8/13/2017

MIKE PENCE/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/VENEZUELA: “Vice President Mike Pence tamped down President Donald Trump’s threats of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela amid growing regional fears that such comments have strengthened that country’s president, Nicolás Maduro.
Mr. Pence spoke Sunday [8-13-17] night in neighboring Colombia, two days after Mr. Trump jolted the region by saying he was considering a military operation to resolve a growing political crisis over Mr. Maduro’s regime, which the U.S. and Colombia have both characterized as increasingly dictatorial.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, speaking before Mr. Pence at a joint press conference, said he had told the American frankly, as a friend, that such a move shouldn’t be considered.
‘Every country in Latin America would not favor any form of military intervention,’ Mr. Santos said. ‘A transition in the Venezuelan regime toward democracy must be a peaceful transition. It must be hopefully a democratic transition. And it must be done quickly.’
Mr. Pence replied that the U.S. was confident that peaceful solutions could be found, and that Mr. Trump’s remarks on Friday had merely reflected his resolve to address the situation.”

-Louise Radnofsky and Juan Forero, “Pence, on Latin America Visit, Plays Down Trump Talk of Military Approach to Venezuela,” The Wall Street Journal online, Aug. 13, 2017 11:43pm