Preparing for the Day After in Venezuela

Posted: March 27th, 2019

By Michael J. Morell

During his 33-year career at CIA, Michael Morell served as Deputy Director for over three years, a job in which he managed the Agency's day-to-day operations, represented the Agency at the White House and Congress, and maintained the Agency's relationships with intelligence services and foreign leaders around the world. Michael also served twice as Acting Director. Michael's senior assignments at CIA also included serving for two years as the Director of Intelligence, the Agency's top analyst, and for two years as Executive Director, the CIA's top administrator—managing human resources, the budget, security, and information technology. Michael was the only person who was both with President Bush on September 11th, and with President Obama on May 1st, when Bin Laden was brought to justice.

The Trump Administration and the international community are focused on helping Venezuelans dislodge Nicholas Maduro from power and install Juan Guaido in the presidential palace. Guaido, the head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, is recognized by the United States and some 50 other countries as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

Even though it is the focus of the moment, removing Maduro will not be the end of the process of recovery in Venezuela; it will only be the beginning. And, as hard as it has been to dislodge Maduro, the aftermath of the transition of power will be even more difficult, and the United States and its allies in the region must have a workable plan today for when that moment arrives.

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