Pope Leo Presses Trump to Not Use Military Against Venezuela’s Maduro

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

Pope Leo has urged President Donald Trump not to launch a war to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro using military force.
The Pope said Tuesday: "It is better to search for ways of dialogue, or perhaps pressure, including economic pressure."
He added, during a news conference in Turkey at the end of his first foreign trip, that the Trump administration should bring about regime change by other means than military force, "if that is what they want to do in the United States."
The Pope also criticized the signals surrounding the crisis given by the Trump administration, stating: "Voices that come from the United States, they change with a certain frequency."
In a further apparent criticism of the Trump administration, Leo, the first U.S. Pope, said the messaging from the U.S. side had been unclear.
He referenced a phone call Trump held with Maduro on Nov 21.
"On one hand, it seems there was a call between the two presidents," he said.
"On the other hand, there is the danger, there is the possibility there will be some activity, some (military) operation."
"The voices that come from the United States, they change with a certain frequency."

[Doom]

There is 0% probability of that happening. He might as well say he is against Trump raising the dead.

[anawim]

I agree with Doom.

I've been following Trump for over 40 years. He isn't above deception to get what he wants.

Case in point. He bought property in Manhattan but didn't have the money to finish the job. He hired construction workers and heavy equipment brought to the site. When he met the loan officer from the bank at the site, he told him that he started the job, but needed more money to finish it. He got the loan.
Did the loan officer see through the ruse? Maybe, but it's Trump's style.

If he wants the moon, he'll tell his adversary that he wants the stars. When that is rejected, he will tell him, 'o.k., how about the moon'. That puts him back on his heels, it allows him to save face, and softens him up to negotiate in good faith.

For all Trump's antics, he's all about 'saving face'.

[Tired]

I'd be surprised if it came to military directly against Maduro. Unfortunately, the general Venezuelan doesn't have many options to rise up - hopefully that will change somehow and that country might be restored to something like its former successful self.

In the meantime, I'm plenty content with the continued destruction of drug boats. I'd similarly be content with the destruction of drug planes (though planes generally can't carry as much weight in drugs).

[Highlander]

I agree with the Pope's assessment. Love the President or not, his public position on many things is a constantly moving target.