Venezuela says defenses against US deployment now ready

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) -- With US warships deployed off Venezuela's coast, President Nicolas Maduro said Saturday a plan to defend against what he called American threats is now complete. Washington accuses Maduro of heading a drug cartel and has deployed significant military assets -- including stealth warplanes and several US Navy ships -- as part of what it says are counter-narcotics efforts in the Caribbean. Maduro, an authoritarian socialist who is widely accused of stealing elections last ...