United States vs. Venezuela (5 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

For some time now, the US has been concentrating naval forces (with Marine detachments) in the Caribbean and general vicinity of Venezuela. Observers have expected some kind of operation there but what that would be wasn't clear. In the past days, the USA's high-profile destruction of an alleged Venezuelan narcotics vessel (including Rubio's explanation that the vessel - not carrying any sort of flag and operated by assumed civilians - was destroyed and its 11 occupants instead of arrested based on orders directly from Trump because it "was an immediate danger to the United States") appears to be setting up some kind of pretext for additional action, a Venezuelan 'Gulf of Tonkin incident' if you will. Trump has indeed promised that this is the beginning of a campaign.

Critics have pointed that the US military's action against the vessel likely violated both international law and well-established US policy. Others have said it is likely that the vessel had migrants and not narcotics. And of course with Trump and his henchmen, the given explanation (combating drug trafficking) is never the actual reason - it's always something more directly tied to Trump's ego and thirst for accolades and retribution.

From a post last week on the buildup:

U.S. Navy Destroyers, Submarine, Amphibious Ships Being Sent Toward Venezuela

The White House calls Venezuelan ruler Maduro a "narco-terrorist" and is deploying ships, planes and Marines in a major show of force.

www.twz.com

Analysis on the legal implications of the destruction of the vessel and its 11 occupants.

Legal Issues Raised by a Lethal U.S. Military Attack in the Caribbean

The Trump administration’s extraordinary lethal attack on this purported smuggling vessel raises significant potential legal issues.

www.justsecurity.org

 

[superchuck500]

Further to the discussion that @MT15 and @RobF were having on the Misc. Trump thread about what appears to be a charade that will be coming this week where Maria Machado may "give" her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump - and I think the question will be what Trump could actually give her.

What appears to be me now to be the situation is that Trump and the chavista regime that remain in power after Maduro's arrest and removal have a vague agreement about working together over Venezuela's oil production - and that's it. Trump says he's "running Venezuela" now but we now have clear evidence of armed militias (of which there are many, and they are armed and well organized in VZ) setting up roadblocks to identify and capture (and likely worse) Americans in Venezuela. When you look at the totality, it was far too easy for US forces to capture Maduro. @efil4 pointed out right away that it appears that the Venezuelan armed forces were standing down - and that the mission itself (and the bloodshed) were limited to Maduro's close security forces, not the nation's broader armed forces. It was just far too surgical, too easy.

So pretty clearly a deal was cut where Delcy Rodriguez (and apparently her brother) - who are, like Maduro, chavistas who have some degree of commitment to Venezuelan socialism and certainly substantial commitment to their own power - remain in power subject to their agreement to work with Trump with the oil. I don't think there's anything more than that.

The idea that Trump has discretion support (successfully) a transition in leadership to Machado - or even to genuine elections that could support a transition is stretched at best IMO. I don't think the Rodriquezes or the chavistas are going to give up power just because Trump demands it . . . he would have to compel it through force and I just don't see him even being interested in that. If the chavistas will play ball with the oil and open up whatever US investment Trump demands (especially if the oil companies don't want it anyway), Trump doesn't seem to have much incentive to use force for Machado or even just for democracy. Those just aren't his interests . . . and I don't think her handing him the peace prize will change much of any of that.

We'll see how this meeting goes down, but I'm guessing that either she has sense enough to know all of this and if he's really that interested in her prize, she can get some very concrete commitments from him - OR, he just says typical Trump mush-headed nonsense, and she smiles and plays along but doesn't engage in these Nobel prize shenanigans.

 

[faceman]

It probably doesn't matter to Trump,but Nobel Prizes can't be transferred.

A Nobel Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred - Nobel Peace Prize

www.nobelpeaceprize.org

 

[Optimus Prime]

It probably doesn't matter to Trump,but Nobel Prizes can't be transferred.

A Nobel Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred - Nobel Peace Prize

www.nobelpeaceprize.org

It most definitely does not matter to him

 

[MT15]

He is just raving now. As discussed - we don’t run Venezuela and what in hell kind of deal is he suggesting with Cuba?

 

[MT15]

And here is the toddler’s typical petty response to the statement the CEO of Exxon made the other day.

 

[efil4]

And here is the toddler’s typical petty response to the statement the CEO of Exxon made the other day.

ExxonMobil be like " ok kewl".

 

[MT15]

This was part of his “pitch” to oil execs the other day. He’s a moron, truly.

 

[zztop]

It probably doesn't matter to Trump,but Nobel Prizes can't be transferred.

A Nobel Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred - Nobel Peace Prize

www.nobelpeaceprize.org

Yeah none of that matters to him or his supporters. This is about as authentic as him being awarded the fifa peace prize - something they made up just to fluff his ego

Donald Trump has finally won a peace prize – from Fifa, no less. Here are five other awards he should win | Arwa Mahdawi

The inaugural award bestowed upon the US president could pave the way for many more colourful accolades. I have some ideas, writes Arwa Mahdawi

www.theguardian.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

 

[MT15]

Another moronic episode during his meeting with oil execs the other day

 

[zztop]

What I Saw in Venezuela After Trump Seized Maduro

 

[MT15]

New war crime disclosure

 

[efil4]

We are taking in 50 million barrels of oil per DAY according to Trump.

By day 6, we will have sucked their 300 million in reserves dry.

Thanks Venezuelan- she all yours now.

 

[MT15]

He is so clueless. My goodness what a moron

 

[efil4]

He is so clueless. My goodness what a moron

speaking to the Detroit Economic Forum.

theres way more but its all stuff we have heard before.

 

[Optimus Prime]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted to dismiss a war powers resolution Wednesday that would have limited President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks on Venezuela after two GOP senators reversed course on supporting the legislation.

Trump put intense pressure on five Republican senators who joined with Democrats to advance the resolution last week and ultimately prevailed in heading off passage of the legislation. Two of the Republicans — Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana — flipped under the pressure.

Vice President JD Vance had to break the 50-50 deadlock in the Senate on a Republican motion to dismiss the bill.

The outcome of the high-profile vote demonstrated how Trump still has command over much of the Republican conference, yet the razor-thin vote tally also showed the growing concern on Capitol Hill over the president’s aggressive foreign policy ambitions.

Democrats forced the debate after U.S. troops captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid earlier this month
“Here we have one of the most successful attacks ever and they find a way to be against it. It’s pretty amazing. And it’s a shame,” Trump said at a speech in Michigan Tuesday.

He also hurled insults at several of the Republicans who advanced the legislation, calling Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky a “stone cold loser” and Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine “disasters.” Those three Republicans stuck to their support for the legislation……..

Senate Republicans defeat Venezuela war powers resolution as Trump pressures 2 GOP senators to flip

Senate Republicans have voted to dismiss a war powers resolution that would have limited President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks on Venezuela.

apnews.com

 

[fooferdoggie]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted to dismiss a war powers resolution Wednesday that would have limited President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks on Venezuela after two GOP senators reversed course on supporting the legislation.

What a bunch of arse whipped idiots.

 

[MT15]