Protests Erupted as Trump Says Maduro Is Willing to Negotiate.
HILL: Let's get a closer look at the growing crisis in Venezuela. Where huge protests are erupting. The acting President taking to the streets disrupting traffic and the latest wave of protesters as maduro says he's willing to negotiate with the U.S.-backed. He tweeted the willingness to negotiate after new pressure with sanctions. We're also learning President Trump has spoken with Guaido for the first time offering the White House's continued support that Guaido is in fact Venezuela's rightful leader. Joining us to discuss the new developments is retired Rear Admiral John Kirby, a former spokesman for both the State Department and the Pentagon. Currently a CNN military and diplomatic analyst. When we look at all of this, we have maduro posting this new video that he warns that a new Vietnam could be happening in Venezuela if the United States does not reverse course. It's an interesting choice of words. Clearly targeting a certain sentiment in the</s>U.S. JOHN KIRBY, CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: This is a reaction to the claims that Bolton was looking at sending thousands of troops to Columbia. And it also supports Maduro's long-held contention even before Trump that the United States was interested in taking over Venezuela, invading Venezuela. I dealt with those questions myself when I was at the State Department which of course is not now and was not then U.S. policy. He's trying to raise the specter of a quagmire in Vietnam and say we should stay out of it.</s>HILL: Is that going to be effective in any way?</s>KIRBY: I don't think so. I would make a couple points. One, it's good to see that the protests are peaceful. You're not seeing any violence yet. You're not seeing the Venezuelan military react to the protesters. They are out in the streets protesting peacefully. That's a good sign. I don't know if Trump's tweet is accurate, but if it is and maduro has indicated a willingness to negotiate a settlement, that's a positive sign. We need to take it all with a grain of salt. Maduro was willing to make changes and wasn't able to come through with that. The situation is desperate. The humanitarian needs are acute. So, it's really important that we try to find a way through this led by the international community, not the United States. And that we keep our optimism somewhat in check going forward.</s>HILL: I also want to get your take on Afghanistan. The ambassador to Afghanistan writing an op-ed in the "Washington Post" and frankly the headline says it all. I was ambassador to Afghanistan. This deal is a surrender. That's stark. Would you agree?</s>KIRBY: If you read the piece, what his main point is the reason it's a surrender because we're only talking to the Taliban and not including the Afghan government. I agree in that regard. No negotiated settlement to the Afghanistan war is going to be enduring or sustainable if the Democratically elected government in Kabul led by President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah are behind it and involved in it.