global development lab based inside of usaid is exploring the idea of rapid expeditionary development teams or red teams the red team members would be specifically recruited and trained to deliver novel techniques practices and tools optimized to secure communities secure communities you say. oh but it doesn't end there the reporter went on to describe how red team development officers would be deployed as two person chains in place with nontraditional usa partners executing a mix of pensive in the pensive and stability operations in extremis conditions. non-traditional usaid partners well in case you haven't guessed a nontraditional partner translates to the u.s. marine corps forces special operations command u.s. army special forces the state department bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement affairs the f.b.i. and the because none. i think my friends nothing says humanitarian aid like guns agents and special forces soldiers if you don't believe me just ask libya iraq and now it is wait. till it start watching the whole. world pretty. good looks like real that this wou

traditional usaid partners. in case you haven't guessed a nontraditional partner translates to the u.s. marine corps forces special operations command u.s. army special forces the state department bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement bears the f.b.i. and the dea because nothing my friends nothing says humanitarian aid like guns agents and special forces soldiers don't believe me just as libya iraq and now and is way. now let's start by watching the hawks. like you that i got. to. welcome on the watch and i robot and i'm top of the. wallace and we are once again once again left to wonder how. yes most definitely there is. so usa which is not exactly u.s. a id was created in one nine hundred sixty one by the way for the folks at home to help the united states sort of win the hearts and minds of citizens in poor countries supposedly through civil action economic aid community are a necessity during the cold war but it's been accused a lot of time specifically for. being involved in regime change bu

usaid assistance is very public. we will use our normal mechanisms we have done in other countries and we will be transparent and happy to share any information that we have when we reach that day that we are having plans and we are responding to a request from the government. rep. titus: we have heard a lot of security folks from cuba. what about the teachers and doctors that came from cuba? will we be able to work with them after the fact? >> my guess is that many of them will be withdrawn. they are sent in large part as a political message of solidarity to maduro. again, that's a decision for the venezuelans to make, not for us. rep. titus: thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, ms. titus. >> thank you. to all the witnesses today, thank you for your time. as a marine, i am proud when america plays a leadership role with our allies and partners in support of democratic principles and the rights of free people in venezuela and around the world. as americans, there is no higher calling in our diplomatic endeavors tha

steve olive acting assistant administration for usaid latin america and caribbean bureau and mr. olive served as the acting director of the foreign service center in the office center in the office of human cal t capital and talent management from 2017 and 2018. previously he served as deputy director for somalia, deputy mission director for haiti as well as numerous other roles including two decades at usaid. we are grateful for your service and your time this morning. our witness's testimony will be included in the record of this hearing and now i'd like to recognize our witnesses for five minutes each. we'll start with mr. abrams. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> mike? >> thank you for the opportunity to testify on our efforts to restore democracy. >> hold on. >> join code pink! no to venezuela! [ applause ] . >> okay. the chair -- the chair will remind all persons in the audience that any manifestation of approval or disapproval of proceedings is in violation of the rules of the house and its committees. mr. abrams, i apologize. please continue. >> venezuela is at a crossroads.

the supplies part of an effort led by the usaid and the department of state. this state department official helped lead the mission to assist the millions backed by what she called a manmade crisis created by venezuelan president nicolas maduro. >> the only thing stopping us is the maduro regime. we've seen them block the bridges, block the roads. it's an abomination to humanity, to stop basic necessities and goods from entering your country to help your own people. >> is there a concern something like this would provoke him into doing something more drastic, that this could be seen as further politicizing a crisis? >> if anyone is politicizing the crisis, it's maduro. >> reporter: a representative of self-declared interim venezuelan president juan guido joined the officials on the trip to the border. i asked him if this is the year venezuela will turn the corner. he said he thinks it'll happen in a matter of weeks. this is the second shipment of humanitarian aid sent by the u.s. government to help venezuela in the last two weeks. they say it's part of their c

global development lab based inside of usaid is exploring the idea of rapid expeditionary development teams or red teams the red team members would be specifically recruited and trained to deliver novel techniques practices and tools optimized to secure communities vulnerable to violent extremist radicalization and exploitation secure communities you say. oh but it doesn't end there the reporter went on to describe how red team development officers would be deployed as two person pains in place with nontraditional usa partners executing a mix of pensive in the pensive and stability operations in extremis conditions. non-traditional usaid partners well in case you haven't guessed a nontraditional partner translates to the u.s. marine corps forces special operations command u.s. army special forces the state department bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement affairs the f.b.i. and the because nothing my friends nothing says humanitarian aid like guns agents and special forces soldiers don't believe me just ask libya iraq and now venezuela.

well, i mean, the first thing is, obviously, the united states has made a big contribution thanks to usaidnd prepositioning this aid that is ready to go to help the people of venezuela who desperately need it. the second, obviously, is to thank our colombian allies. i cannot say enough about president duka about how the cl colombian people have stepped forward. and third is to speak to the people of venezuela, less than a mile away from the venezuelan border, and to be able to let them know not to give up, that the world is with them, we will stand with them, the united states and international community every step of the way, no matter how long this takes until freedom is restored in venezuela. but this really -- the number one issue right now is how do we get food and medicine to people who are dying of preventible diseases and starving to death because the regime and dictator does not allow humanitarian aid to reach them. >> so on that note, maduro has said he believes the u.s. aid is a trojan horse, intended to oust him from power. what happens if he doesn't let that aid through? >> we

in december 2017, the usaid signed an over $300 million compact with the country of djibouti. this is significant, issues of education, government business and so forth, it's very important we have an ambassador in the country alongside a senior a id representative who can oversee and synchronize efforts to return the investment that's well spent . >> that's a good example of how it's working, but there are many more examples where we don't have the resources or ambassadors. the ambassador arrived a few months ago after years, so, there is a complementary civilian capacity issue that if we don't get right, you can do your job very well but they will not succeed . >> there are many of the same situations inside south america and latin america expect the military needs to be in support of the big diplomacy and i see that where it's working, an example would be el salvador with significant progress in the reduction of violence by targeting bad neighborhoods, 50 locations where they come in with public and private partnerships and partnerships with the government took with aaron s

but president nicolas maduro vols to use the army to block it calling the main the usaid an imperialist trojan horse. so what is plan b. of an israel is an army remains loyal to mother little. one suggestion from opposition coalition leader. is to accuse me of little of crimes against humanity if he blocks the aids passage when there is a genocide or crimes against humanity the world cannot stay in the front when we are asking is. peace a peace mission that helps these. being delivered to those who are mostly need she couldn't say whether that meant using military force but on wednesday u.s. president donald trump refused to rule it out when he met colombian president even a key ally and staunch opponent of mud i just want to thank the president for working with us and we're working together our militaries are very focused on working together. let's see how it all turns out. my little strongman near the colombia border says that business is ready to defend itself from what he believes is the likeliest threat military aggression from colombia freddie but not argues colombia's leader is t

and venezuelan doctors have held a demonstration in neighboring colombia calling for usaid to be allowed in as we mentioned venezuela is suffering from an acute shortage of medicine and failing hospital infrastructure and he has more from kolkata. a couple of dozen medical doctors from the renaissance state of party that crossed into colombia earlier on sunday or to stage a demonstration in front of last year the bridge that's the international crossing bridge between colombia and venezuela. where did the same thing by the united states is being stored in a warehouse that they were holding a giant venezuelan flag and demanding that the president. let that aid into the country and they were also denouncing this critical situation and their hospitals talking about the lack of medicine and medical supplies. we don't have dialysis kits and we have to ask patients to try to find them the kid to perform a dialysis costs twenty thousand dollars minimum which is. a most patients need to dialysis performed three times a week the result is that those patients are dying because there are no be a su

but president nicolas maduro vols to use the army to block it calling the main the usaid an imperialist trojan horse. so what is plan b. in israel as army remains loyal to mother little. one suggestion from opposition coalition leader marty echoed you know my challenge is to accuse my little of crimes against humanity if he blocks the aids passage when there is a genocide or crimes against humanity the world cannot stay in the front when we are asking is. peace a peace mission that helps these. being delivered to those who are mostly need she couldn't say whether that meant using military force but on wednesday u.s. president donald trump refused to rule it out when he met colombian president even a key ally and staunch opponent of mughal i just want to thank the president for working with us and we're working together our militaries are very focused on working together. let's see how it all turns out. mother of a strong man near the colombia border says that minister is ready to defend itself from what he believes is the likeliest threat military aggression from colombia freddy but now

. >> reporter: today, medicine clearly marked "usaid" stuck on the wrong side of the venezuelan border. today maduro taking reporters' questions. >> why won't you let the gift of medicine and food from the united states in? the people of venezuela need it. don't they? maduro replies "it's a rotten gift, the package is pretty on the outside but on the inside it brings the poison of humiliation." nbc's gabe gutierrez on the border. >> these meal kits and hygiene supplies are only enough for several thousand venezuelans for just ten days, but it's all just sitting here in this warehouse right by the venezuelan border. >> reporter: today juan guaido recognized by the u.s. as his country's interim president at a rally. one college student saying, he's our barack obama. he gives us hope. tonight reports the u.s. is actively encouraging members of the military leadership here to defect to the other side. lester? >> kerry sanders in venezuela, thanks. >>> overseas, isis is making its last territorial st group into a very narrow corner tonight. our richard engel, who has reported conflict, has

." "-- humanitarian ai usaid has been piling up at the border, but the bridge crossing has been barricadedthe venezuelan military under the orders of president nicolas maduro. >> it's terrible, because the icd is needed urgently for the hospital, for cl because above all the children and the elderly need it. >> at the border blockade, veneelan soldiers look disciplid and defiant. a government official arrives to give them moral report and tell the media that no convoys will be passing tough this point. >> nobody is going to pass this bridge, not today, not tomorrow, never. this bridge is not open to offfic or the transport goods. any misuse ofis this ridg illegal. is illegal. >> at the white house, president trump was facing his colombian counterpart. he told reporters it was imperative that the aid geth. thro >> we are trying to get food to people who are starving. you have people starving in venezuela. it just shows what can happen if you have the wrong government. with the wrong government, that -- bad things can happen. many, many people are starving. -- are in real trouble from just h

efforts to block food and medicine from entering the almost almost genocidal tons of usaid remains stuck on the colombian border as well as military has so far refused to let it in under orders from president maduro he says the aid is part of the. u.s. ploy to remove him from power quieter says he'll use volunteers to open new routes into the country. i understand that they want to block the aid because that's what a victimizer does it makes them seem almost genocidal by their actions they're killing venezuelans killing children who are protesting killing fernando abandon opposition lawmaker i understand that they would want to deny this and not allowing the humanitarian aid the regime should know it this is a crime against humanity gentlemen of the armed forces. gracias. one way to go and members of the opposition are getting ready for a week of what expected to be intense protests they're already calling for some groups to demonstrate on monday a massive demonstration in other parts of the country on tuesday other protests on wednesday the idea is to pressure the government to allow th

god was i trucks with usaid gathering on venezuela's borders of spotting creasing the fierce clashes at checkpoints between opposition supporters and those loyal to president maduro. i. was. following the clashes fun of a self-proclaimed leader urged the world to consider all options to liberate the people of venezuela he disputes the legitimacy of president maduro claiming that the last elections were rigged why d'orsel announce these planned to meet with the u.s. vice president on monday to discuss the current situation president there meanwhile has expressed serious concern about washington's really intentions in sending that aid he maintains he's the rightful president of venezuela it's a post he's held since twenty thirteen and he in turn accuses why don't have violating the country's pompei are fabricating reasons to start a war against caracas payor though doesn't seem too concerned and this continued to add fuel to the fire. of a duly elected interim president mr gordo the american people have been most generous providing a couple hundred tons of food medicine hygiene kits fo

international trucks with usaid gathering on venezuela's borders have sparked increasingly thiis clashes the checkpoints between opposition supporters and those loyal to president nicolas maduro. was what. was. was it was. or following those clashes there venezuela's self-proclaimed leader when quiet the world to consider all options to liberate the people of venezuela he disputes the legitimacy of president dura claiming that the last elections were rigged quite i also announced to his plan to meet with the u.s. vice president on monday to discuss the situation for president nicolas maduro meanwhile has expressed his concerns about washington's real intentions in sending aid he maintains he's the rightful president of venezuela the post he's held since twenty thirteen and accuses of violating the constitution he adds to that is attempting a coup aided and abetted by the us and is why this foreign minister also blasted the white house accusing secretary of state might pompei o a fabricating reasons to start a war against caracas meanwhile washington says it is preparing more sanctions. v

it turns out the catalyst to push the delicate situation in venezuela into bloody clashes tons of usaid had piled up at the venezuelan border in what madeira had called a u.s. orchestrated show designed to induce international condemnation from the dozens of nations siding with opposition leader. concerns that the aid deliveries could contain weapons were not completely unfounded given previous u.s. and deserters bolivian president. evo morales can could call in the cargo a trojan horse to provoke war so just how pointers thought things on folding when he issued an ultimatum is unclear carious position to put people in especially when the military remains loyal to. with the outlook for mature looking increasingly bleak attention has now turned to those who continue to support him but venezuelan military are being urged to abandon their loyalties then choose the side of washington. venezuela's military has a choice embrace democracy protect civilians and allow in humanitarian aid all face more sanctions an isolation round of applause from the new commander in chief or anyone choosing to

area are saying seven people have been injured during clashes on the venezuela colombia border where usaid deliveries are trying to cross and as well in soldiers have been using tear gas to push the people back and a group of writers set a bus on fire. was. it was present in the duros also close the border with brazil plainly the saturday deadline to let us aid into the country has expired and as well and rioters have been hurling rocks at border guards. was. going to. die thanks. to our was. very you know i don't play well here at the deep this bridge crossing right on the colombian venezuelan border i'm on the colombia side you can see venezuela behind me there was a lot of momentum here the small inning to get these so-called humanitarian aid trucks through but for now it seems to have largely fizzled out here now made an appearance this morning he climbed up on one of the trucks addressed the crowd then he made a statement standing alongside his allies and the president of chile and the president of paraguay and western correspondents were saying that it would be leading what they call

to ensure the security of the homeland, the department of state, usaid, department of homeland security and the department of justice, teamwork within the defense department especially with northern command and u.s. coast guard, is also critical to mission accomplishment. over the past two months, i've traveled to columbia, trinidad and tobago, guatemala, where doris and el salvador to get a first-hand view of the opportunities and challenges that direct the hemisphere. criminal organizations, traffickers, illegal immigration, violent extremists, corruption and weak governments are principle among those challenges. the most disturbing insight however, it has been the degree to which external state actors especially russia, china and a rhiannon are expanding their influence in the russian hemisphere. as a leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world, iran's activity in this hemisphere are concerning. venezuela, the situation is i venezuela is dire. maduro's illegitimate government starves people by using food as a weapon while corrupt generals are rewarded with money from illegal drug

shipments in president maduro has closed all borders so plainly the one guy does saturday deadline to let usaid into the country is about to expire on t.v. correspondent ann kellan reports from the colombian side of the border. well this is the t.n.t. to us bridge crossing behind me you can see this is where colombia and venezuela meet you can see the infamous shipping containers that we've seen in so many photos this is this far as anyone is allowed to go police are under strict orders to not allow anyone to pass into a colombian president iran dukie gives the order for these ten trucks carrying six hundred tons of so-called humanitarian aid to cross the bridge and attempt to enter venezuela and venezuela's borders the police are saying that duke a may allow protesters to cross with them as well some of these protesters have told us they're prepared for violence so this could escalate into a real clash the the aid is is prepared to be delivered if it multiple crossings this is the last one where the deliveries will start at the other bridge crossings protesters who have been pelting the venezu

what is the significance of posting it here was make it is important for vietnam but the usaid has constantlymic su ccesses been singly vietnam's economic successes to north korea. it is a message to the north korean leader that this is what you could have. vietnam has one of the fastest growing economy, a core member of haas on, —— asean. it was a long and bitter war with the americans and they are close now. vietnam is not a model however because there are profound differences between this country and what north korea will have. i think the us hopes it will at least be an inspiration. very quickly, as you say, much more substantive beaters coming up. what are we likely to see? everyone says that has to be more than what happened in singapore, it has to be more than mood music. talking about her still it is, perhaps things that president trump has talked about. the has to be progress on the nuclear programme. there has been a lot of negotiations leading up to the summit. if nothing comes of it people will doubt whether there will bea people will doubt whether there will be a sad summit. back

host: what was happening to usaid before now?e we giving the nicolas 2015o government eight in -- aid in 2015? guest: no. the u.s. aid office have been closed by the shop as government. i do not have a date when that occurred but it has been a while since usaid has been operating the way it does in other countries in venezuela. have frank mora with us. carl in massachusetts, a democrat. caller: thank you for c-span. i saw on alternative media that nicolas maduro is welcoming humanitarian aid from the red cross but is skeptical of getting aid from the united states because he figures they are smuggling arms. i have a follow-up question. talk fromre was -- nicolas maduro he would work with the red cross but nothing came of that. the only government i have heard that has provided or said it would provide is the russians were going to send humanitarian aid but i do not believe that has arrived. has been no aid that has gotten into the country. caller: i want to throw something out there, food for thought. how would people feel if a f

nicolas maduro has dismissed the usaid offer as a political show in the capital caracas mature a supporter signed a petition that's to be sent to washington telling donald trump to keep his hands off venezuela. and let's get more now let's cross over to the venezuelan capital caracas from where due to be a correspondent oscar schleicher joins us on the line so oscar what is the situation on the bridge right now. well the situation at the border bridge remains blocked from the venezuelan side this is a bridge that was just because struck at the border in an area that it has not much transit so it came into focus when most of the humanitarian aid went to columbia was being gathered his passing however was rushed block this bridge prevent i'm sorry but it's where the puerto rico secretary of state the lead on my team announced their shipment arrives just. a passenger plane on what he said was a secret flight so while all the a concern of the business one public and the media was focused on the colombia border what protocol is going to be filled with a ton of humanitarian aid into limits where

record i was i trucks with usaid gathering on venezuela's borders have sparked increasingly fierce clashes at checkpoints between opposition supporters and those loyal to the president nicolas maduro. following the clashes venezuela's self-proclaimed leader urged the world to consider all options to liberate the people of venezuela he disputes the legitimacy of president maduro claiming the last elections were rigged why don't also announce this plan to meet with the u.s. vice president monday to discuss the situation president maduro meanwhile expressed serious concern about washington's real intentions in sending aid he maintains that he is the rightful president of the country the post sees held since twenty thirteen and he accuses of violating the country's constitution but those attempting a coup aided and abetted he says by the u.s. and as well as foreign minister also blasted the white house accusing secretary of state might pompei or of fabricating reasons to start a war against caracas empire though doesn't seem too concerned continuing to add fuel to the fire. they have a duly el

nations across the region including ours the world's media recorded how much force is acted to stop the usaid from colombia and brazil leaders here and now as they will ask their national criminal court to treat my daughter's blockade as a crime against humanity. opposition leader said the international pressure needs to continue until my daughter is forced out. the people of venezuela have resisted have survived and today in bogota innes's toric meeting we ask for your help and cooperation to advance the necessary pressure that the regime believes it is resisting a resistance to what to democracy. outside the meeting when this williams who fled their country's economic crisis gathered to show their support for gray door that claimed only an external military intervention could bring change something the country's gathered here firmly reject. it's an era we're tired of protest sanctions proclamations they're not helpful since the sanctions how many malnourished kids have been saved how many people with cancer helped none that's why an intervention is needed in a nutshell monday's announcement

across venezuela after the opposition call that supporters onto the streets over the standoff regarding usaid. whose proclaimed himself interim leader has set a ten day deadline to get blocked hate deliveries into the country president nicolas maduro meanwhile doesn't believe the convoys have anything to do with humanitarian aid both men addressed crowds of supporters. saying keep inviting soldiers of the country to join us we'll keep inviting the humanitarian aid to enter. because it will answer in venezuela no matter what because usurper will have to leave when it's whaling no matter what i mean i want to unite venezuela around one goal of peace i want peace for venezuela we all want peace for venezuela but the drums of war go away but the spirits of military intervention go let venezuela saying one course with a single voice we want peace. venezuela has suffered food and medicine shortages hyperinflation and seen more than two million people flee the country on monday kwyjibo took to twitter to say that the festival every of humanitarian aid has already been made including medicine for pre

by local communities and the reason they're doing this is to demonstrate that they don't need this usaid so it's interesting that you're saying you know there is food it's not as bad as it's being portrayed in the west what about the people who can actually afford it didn't seem to be too many people in that particular supermarket you were in can many people actually afford to go the. well yeah i mean the lines were full there that the checkout aisles were full and the problem here is with speculation that food costs thirty dollars olive oil a bottle of olive oil or twenty five dollars and fruit was pretty cheap so that has to do with actually the kind of capitalist class here that supports the opposition some of the owners of the largest food companies are making a killing off of this economy and u.s. sanctions are actually allowing them to hoard goods and to make maximum profit and those saw that's the irony here is that many of the supporters of the opposition and the big business forces behind the opposition are actually cashing in on the economic crisis so we hear about these offers

now if you present even more alice has echoed doris concerns branding the usaid a trojan horse while in cuba more than three million people have reportedly signed hands off in this way the petition urging washington not to intervene meanwhile two concerts were held on different sides of the venezuelan colombian border one against any foreign intervention in venezuela supporting quite a humanitarian relief plan supporters of the latter declaring it was in the spirit of the legend during one thousand nine hundred five live eight concert which raise money for the victims of famine in ethiopia and cohen is that. don't be fooled by this festive atmosphere all around me where we see music going on this is actually one of the most geopolitically hot spots in the world right now behind me on my right you can see the bridge crossing between colombia and venezuela i'm on the colombian side where this concert is happening it was organized by richard branson the british billionaire let's take a look at what he had to say. i then saw. an interview with one who was asking for the world to help and

to be delivered exactly a month since he proclaimed himself the country's leader resume duros bandi usaid and claims it would be used to smuggle in weapons but he said that all aid from the e.u. is welcome. he said the venezuelan government accepts the humanitarian techniques from the european union the united nations system to venezuela welcome point of the us aid is a start being given to the government it's given to their hand picked on. so it's totally proper. but in those sorts of propaganda and. just to incite violence so that they have a pretext. to door to support a third party troops it certainly is the result that the united states government but our soil our position while they want violence on the border as a pretext to overthrow the democratically elected government of nicolas maduro the mylan anti madeira concert on the colombia venezuela border the venezuelan live aid has been organized by a british billionaire cohen reports from the thing. you can see this concert taking place behind me it's thrown by the british billionaire richard branson who is using it to pressure nico

caribbean earlier this month caracas barricaded to an open border bridge with colombia and doris band the usaid he announced that all aid from the new is welcome. the venezuelan government accepts the offer of humanitarian technically he's trying to european union older united nations system to venezuela welcome to our big story meanwhile the venezuelan opposition's envoy to washington says that all eight venezuelan consular officers in the u.s. no longer functional while giving a speech was confronted by antiwar activists. i want to say these people are fraud they don't represent the men's well in people they are representing the u.s. orchestrated who this is a very dangerous situation they want to create a crisis at the border that would be a justification for u.s. intervention or the woman in the video was medea benjamin she's from the code pink antiwar movement and she says that the opposition is knowingly staking tensions on the border. dangerous game that the opposition is playing they really are trying to create a confrontation if it was about humanitarian aid they couldn't use the u.n.

-day joe is calling on the masses to help trucks carrying usaid to get venezuelan struggle for food and medicine but president nicolas maduro has closed three crossings from colombia at least two people were killed on friday after venezuelan security forces opened fire on people trying to cross the border to brazil several others were injured during the scramble to bring foreign aid after material close that border on thursday you're going to believe i must have a president in charge of the republic i'm demanding the borders be open there is one question that is being asked today about venezuela how strong are the people while more than one million people have volunteered to make sure the plan will be a success united the people will never be defeated some of the injured in the police firing or taken to brazil for treatment and israelis are increasingly finding ways to cross over looking for help and hoping for relief mohammed chamchamal has more from the brazilian border town a park or a mum. an open display of resilience on a border meant to be closed. on the venezuelans exhausted by

call him a journey to the colombian border he and thousands of his supporters are promising to bring usaid into the country but he's not yet explained how they plan to do it. meanwhile back at the border just across the river from president. in his own concert on venezuelan soil. and for more we're joined by jennifer coming again sourness the venezuelan journalist from the news welcome jennifer a kind of battle of the bands the shaping up on venezuela's border with colombia what does each side hope to achieve with the concepts well each concert has a different goal richard branson's concert is meant to be a drive for to get more aid for venezuela to get more funds it is an entirely humanitarian operation but it also is loosely tied with the opposition of course it does stand up for the people of venezuela that are suffering but for for sure oh this is just to show that he can also have a concert that he can rile people up that he also has an international presence that is backing him although of course it looks like there may be more artists on the colombian side and actually the venezuela

to block food and medicine from entering all or most genocidal tons of usaid remains stuck on the colombianborder as well as military has so far refused to let it in under orders from president maduro he says the aid is part of the u.s. ploy to remove him from power why don't he says he'll use volunteers to open new age routes. into the country. i understand that they want to block the aid because that's what a victimizer does it makes them seem almost genocidal by their actions they're killing venezuelans killing children who are protesting killing fernando abandon opposition lawmaker i understand that they would want to deny this and not allowing the humanitarian aid the regime should know it this is a crime against humanity gentlemen of the armed forces. from caracas. one way though and members of the opposition are getting ready for a week of what expected to be intense protests they're already calling for some groups to demonstrate on monday a massive demonstration in other parts of the country on tuesday other protests on wednesday the idea is to pressure the government to allow them

the president nicolas maduro vols to use the army to block it calling the main the usaid an imperialist trojan horse. so what is plan b. if an israel is an army remains loyal to mother little. one suggestion from opposition coalition leader. is to accuse smug little of crimes against humanity if he blocks the passage when there is a genocide or crimes against humanity the world cannot stay in the front when we are asking is. peace a peace mission that helps these. be the lever to dos who are mostly need she couldn't say whether that meant using military force but on wednesday u.s. president donald trump refused to rule it out when he met colombian president even a key ally and staunch opponent of mud i just want to thank the president for working with us and we're working together our militaries are very focused on working together. let's see how it all turns out. that a strong man near the columbia. borders says that business is ready to defend itself from what he believes is the likeliest threat military aggression from colombia freddy but now argues colombia's leader is taking orders

road crossing the red cross in the us in a bid to agree with you in that they're not part of this usaidproject british media media or in nato nations is continually showing us a colombian venezuela border bridge women duro is refusing to take in aid i know that the sanctions mean that they lose maybe thirty million dollars a day and this is only maybe twenty million dollars in one shipment but what do you make of this picture of this bridge well it's another another piece of takes news i mean we are swimming in an ocean of fake news the media war in two thousand to two thousand and three in the context of iraq or in two thousand and eleven in the context of libya is quite similar to what's going on now and you would think that people would learn from experience and you cannot trust these sources of information on the other hand the sheer power of the conglomerates and this year power of the mainstream media are actually fanning the flames of war you know that propaganda what war is specifically prohibited in article twenty over covenant on civil and political rights you know that the ri

you know close circle with oh no we can't have accountability mean i mean we're going to go former usaid assistant minister david harden tweeting out i was a career after so and later obama appointee elliott abrams was a claim thoughtful nonpartisan mentor let's try to see the best rather than the worst in people followed up by better and deploy nicholas burns tweeting elliott abrams is a devoted public servant who has contributed much of his professional life to our country it's time to build bridges in america not people though that is absolutely ridiculous you have to call out wrongdoing when you see it and i applaud the representative from minnesota for doing exactly that and the holding people accountable for change. these are the america has a lot of incredible voices telling the stories of people like you who watch us every day from kansas to caracas the news never stops from watching the hawks to news using the news we're always looking for the tales that are in question the booms of the bus but sometimes there's just a little too much notice to process even here on our team amer

five million dollars to secure the medicines president nicolas maduro is backing along going block on usaid entering venezuela from colombia the opposition's envoy to the u.s. says urged the international community to help open thousands of windows to let aid in well he was addressing an international conference of the organization of american states in washington gabrielle is on the was there. this meeting was being billed as the global conference on the humanitarian crisis in venice well there were more than sixty five different government delegations that were invited to this meeting that was sponsored by supporters and close aides of one why do on clear how many of those sixty five countries represented here but i can tell you this room was entirely full during the meeting of various diplomats who were here the big headline is that they announced that they've received one hundred million dollars in aid that's been pledged from various countries to venezuela going through the opposition meaning why though some of this one hundred million was already previously pledged to other parts of i