Another Bad Venezuela Take

James Stavridis has a bold and mostly bad take on Venezuela. Maduro, he says, is about to fall. Juan Guaidó, he says, has made major strides (I don't think I've seen anyone else make this claim). China and India are getting lukewarm (he does not mention Russia or Cuba, problematic omissions). And...well, that's it.

Oh wait, there is also token Spanish.

But it is “la hora de la verdad” for a unified regional approach, a push for humanitarian relief, and a carefully graduated ladder of economic punishments and inducements.

In other words, he says nothing new but allows it to lead him to the conclusion that "la hora de la verdad" is here, with no evidence for the "hora."

None of us know what going on inside the government, especially with the armed forces. But claims about imminent collapse have, like with Cuba during the Special Period, come on a regular basis, just never with new information. Look how bad things are! That means he's on the ropes. Well, maybe, but you can be on the ropes for decades.