The Last Trench On The Orinoco River.

Vladimir Khalip
17.11.2025, 14:40
10,140

There may be a new warlord on this warlike planet.

Determined and reckless. Ready to meet any challenge hard and sudden. For whom nothing is impossible. If things continue at this pace, the worst could happen before the end of this ill-fated year. The candidate for this role has already taken the first steps. The challenge has been thrown.

Last Tuesday, Venezuela's defense minister said the country had conducted maneuvers involving 200,000 troops. This is getting serious. If the news agencies are not mistaken in the figures, the possible hero of future battles is already starting. And in a very cool way. He has managed to create a joint command, which will coordinate the actions of the armed forces, police and civilian agencies.

The first images from these exercises are impressive. The decisively familiar Russian S-300 launcher is deployed. Mortar crews are thinking about something. Perhaps they are preparing for battle. Girls in camouflage with Soviet AKs turned in a chain, lay down, preparing to repel the attack of the far from conventional enemy. Instructors in army hats are carefully trying to explain to the suddenly mobilized how to handle these automatic rifles. It's a well-known fact - new recruits. Especially girls. Hard times, no pity for anyone. They're already handing out guns to ordinary people. How could they not? All, as one, to defend the sacred frontiers and the most fearless Commander. So who is he, the one, implacable and indomitable?

There is no mystery and, even less, sensation. It's the same restless Nicolas Maduro, bus driver and fiery leader of Venezuela's transportation workers' union, whom once outgoing President Hugo Chavez appointed as his successor. That he would sit in his empty chair until the elections, hold them and go away, accompanied by the applause of his grateful associates. How could it not be so! It is who and where so irresponsibly disposes of a sudden good fortune. And can bid farewell to the leadership chair of his own free will?

How many countries have already stumbled at the simplest turn and gone into a hopeless dead end of miserable unity of power. Of course, the nominee wasn't going anywhere. Not every bus driver gets such a crazy turn all of a sudden. And he had no other profession. He was the head of the transport workers' union. He took a one-year course in Cuba to train youth leaders. But it's hardly the kind of diploma that can get you anywhere. So when he returned to Venezuela, he got back behind the wheel of a bus. Naturally, after Chavez's departure, he took part in the early presidential elections. He couldn't not participate. Everything is so simple and clear: if not him, then who? He beat his competitors with a modest score of 50.67 percent. And what happened next is known to everyone. The country, which has incalculable oil reserves, rich deposits of non-ferrous metals, and in addition gold and all sorts of rare-earth joys, for some reason was suddenly full of all sorts of catastrophic problems. And on top of that, food is suddenly disappearing.

It's all gone wrong under Nicolas Maduro. Poverty and crime have reached unheard of levels. In addition, the country's GDP has fallen several times, inflation has reached six figures, and there are problems with basic necessities and energy supply.

What's more, in the country of constant summer, where pastures are rich, everything grows and ripens on time, there are simply insurmountable difficulties with food. Even in the army, of which the authorities are so proud. Of course, the generals have everything at its best. But the lower ranks are a mess. It came to the point that their immediate commanders have to beg for food from producers. But that's not the best way to do it when everyone's struggling. Up to 20 percent of the population has left Venezuela altogether, hoping to find work elsewhere. And then America began to make serious claims against the leader and accuse him of involvement in the drug trade. Bickering and angry responses to "those gringos" and other detractors did not help. There was an irresistible crisis.

But what's there, the main thing is the driver behind the wheel. Only this time he has the whole Venezuela in his bus. And he has known the route since Cuban times. Fortunately, the road does not know any turns. The only trouble is that there are enemies all around. Jealous. They accuse him of some dark deeds. On November 14, the U.S. launched Operation Southern Spear in the Western Hemisphere. And two days later, the Pentagon reported that a strike group led by the aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford" entered the Caribbean Sea. The missiles could soon be hitting drug cartel targets in Venezuela. No big deal. The indomitable leader promised that on every hill and peak the invading planes would be backed up by Igla man-portable air defense systems and partisans everywhere. That's for when Chavez suddenly calls. In the meantime, the most important thing is not to slow down the speed of the personal bus. Find the frontier. And try to hold out.

It is not excluded, if things continue like this, that somewhere on the high bank of the Orinoco there may appear a trench dug in a hurry. And there a lone gunner who has been misunderstood and underestimated by this restless country will take up a position. Of course, he will believe that somewhere near and far all those to whom he has distributed weapons and whom he has called upon to fight back against all those who dare to accuse him of involvement in the darkest and most disreputable deeds are already taking up their positions. And all he wanted to do was to bring his bus to everyone's happiness.

The situation seems dire. And the position is hopeless. Only those who have dared to confront Nicolas Maduro himself don't yet know what awaits them on this random frontier. Of course, they have missiles, airplanes, helicopters, special forces. And an aircraft carrier on the horizon. But the irredeemable ruler has a different advantage.

The Last Trench On The Orinoco River.

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