President Trump has been bringing up the idea of an invasion of
Venezuela since taking office in 2017, and his administration insists
several times a week these days that it is among the “all options on the
table” for Venezuela.
With the departure of US diplomats from Venezuela, ordered out by the Venezuelan government, the rhetoric is advancing, giving the impression that the US is increasing its planning and preparing for such a military operation.
Of course, officials are always keen to talk up attacking various
nations, and that they are giving that impression now doesn’t mean an
invasion is imminent. Rather, the US seems interested in giving that
impression.
Still, concern about this is real, enough so that the House Foreign
Affairs Committee is looking to prohibit the White House from attacking
Venezuela without Congressional approval. The administration clearly
hoped to force a regime change in Venezuela just through threats and
rhetoric, but with that looking less and less likely to work, the talk
of a war is only going to grow.
If Trump attacks Venezuela
Everyone who opposes him is a traitor
Watch your ass
Any military op would likely involve the surgical removal of President Maduro and VP Delcy Rodriguez, and well short of an attempted occupation.
Should be interesting if the U.S. tries.
A right-wing coup in Venezuela will destabilze the continent. Refugees at the US Mexico border will increase dramatically. China has liens on the oil. Good times.
Probably not. But any coup backed by the US military very well could.
The US always installs right wing rulers, blames capitalism as justification. Not my “vital interests” at risk when the Orinoco shale is not producing.
Koch needs Venezuelan crude to feed 2 refineries in Texas. There will be blood.
That’s not the real reason although some interests will take advantage of anything they can to line their pockets.
The real reason is to put a squeeze on China’s future energy needs. The Iranian sanctions and Venezuelan oil production suppressed or controlled.
The DC political class has been unsuccessful in controlling China. Control of the worlds oil production is the tool to subjugate China.
It will not work…The Chinese will not play this game.
Oil is as dead as disco. We should start an orderly detoxification, with China and India, and decarbonize as quickly as possible.
The climate is screwed already. Our task is to try to preserve some viability going forward and slowly claw our way back. This means removing carbon from the air. Not adding more.
The powers that be are a clear and present danger. This includes “energy” companies and religious zealots.
Join or die, they used to say..
Oil will be used for a very long time yet. Natural gas makes more sense.
Green energy has largely been a fai!ure. And as soon as the State figures out that large scale solar is going to impact the massive tax revenues received from carbon fuel? Solar will be taxed.
Solar is a threat to both the State and to old money which is heavily invested in utility companies. Neither of those interests really wants people off the grid or locally produced energy. That is why they will be moving to massive and expense nuclear power plants worldwide. The powers that be wouldn’t even think of things like Thorium reactors. Those cannot melt down, are difficult to use to produce enriched fissionable material and can be made much smaller than uranium type reactors.
That the climate is doomed is fear mongering. This is a ploy by those that desire more power and wealth for themselves.
Tell it to the kids.
The entrenched energy elites have been spewing that tired dogma since the 1980s. They had their chance to help and all they did is stonewall and lie.
There are fewer choices now. Building nuclear infrastructure is carbon intensive until after operating for a while, we can’t wait.
Cheney thought invading Mesopotamia for oil was a good idea; we ended up with no oil and an emboldened Iran. 7,000 dead allies and Islamic State are the consolation prizes.
You really don’t have to do anything. Consumerism is dying in response to the “doom” [now] unfurling in real time (as you scoff). Once mindless consumerism goes most of capitalism will soon follow. Just stay out of the way.
Another swing and a miss. I have always lived modestly. Went to courses on how to build low or zero energy homes. Consulted on building such homes. I drive a 14 year old car. And no. Not one of the hybrid vehicles that actually cause more damage to the environment.
I likely use less energy and pollute less than you. My property fixes more carbon, does not produce any appreciable greenhouse gasses. Uses far less water than the previous ownership. I could do even more, but government regulations prevent that.
I pay above minimum wage for training even though I lose money doing that. For trained people I pay much higher than minimum wage. Unfortunately, there are more people that want to work for me than I can employ. I could more but costs from government hold back expansion.
Oh yeah, I cannot use solar panels or things like wind catcher designs because government regulations prevent me from doing that.
So, contrary to your premise, I’m not in the way. I’m way AHEAD of you.
Just for laughs, you might to view “off the grid” by Thomas Massey.
I don’t recall making any judgements re: your personal lifestyle. A lot of people have conserved their brains out, including yours truly. All my stereos and home theater have Class D audio amplifiers. All my wall warts are Class 4 or better efficiency ratings. My desktop computer uses 5W. I do have grid tied solar. I use high efficiency Australian evap cooling rather than refrigeration a/c. My conscience is clean but it’s not enough.
Crops aren’t being planted today, in the US, because of unfavorable precipitation. Seeds are designed around predictable weather patterns. Perhaps when the price of food quadruples you’ll panic.
Bob Dudley can see the end of big oil, through the smoke at CERAweek in Houston. He gets the message the kids are sending. Rick Perry wants to work with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on certain parts of the Green New Deal. Cautious optimism opens one eye slightly.
Another proxy war to prop up several dying industries (petroleum, defense, etc.) is the plan the ruling elites always fall back on. No imagination. No surprises.
The US has given Bolsonaro’s Brazil MNNA status to increase military cooperation, so Brazil could be a staging point. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-brazil-ally-idUSKCN1QV33K
The Us will get its azz handed back in body bags. IF it messes with
venezuela.
Venezuela has 800,000 volunteers in the “Peasant Militia” they protect the country side from attacks and are not as well trained as the army but excellent at fighting outside of the urban environment. It would be interesting to see what they do if the USA sends in insurgents as H Clinton did in Syria.
Obama owns the US sending insurgents into Syria.
“All options are on the table when all idiots are at the table…”