This is the New World War College Strategic Studies Institute. This is the New World.

I'm John Batcheworth, Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute.

This is the New World Report. We go immediately to

Venezuela. You will recall, the election on the 28th of July was rotten from the beginning. The Maduro regime had no interest whatsoever in a free and fair

election even an election that was credible. The results, the elected official, thanks to some very clever management by the opposition, is named Gonzales-aurite.

He's a former accountant. He was chosen by the leader of the opposition, Maria Karina Machado, to stand in for her because lawfare was used against her and disenfranchised her before the vote. Everybody understood that. The vote was

overwhelmingly for this modest-looking man, Gonzales-aurite. The election, however, was stolen, the Maduro regime has no interest in changing

course.

It's grabbed the power and it's holding on to it.

Sanctions were forgiven in some fashion before the election to encourage the

majority regime to be fair-minded. However, that is the hope of Utopians.

Where we are right now is that the regime is arresting the opposition.

One warrant or one announcement was put out that Gonzales-Orita would be arrested for fomenting, you know, the usual turmoil.

He's saying no.

Then suddenly, a Spanish military plane or someone attached to the Spanish government showed up in Caracas and

Gonzales-Irite left for Spain.

Has been seen walking and talking in a friendly fashion with the Prime Minister in Spain, a man

named Pedro Sanchez, who is understood as left of center, a man who was recently reelected in a close election with his opposition Vox.

All of this is the predicate for now the news that Venezuela has detained four American citizens, two Spanish citizens, and a

Czech citizen with the vague statement that they were they are accused of

trying to undermine the credibility of the government.

That may be about an assassination plot, that may be about a coup, it may be about anything, it is also looking a whole lot like hostage taking.

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