Ex-Green Beret claims he led foiled raid into Venezuela

A former Green Beret has taken responsibility for what he claimed was a failed attack Sunday aimed at overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolás Muro and that socialist government said ended with eight de.

Jordan Goudreau’s comments in an interview with an exiled Venezuelan journalist capped a bizarre day that started with reports of a predawn amphibious raid near South American country’s heavily guarded capital.

An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau h been working with a retired Venezuelan army general w facing U.S. narcotics charges to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia. goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Muro’s arrest.

RE: Ex-Green Beret Led Failed Attempt To Oust Venezuela's Muro

But from outset ragtag army lacked funding and U.S. government support, all but guaranteeing defeat against Muro’s sizable-if-demoralized military. It also appears to have been penetrated by Muro’s extensive Cuban-backed intelligence network.

Both Goudreau and retired Venezuelan Capt. Javier Nieto declined to speak to AP on Sunday when contacted after posting a video from an undisclosed location saying y h launched an anti-Muro putsch called “Operation Gideon.” Both men live in Florida.

“A daring amphibious raid was launched from border of Colombia deep into heart of Caracas,” Goudreau, in a New York Yankees ball cap, said in video standing next to Nieto who was dressed in armored vest with a rolled-up Venezuelan flag pinned to his shoulder. “Our units have been activated in south, west and east of Venezuela.”

Goudreau said 60 of his men were still on ground and calls were being activated inside Venezuela, some of m fighting under command of Venezuelan National Guardsman Capt. Antonio Sequea, who participated in a barracks revolt against Muro a year ago.

RE: Venezuela Says It Foiled Attack By Boat On Main Port City

ne of ir claims of an ongoing operation could be independently verified. But Goudreau said he hoped to join rebels soon and invited Venezuelans and Muro’s troops to join would-be insurgency although re was sign of any fighting in capital or elsewhere as night fell.

In an interview later with Miami-based journalist Patricia Poleo, he provided a contrictory account of his activities and support he claims to have once h — and n lost — from Juan Guaidó, opposition leer recognized as Venezuela’s interim president by U.S. and some 60 countries.

He provided to Poleo what he said was an 8-p contract signed by Guaidó and two political visers in Miami in October for $213 million. alleged “general services” contract doesn’t specify what work his company, Silvercorp USA, was to undertake.

He also released via Poleo a four-minute audio recording, me on a hidden cellphone, in moment when he purportedly signed contract as Guaidó participated via videoconference. In recording, a person he claims is Guaido can be heard giving vague encourment in broken English but t discussing any military plans.

“Let’s get to work!,” said man who is purportedly Guaido.

AP was unable to confirm veracity of recording.

re was immediate comment from Guaidó on Goudreau’s claim that two h signed a contract. Previously, Guaidó has said he hn’t signed any contract for a military incursion.

Goudreau said he never received a penny from Guaidó team and inste Venezuelan soldiers he was vising h to scrounge for donations from Venezuelan migrants driving for car share service Uber in Colombia.

“It’s almost like crowdfunded liberating of a country,” he said.

Goudreau said everything he did was legal but in any case he’s prepared to pay cost for anything he did if it saves lives of Venezuelans trying to restore ir democracy.

“I’ve been a freedom fighter my whole life. This is all I kw,” said Goudreau, who is a decorated three-time Bronze Star recipient for cour in deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a special forces medic.

Asked about why his troops would land at one of Venezuela’s most fortified coastlines — some 20 miles from Caracas next to country’s biggest airport — he cited example set by Alexander Great, who h “struck deep into heart of enemy” at Battle of Guagamela.

government’s claims that it h foiled a beach landing Sunday triggered a frenzy of confusing claims and counterclaims about alleged plot. While Muro’s allies said it h been backed by Guaidó, Colombia and U.S., opposition accused Muro of fabricating whole episode to distract attention from country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

“Those who assume y can attack institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume consequences of ir action,” said socialist party boss Diosdo Cabello, ding that one of two captured insurgents claimed to be an nt of U.S. Drug Enforcement ministration.

Authorities said y found Peruvian documents, high-caliber weapons, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets orned with U.S. flag.

Both U.S. and Colombian officials dismissed Venezuelan allegations.

“We have little reason to believe anything that comes out of former regime,” said a State Department spokesperson, referring to Muro’s government. “ Muro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanment of Venezuela.”

Venezuela has been in a deepening political and ecomic crisis under Muro’s rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate.

United States has led a campaign to oust Muro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting socialist leer as a drug trafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions.

In dition to U.S. ecomic and diplomatic pressure, Muro’s government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Muro with a drone in 2018 and Guaidó’s call for a military uprising a year ago.

Cabello linked Sunday’s attack to key players in alleged plot led by Goudreau and Ret. Maj. Gen. Cliver Alcala, who is w in U.S. custody awaiting trial after being indicted alongside Muro on narcoterrorist charges. One of men he said was killed, nicknamed “ Panr,” h been identified as involved in obtaining weapons for covert force in Colombia.

Guaidó accused Muro’s government of seizing on incident to draw world’s attention away from country’s problems.

“Of course, re are patriotic members of military willing to fight for Venezuela,” Guaidó said. “But it’s clear that what happened in Vargas is ar distraction ploy.”