Trump Finds 'Lack of Respect' in Venezuelan Opposition He Once Backed
The Independent reports Donald Trump claiming Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado 'doesn’t have the respect' to lead, despite his prior administration’s enthusiastic support for regime change in Caracas. This conveniently overlooks the fact that for years, both Republican and Democratic administrations have propped up various Venezuelan opposition figures, often discarding them once
their utility wanes—a strategy reminiscent of Iraq's Ahmed Chalabi. It appears that 'respect' in Washington is less about democratic principles and more about alignment with current geopolitical maneuvering, especially when there's oil involved. One might wonder if the respect deficit is truly Machado's, or if it's reserved for any opposition figure who might actually upset the established order
once elevated.