"The scenes are astonishing. Men and women of all ages and physical conditions, zigzagging and crawling across the ground, rifles in hand. Quickly hiding behind mounds to avoid enemy fire. Aiming and firing with the greatest possible precision. Crossing a river, holding onto a rope. Perched on a tree, scanning the horizon with binoculars. The enemy seems to be at the door."
"Although a war scenario sounds impossible to many, the Venezuelan government has taken the signals from the White House very seriously, with the U.S. naval detachment having blown up at least five vessels that have left the Venezuelan coast allegedly on drug-smuggling runs and amid Donald Trump's threats about striking targets on land. Nervousness has soared among Maduro and his Praetorian Guard. Chavismo claims to have several million combatants at the ready a figure impossible to verify and hope to add even more with these crash-course exercises."
Venezuela is conducting widespread civilian combat training, with men and women of diverse ages practicing marksmanship, movement under fire, river crossings, and surveillance. The government frames participation as a patriotic duty and draws trainees largely from the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The drills respond to perceived threats from U.S. forces deployed in the Caribbean and public statements questioning Nicolas Maduro's legitimacy. Venezuelan leaders cite past insurgencies to argue that resistance could succeed despite overwhelming U.S. firepower. The regime claims millions of potential combatants, a figure that cannot be independently verified, and has intensified preparations amid heightened nervousness among senior officials.
Read at english.elpais.com
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