Where has the WSJ been in the last 30 years?

The Venezuelan Military was initially castrated and then changed by Hugo Chavez by the end of his second “presidency.” As with every revolution, those who were associated with previous administrations were removed and “ voluntarily retired” (smartly, none was killed) and even fellow co-conspirators after they spent enough time lining their pocketbooks, they were also cordially invited to “retire” and did so.

What came after was a new generation of Cuban-trained officers who were heavy on doctrine and worshiping the Man in Charge, but not so much on proper military training and preparation. They did continue the tradition of getting themselves rich as they went through higher ranks culminating in Soles (suns) on their shoulders which are the equivalent of general’s stars in the US Military and where the term “Cartel de los Soles” comes from. But as long as they did not have political aspirations, they were left alone with the exception of being needed to do the proper knee bending and ass kissing to the President.

So, for about a quarter of a century more or less, the Venezuelan Military has nether the desire, nor the “stupidity” to get rid of first Chavez and then Maduro. They are not going to risk a good tax-free income, specially for a country that is not willing to stand up for its freedom and that is the one thing the above post got right: Venezuelans want somebody else do the job for them which is why the US should never even send one pair of empty boots down there.