2025 U.S. - Venezuela conflict

[Altair]

The Venezuelans I know living here would take Trump anyday over Maduro and twice on Sunday

They would probably want the leaders they actually elected. Machado, or Juan Guaidó.

but nah, Trump just said screw them, we run the place.

 

[Altair]

Thats all you got? Normally you are more witty than that. Ohh well, its morning.

What is there to say? it's naked imperialism, and you're okay with it.

I don't have much to say to you.

 

[ytz]

The rational, a lie, but the official rational was that Ukraine was a threat to the Russian federation. Also, something about genocide against ethnic russians.

Yeah. Hard to keep track of all the justification. First it's NATO expansion. Then it's Ukrainian Nazis. Then it's protecting ethnic Russians (by killing them at home).

 

[ArmyRick]

They would probably want the leaders they actually elected. Machado, or Juan Guaidó.

but nah, Trump just said screw them, we run the place.

Hey remember how Panama, Iraq and Grenada all became American colonies? Yeah me neither. They Americans dropped whoop ass, and those countries are doing better today.

 

[ytz]

The Venezuelans I know living here would take Trump anyday over Maduro and twice on Sunday

I don't think anybody is arguing that Maduro is great or even tolerable.

The concern here is that this is yet another stop on the train to ending global norms and going to some might makes right world where countries like ours would be absolutely f'd.

 

[Altair]

Hey remember how Panama, Iraq and Grenada all became American colonies? Yeah me neither. They Americans dropped whoop ass, and those countries are doing better today.

Cool. It's going to be great as Russia and China follow the American playbook. Or is America following the Russian and Chinese paybook? It's hard to say these days.

 

[ytz]

Hey remember how Panama, Iraq and Grenada all became American colonies? Yeah me neither. They Americans dropped whoop ass, and those countries are doing better today.

The Presidents of that era were not Trump. You know you can just watch his press conference right now. He literally said, "we're going to run the place". And he re-iterated it by saying, "the people in this room".

 

[McG]

It will be interesting to see the long term impacts this has on the Canadian economy.

And what effects this will have on the renegotiation of CUSMA.

100%
The US now has direct access to the world’s largest oil reserves.
The kind that Texas gulf refineries just love.
People need to realize that a new pipeline or 3 to the coasts has become a ‘need to have’ not a ‘like to have.’

The underlying assumption of this assessment is that Venezuela will roll over and become a US vassal it response to their head of the executive being abducted.

Venezuela may not be able to win a war against the US, but they can now claim just cause if they want to shoot at the American warships and/or aircraft.

 

[Altair]

I don't think anybody is arguing that Maduro is great or even tolerable.

The concern here is that this is yet another stop on the train to ending global norms and going to some might makes right world where countries like ours would be absolutely f'd.

I remember arguing how Canada needs nukes and a bunch of people hand wringing about it.

I wonder how people feel about that now in the face of the Donroe doctrine.

 

[ArmyRick]

Every single military action taken by a nation, including Great Britain declaration of war on Nazi Germany, has it supporters and opposers, it will always happen.

With the USA in particular, the same arguments get rehashed over and over again every single time the USA conducts a military operation, with ot without allies.

Time will tell us if Venezuela will be better off. No one here knows right now.

I am all for a little ass kicking to set the world right. That upsets a few. And for the record, If I was grand Emperor, I would launch NATO into a full on attack on Russia.

 

[Altair]

Every single military action taken by a nation, including Great Britain declaration of war on Nazi Germany, has it supporters and opposers, it will always happen.

With the USA in particular, the same arguments get rehashed over and over again every single time the USA conducts a military operation, with ot without allies.

Time will tell us if Venezuela will be better off. No one here knows right now.

I am all for a little ass kicking to set the world right. That upsets a few. And for the record, If I was grand Emperor, I would launch NATO into a full on attack on Russia.

Russia invades Ukraine, USA and the west say its an illegal war, breaking international law.

China threatens to invade Taiwan, USA and the west say that would be illegal, breaking international law.

USA attacks Venezuela and place Trump and cronies in charge of Venezuela and their oil industry, breaking international law. USA and the....wait...

 

[ModlrMike]

Invading and kidnapping the president (and his wife) of Venezuela, and charging him with exactly the same offences for which you pardoned the president of Honduras, is quite the mental gymnastics.

 

[ArmyRick]

Cool. It's going to be great as Russia and China follow the American playbook. Or is America following the Russian and Chinese paybook? It's hard to say these days.

China and Russia are cruel dictatorships. AT least Trump was elected, and honestly the USA is far from a dictatorship (who got thrown into jail for protesting Trump?)

And for the record, I have not liked and still don't like Trump's total of diplomacy. If Barak Obama had just done what Trump did, he would have put a very nice political spin on it to sell it to the American people. and the world.

Trump should like not speak in front of a mic when times are delicate.

 

[The Bread Guy]

To be fair, the international community believes and supports Edmundo Gonzalez as the legitimately elected President. So in that context, the US did not decapitate a legitimate government ....

Maybe "decapitate" would apply if the government of the day ends up collapsing? Or is it more "they ain't reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally the government"?

Meanwhile, that real Peace Prize winner Venezuelan woman has issued a statement (via CBS):

Venezuelans, The time for freedom has come!

Nicolás Maduro from today will face international justice for the atrocious crimes committed against Venezuelans and against citizens of many other nations. Given his refusal to accept a negotiated solution, the United States government has fulfilled its promise to enforce the law.

The time has come for popular sovereignty and national sovereignty to prevail in our country. We are going to restore order, release the political prisoners, build an exceptional country, and bring our children back home.

We have fought for years, we have given it our all, and it has been worth it. What was meant to happen is happening.

This is the hour of the citizens. Those of us who risked everything for democracy on June 28th. Those of us who elected Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate President of Venezuela, who must immediately assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces by all the officers and soldiers who comprise it.

Today we are ready to assert our mandate and take power. Let us remain vigilant, active, and organized until the democratic transition is complete. A transition that needs ALL of us.

To the Venezuelans who are currently in our country, be ready to put into action what we will be communicating to you very soon through our official channels.

To Venezuelans abroad, we need you to be mobilized, engaging the governments and citizens of the world and committing them from now on to the great operation of building the new Venezuela.

In these crucial hours, receive all my strength, my confidence, and my affection. We remain vigilant and in contact.

VENEZUELA WILL BE FREE! We go hand in hand with God, until the end.

In the tiny space that Trump's brain occupies, about half of the Alberta legislature is under recall so is illegitimate. Canada is a major source of fentanyl and a threat to us national security. Oh, btw, it also has lots of oil, probably stolen from them.

Anything can be justified, particularly when the other parts of government sit on their hands.

It ain't the facts, it's the narrative, for sure.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

The underlying assumption of this assessment is that will roll over and become a US vassal it response to their head of the executive being abducted.

Venezuela may not be able to win a war against the US, but they can now claim just cause if they want to shoot at the American warships and/or aircraft.

The fun thing about external threats is how unifying they can be on affected populations.

Venezuela may not be able to go toe to toe against the US in a conventional sense, but I can only imagine the hell a Russian/Chinese backed insurgency would do to any future oil harvesting plans.

Venezuelans may be anti-Maduro, but that does not directly translate to being pro-American or pro-Trump. Lots of jungle in Venezuela to regroup, reconstitute, and keep the Americans sucked in for decades....

 

[Quirky]

And for the record, I have not liked and still don't like Trump's total of diplomacy. If Barak Obama had just done what Trump did, he would have put a very nice political spin on it to sell it to the American people. and the world.

Communication is Trumps problem, not the action itself.

 

[MilEME09]

Don’t be surprised if, before long, Trump says the same thing about Canada and how the government is tacitly supporting the drug traffickers here. Drug trafficking is the hot button he has created, and the American people seem to be accepting it. So why change it? It worked once so keep on using it. Otherwise, claim that Canada or Greenland or wherever are about ready to be taken over by communist or ISIS hordes. As long as Trump can create a state of fear and then remove that fear through his actions then there will be minimal protest by Americans. Each time he does a little bit more and, like the frog in the gradually boiling water, everything seems fine.

Yeah, its one thing to go after a dictator but what happens when he starts going after democratic governments?

 

[markppcli]

Yeah, its one thing to go after a dictator but what happens when he starts going after democratic governments?

Oh c'mon now its not like he's ever refused to recognize a democratic election.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Of course they do ...

Russia Demands Release of Maduro After U.S. Military Strikes Venezuela - The Moscow Times

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday called for the release of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife from U.S. custody after President Donald Trump announced that they were captured during military strikes on the capital city of Caracas. “We firmly call on the U.S. leadership to...

www.themoscowtimes.com

Russia files diplomatic request asking U.S. to stop pursuing oil tanker originally bound for Venezuela

Russia filed a formal diplomatic request that the United States stop pursuing an oil tanker originally bound for Venezuela that has evaded U.S. custody for almost two weeks, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

www.ctvnews.ca

... as well as this

Venezuela vice president Rodriguez in Russia, four sources say

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is in Russia, four sources familiar with her movements said on Saturday, after President Donald Trump said President Nicolas Maduro had been by U.S. forces after an attack on the country.

www.reuters.com

 

[lenaitch]

Hey remember how Panama, Iraq and Grenada all became American colonies? Yeah me neither. They Americans dropped whoop ass, and those countries are doing better today.

Give him time. He's mused about taking Panama back'. He just said Cuba is a failed state and needs his attention. Let's not forget Greenland. He's only one man; give him time.