The people of Venezuela have made many attempts to get rid of the socialist ruling drug cartel led by Nicolas Maduro and Diosdado Cabello. Furthermore, they are simply exhausted with the political opposition which has played the regime’s game and legitimized them far too often and for far too long.
I’m a firm believer in the theory that Venezuela is a country which will never rid itself of the ruling drug cartel from within. For this to happen the military would need to turn on the cartel, which will never occur because the military shares in the drug-trafficking profits. Moreover, while this ruling drug cartel is the only threat facing Venezuelans at the moment, it also represents a clear and present danger for the region and the United States. Among other things, I have often heard the United States should not intervene, that we should be “invited in.”
A recently released poll of Venezuelans not only proves why over 3 million Venezuelans have fled the cartel-ruled country but it also, I believe, provides an unequivocal rejection of the political opposition (which many in the international community take their cues from) as well as a clear invitation for the United States and other retinal allies to stage a humanitarian intervention and throw the cartel out of power.
The Meganalisis poll found the following trends among the 1,150 respondents:
Venezuelans are exhausted by the entire political establishment in Venezuela. Both chavistas and the political opposition have completely lost the backing of the people.
Do you want Maduro and the Chavistas out of power?
Yes: 83.8%
No: 13.5%
Don’t Know: 2.6%
Why do you believe Maduro is still in power?
Because the political opposition allows it and legitimizes him: 75.3%
Because the armed forces allow it: 7.5%
Because the people support him: 10.7%
Don’t know: 6.4%
Which action do you believe the political opposition leaders must take, after almost 20 years of being unable to bring about change?
Move aside and disappear allowing new faces to take the lead: 80.3%
Keep leading and call for street protests: 5.3%
Keep leading and enter formal talks with the regime: 6.5%
Don’t know: 7.8%
Who in Venezuela do you believe should take the lead of the political opposition? The interesting thing about this question in the poll is that 18 names were given to respondents. Only 2 of them made it above 10%. The two are Lorenzo Medoza, who is not a politician but the most important business man still operating in the country despite the best efforts of the regime to shut him down, and Maria Corina Machado, who received a staggering 40.7% in an 18 candidate field. What is most telling is that Machado (depicted in feature photo), the first leader to leave the now useless “Democratic Unity Table,” has been consistently called radical by the rest of the political opposition; she is the only political figure who has consistently advocated for complete regime change and humanitarian intervention.
At the same time, Venezuelans are quite simply done with the current crop of politicians, with Machado being the exception. They are not very hopeful they can get rid of this narco regime themselves, considering everything known has been tried. From street riots, general strikes, and thousands dead, Venezuelans are convinced they will need international intervention.
Some argue Venezuelans can rid themselves of this regime without international assistance.
Do you believe this to be the case?
Yes: 16.3%
No: 78.4%
Don’t Know: 5.2%
The following two questions do not represent an approval rating, but ask if Venezuelans believe these two nation leaders will actually intervene.
Do you believe President Donald Trump of the United States represents hope for Venezuelans moving forward?
Yes: 19.9%
No: 64.8%
Don’t Know: 15.2%
Do you believe newly elected Colombian President Ivan Duque represents hope for Venezuelans moving forward?
Yes: 51.9%
No: 37.1%
Don’t Know: 10.9%
Venezuelans are split, but hopeful Ivan Duque of Colombia may be the driving force behind humanitarian intervention. This may have to do with geographical positioning, as Colombia and Venezuela are neighbors.
Meanwhile, some Venezuelans have lost hope in President Trump because his term is two years old, and nothing but sanctions have been applied on cartel/regime officials.
A few things are clear to any objective observer of the Venezuelan situation for the past 2 decades. Venezuela is a clear and present danger to the region and to the United States. This cartel/regime will not be removed from power from within the country, and humanitarian intervention is the only thing which will effect change.
This poll represents an invitation for the international community to act. However, Venezuelans are hopeless in an international community which has allowed al-Assad to remain in power after the chemical weapons attack on his own people in Syria, has tolerated the Castro regime for over six decades, and is now warming up to the North Korea dictator.
