FYI

"On Monday an international observer mission led by the Council of Electoral Experts of Latin America (CEELA), comprised of former top electoral officials from throughout the region, said the election was clean.

"Technically, up until today, we have not observed any element that could disqualify the electoral process," said CEELA President Nicanor Moscoso in a press conference.

"We can emphasize that these elections must be recognized, because they are the result of the will of the Venezuelan people," he added.

Prior to Sunday, CEELA observers participated in all fourteen of the pre-election audits conducted by the CNE in conjunction with all participating political parties, in addition to overseeing the "hot audit" of 54.4 percent of all voting machines mandatorily carried out on election day.

"For his part, Maduro called on his opponents to recognize the election result and join him in a dialogue for "national reconciliation."

"I call on all of the presidential candidates who participated in the election of May 20… to a meeting for dialogue in order to establish a constructive agenda," he said on Monday.

The call for dialogue was seconded by former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, who offered to mediate any future talks.

Zapatero, who facilitated the previous round of government-opposition dialogue in the Dominican Republic in January, said that Sunday’s vote had gone forward "peacefully" and opposition candidates should direct any complaints they have regarding the electoral process through the appropriate institution channels.

do not follow amerika, do what is best for your region and country. developed nations are with you, when you follow blindly their path

No. I think this is largely politics driving both issues rather than a matter of a sea change in foreign policy. In Venezuela, the United States was only a part of a chorus of international observers (Argentina, Spain, the Lima Group) that declared the elections were a "sham." The economic sanctions imposed on the Maduro regime were months in planning and State Department officials already knew that the outcome (like in most hybrid states) would be predetermined. Latin American countries have been also planning to reevaluate their bilateral relationships with Venezuela in order to put pressure on Maduro to seek democratization measures.

The Iran withdrawal has been a favorite agenda item for Trump since before he was President. This also was not a surprise. Backchannel negotiations with the EU have been going on for sometime in an effort to salvage what is left of JCPOA.

I am solidly in agreement with the position of the US over Iran. That country must be handled accordingly. What is really happening in Iran? Must the world worship Iran before it comply?

Sanction should be placed on it. The world need more love and less of weapons of mass destruction.

In my candid view, I sincerely believe the world will be a better place for everyone if all those so-called nuclear states will get rid of those deadly weapons. No country in the world will bring peace by harboring weapons of mass destruction, and that includes the US, France, UK, China, Russia, Israel, North Korea, etc.

Why should any peace-loving country possess a nuclear weapon?

And why should one country always seek to impose its whims and caprices on others?

Are the imposition of sanctions the only means of addressing seemingly unwelcome situations?

Who really suffers whenever the US imposes sanctions on presumably less powerful and developing countries?

It is time for the US and the other so-called developed countries to think outside the box. I thought this was quite a simple issue; if you have issues with another country's policies or system of governance negotiate, use diplomacy, and give them a better example to follow. You don't start by acting like a bully.

Imposing sanctions and threatening other countries only heightens global insecurity and gives room for violent non state actors to act.

LET's give diplomacy a chance; the world will be a better place for all.

I agree largely with Mr. Botchway's line of thought being a Retired Marine Veteran on the tactics and measures the current administration is applying. I fear what is being lost is clear-headed thinking and a reasonable diplomatic approach that attempts to change or sway the ideology behind the unsavory behavior conducted by those who would do us and our allies harm. You have to have a thorough understanding of the people and their way of life, before you can attempt any measure at changing their behavior.

Furthermore with the manner that our current President is going about breaking agreements and disrupting long established relationships with our allies he no longer has any credibility with the free-world. Reputational consequences will have long and lasting effects and will be an impediment to getting others to comply with the current administrations wishes. You have to have the ability to talk to people with mutual respect of their sovereign and positions and then seek a solution that will be a "win-win" for both or all parties involved. Talking down and bullying is never going to accomplish anything in our modern society.