Pompeo's Dilemma: Heed Maduro's Demands or Put Diplomats at Risk
(Bloomberg) -- Secretary of State Michael Pompeo ordered most U.S. government employees to leave Venezuela on Thursday, acknowledging the safety threat posed after the Trump administration declared President Nicolas Maduro an illegitimate leader.
While Pompeo initially scoffed at a demand by Maduro that all U.S. diplomats depart by Saturday afternoon, the State Department issued an advisory late Thursday that “non-emergency U.S. government employees” should leave.
The American Embassy in Caracas will remain in operation with a skeleton staff, but the State Department warned Americans in the country that their government “has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela” and that they should “strongly consider departing” the country.
Tensions have been escalating since National Assembly leader Juan Guaido asserted on Wednesday that he is the country’s interim president, and President Donald Trump quickly recognized him as the leader. Pompeo’s initial decision to keep the embassy open drew criticism from some members of Congress.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pompeos-dilemma-heed-maduros-demands-or-put-diplomats-at-risk/ar-BBSGD7e?li=BBnb7Kz
Withdraw the diplomats. Trump's macho show is not worth their lives.