US Airstrikes on Venezuela (Maduro captured).

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I think the fear of Russia is (still) massively overblown. They can’t take a small country next door like…ever.

What I believe to be true, is that Trump doesn’t want a destabilized Russia. Which would mean the Chinese move in, and take over Siberia.

What he wants is a strong enough Russia, out of his sphere, along with China.

Its what this is all about

I agree. I think Russian aggression against Canada would be coordinated with Russia to aid the annexation of Canada by the USA, not because Russia would ever seriously want to take Canada.

Basically, Trump leaves Russia to take Ukraine and Putin lets Trump take Canada.

Annexed or vassal, probably same thing for Trump. Maybe vassal is better for USA as we would not get votes in their elections.

I just hope that USA has to occupy Venezuela and this turns into another Iraq situation. Tough to do all he is promising in a corrupt, jungle (52% of land mass), narco state like that. That should keep them off our backs for a while.

Europe really needs to step up for Ukraine and we need to get serious about defence and sovereignty while USA is distracted by this Venezuela situation. To do what Trump says he will do should take decades.

And while US interests are building that oil industry up, their lobbyists will strong arm US government into having a presence there.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Yes, this is all illegal. It ignores international law and contradicts everything that is preached regarding upholding the sovereignty of nations, etc. The only thing I disagree with is the notion that this administration is doing something unique or different from what every other American administration does. Imperialism is America's business. Might is right. Rules for the rest but not the west. Funding uprisings and putting an America-friendly leader in place after toppling a foreign government that isn't, IS their playbook. Lipstick on a pig is still a pig. This time though, America decided to not go through all that trouble of inciting uprisings first. They just straight up went in, plucked out the leader themselves and will run that country themselves right away to control the oil reserves. Over time, we'll hear more and more about how bad and evil Maduro is and was, just because.

Yes, they've done this #### for decades you are right.

This is the first time a President has done it openly and so crassly.

It says that the USA doesn't even need to pretend that there are international rules and laws any more.

Despite the hypocrisy of doing so, the USA used to be the defender of these ideals along with other Western countries. But without the USA those principles would have carried less weight.

Europe can take the mantle if they want. They are not as far behind as Canada, but they have been derelict in their military duties. The last year has been a rude awakening for them as US foreign policy focuses its gaze at China for the next 50 years.

[Leondros]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

The USA would probably intervene. They would never let China to take full control of the Semi conductor fab industry. Especially TSMC,UMC and Mediatek.

There is no way even if they completely invade Taiwan that China gets their hands on the fabs or the engineers. The US would evacuate out all the pertinent personnel at a hint of trouble and those fabs would get destroyed before China takes over.

[FlamesAddiction]

I wouldn't be shocked if Trump just decides to get into the drug trafficking game himself now. Don Jr.'s habit can't be cheap, so maybe this is a gift for him.

[Leondros]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I agree. I think Russian aggression against Canada would be coordinated with Russia to aid the annexation of Canada by the USA, not because Russia would ever seriously want to take Canada.

Basically, Trump leaves Russia to take Ukraine and Putin lets Trump take Canada.

Annexed or vassal, probably same thing for Trump. Maybe vassal is better for USA as we would not get votes in their elections.

I just hope that USA has to occupy Venezuela and this turns into another Iraq situation. Tough to do all he is promising in a corrupt, jungle (52% of land mass), narco state like that. That should keep them off our backs for a while.

Europe really needs to step up for Ukraine and we need to get serious about defence and sovereignty while USA is distracted by this Venezuela situation. To do what Trump says he will do should take decades.

And while US interests are building that oil industry up, their lobbyists will strong arm US government into having a presence there.

This Venezuela thing could blow up in Trump’s face. Venezuela would be hard to conquer with boots on the ground and some of those paramilitary elements are very battle hardened. You would like the CIA has likely been in building those alliances out. Another wild card will be Colombia and what it does in response. Petro and Trump really do not get along however an election is coming up this year.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Apparently Trump is hinting towards Mexico being his next focus, as he already proposed to the president that they go in an take out the cartels.

I think Canada and Greenland are on the back burner for now.

We can only hope that a disease or a stubborn chicken nugget does god's work in the meantime.

[troutman]

As of 2025, there are approximately 60 countries classified as dictatorships, where a single person or a small group holds absolute power. This accounts for about 39.3% of the world's population living under such regimes.

https://planetrulers.com/current-dictators/

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Leondros

This Venezuela thing could blow up in Trump’s face. Venezuela would be hard to conquer with boots on the ground and some of those paramilitary elements are very battle hardened. You would like the CIA has likely been in building those alliances out. Another wild card will be Colombia and what it does in response. Petro and Trump really do not get along however an election is coming up this year.

Maybe, but people in Venezuela wanted change for years. I know some Venezuelans here and the sentiment is basically “we don’t like Trump, but we are glad to see Maduro out”. Of course that’s anecdotal, but it’s not exactly shocking because things in Venezuela have been so terrible for so many years.

I guess what I’m saying, is the US doesn’t really need to conquer the country. Just install a government that’s friendly to their wants, and not horrible for the people and you probably have no issues.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Slava

Maybe, but people in Venezuela wanted change for years. I know some Venezuelans here and the sentiment is basically “we don’t like Trump, but we are glad to see Maduro out”. Of course that’s anecdotal, but it’s not exactly shocking because things in Venezuela have been so terrible for so many years.

I guess what I’m saying, is the US doesn’t really need to conquer the country. Just install a government that’s friendly to their wants, and not horrible for the people and you probably have no issues.

Chavez started it and handed the baton to Maduro when he died. They essentially destroyed the country. I wonder if any of the 8 million people that left will return after a new government is put in place.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Slava

Maybe, but people in Venezuela wanted change for years. I know some Venezuelans here and the sentiment is basically “we don’t like Trump, but we are glad to see Maduro out”. Of course that’s anecdotal, but it’s not exactly shocking because things in Venezuela have been so terrible for so many years.

I guess what I’m saying, is the US doesn’t really need to conquer the country. Just install a government that’s friendly to their wants, and not horrible for the people and you probably have no issues.

Sure, getting rid of Maduro is a good thing. He basically did what Trump tried to do and refused to leave after losing an election. I don't think Canada recognized him as the lawful president of country. Not to mention his human rights violations, dealings with criminal organizations, and aggression against Guyana. This guy being removed from power is a good thing.

What's not a good thing is having an aggressive neighbor and world power disregarding international law and acting with impunity. This will probably just embolden them to continue and even escalate. I also have zero faith that what comes next will be a fair deal for the citizens of Venezuela and have zero faith that the Trump administration is smart enough to manage the next steps, just based on how they currently manage their own country.

But yeah, I am sure there are people in Venezuela celebrating Maduro's ouster. In isolation, it's a welcome thing.

[Slava]

^ yeah, I agree. Obviously, a super power doing whatever they like because they want oil is a bad thing.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It wasn't quick. The religious right in the US has been transforming the courts. Mitch McConnell helped Trump stack the Supreme Court with toadies in his first term. Everyone ignored the warning signs and then the uber wealthy swept in to help.


The US system was never designed to prevent a takeover like this. Three separate branches don't mean anything when they are controlled by the same people. Mostly though, this is a failure of everyday people to give enough ####s about their governments to do anything about anything, and unrestrained capitalism did the rest.

Except when the voters want unrestrained Trump.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I just hope that USA has to occupy Venezuela and this turns into another Iraq situation. Tough to do all he is promising in a corrupt, jungle (52% of land mass), narco state like that. That should keep them off our backs for a while.

How much of it do they actually need to hold to get the oil? He doesn't actually care about the rest of the country, just the parts that have heavy oil reserves.

[GirlySports]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2007509475259990166

the "strongly-worded letter" we've all been waiting for.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Chavez started it and handed the baton to Maduro when he died. They essentially destroyed the country. I wonder if any of the 8 million people that left will return after a new government is put in place.

It depends who is the leader? Who kisses up to the US? Then are there future coups? Im not a Venezuelan expert but are the prominent exiles out there itching for power? What about the lady who got cheated in the election?

[activeStick]

I don't understand the argument that always comes out about some other country's leaders and their human rights violations to some how justify an American invasion of said sovereign nation to take those leaders out and put in place someone else that America approves of. Is this not a human rights violation of that country's people? Why are we the ones who know what they want or how they should live or what they should want? Saddam was bad to Iraqis, they're better off now. Libyans are way better off now with Gaddafi out. It goes on and on and on. The west never topples foreign governments for the good of the people of that foreign country. It's done to benefit the west always.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by activeStick

I don't understand the argument that always comes out about some other country's leaders and their human rights violations to some how justify an American invasion of said sovereign nation to take those leaders out and put in place someone else that America approves of. Is this not a human rights violation of that country's people? Why are we the ones who know what they want or how they should live or what they should want? Saddam was bad to Iraqis, they're better off now. Libyans are way better off now with Gaddafi out. It goes on and on and on. The west never topples foreign governments for the good of the people of that foreign country. It's done to benefit the west always.

Greed and hypocrisy? These aren't good people saying these things.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I agree. I think Russian aggression against Canada would be coordinated with Russia to aid the annexation of Canada by the USA, not because Russia would ever seriously want to take Canada.

Basically, Trump leaves Russia to take Ukraine and Putin lets Trump take Canada.

Annexed or vassal, probably same thing for Trump. Maybe vassal is better for USA as we would not get votes in their elections.

I just hope that USA has to occupy Venezuela and this turns into another Iraq situation. Tough to do all he is promising in a corrupt, jungle (52% of land mass), narco state like that. That should keep them off our backs for a while.

Europe really needs to step up for Ukraine and we need to get serious about defence and sovereignty while USA is distracted by this Venezuela situation. To do what Trump says he will do should take decades.

And while US interests are building that oil industry up, their lobbyists will strong arm US government into having a presence there.

The attempted annexation of Canada would result in a home front war and terrorism the likes of which the American people have never seen and are not prepared for.

So unless they want to start fearing every white person with Minnesotan accent, America should stay the #### out of our country.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Slava

Maybe, but people in Venezuela wanted change for years. I know some Venezuelans here and the sentiment is basically “we don’t like Trump, but we are glad to see Maduro out”. Of course that’s anecdotal, but it’s not exactly shocking because things in Venezuela have been so terrible for so many years.

I guess what I’m saying, is the US doesn’t really need to conquer the country. Just install a government that’s friendly to their wants, and not horrible for the people and you probably have no issues.

Maduro isn't a good guy. At the same time Venezualan expats seem pretty similar to the Cuban ones in Fla that continually support the right (and supported equally bad regimes, like Batista, back home when they were there).

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maduro isn't a good guy. At the same time Venezualan expats seem pretty similar to the Cuban ones in Fla that continually support the right (and supported equally bad regimes, like Batista, back home when they were there).

This is kinda where I'm at. The last Venezuelan elections were a farce.

What the US did was wrong, possibly illegal.

Trump is a ######. Maduro is a dictator. (I may have that backwards).

But Maduro played FAFO and here we are.

My fear is that China will feel that this is an opportunity for China to get Taiwan.