Venezuela is no Panama and Maduro is no Noriega.

At least two people have been killed and 15 others injured when Venezuelan armed forces opened fire on protesters who were trying to blockade army vehicles from going towards the border. Opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in January and is trying to organize humanitarian aid for the people. Around 65 countries support Guaido while around 50 still recognize Maduro as president. President Nicolas Maduro is vehemently against any aid as this would show that the economy has collapsed. "If the aid gets in, Maduro is shown to have lost control of the situation; if it doesn't get in, we show that Maduro doesn't care for the suffering of the people," said an MP for the opposition JM Matheus. Politicians play games while people suffer. Maduro has managed to convince the army that the aid is a US attempt to take over Venezuela and so far the army is standing by him. Yesterday, the army set fire to two trucks carrying aid and two more were hijacked by soldiers. Why is the army still backing Maduro, although some low ranking soldiers have crossed over into Colombia? After all, soldiers also have families who must be suffering. All they have to do is to stand aside and refuse orders to shoot at their own people. Probably because mutiny is a serious offence and those suspected of plotting against the government, and their families, were tortured. Senior officers have been given control of businesses and the army has been given control of food distribution. When there are no jobs young soldiers are probably reluctant to give up what little they are getting in salaries and perks. Officers accused of drug smuggling have been promoted by Maduro because they would try to defend him at all costs, as they will end up in prison if he falls. Finally, soldiers could be suspicious of aid from the US because it supported a coup against Hugo Chavez in 2002. It was Chavez who created a new National Assembly to change the constitution to enhance his own power and corrupted the Supreme Court by appointing cronies. Maduro has just taken it further. Instead of aid, Maduro is asking for Venezuela's gold to be returned so that he can sell it to buy some more time. "They should send a convoy with the dollars they have stolen from us," he said. Maduro still has support from those who have gained from the system and from some who see the crisis as a plot by Yanqui capitalists to control Venezuela's natural resources. The US invaded Panama in 1998 and captured its president Manual Noriega on a charge of smuggling drugs. He was tried and imprisoned in the US before being extradited to France where he was imprisoned for money laundering. Not surprising that the US maybe seen as a bully in the region. Guaido has called on the international community to keep all options open probably implying an armed invasion of Venezuela. But Maduro is not Noriega and Venezuela is not tiny Panama. Depending on the US maybe making Maduro stronger.