Topic: Special Envoy

Elliott Abrams has been appointed as the US Special Envoy for Venezuela, a move that signals a hardline approach given his history in the Iran-Contra affair. Abrams is expected to utilize his experience with South American assets and paramilitary strategies to address the Maduro regime. His appointment coincided with the escalation of diplomatic tensions between Washington and Caracas.

General John Allen, acting as the special presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter ISIL, discussed the long-term strategy for defeating the group. He defined defeat as denying ISIS territory, breaking them into small organizations without operational capacity, and cutting off their access to international finance. Allen admitted that the number of recruits joining the "caliphate" has increased due to the magnetism of the movement.