Your Eyewitness has been kvetching for donkey’s years about the saying that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”. But he thinks he finally got it! When you’re in need – as we are right now to counter that Madman Maduro on our western border – that’s when you really appreciate support from those who step up to the plate to lend a hand! And with a lump in your throat, you promise to always be ready to return the favour – to be a friend.
This thought came to your Eyewitness’ mind when he read of US Ambassador Theriot’s declaration of her country’s willingness to do what it takes to kick those Sindicato’s butts on the Cuyuni who’ve been using our GDF soldiers for target practice. Let it be known that those Sindicatos aren’t no “civilians” letting off some steam – but bandits sponsored by the Mad Maduro to prop up his regime in the Venezuelan “Wild East” across the Cuyuni. They prey on the gold miners in that area with connivance of the local Venezuelan forces.
While our Government’s been moving on all fronts – diplomatic, economic, judicial, and military – our preparations for deterring the madman by showing him he’s gonna get a bloody nose at a minimum isn’t quite there as at now. So, in cases like these, you need a friend – or friends – who can watch your back…and pack a punch. The Ambassador’s promise repeats the US commitment to help in our defense ever since Mad Maduro turned green with envy at Exxon’s gushers of sweet light crude from under our coast – and threatened us with his warships and everything else at his disposal including his kitchen sinkk!! They’ve been daring him to be stupid!!
So, for the past few years – especially after West Point’s Big Mike Pompeo bitch-slapped the Granger gang from office- where they’d insisted on squatting after the Guyanese people had voted them out – there’s been a regular procession of US defense and military personnel through Port Georgetown. And it hasn’t been all firm handshakes and moral support!! We’ve purchased a couple of patrol boats from the States, a couple of aircraft from the Indians, an offshore patrol vessel from the Frenchies, and have conducted any number of joint exercises with the Yanks. And then there’s been the display of actual military hardware like battleships to remind Maduro that it ain’t just bluster.
India’s Ambassador has also just made a welcome declaration that his country is willing to support us against Mad Maduro’s bullyism. But in their case the support is non kinetic – support for our ICJ’s case to declare that the 1899 Arbitral Award definitively establishes our border. While it may not sound like much, we should be grateful for every bit of support that comes our way!
…buttressing our capabilities
But in the end – especially in international affairs – we can’t depend only on friends. After all, the maxim is “there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies – just permanent interests”!! As your Eyewitness has been pointing out, 300 billion barrels of Venezuelan crude trumps our 15 billion every day!! So, in the meantime, we gotta use the Americans’ chumminess – while our interests coincide – to boost our own capabilities.
Up to now, they’ve promised “Military Support to Security, Stability, Transition and Reconstruction Operations; Military Financing; Military Sales; International Military Education and Training; Medical Support Training and Operations; Humanitarian Assistance, Civic Action and Disaster Relief Programs and Military to Military Exchange/Training Programs”!
That’s quite a mouthful, innit?? We gotta take up their offer and continue building up our GDF – army, air force and navy. Your Eyewitness supports – fervently – calls that have been made for a military base in our Essequibo – to which we should allow our American ally to have access.
…and our frontiermen
Our Army Chief Omar Khan just reminded us at the National Toshoas Conference of the importance of our Indigenous Peoples to our defence of our western front. He emphasised they were our eyes and ears!!
