Anti-War Voices on Both Sides Warn of Coming CIA Provocation to Kill Guaidó, Blame Maduro

Written by Whitney Webb; Originally appeared at Mint Press

With Guaidó rapidly losing momentum and credibility after Tuesday’s failed coup, López and his U.S. backers may turn on their own if they think it will benefit or energize their cause or if it could be used to set the stage for foreign military intervention.

Venezuela’s opposition leader and self proclaimed president Juan Guaido, greets the crowd from the door of a vehicle during a rally in Maracay, Venezuela, April 26, 2019. Fernando Llano | AP

Prominent American anti-war figures from across the ideological spectrum are warning that the Trump administration may soon turn on Juan Guaidó — the man they recognize as Venezuela’s interim president — in order to justify military intervention in Venezuela.

These warnings followed Guaidó’s failed attempt to lead a military uprising on Tuesday, which analysts characterized as a desperate move, with Guaidó’s parallel government having failed to gain any significant traction in Venezuela since late January. With Guaidó now quickly losing legitimacy and momentum since Tuesday’s failed coup, it has become increasingly probable that his political patrons — the United States — may soon turn on him, as any harm done to him could be blamed on Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, which would allow the U.S. government to justify aggressive action against the Maduro-led government.

One of the first prominent anti-war voices to raise concern that the U.S. government, particularly the CIA, may now see Guaidó as more valuable dead than alive was Daniel McAdams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity and co-host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report, with the former congressman, presidential candidate and well-known libertarian. During Tuesday’s edition of the Liberty Report, Paul raised concern that a provocation could be used to push for foreign (i.e., U.S.) military intervention in Venezuela:

The big danger is a hard war breaking out. I’d still bet it won’t be too bad, with thousands of troops moving. But it could be a guerrilla war or something like that. If there is a false flag or some important official on either side gets killed, you can’t tell what might happen.”

McAdams responded, pointing out that Guaidó himself could soon become such a target for a provocation:

He [Guaidó] has been a kind of a hapless figure so far. He calls for mass protests and no one shows up. I don’t think he realizes right now that he is actually now worth more dead than alive not only to the CIA, but also to his own opposition people. A shot in the crowd or something like that to take Guaidó out. It might shock you, Dr. Paul, but the CIA is pretty good at this kind of things.”

Watch | Daniel McAdams and Ron Paul discuss the potential for provocation in Venezuela

Concerns about Guaidó being targeted by the U.S. in order to blame it on the Venezuelan government and justify intervention were also raised on Wednesday by Ajamu Baraka, former vice presidential candidate for the Green Party and national organizer for Black Alliance for Peace. Baraka took to Twitter, stating:

Watch out for a false-flag operation in Venezuela with a hit on Guaidó, whose value to CIA & U.S. state is fading by the minute now. With the release of Leopoldo Lopez (by unknown forces) the U.S. now has access to someone who is even more vicious and opportunist than Guaidó.”

As MintPress has previously reported, Leopoldo López was lauded in a leaked U.S. government cable citing “his enduring popularity, charisma and talent as an organizer” within the U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition. These characteristics are something that Guaidó is increasingly losing as his parallel government continues to fail to gain traction within Venezuela.

Watch out for a false-flag operation in Venezuela with a hit on Guaido who's value to CIA & U.S. state is fading by the minute now. With the release of Leopoldo Lopez ( by unknown forces) the U.S. now has access to someone who is even more vicious and opportunist than Guaido.

— Ajamu Baraka (@ajamubaraka) May 1, 2019

Guaidó’s utility fading fast

With López still unable to directly maneuver in the streets, Guaidó’s continued freedom of movement may continue to make him a valuable asset to the current efforts to overthrow Venezuela’s Chavista-led government. However, with Guaidó rapidly losing momentum and credibility after Tuesday’s failed coup, López and his U.S. backers may turn on their own if they think it will benefit or energize their cause or if it could be used to set the stage for foreign military intervention.

Though it may seem extreme, the U.S. — and the CIA in particular — have turned on their assets in Latin America before, with former Panamanian dictator and long-time CIA asset Manuel Noriega being as good an example as any. Furthermore, the U.S. has often been led into wars by “false flag” provocations, such as the now infamous Gulf of Tonkin incident, which led to increased U.S. intervention in Vietnam. The CIA, together with the Pentagon, even made plans in the 1960s to conduct terror attacks on U.S. soil in order to justify military action against Cuba, showing that U.S. intelligence has even been willing to kill American citizens to justify military intervention abroad. There are numerous precedents from the CIA’s past that show that a plan that would see Guaidó become some sort of “false flag” martyr is hardly a far-fetched scenario.

In Guaidó’s case, National Security Adviser John Bolton — known for his marked tendency to favor military action over diplomacy — previously stated that Guaidó’s “safety must be guaranteed” and that “any threats or acts against his safe return will be met with a strong and significant response from the United States and the international community.”

Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaido has announced his planned return to Venezuela. Any threats or acts against his safe return will be met with a strong and significant response from the United States and the international community.

— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) March 4, 2019

President Guaido safely returned to Venezuela today to continue his strong push for a democratic future for the people of his country. The United States fully supports Guaido and the National Assembly. His safety must be guaranteed. The world is watching. pic.twitter.com/pFwUghxW63

— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) March 4, 2019