US 'dropped the mask' with Venezuela threat: minister

The United States "dropped the mask" by threatening Venezuela with possible military action, the South American country's defense minister, General Vladimir Padrino, said Monday.US President Donald Trump's warning last Friday that he was mulling various scenarios against Venezuela, "including a possible military option if necessary," was "delirious" and "crazy," Padrino said in an address on state television.The minister -- surrounded by other uniformed brass and a tank -- read a statement swear