Federico Rios/Bloomberg photo. Caption: “People gather near a destroyed truck on the Simon Bolivar International Bridge near the border on Feb. 24.”

(Even more here)

February 25, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

Shanahan said his conversations with officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and observations at sites in Texas and New Mexico had underscored the role the military can play

A “cowboy priest” confronts the wall and the military presence on the banks of the Rio Grande

A bipartisan group of 58 former senior national security officials will issue a statement Monday saying that “there is no factual basis” for President Trump’s proclamation of a national emergency to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border

Bolivia

Evo Morales tuvo el respaldo de la mayoría de los bolivianos, que le otorgaron el 35% de las preferencias frente al 31% de su contendor, el expresidente Carlos Mesa

Brazil, Venezuela

It was the remote frontier with Brazil that saw the worst violence and the boldest – though unfounded – claims of success in getting aid into Venezuela

Brazil

Subordinado ao Comando Sul, o general de 52 anos de idade estará encarregado da áreas de assistência humanitária e de alívio de desastres do Exército Sul americano

Colombia

Martínez habló con EL COLOMBIANO sobre la seguridad del país y sobre los planes que tienen desde el Gobierno para contrarrestar el accionar delictivo de grupos ilegales

Colombia, Venezuela

Para el CICR las donaciones que están varadas ahora en la frontera entre Colombia y Venezuela, no deberían ser llamadas ‘ayudas humanitarias’, dado que no están supeditadas por los principios de la imparcialidad y neutralidad

Cuba

While the outcome of the referendum isn’t really in doubt, the percentage of who will vote for ratification is. It’s not expected to approach the 97.6 percent approval rate the current constitution got

Guatemala

The bill would allow former army officers who committed abuses during the country’s 36-year war to go free

Mexico

La Comisión de Puntos Constitucionales de la Cámara de Diputados avalará mañana, sin cambios, el dictamen a la minuta del Senado para crear la Guardia Nacional

While it’s not uncommon for the leftist firebrand known as AMLO to attack regulators and autonomous agencies, he doesn’t usually call out specific people, much less target them with multiple probes

Venezuela

Guaido is walking a delicate line. While saber-rattling could unnerve some in the top ranks of Maduro’s military and speed up defections, threats of foreign military intervention, especially involving the U.S., would likely strengthen Maduro’s stance among his shrinking base

Those scenes, however, were ones that the opposition had sought to avoid

Proposals for increased pressure on the authoritarian leader will be made during a meeting on Monday in the Colombian capital Bogotá

Analysts warn there is a serious risk of sliding into armed conflict, and say many of those pushing for intervention are underestimating the cost and possible impact of sending foreign troops to Venezuela

It’s a prospect that analysts warn risks fracturing a hard-won coalition of Latin American nations who’ve come together to pressure Maduro’s socialist government

Even for some of Maduro’s enemies, Washington’s efforts to oust the Venezuelan leader raise concern because of the history of U.S. intervention in the region