US Airstrikes on Venezuela (Maduro captured).

[Party Elephant]

When you have the most powerful military on earth, you can just bomb cities and make up the justification later.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Opposite. This operation in part is to prevent Venezuela from falling to China. Which is what it has been leaning towards.

Taiwan (for now) has the microprocessor IP that can’t fall to China either.

If anything it shows a very strong message that the US doesn’t eff around on this stuff.

To be clear, I am not for this operation. Yet Maduro and his gov’t are scum. This is not how this is supposed to work at all. Yet may many people of Venezuela are likely happy that their country has a chance.

Not sure it plays out completely that way. I think what it shows is what I’ve been suspecting. Trump wants the americas, and he will let Putin and Xi do their thing in their spheres.

Not much moral high ground left for Trump once the other two start deposing neighbouring leaders.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

Not sure it plays out completely that way. I think what it shows is what I’ve been suspecting. Trump wants the americas, and he will let Putin and Xi do their thing in their spheres.

Not much moral high ground left for Trump once the other two start deposing neighbouring leaders.

Right, the Monroe Doctrine. They’ve basically agreed that they’ll leave each other alone and not interfere, which should make Greenland (and Canada) somewhat concerned about their intentions.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Opposite. This operation in part is to prevent Venezuela from falling to China. Which is what it has been leaning towards.

Taiwan (for now) has the microprocessor IP that can’t fall to China either.

If anything it shows a very strong message that the US doesn’t eff around on this stuff.

To be clear, I am not for this operation. Yet Maduro and his gov’t are scum. This is not how this is supposed to work at all. Yet may many people of Venezuela are likely happy that their country has a chance.

does it, though? Getting rid of Maduro is a great thing in isolation, but I have a hard time believing that things will dramatically improve for the population. Especially when Disco Don has a hand in picking the successor.

[puffnstuff]

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mbjn2cm7ll2w

Trump on Sheinbaum: "The cartels are running Mexico. She's not running Mexico. We could be politically correct & nice and say, 'Oh, yes, she is.' No no. And I've asked her number times, 'Would you like us to take out the cartels?' ... something is gonna have to be done with Mexico."

Hey Mexico you are next...he also mentions Canada (his lie about drugs coming from Canada)

[ThePrince]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

They've been justifying attacks saying that Maduro is directing drug trafficking to the U.S. through one of the cartels, although there's no concrete evidence of that happening. If it's about drug trafficking, it gets around the need for congressional approval because they can say it's about law enforcement (think of the arrest of El Chapo on Mexican soil for instance). However, while Mexican law enforcement had knowledge of that operation and aided Americans, this is completely different, as it appears that Venezuelan military and police authorities were caught unaware and do not seem to be on the same side as the American forces.

As much as Maduro is despicable (and he truly is), this is a fully illegal attack/invasion and there's no obvious justification for it. As others have pointed out, if it really is about drugs, it's inconsistent with his treatment of the Honduran officials who received a pardon recently.

Part of me thinks this is a little bit about revenge for Trump who hates Maduro because he criticizes Trump and refuses to bend the knee. I don't think he gives two ####s about drugs, and he only cares a little bit about oil. As others have pointed out, it could also easily be a smoke screen to deflect attention away from the recently released Epstein files.

While I don’t disagree with most of what you say, you are wholly incorrect on this being “fully illegal”. US presidents have been carrying out attacks like this for decades without congressional approval. The War Powers Act has allowed POTUS to carry out special military operations for 60 days without congressional approval, which has been used by pretty much every president since, so not sure why you keep beating the “illegal” drum. As stupid as it is, legally this isn’t much different than the US arresting El Chapo in Mexico and bringing him back to the US.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

Not sure it plays out completely that way. I think what it shows is what I’ve been suspecting. Trump wants the americas, and he will let Putin and Xi do their thing in their spheres.

Not much moral high ground left for Trump once the other two start deposing neighbouring leaders.

Well let’s clear that up. Trump wants to save his own ass and make money. That’s it that’s all. It’s clear that the deep pocket republicans want the americas. This ain’t going away with Trump. And they have shocking support from their base.

[puffnstuff]

Pam Bondi: Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.

So the DOJ is ok with holding foreign presidents accountable for illegal acts...but not US ones. And trump will pardon a Honduran president that was actually found guilty and convicted of drug trafficking.
Also, are they against guns now? Or just in this case?

[Drak]

Trump on China: "There's not gonna be a problem. They're gonna get oil. We're gonna allow people to have oil ... nobody can stop us."


https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com

[MegaErtz]

I'm not going to kid myself and pretend that oil isn't the primary factor in all this, but it sure is nice to have the world's police force take out a dictator like this. What a stunning display of tactical military force.

The big losers in all this are the Alberta taxpayer. Despite what our Premier creepily repeats, America doesn't need our oil anymore.

[Fuzz]

2026 - of course it can get worse.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

I'm not going to kid myself and pretend that oil isn't the primary factor in all this, but it sure is nice to have the world's police force take out a dictator like this. What a stunning display of tactical military force.

The big losers in all this are the Alberta taxpayer. Despite what our Premier creepily repeats, America doesn't need our oil anymore.

Not when they are picking and choosing who for whatever made up reasons they want. What right did they have? None. The world just got a lot more sketchy.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

While I don’t disagree with most of what you say, you are wholly incorrect on this being “fully illegal”. US presidents have been carrying out attacks like this for decades without congressional approval. The War Powers Act has allowed POTUS to carry out special military operations for 60 days without congressional approval, which has been used by pretty much every president since, so not sure why you keep beating the “illegal” drum. As stupid as it is, legally this isn’t much different than the US arresting El Chapo in Mexico and bringing him back to the US.

I think I was pretty clear on why it's different in Mexico with the El Chapo situation. It was a joint operation using Mexican law enforcement and intelligence.

In any case, the interpretation of law is up for courts to decide, but it's pretty clear that this is an act of war with a sovereign nation (note, not a cartel, or terrorist organization) that requires congressional approval. Invading a country and removing their head of state cannot be interpreted any other way. Let's not buy into the right-wing talking points so early in the day, okay?

[Drak]

Maduro can still get out of this. All he has to due is heap lavish praise on Trump then cough up a couple mill for a pardon. Bam, he’s all set up for a new life in New York.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Seems pretty illegal without congressional approval, but then again they've been attacking Venezuela for months without any rebuke from the other houses of government.

Marco Rubio has become a disgusting shill for this authoritarian American government. He's been selling the "legality" of attacking Venezuela for months now.

No congressional approval, but I think it's probable that FIFA sanctioned this so all good

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Pam Bondi: Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.

So the DOJ is ok with holding foreign presidents accountable for illegal acts...but not US ones. And trump will pardon a Honduran president that was actually found guilty and convicted of drug trafficking.
Also, are they against guns now? Or just in this case?

I was just going to say, holding a foreign head of state for possession of machine guns is possibly the most laughable thing I've ever heard as far as drummed up charges go.

Again, let's just remind ourselves that this administration is by far the most corrupt that we've ever seen and will make up anything to fit their agenda.

My big question is, what is their agenda here other than imperial control over Venezuela and its oil? It sure ain't about drugs, especially since they haven't produced any evidence to support that narrative.

At least with the WMD bull#### in Iraq, they showed pictures and other stuff to justify the invasion to congress. None of that check on power is happening here.

This. Is. Illegal.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Drak

Maduro can still get out of this. All he has to due is heap lavish praise on Trump then cough up a couple mill for a pardon. Bam, he’s all set up for a new life in New York.

This would be much, much funnier if it weren't true. I 1000% expect this to occur.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

I'm not going to kid myself and pretend that oil isn't the primary factor in all this, but it sure is nice to have the world's police force take out a dictator like this. What a stunning display of tactical military force.

The big losers in all this are the Alberta taxpayer. Despite what our Premier creepily repeats, America doesn't need our oil anymore.

What happens now though? Is Maduro just going to be replaced with someone who plays nice with Trump?

My (limited) understanding of Venezuelan politics is that Maduro would be more accurately described as a head of an authoritarian regime than a "just" a dictator, meaning the regime isn't really built around him. He's not even the original guy after all, Chavez was.

The precedent this sets for international politics is in any case absolutely horrible and will cause nothing but more chaos.

[puffnstuff]

In his 2019 memoir The Threat, former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe quotes first-term Trump saying Venezuela was “the country we should be going to war with, they have all that oil and they’re right on our back door.”

From Medhi Hasan on Zeteo. Its paywalled

[ThePrince]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I think I was pretty clear on why it's different in Mexico with the El Chapo situation. It was a joint operation using Mexican law enforcement and intelligence.

In any case, the interpretation of law is up for courts to decide, but it's pretty clear that this is an act of war with a sovereign nation (note, not a cartel, or terrorist organization) that requires congressional approval. Invading a country and removing their head of state cannot be interpreted any other way. Let's not buy into the right-wing talking points so early in the day, okay?

Not everything you disagree with is a “right-wing” talking point. Just pointing out that you continually saying it’s “illegal” is pretty dumb, good luck thinking that’ll go anywhere.