Ex-President Carter Planning Trip to Venezuela
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is expressing concern about Venezuela's escalating political crisis and wants to meet with leaders on both sides in an upcoming trip.
Carter, a mediator of past political conflict in the deeply polarized South American nation, made the offer in private letters he sent this week to President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Henrique Capriles.
Expressing "grave concern" about the loss of life in recent protests and the risk of more conflict ahead, Carter in the letter to Capriles said that for dialogue aimed at easing tensions to succeed both side must "send signals of their willingness to alleviate the present state of tension."
This strikes me as being potentially constructive. Carter is about the only prominent US political figure who has a background of knowledge and direct personal experience with the country. He hasn't been tainted by association with people in the US who have made clumsy efforts to meddle in its internal affairs.
I don't know if there is a way to find a compromise for Venezuela. The situation seems highly polarized. However, it is nice to see someone who is likely to be even handed giving it a try.