Trump, cronies ‘crazy enough’ to use military force in Venezuela: Analyst

US President Donald Trump and his cronies, including National Security Adviser John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and special envoy for Caracas Elliott Abrams, are “crazy enough” to militarily intervene in Venezuela, says a political analyst.

Daniel Kovalik made the comments in an interview with Press TV on Sunday when asked about the recent remarks by Trump who said that sending military forces to Venezuela was “an option.”

Trump made the threat amid attempts by the US-backed opposition in the Latin American country to topple the democratically-elected government of President Nicolas Maduro.

“Certainly, it’s something that’s on the - it’s an option,” Trump said in an interview with CBS on Sunday.

Kovalik said, “I don’t think that Trump is bluffing in terms of his threats of military intervention, I think though that it would only be used as a last resort, because the optics of US troops on Latin American streets in 2019 would be terrible optics for the United States, I think it will turn large swaths of Black American people against the United States.”

“But, I also think that Trump and his cronies, John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, Elliot Abrams are certainly crazy enough to try such a thing, so I certainly do not rule out that possibility,” he added.

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets in Venezuela, holding rallies in support and against Maduro, who began his second six-year term in office last month.

The clashes began after Juan Guaido, the opposition leader in the country’s National Assembly, proclaimed himself as the “interim president” and urged Maduro to resign.

The US rushed to support Guaido, announcing sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry.

Vice President Mike Pence doubled down on Washington’s support for Guaido on Saturday, saying the Trump administration will forgo "dialogue" and consider "all options" to help him against Maduro.

PressTV-US threatens Venezuela with 'all options' after coup bid

US Vice President says its time to take action against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Kovalik went on to say, “For the moment, I think Maduro can hold on, I think he has enough support amongst the population, particularly the poor of Venezuela, to continue as president, he certainly has support of the military.”

However, "at the same time, the economic war that's been waged against Venezuela by the United States is significant," he added.

Oil-rich Venezuela is mired in economic turmoil, with people grappling with hyperinflation, power cuts and shortages of basic items.  

Caracas accuses Washington of being behind the crisis as part of a bid to topple Maduro’s government.

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