Trump’s unfolding war on Venezuela escalated this week with the capture of 2 American mercenaries who took part in a failed terror plot. We need to stop this war before it gets worse and the first step is getting Congress to ask hard questions.

Dear John,

A group of mercenaries and deserters, including two U.S. citizens, attempted to carry out a terror plot in Venezuela last weekend. Despite the fact that the Trump administration has its fingers all over this, almost nobody in Congress has said anything.

We need to pressure our politicians to find out the extent to which Juan Guaidó and the Trump administration were involved. Guaidó has the full political, financial and logistical support of the U.S. government.

Write to your members of Congress and demand answers! 

Here’s what we know for sure: Guaidó signed a contract with a mercenary leader; some of the Venezuelans captured have direct ties to Guaidó; the captured U.S. mercenaries said they planned to kidnap President Maduro and fly him out of the country; the U.S. has a $15 million bounty on President Maduro; the U.S. recently deployed the Navy fleet off Venezuelan shores; and the mercenaries have had contact with people very close to Trump.

It’s hard to forget the standing ovation that both Republicans and Democrats gave Guaidó during Trump’s 2020 State of the Union, so we probably shouldn’t expect too much from Congress. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t express how alarming this episode is. A few Senators—Murphy, Udall and Kaine—have already sent a letter to Secretary of State Pompeo demanding answers, but we need more.

Tell Congress they need to ask tough questions about Juan Guaidó and Trump’s failed Venezuela policy!

The Trump administration wasn’t kidding when they announced their new strategy of “maximum pressure” back in March. Since then, the U.S. has applied even more devastating sanctions, it indicted President Maduro and others on fake drug charges, it deployed the Navy and now this. That’s why CODEPINK has been pushing so hard for dialogue between Venezuela and the U.S.--it’s the first step to peace!

In solidarity with the Venezuelan people,

Michelle, Teri, Leonardo and Medea
CODEPINK Latin America Campaign

P.S. If the United States were a good neighbor, this operation would not have happened. Take the pledge to transform the U.S. government into a good neighbor that works on the basis of peace, cooperation and respect! 

Also, Saturday, May 9 at 4pm eastern, make sure to check out this fascinating webinar by the Sanctions Kill coalition.