Marco Rubio Sees Shades of Cuba in Venezuela; Against US Military Action

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., weighed in on Sunday to constituent concerns about the political instability in Venezuela. Rubio said he did not support American military action against the Venezuelan regime.

Im not arguing that the U.S. should intervene militarily, Rubio said. I do think, and I have filed a resolution asking the White House to do two things of great importance. The first is I think the president should pronounce himself very clearly that he condemns, in the strongest possible terms, what Nicol Maduro and their government are doing to the people of Venezuela. And I think thats important because, up to now, all weve heard is that they are concerned about whats happening in Venezuela. They shouldnt be concerned, they should be outraged, and they should say so. And people all over the world who love peace, love freedom, love liberty, love democracy, and love human rights and respect it, need to know that the U.S. is on their side.

Rubio also said he sees some similarities between the situation in Venezuela and the rise of the Communist regime in Cuba.

In many of these emails and letters that we got, there was a link created between what is happening in Venezuela and what has happened previously to Cuba, Rubio said. And thats an important link because it is real. You see, not only is Venezuela looking more and more like Cuba, but the Venezuelan government is practically controlled at some of its highest levels by Havana. And you see that in the tactics that theyre employing. Theyre right out of the Castro playbook.