00:00But since we've mentioned narcotics more than once in this discussion already, I want to ask you how sure you think the Trump administration is that there is compelling evidence that Venezuela is indeed, as it seems to think, either a transit country or a producing country of narcotics or both.
00:19They're 100 percent sure that it's both. And that has been shown to members of the administration or proven by the members of the administration and shown to members of Congress.
00:29So the question of are they carrying drugs or not is not an issue that the administration is pretty in the intelligence is pretty sure that that's the case.
00:41And ideologically here, this is not a matter of ideology. This is a matter of national security strategy.
00:49President Trump, Marco Rubio, Secretary of War, this administration believes that this Western Hemisphere is a priority.
00:58They do and believe that they that they need to counter the threats that's coming into the Western Hemisphere from external powers, such as China, Russia, Iran, and that they have to secure their grip on the region.
01:12They see Venezuela as a point of entry for these for these other powers into into the Western Hemisphere.
01:24And therefore, it is quite important whether we use the drug narrative as an entry or whether we use any other narrative as an entry that the United States must absolutely must impose its its it's hegemony, its its influence on this region.
01:43And Venezuela needs to come in line.
01:46So it's up to Maduro. Does he does he change his tactics or change his positioning and back down from making Venezuela a point of entry to to foreign powers into the area that are that are enemies or adversaries of the United States?
02:04Or does he not? And if he does not, then there's likely going to be a regime change or at least an attempt for regime change by the United States, period.
02:15And if he does not, then there's likely going to be a regime change by the United States.
Comments