U.S. intelligence warns of Venezuela collapse [View all]

[Zorro]

With dire shortages of basic goods, a looming foreign debt payment, horrific street crime and intransigent political divisions, Venezuela is in danger of collapsing into waves of deadly violence, U.S. intelligence officials warned Friday.

Venezuela, which controls the world's largest reserves of crude oil, is in the throes of a potentially explosive political stalemate after opposition parties gained a majority in the national congress in elections late last year.

President Nicolas Maduro, a leftist, faces a possible recall vote sponsored by the opposition that he is maneuvering to block.

All portends a dilemma for U.S. policy makers concerned about the ripples of more violence, but with few options to change the course of events.

http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-u.s.-venezuela-20160513-snap-story.html