VENEZUELA.
MARIA: BLOOD IN THE STREETS IS
WHAT YOU'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW.
THE TOP STORY IS THE CRISIS IN
VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW.
SUPPORTERS OF JUAN GUAIDO
CLASHING WITH GOVERNMENT FORCE
AS HE CALLS FOR THE OUSTER OF
NICOLAS MADURO.
JOINING ME NOW IS MIKE POMPEO TO
TALK MORE ABOUT THIS.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US THIS
MORNING.
>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
MARIA: WE WANT TO GET TO THE
LATEST OFF THE BAT.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE
SUPPORT FOR GUAIDO FROM THE
MILITARY AND SECURITY FORCES A
AND WHERE IS MADURO?
>> MADURO SPOKE LAST NIGHT.
HE WENT ON A RAMBLE FOR ABOUT AN
HOUR, THE FIRST TIME HE CAME OUT
OF HIDING.
HE'S PRETTY TUCKED AWAY, UNLIKE
INTERIM PRESIDENT DOE WHO IS IN
THE STREET, TALKING TO
VENEZUELAN PEOPLE, A STARK
CONTRAST, I THINK INDICATIVE
ABOUT HOW MADURO FEELS ABOUT HIS
OWN SECURITY.
WE HAD THE MOST SENIOR LEADER
COME YOU ACROSS YESTERDAY, THE
HEAD OF THE VENEZUELAN
INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, A FELLOW
NAMED CHRISTOPHER.
AND WE HAD DOZENS OF OTHERS,
MILITARY DEPART MADURO'S FORCES
YESTERDAY.
TODAY THEY EXPECT BIG RALLIES.
GUAIDO'S BEEN CALLING FOR THE
BIGGEST RALLY IN THE HISTORY OF
VENEZUELA.
WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO TAKE TO THE
STREETS TODAY TO DEFEND THEIR
DEMOCRACY.
MARIA: LOOK AT THIS STRONGHOLD
OF SUPPORT FROM RUSSIA AND CUBA
TO MADURO, WITH RUSSIA PROVIDING
WEAPONS, CUBA PROVIDING
INTELLIGENCE.
HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT?
VIEWERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS
TRIANGLE OF STRENGTH, IF WE WERE
TO SEE THIS CONTINUED SUPPORT.
>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE CASE FOR
A LONG TIME, THE CUBANS HAVE HAD
AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF
CONTROL INSIDE OF VENEZUELA.
I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE
ECONOMY HAVING HAD SUCH PROBLEMS
OVER THE LAST FIVE, SIX, SEVEN
YEARS.
YOU HAVE CUBANS, COMMUNISTS IN
CONTROL OF THE VENEZUELAN
CONTROL, IN CONTROL OF THE
VENEZUELAN SECURITY SITUATION
AND ON TOP OF THAT WE'VE GOT THE
EXPANDED ROLE OF RUSSIA IN
VENEZUELA, PROPPING UP THE THUGS
THAT ARE THE MADURO REGIME.
MARIA: SO HOW FAR IS THE U.S.
GOING TO GO TO STOP RUSSIA FROM
PROVIDING WEAPONRY, STOP CUBA
FROM THEIR SUPPORT AND WHETHER
IT'S INTELLIGENCE OR SUPPORT FOR
MADURO?
>> YOU'VE SEEN THE WORK THAT
WE'VE DONE ALREADY TO RAISE THE
COST FOR THE CUBANS, WE'VE TAKEN
A HANDFUL OF ACTIONS.
THERE ARE MORE THAT WE'LL
CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
WE'LL DO THE SAME FOR THE
RUSSIANS.
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT
IS -- AS THE PRESIDENT SAID,
THEY'VE GOT TO GO.
THE RUSSIANS NEED TO HAVE THE
COST FOR THAT.
WE'RE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TAKE
THIS ACTIVITY, WHICH IS
UNDERMINING JUAN GUAIDO WHO IS
THE DUALLY ELECTED LEADER OF
VENEZUELA.
AND TAKE SUPPORT FROM UNDERNEATH
HIM, SO HE'LL DEPART THE
COUNTRY.
MARIA: THIS IS CRITICAL TO THE
UNITED STATES, RIGHT?
SO WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THIS
SUPPORT FROM CUBA ON THE U.S.?
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A REGION, A
THREE HOUR FLIGHT FROM MIAMI.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TOOK A
DIFFERENT APPROACH TO CUBA THAN
THE ONE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
OUR TEAM HAVE TAKEN.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
CHALLENGE THE LEADERSHIP IN CUBA
AND TRY AND RESTORE A DECENT WAY
OF LIFE IN CUBA AS WELL.
OUR FOCUS TODAY IS VENEZUELA.
I THINK I HEARD YOU TALKING A
LITTLE EARLIER, THE HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS ALONE IS STAGGERING.
YOU'VE HAD 3 MILLION PEOPLE FLEE
THE COUNTRY.
WE EXPECT ANOTHER 2 MILLION IF
THE SITUATION DOESN'T CHANGE TO
LEAVE THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR.
THIS IS A COUNTRY OF 30 MILLION
PEOPLE.
THAT'S MORE THAN 10% OF THE
POPULATION THAT WILL HAVE FLED.
THEY'VE DONE SO THAT IN SPITE OF
THE FACT THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS
HAVE BEEN PROVIDING ENORMOUS
MEDICAL AND FOOD ASSISTANCE, THE
MADURO REGIME CONTINUES TO ALLOW
STARVING CHILDREN NOT TO EAT AND
KIDS WHO ARE SICK NOT TO GET
MEDICINE.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME.
THE DEVASTATION IS DEEP.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE
VENEZUELAN PEOPLE IN THE STREETS
TODAY.
MARIA: AND OBVIOUSLY MADURO IS
HIDING OUT AND HAS STILL NOT
LEFT.
WHAT'S TO SAY -- I MEAN, WHY DO
WE BELIEVE THAT IN FACT THIS IS
THE MOMENT THAT HE WILL TAKE THE
CUE AND ACTUALLY GET OUT OF
TOWN?
DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS
ACTUALLY THE MOMENT?
OR IS HE GOING TO CONTINUE IN
HIDING?
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME
TIME AND HE STILL HASN'T LEFT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, MARIA.
HE'S ALWAYS THERE UNTIL HE'S
NOT.
WE DON'T KNOW PRECISELY WHEN THE
MOMENT IS THAT HE'LL MAKE THE
RIGHT DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE OF
VENEZUELA.
HE'S SHOWN AN UTTER LACK OF
REGARD OR CARE FOR THEIR
DECENCY, THEIR DIGNITY.
OUR TASK IS TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT
JUAN GUAIDO.
IT'S NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE IN THE
NATIONAL ABRING BUT THE
ORGANIZATION -- ASSEMBLY BUT THE
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES,
50 PLUS COUNTRIES ACROSS THE
WORLD, EACH OF WHOM RECOGNIZED
THAT THE ELECTION THAT MADURO
CLAIMS HIS POWER FROM WAS A
FRAUD, A SHAM.
THAT JUAN GUAIDO IS THE
CONSTITUTIONAL LEADER AND THAT
WE NEED FREE AND FERRELL
WE NEED FREE AND FAIRELL
WE NEED FREE AND FAIR LL
WE NEED FREE AND FAIR L
ELECTIONS.
OUR EFFORTS ARE TO DRIVE TOWARDS
THAT CONCLUSION.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THIS UNTIL
THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE GET THE
DEMOCRACY THEY'RE DEMANDING.
MARIA: IS THE U.S.'S SUPPORT
GOING TO INCLUDE TROOPS?
ARE THE MILITARY TROOPS IN THE
U.S. GOING TO HEAD THERE AND
SUPPORT GUAIDO?
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
CRYSTAL CLEAR.
AND INCREDIBLE
AND INCREDIBLY CONSISTENT.
MILL YOU TRI ACTION IS POSSIBLE
IF THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED.
THAT'S WHAT THE UNITED STATES
WILL DO.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO AVOID VIOLENCE.
WE'VED ASKED ALL THE PARTIES
INVOLVED NOT TO EARN GAUGE
INVOLVED NOT TO ENGN GAUGE
INVOLVED NOT TO ENGAGGAUGE
INVOLVED NOT TO ENGAGEAUGE
INVOLVED NOT TO ENGAGE IGE
INVOLVED NOT TO ENGAGE INE
INVOLVED NOT TO ENGAGE IN THAT
KIND OF ACTIVITY.
THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE CLEAR, IN
THE EVENT THERE COMES A MOMENT
-- WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS
ON WHEN THAT MOMENT IS, THE
PRESIDENT WILL MAKE THAT
DECISION, HE'S PREPARED TO DO
THAT IF THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED.
MARIA: THE PRESIDENT IS TRYING
TO SEND A MESSAGE TO CUBA.
HE TWEETED THIS LAST NIGHT.
IF CUBAN TRIPS AND MALY SHA
IF CUBAN TRIPS AND MILY SHA
IF CUBAN TRIPS AND MILITSHA
IF CUBAN TRIPS AND MILITIAA
IF CUBAN TRIPS AND MILITIA DO
NOT IMMEDIATELY CEASE THEIR
ACTIONS, A FULL AND COMPLETE
EMBARGO TOGETHER WITH HIGHEST
LEVEL SANCTIONS WILL BE PLACED
ON THE ISLAND OF CUBA.
HOPEFULLY ALL CUBAN SOLDIERS
WILL PROMPTLY AND PEACEFULLY
RETURN TO THEIR ISLAND.
WHAT IS THE PLAN IN TERMS OF
SANCTIONS?
>> I NEVER GET AHEAD OF THE TEAM
ON EXACTLY WHAT THE SANCTIONS
WILL BE.
YOU SAW WHAT WE DID WITH WHAT'S
CALLED TITLE 3 OF A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION BACK IN THE '90s.
NO ADMINISTRATION HAD IMPOSED
THOSE BURDENS ON CUBA.
WE DID.
WE ANNOUNCED A SET OF TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS, MONETARY
RESTRICTIONS.
THERE'S MORE TO FOLLOW.
THE PRESIDENT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN
CLEARER IN THE TWEET HE PUT OUT
ABOUT THE COSTS THERE WILL BE TO
THE COMMUNIST REGIME IN CUBA IF
THEY DON'T CHANGE THEIR WAY, IF
THEY DON'T DEPART VENEZUELA AND
IF THEY DON'T CEASE THEIR
SUPPORT, VIOLENT SUPPORT INSIDE
OF THAT COUNTRY.
MARIA: AND WHAT ABOUT RUSSIA?
I MEAN, HOW FAR IS THE U.S.
WILLING TO GO TO GET RUSSIA TO
STOP PROVIDING WEAPONRY TO
MADURO?
>> THE MISSION IS VERY CLEAR.
THE PRESIDENT LAID DOWN A VERY
CLEAR REQUIREMENT FOR THE
RUSSIAN STATE.
THEY'VE GOT TO LEAVE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY'VE
GOT TO TAKE DOWN THAT SUPPORT
FOR MADURO.
THEY ARE IN FACT THE FORCE THAT
IS PROPPING UP THE MADURO
REGIME.
I SAID YESTERDAY, MARIA, THERE
ARE INDICATION THAT'S MADURO WAS
PREPARED TO LEAVE AND THAT THE
RUSSIANS ASKED HIM NOT TO GO.
THOSE ARE VERY DANGEROUS THINGS,
DANGEROUS FOR THE VENEZUELAN
PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT CREATE AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RISK THAT
VIOLENCE WILL ESCALATE,
SOMETHING THAT I THINK NO
COUNTRY IN THE REGION WANTS.
MARIA: AND ESCALATE AND IMPACT
THE BROADER REGION AS WELL.
I MEAN, THE PICTURES ARE LOOKING
MORE AND MORE LIKE SYRIA AND A
CIVIL WAR EVERY DAY.
SO CHARACTERIZE FOR OUR AUDIENCE
THE IMPACT ON PLACES LIKE
BRAZIL, COLOMBIA AND THE UNITED
STATES.
>> MARIA, I'M NOT SURE THE
ANALOGY TO SYRIA IS APPROPRIATE.
VERY DIFFERENT SET OF
CHALLENGES.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS I THINK THE SCALE HERE IS
NOW ALMOST EQUAL.
THE COLOMBIANS ARE HOSTING OVER
1 MILLION SICK AND REFUGEES.
PERU AND CHILE BEGINNING TO BE
IMPACTED, ECONOMIES BEGINNING TO
BE BURDENED BY THE COST OF
HOSTING THOSE WHO FLED FROM
VENEZUELA AND MORE ARE STREAMING
OUTSIDE OF
OUTSIDE OVENS WAY
OUTSIDE OFENS WAY
OUTSIDE OF VS WAY
OUTSIDE OF VENWAY
OUTSIDE OF VENEZY
OUTSIDE OF VENEZUELA EACH AND
EVERY DAY.
I SAW WHERE PEOPLE WERE COMING
ACROSS A RIVERBED, COMING ACROSS
-- THEY WERE FLEEING A PLACE
WHERE THEY COULDN'T FEED THEIR
KIDS, COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF
THEIR CHILDREN AND THESE MOTHERS
WHO HAD BEEN SO DEVASTATED, WHO
WANTED TO STAY IN THEIR HOME
COUNTRY, SIMPLY COULDN'T DO SO.
MARIA: AND THEN THERE'S ALSO
THE QUESTION OF GUAIDO AND IF WE
WERE TO SEE THE MILITARY SUPPORT
MADURO IN A BIGGER WAY, IF THEY
WERE TO IMPRISON GUAIDO.
>> MADURO'S REGIME HAS NOT
CHOSEN TO DO THAT SO FAR.
WE'VE ALL, NOT JUST THE UNITED
STATES, BUT EVERY COUNTRY HAS
MADE CRYSTAL CLEAR TO MADURO AND
THOSE WHO ARE SUPPORTING HIM
INCLUDING THE CUBANS, TAKING OUT
THE DUALLY ELECTED LEADER, THE
CONSTITUTIONALLY HE'LL ELECTED
INTERIM PRESIDENT IN VENEZUELA
WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT
ESCALATION AND THERE WILL BE A
RESPONSE IF THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.
MARIA: HAS A RED LINE BEEN
CROSSED IN TERMS OF THE U.S.?
>> YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT RED
LINES, THIS IS A MISSION, A
MISSION TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY AND
TO BEGIN THE PROCESS HE'S TO
REBUILD SEVEN YEARS OF DISASTER
AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS INSIDE
OF VENEZUELA.
THIS IS A GOVERNMENT-OWNED
DESTRUCTION OF THEIR COUNTRY.
I THINK ABOUT ALL THE PLACE
THAT'S HAVE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.
SOME OF THEM ARE CAUSED BY
NATURAL DISASTERS.
SOME ARE CAUSED BECAUSE
COUNTRIES DON'T HAVE WEALTH OR
CAPACITY.
VENEZUELA IS NOT THAT.
THIS IS BECAUSE OF THEIR
SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS BECAUSE A LEADER CHOSE
NOT TO HONOR THE DESIRES OF HIS
OWN PEOPLE.
AND THE ENORMOUS DESTRUCTION OF
A ONCE PROUD COUNTRY'S ECONOMY
IS DEVASTATING FOR THE PEOPLE OF