US officials may be trying to recruit General Bitner Villegas, a pilot trusted by President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, in a bid to topple his government. The alleged plot involves DHS agent Edwin Lopez, who is said to have approached the pilot with an offer: diverting Maduro's plane and making him a rich man if he cooperates.
However, the plan appears to be fraught with risks. General Bitner Villegas has refused to cooperate with US intelligence services, even after being reminded that there was still time left to join forces and become a "Venezuelan hero." The pilot ultimately appeared on Venezuelan television alongside the minister of the interior, asserting his loyalty to President Maduro.
This plot is not the first attempt by the US to destabilize the Maduro government. US authorities have spent decades targeting Cuban president Fidel Castro and his entourage, offering him $10,000 in exchange for information that could have been used to assassinate him.
The current escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas has sparked concerns about a potential crisis. The CIA's involvement in Latin America has a long and troubled history, with the US having participated in the fall of five regimes between 1963 and 1981. The agency's latest attempt appears to be part of a strategy to signal resolve and ability to use US power.
The Trump administration's approach defies basic rules of working as an agent, according to intelligence services specialist Luca Trenta. "They are simply about hitting hard," he says. "The rest is for show." This bluster may backfire, with Venezuela announcing that it had thwarted a CIA plot and accusing the agency of establishing a cell to fabricate false flag incidents.
Venezuela's president Maduro has faced numerous international sanctions, allegations of drug trafficking, and accusations of human rights abuses since taking office in 2013. The Trump administration's approach has sparked concerns about potential reprisals from Venezuela, with the country threatening retaliation if it feels attacked on American soil.
The situation highlights the risks associated with covert operations going public. US officials may be trying to convince domestic citizens that the administration is tough on crime and security, rather than working to resolve complex international issues.
However, the plan appears to be fraught with risks. General Bitner Villegas has refused to cooperate with US intelligence services, even after being reminded that there was still time left to join forces and become a "Venezuelan hero." The pilot ultimately appeared on Venezuelan television alongside the minister of the interior, asserting his loyalty to President Maduro.
This plot is not the first attempt by the US to destabilize the Maduro government. US authorities have spent decades targeting Cuban president Fidel Castro and his entourage, offering him $10,000 in exchange for information that could have been used to assassinate him.
The current escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas has sparked concerns about a potential crisis. The CIA's involvement in Latin America has a long and troubled history, with the US having participated in the fall of five regimes between 1963 and 1981. The agency's latest attempt appears to be part of a strategy to signal resolve and ability to use US power.
The Trump administration's approach defies basic rules of working as an agent, according to intelligence services specialist Luca Trenta. "They are simply about hitting hard," he says. "The rest is for show." This bluster may backfire, with Venezuela announcing that it had thwarted a CIA plot and accusing the agency of establishing a cell to fabricate false flag incidents.
Venezuela's president Maduro has faced numerous international sanctions, allegations of drug trafficking, and accusations of human rights abuses since taking office in 2013. The Trump administration's approach has sparked concerns about potential reprisals from Venezuela, with the country threatening retaliation if it feels attacked on American soil.
The situation highlights the risks associated with covert operations going public. US officials may be trying to convince domestic citizens that the administration is tough on crime and security, rather than working to resolve complex international issues.
i mean what's up with this alleged plot by dhs agent edwin lopez to recruit general bitner villegas? like come on guys, get your act together 
#USVenezuelaTensions #CIAPlotFail
we've seen it all before with cuba, remember? $10k for info that could've been used to assassinate fidel castro... yeah no thanks 
#CIAHistory
we all know the risks associated with covert ops goin public, let's not play games here 
#USForeignPolicyFail
and venezuela's gonna retaliate if they feel attacked on american soil, mark my words 
#VenezuelaStandsTall
this whole thing just gives me chills you know like they're playing a game of global hot potato and its not looking good for venezuela or anyone else involved i mean what's next gonna be them trying to recruit other military folks in latin america or is it gonna be a proxy war between the US and china 
its like you can see the desperation from over there. maybe instead of trying to topple Maduro's gov they should try to figure out what's really goin on and have a real convo 
Offerin' a rich life for General Villegas? That's low, even for geopolitics.
The CIA's history of messing up regimes is a red flag, they can't even be trusted with their own playbook.
This escalation is all about showboatin', tryin' to intimidate Maduro without actually makin' progress.
- just like you said, they're hitting hard but that's not gonna solve anything. it's like they think money can buy anyone off, but in reality, it's always about power and control 
. Why would a General just agree to cooperate with someone from the other side? And what's with all these attempts to destabilize Venezuela? It seems like the US is trying too hard to show off its power 
The US should be working on diplomatic solutions, not trying to manipulate people into doing their bidding