AME704. CARACAS (VENEZUELA), 19/11/2025.- Photo provided by the Press Office of the Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace, showing Minister Diosdado Cabello talking on his television program “Con el Mazo Dando” in Caracas (Venezuela). Cabello stated that the “American imperialism,” refering to the United States, is the one that “governs” in Trinidad and Tobago, where the U.S. Navy is conducting military maneuvers amid increasing tensions between Caracas and Washington. EFE/ Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace / EDITORIAL USE ONLY / SALES ONLY / AVAILABLE SOLELY TO ILLUSTRATE THE NEWS THAT ACCOMPANIES (CREDIT OBLIGATORY)
REVELATION! The surprising visit of the Southern Command chief, General Francis L. Donovan, to Venezuela not only shows that the chavismo 3.0 has run out of anti-imperialist rhetoric but also revealed something significant. What is it about? Well, the post published by the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela on its X account on Wednesday, February 18, at 7:55 PM, mentions a “Joint Force”. This reaffirms that this country has troops in Venezuela. You might argue that it’s probably just the embassy’s security team in Caracas, and you could be right. But when we talk about a “joint force,” we are looking at more than just a larger deployment, but also a specialized one that would allow the U.S. to act quickly and precisely in surgical actions such as capturing other figures of interest. I have a gut feeling that this group includes special forces not only from the army and/or marines but also from the CIA. What do you think?
NERVES. I have been informed that there is a crisis of nerves within a segment of Gian Carlo Di Martino’s municipal cabinet. Apparently, when I warned last week about an ongoing investigation that could lead to arrests in the Maracaibo Mayor’s Office, nerves skyrocketed. No wonder they are so fearful. Who will be the first to be handcuffed? Tick tock…
INTELLIGENCE. There’s no doubt that most Venezuelans wanted a quicker and more decisive outcome. Nothing would have pleased us more than to immediately remove chavismo from power and begin a deep purge of the State structure. Everyone wished for, except for the “traitors,” to see María Corina Machado and Edmundo González take control of a transition. The problem, as we’ve mentioned numerous times, is that desires clash with reality, and this reality indicates that the United States dictates the terms of what is happening in the country. What to do in light of U.S. strategy? Should we bang our fists on the table? Should we challenge Donald Trump? Should we hit the streets demanding the Americans accelerate the democratic transition? No, none of that is valid right now. This is why in the Sunday editorial in Verdades y Rumores, we talked about the need to “play intelligently”, aiming to seize the moment and integrate democratic forces into the U.S. plan. Sometimes, abrupt changes are not the solution, and thus we must understand that gradual change seems to be the best option, given the profound damage caused by chavismo. In fact, we should leverage the fact that the core of the U.S. strategy is for chavismo to dismantle itself, in order to inherit a more stable country, with economic recovery and fewer social urgencies. At this point, it’s worth remembering that in this column, we’ve often mentioned the complex difficulties that a transition would entail, which not only involves addressing the humanitarian crisis but also dismantling the power enclaves that chavismo established in the State, such as the police and repressive apparatus. Thus, it seems wise that it’s chavismo itself that must undertake such a task as part of the conditions imposed on them to avoid meeting the same fate as Maduro. Now, as part of this intelligent game, it’s crucial to time things right and wait for the green light from the United States for María Corina’s return. This is the great fear of the transitory regime, as having her back in Venezuela, doing activism, traveling the country, bringing hope, and especially explaining where we are headed; would be like a hot potato that would be hard for chavismo to manage. Hence, Delcy Eloína jumps ahead and issues a threat that frightens no one, stating that if MCM returns to the country, she will have to face justice. Far from reality, as when she decides to return, she will count on the U.S. backing her, and instead of attacking her, they will rather protect her to ensure nothing happens to her. Not only does the transitory regime fear MCM’s return, but also those opposition sectors that have distanced themselves from the democratic struggle, as this would accelerate their downfall and the vengeance of a people that doesn’t forget those who betrayed it. At this juncture, we must play intelligently and wait for the right moment for her return. Her presence in Venezuela would change the game and speed up the democratic transition. Thus, entering a state of desperation makes no sense, thinking that the U.S. prefers the fraternity of traitors in power, and especially wasting energy questioning every step taken. Finally, playing intelligently is not only a challenge for the genuinely opposing leadership but also for the citizen who dreams of escaping this long nightmare.
DEFENSE. So far, there are no official updates on the potential appointment of Major General Miguel Rodríguez Torres as the new Minister of Defense. Beyond the public proposal made by the “traitor” José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, there have been no firm updates. I think this idea was launched as a “trial balloon” to gauge reactions not only within the National Armed Forces but also among the members of the traitors’ circle. Of course, they were especially interested in measuring Diosdado Cabello’s response, as his well-known enmity with MRT is apparent. As of now, there is no position from DC, but it is assumed he is in absolute disagreement. Clearly, as we analyzed in the previous column, this is a move by the Rodríguez with three clear objectives. The first is to find a successor to Vladimir Padrino López in the Ministry of Defense, considering that the sinister brothers lack any trusted high-ranking official. The second objective is to find a military loyal to them who can assume leadership in the military realm, thus building loyalties around the transitory regime. The third is to position a figure that counterbalances Diosdado Cabello in the FAN, an institution fundamental to the Rodríguez’s plans to remain in power and sacrifice DC with the aim of gaining full control. We must not forget that Delcy and Jorge need to remove Cabello from the game; otherwise, he will be the one to remove them from the political board. To sacrifice Diosdado, they certainly require an alternate leader in the military sector to take on the role of containment. In this regard, it is easy to understand that for Rodríguez Torres, revenge against DC is a challenge he wishes to confront, as he kept him in jail for a long time and opposed any mediation for his liberation. How has the rumor spread? Apparently, the possible appointment of MRT has been received well within the FAN, and few, so far, do not view that decision positively. When could he be appointed? It could happen at any moment, although historical logic indicates it might be on July 5. However, taking into account the Rodríguez’s urgency to find an ally to serve as Diosdado’s opponent, it’s likely that his arrival at the Ministry of Defense could occur in the very near future.
SEARCH. A source linked to the coordination with the U.S. Southern Command informed me that they are very active monitoring the movements of three figures from chavismo 3.0. Who are they? He did not want to reveal their identities and merely stated that they already know where they are sleeping, how they move, and their weak points. What are they planning? He also did not want to provide that detail, but for some reason, they are being tracked and pinpointed 24 hours a day, as that Zulia philosopher would say. Is the “joint force” the one hunting them down?
CONSPIRACY. Diosdado Cabello is advancing in his conspiracy against Delcy Rodríguez’s transitory regime. He is trying to exploit every alternative he has to sabotage the tactical adjustments that the Rodríguez execute to be submissive and compliant with the United States. Not only did he halt the release of Juan Pablo Guanipa and send him home under a special prison regime, but he also unleashed the hunt for student leaders following marches demanding the freedom of political prisoners. On the other hand, he has his radicals vehemently opposing discussions on the Amnesty Law, attempting to block the approval of legislation more aligned with what the country demands. Additionally, the recent detention of oil expert Evanán Romero, part of María Corina Machado’s team in this vital area, could be added to all the actions Cabello is undertaking, in alliance with Tareck William Saab, to prevent the total dismantling of the police state, which the Rodríguez continue to develop and hence their elimination of the Center for Strategic Security and Protection of the Homeland [CESSPA], another significant blow to Diosdado and his intelligence and repression apparatus. But as everything that the traitors’ brotherhood does has consequences, with his conspiracy and rejection of Delcy’s plans, he has come back into the spotlight of the gringos who had lowered their guard with him, following his alignment with U.S. strategy. In fact, he is under tight surveillance, and they already know where he sleeps because he feels protected. Where does he rest? Apparently, in an embassy that is already identified. Is it the one from Turkey, Iran, Russia, or Spain? I would rule out the Iranian embassy, as he has never been a promoter of an alliance with the Islamic nation. I would also discard Russia because the government of that country has him on the list of those who betrayed Maduro. Turkey has the advantage that he has a good relationship with its government, plus he supposedly owns investments and properties there. I wouldn’t dismiss the Spanish embassy as he used this diplomatic delegation before when pressuring Edmundo González to leave the country.
“TRAITORS”. As I have been commenting, the transitory regime of the circle of traitors has launched a plan to create various opposition alternatives to degrade the image and leadership of María Corina Machado. As part of this plan, they are promoting the creation of a new opposition alliance that will bring together almost all their “traitorous” associates. Although this alliance would be new, its members are the same old suspects and undesirable figures who abandoned the struggle for Venezuela’s freedom to join a complicit coexistence with the regime. Who’s behind this new alliance? Take note, but first grab a tissue to shield your nose from the stench: Henrique Capriles, Timoteo Zambrano, Antonio Ecarri, Henri Falcón, Juan Barreto, Gustavo Duque, David Uzcátegui, Stalin González, and journalists Vladimir Villegas and Kico Bautista, among others still trying to maintain their disguise as opposition leaders. And Manuel Rosales? I’m told they are discussing integrating him. Who is tasked with forming this group? Timoteo has the primary mission under Zapatero’s instructions, although several of those mentioned are working diligently as they feel that together they can fulfill their agreements with chavismo. The idea is to promote the alliance and present an alternative presidential candidate to what they call the radical opposition led by María Corina. The objective is clearly to split the opposition vote so that Delcy or her brother Jorge can win in elections that should be held this year or in 2027. Who do they plan to launch? So far, I’ve heard of Enrique Márquez. I don’t know if my friend Enrique wants to get involved in such a play to benefit the government.
CANNIBALIZATION. Although this term sounds harsh, it is the most accurate definition to identify the essence of the U.S. strategy to build a transition towards a stable, economically recovering, and more democratic Venezuela. This implies a radical shift in that nation’s paradigm, which has been more accustomed to invading a country, toppling its leader, removing institutions, and starting from scratch. Donald Trump clearly stated in one of his many declarations about Venezuela that the failure in Iraq stemmed from this type of intervention model. They not only failed in Iraq but also in Afghanistan and even in Haiti. Was it worth repeating the same errors in Venezuela? Undoubtedly not. What the U.S. government is doing is forcing chavismo to dismantle itself. They are executing the tasks we thought would fall to a sector of the opposition. I reiterate, although it sounds strong, chavismo is cannibalizing itself. Or is the fact that they handed over Maduro and Cilia not a sign of that cannibalization? If we take a moment to recap all the actions and decisions made since Maduro and Cilia were captured, we will see a clear intent to dismantle chavismo. In this context, the second major blow to chavismo unity, after the betrayal of Nicolás and Cilita, was Delcy’s acceptance to collaborate unconditionally with the U.S., a tremendous contradiction after 27 years of criticisms and threats against yankee imperialism. Her appearance receiving the CIA director and the Energy Secretary, for example, is an affront to Chávez’s legacy that is costing her dearly. Having Padrino receive the Southern Command chief as a special guest and take his orders is another contradiction following so much bluster that Venezuela would be a new Vietnam for the gringos. This has forced the interim president to juggle her rhetoric, for if she does not comply with U.S. instructions, she gets into trouble. But if she oversteps, she angers the most radical officialism that, according to recognized pollsters like Félix Seijas, represents 15% of the voters. The Amnesty Law is another episode of cannibalization, as political prisoners have always been a weapon of chavismo, but primarily of Diosdado Cabello. If we add to this legislation the releases and the elimination of the Center for Strategic Security and Protection of the Homeland [CESSPA], these are indicators that they are advancing in dismantling the police state that has been fundamental to sustaining a regime lacking the majority’s support. Moreover, it is evident that internal fractures are affecting the stability of chavismo 3.0, as Delcy advances two steps and internal pressures make her retreat three. A clear example is the recent appointment of Major General Luis Motta Domínguez, who had been completely sidelined, and she resuscitates him. Contrary to what might be thought, that appointment was not well-received as there are rewards against him and he additionally contributes nothing. Why is she bringing him out of the freezer? Apparently, he’s one of the military who had negotiated with the U.S. before Maduro was captured. Additionally, there’s a matter that has slipped under the radar, which is the dismantling of the micro cartels of drug trafficking existing in the FAN and the civil power of chavismo. She must eliminate them, but this implies greater friction within the regime and is another fundamental step in the cannibalization strategy. There’s too much evidence showing how the U.S. is forcing them to fight amongst themselves and dismantle chavismo. What they used to do by force, they now do through a different avenue, allowing them to achieve goals with less risk for their military and with less collateral damage. In short, now the leaders of the “game of betrayals” are in the United States.
SPY. Some laughter from some and deep annoyance from Juan Urdaneta were some of the outcomes of my comment last week about the role of this councilor from Un Nuevo Tiempo, who is now, besides his other not-so-holy activities, trafficking information. He’s the new go-between in Zulia politics. He reports every plan of Manuel Rosales to Gian Carlo Di Martino, while bringing MR compromising details about the ongoing businesses of the Italian and his band of thugs. But the spy’s work is not limited to information trafficking; he also conspires against his enemies. I’ve heard he’s been dedicated to damaging the relationship between PSUV councilors Jessy Gascón and Luis Morillo since last year. He has doggedly pursued Gascón, accusing her of joining the conspiracy against GDM. The strife was so intense that the Italian maneuvered to prevent her from repeating as president of the Municipal Council, isolating her a bit. Against Morillo, the plan is to accuse him of disloyalty to break his business ties with the Italian’s gang. The goal is to take control of this relationship and benefit from the monthly “lettuces.” However, members of the cabinet and councilors have clearly identified him as the “great spy.” One of the spy’s ways of acting is that every Thursday he rushes to check this column once it’s published to be the first to rush to the 5th floor of the Mayor’s Office to alert Di Martino and, of course, distribute accusations. It is said that his next political target could be the current president of the Municipal Council, Dessirée Fernández. The spy is on the move!
IRAN. While it has been publicly stated that the United States’ interest in the extradition of Alex Saab pertains to investigations related to corruption and money laundering by Maduro’s regime, it seems the situation points in another direction. Where to? Allegedly, the gringos are very interested in him and Tareck El Aissami for their roles as links with the Iranian government and Hezbollah’s presence on the continent. Remember that in the previous column, I mentioned how the U.S. requested TEA’s surrender. It is presumed that with the extradition of both Arabs, they would obtain the information they need. El Aissami was the main orchestrator of Venezuela’s collaboration with Iran, to the point that the former Iranian president visited Caracas to protect him when he was sacrificed by chavismo. After TEA’s disappearance and the delivery of Alex Saab by Joe Biden’s government, the Barranquilla native took on that essential role for Maduro’s government. Will both be extradited? Possibly yes, although they are still looking at how to evade the obstacle posed by Article 69 of the National Constitution, which prohibits the extradition of Venezuelans. In Saab’s case, the legal path seems less complex as they would only have to annul his nationality, but politically, the decision isn’t so straightforward. Regarding El Aissami, the exit might be to hand him over unofficially, considering he remains missing, and currently lacks political supporters. Meanwhile, both Saab and Gorrín remain unaccounted for, although there are rumors they are detained in SEBIN.
DOLLARS. I’ve been told that the dollar shortage in Maracaibo is severe. There are very few currencies in circulation, and those who have their “dollars” keep them under lock and key to protect themselves from the heightened uncertainty. But apparently, there’s a clearer cause: since the U.S. began attacking narco-boats as part of its strategy against the regime, dollars have disappeared like magic. This reaffirms many people’s belief that much of the liquidity in currency in Venezuela has a very shady origin. A friend who sells consumer goods mentioned that when he offers his customers a discount on the bill if paid in dollars, people look at him strangely, and some even laugh. It’s very complex to obtain cash in dollars, Zelle, or even through Binance, despite the latter currently setting the rate for transactions. It’s expected that once oil investments start flowing, the availability of dollars in the market could improve.
FLOP… Monumental. This was the outcome of the Carnival parade organized between the Zulia Governor’s Office and the Maracaibo Mayor’s Office. The selected location was not the best: Avenida Libertador. Traditionally, this event took place on Boulevard 5 de Julio, but this year they wanted to do something more pompous in a more popular spot, yet the people turned their back on them. As a result, Luis Caldera and Gian Carlo Di Martino aborted their attendance, to avoid exposure before the nearly total absence of the public. They preferred not to go to avoid embarrassment in the pervasive loneliness. What happened? Why didn’t the Marabinos attend? Perhaps the location wasn’t ideal, and I think there’s also a lot of the country’s situation and how people are fed up with the chavista rulers. Despite appearances, this failure serves as an interesting poll. In plain Spanish, they totally flubbed it…
STOPS. There’s growing controversy over the supposed “intelligent stops” being developed by Mayor Frank Carreño’s administration in Cabimas. More than $100,000 is being spent on these bus stops, despite other more pressing and essential needs for the Cabimenses. It’s clearly a scam, as this wasn’t a tendered project, but rather handed out directly to a company presumably linked to the mayor’s business network. A loyal reader of this column even sent me a photo of a bus stop under construction. Although it hasn’t been completed, it doesn’t look anything exceptional. That money should have been used to address the serious issue of rainwater management, as wide sectors of Cabimas flood with any rain. It seems this man’s priorities are those of his own pocket. He seems worse than Nabil Maalouf. I was promised the name of the company that Carreño trusted with the bus stop scam.
MISTREATMENT. Some members of the Servers of Mary reached out to me to thank me for the comment made a few weeks ago, but also to draw attention again to the Archbishop of Maracaibo, Monsignor José Luis Azuaje Ayala, so that he addresses the parochial of the Basilica of La Chinita, Nedward Andrade, who returned from Caracas with a sharper whip than ever to mistreat the servers. He came back from this trip in worse humor than usual, as it seems he did not find the “tostón” he went looking for. This priest entered a crisis because after Maduro’s disappearance from the game, he found himself without a protector and without his monthly kickbacks.
VENTE. I’ve heard that something very strange is happening with the coordination of Vente Venezuela in Santa Rita Municipality. What’s going on? Apparently, the coordinator, Derwin Gutiérrez, has forged a controversial alliance with the leadership of Acción Democrática led by Bernabé Gutiérrez and former mayor Alenis Guerrero. What does this alliance consist of? It’s apparently bringing this AD leadership into the structure of Vente in the municipality. But the worst is that they apparently have a sketch of the positions in the public administration they will occupy if María Corina Machado reaches the presidency. I’ve even been given the names of the scorpion adecos now integrated into this organization: Ricardo Rincón, Enyerber Pérez, Xioli González, Wilmer Chirinos, Víctor Céspedes, and Raiza González, among others. Additionally, I’ve been told that something similar is happening with the Santa Rita coordinator of Primero Justicia. Definitely, there are political leaders who do not understand the moment and become reckless.
DENUNCIATION. I received a message from a group of workers from Farma Venezuela to denounce that they are consistently paid late, as their salaries are disbursed 4-5 days after payday. Recall that this company is owned by Ziad Abd-El Kader, who we have noted is the true mayor of San Francisco. Is it possible that things are going badly for him with his business partner Héctor Soto? Anything is possible.
Darwin Chávez|@Darwinch857|[email protected]