the plan fell apart within weeks because Goudreau proved unreliable. Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro showing the passports of two US citizens arrested by security forces in his country after an alleged failed plot to capture him. Maduro has since been bragging about defeating “an assassination plot” backed by the Trump administration, has paraded the two captured Americans on TV and is threatening to arrest Guaidó.

Source: The Irish Times May 12, 2020 22:52 UTC