President Trump issued a statement Tuesday demanding that Russia withdraw its troops from Venezuela immediately, and saying that “all options” are open for the US to force them out.
The Trump Administration was determined to impose regime change in
Venezuela, and had indicated this might involve a US invasion. Russia’s
small deployment may be an attempt to scare the US away from that plan,
or it might just be a ticket to the US starting a war against Russia at
the same time.
Trump says Venezuela is under a lot of pressure, “they have no money,
they have no oil, they have no nothing,” adding that other than US
military force, they can’t put any more pressure on them.
Russia noted that the deployment was legal under Venezuelan law. The 100 troops sent were
in line with Venezuelan bilateral agreements. Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the US of acting like “an elephant
in a china shop.”
Reflecting that for the administration the war is only a matter of time, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo already is offering estimates on how much the post-war “rebuilding” of Venezuela will cost, after the US invades and conquers the country.
Someone give spanky a 5 iron and a hamberder and tell him to chase them out himself.
Dave, I would have said the same thing to Obama, Hillary and McCain concerning Libya and Syria!!!! However we have legit interest in the future of VZ.,,we had no real interest in the other two, except doing the bidding of our real Masters! 🙁
Please stop. Go pray or something.
wars, I will pray for you! 🙂
Please don’t. I called the big guy a sadistic prick and I’m trying to lay low..
What legit interests?
Why do “we” have more of a legitimate interest than any other outside nation?
I can’t believe that the Trump circus of dissonance is trying to order Russia around as if it was a Cub Scout troop, and NOT a thermonuclear rival with hypersonic delivery capability. Trump would be better off letting Venezuela stew in their own juices… or offering assistance.. Not piling on their troubles
George, So you want the USA to play pattycakes with Maduro,,,??,,,have a legit election there and let the people decide and then they can live with that decision. Otherwise……………….
did you reproduce? I hope not.
antar, That was a crude statement! I have 3 kids and 6 Grand Children, all Christians, Conservative and anti-war, but will never back down when faced with evil. Some things are worth fighting for, and against!
Well then, you’d be against Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, our wonderful allies?
John, are you “against” those countries? What do you mean by “against”….?
Jay
Typical “christian” war is ok if it gives us more oil.
And by the way they did have elections and Maduro won.
There’s another word for the kind of chistian you are:
Fascist
Maduro is a Christian. Read: 1 John 5:21… that’s for you.
antar, Maduro may call himself a Christian but he is not at all acting as one,,and that is the problem with most so called, Christians. 🙂
How is Maduro falling short as a Christian…?????
The problem with that is that the US government’s definition of “legit election” is “election that comes out the way we want it to.”
If Venezuela demanded that the US hold a new election because they don’t like Trump, we’d tell them to go piss up a rope. And we’d be right.
They’ve had a dozen legit elections since Chavez came to power ***BY ELECTION*** in 1999. After that, by electoral processes, Chavez took the country back from the petro-thief oligarchy and gave it to ***ALL*** the people of Venezuela.
You need to focus on this fact, mull it over until it sinks in. The Bolton-Pompeo-Abrams Venezuela regime-change gambit is a brazen act of international aggression, and it will fail. A US military invasion would now be the only means by which to overthrow the Maduro government, and Russia just canceled that option. Game, set, match.
Trump was never going to send in the marines. ***NEVER***. Now, per plan, to extricate himself from his dilemma, Trump will blame the whole mess on Bolton, Pompeo, and Abrams — “I gave them chance to do it their way, and they failed.” — and fire the bunch, terminating the Neocon cancer that got us into Iraq and into the forever-war-on-terror.
Fire the Neocon criminals, pull out of Syria and Afghanistan, and perhaps focus on healthcare. The perfect strategy for success in 2020.
We shall see.
You’re falling into the usual trap.
Mull THIS over until it sinks in:
It DOESN’T MATTER whether the previous elections were legitimate or not.
Whether or not Venezuela’s elections have been legitimate is something for Venezuelans, not the US government, to decide.
And whatever Venezuelans decide on that question, it’s something for Venezuelans, not the US government, to act on.
Thomas, I take it then you would sit back and fiddle, knowing what we know now, and allow Hitler to come to power?,,Just do nothing,,,wow!
Yes, I would have allowed Stalin to exhaust himself defeating Hitler — and that was already pretty much decided before the US entered the war, when Hitler’s initial offensive failed short of Moscow — instead of handing him all of eastern Europe for 45 years.
Stalin did exhaust “himself” defeating Hitler. Russian history is indistinguishable to Americans. 4 invasions from the west in 120 yrs, and a civil war with the west intervening, making it 5. The idea to “bleed” Stalin is the same US militancy we see today from the worst neocons…arming multi sides in ME wars so they will kill each other,,,,, caring little about the actual life involved. Gee, I wonder why Russians are so paranoid ?
I would for sure, cause I am an actual fiddler.
Can we please be done with Hitler? Or if we insist, can we at least talk FOR REAL about Hitler and his rise to power? For example, that he started with no airforce, and that British helped him get armed, including suppying him with Rolls Royce engines for first airplanes? He was broughr to power in order to crush popular anger rcaused by poverty and depravation following WWI., As always, anger came in all forms, from left to right. He was the oligarchy’s choice, channeling people’s anger and hopes, into crushing dissent one by one. And wold oligarchs fawning over him and Mussollini for establishing “order”. Hitler was brought to power to go after Soviet Union, a dangerous idea that oligarchy is not necessary.
Ruling oligarchs DO NOT CARE for ideology, rule of law, or anybody’s interests but their own. We, Germans, French, Brits — all disposable.
It matters ZERO what kind of government exists anywhere, except if it is to oligarchs liking.
We need to be more concerned by our OWN Hitlers, then falling for the seductive idea of US saving the world from Hitlers. Look at European Union. Corporate oligarchy selects commissioners, with heads of states justvoretending they have a say. They have a useless parliament of 700+ nit representing their countries, but bunched by imaginary left-right-populists, etc. But they have tightly controlled trade within the block, incorporated new colonies if Eastern Europe, and have THEOR COURTS. To make sure people have nothing to do with the justice system for oligarchs any more. How can, say French or UK citizens ever legislate changes to the financial system that is bleeding them dry? They cannot. EU rules and courts are there to insure changes are impossible. Is that Hitlerism you are talking about?
However Trump came to power, it hardly matters any more. What matters is — will he do the oligarchy’s bidding?
I agree Bianca, social systems function best when they focus on managing the crazies within their own system.
Here here…!!!
I never learned pattycakes. To busy keeping on keeping on. Lots of intrigues though. My time in Afghanistan and Pakistan picking up product for the long voyage home enlightened me to better in all of them and us. Never dreamed the U.S would declare war on the killer of empires whilest mid-empire. Not a very fitting choice. What does Lao Tzu say about long wars far from home..??? Or Kipling…????
There WAS an election deemed legitimate by observers who specialize in monitoring elections. Madouro was declared the winner.. Are U.S. election’s far superior..??? I mself doubt the outcome of almost all elections. But it is NOT any of Americas business in any case really. Especially in Venezuela where their system of goverment is antithetical to the U.S. system. And with trillions in oil in play, better they should decide their own leaders, not any outside observers, especially ones with a big thirst for oil & trillions of $$$ in debt.
Good to see Trump has a sense of humor.
So $12bn to “rebuild” Venezula, with the usual cost overruns perhaps $25bn, so 450 million barrels of their oil is what it (we) will take.
Bill, VZ has 300 billion barrels of oil, they can rebuild themselves, with USA companies doing the work, employing VZ citizens.
What about Trump family members doing the work pro-bono…?????????
George, maybe they will, they have already done much in the way of charity,,,how about you??
Geez, that’s big of you Jay to want “USA companies” to employ VZ citizens. I’m sure those citizens would be thanking you too because you know they trust us unconditionally. Who wouldn’t.
wars, USA companies would get the job done, then pull out, except in area’s they may be needed longer term. Expertise is a good thing. But of course some here are just willing to sit by and watch the VZ people suffer and die,,,ho-hum…
One can dream I guess. Jay, how have our interventions in other countries turned out thus far? And how has our interventions in other countries helped the indigenous populations? How many lives do we have to fu*k up to convince you that our interventions lead to nothing but misery? MORE people will suffer and die with our “help”.
Got it, theft on a massive scale.
bill,,No, wrong, we buy oil from them, just like others will. Theft,?, you said that.
Trump trying to get along with Russia again. This time “all options” are open.
Lol. Just thinking of that expression. If my kid replied to “what’s up today” with “all options are on the table”, I think I’d keep an eye on im
Russia, if you’re listening, please send more troops to Venezuela ASAP.
Bingo…
Lunacy!
How about getting out of Japan, Korea, Asia, Europe, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria………for a starter.
Excellent idea, Jim; I second the motion. Let’s get it started.
Excatly Eileen.
Jim, I am for that, except we do need a base or two in Europe and one in Japan. We earned that in WW-2!
you earned Zero…besides bombing most of Japan to the ground….you nuked 300K civilians and still occupy Japan.
in Europe, the Sovjet did the heavy lifting, loosing 25 million people……but beating the Nazis.
The one who earned was the US banks who lent money to both sides……and Ford making trucks to both sides….read about Ford colluding and getting a Nazi medal.
Jim, Yes, Soviet Union did most of the heavy lifting, but the rest of your post based on your hatred of the USA, go join Bernie.
in no way i hate the US, just state some facts. Truth hurts when you are brainwashed, ignorant and believe in the exceptional crap.
Crawl back to your Neoliberal/Neocon hole.
Perhaps like me, more like disapproval of and disdain for bad behavior than hating the place or it’s people, of whom I am one. Love the sinner, hate the sin sort of reflex
Ah, some times I wish trump were Putin’s
puppet…..
Wait! Didn’t Justin once say that this is all 6-dimensional chess designed to give the neocons all the rope they need to hang themselves? I’m sure Bolton and Pompeo are putting the nooses around their necks as we speak. Trump, of course, is the grand master of hypermodern diplomacy.
Oh, by the way, this isn’t about oil at all, it’s about freedom and democracy, just like all the rest of our wars are. Yes, I’ve taken the blue pill and will vote for Trump in 2020. MAGA!
Not a good time to take cheap shot’s at JR…!!!! There was an election. Trump won, NOT Hillary.. JR & I are happy Trump won instead of Hillary. We are happy that Hillary will not be doing her platlform item of Confronting Putin. And that no thermonuclear devises have gone off in New York or Dallas, or any other U.S. cities.. It”s not much, but it’s what we got, along with all the bone headed trump irratic behavior and speech. I myself was afraid that she would escalate her promised confrontation with Putin to a game of nuclear chicken so she could cum out victorious and prove that she is tougher than Putin and women are stronger & tougher than men. Unless something went wrong, and Putin decided to NOT BUCKLE & Russia and the U.S. fired all their land based nukes and destroy a hundred or so cities and no one would see the sun for a decade or so. I like to walk in the sun, sorry, if you have priorities that omit sunshine…
Trump signs decree giving Israel sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Yeah but we’d be in a nuclear war with Russia if Hillary had won.
Trump wants regime change in Venezuela.
Yeah but we’d be in a nuclear war with Russia if Hillary had won.
Trump withdraws US from JCPOA and reimposes severe sanctions on Iran.
Yeah but we’d be in a nuclear war with Russia if Hillary had won.
Trump threatens to veto bill ending US involvement in Yemen war.
Yeah but we’d be in a nuclear war with Russia if Hillary had won.
Trump wants Russia out of Venezuela says all options on table.
Yeah but we’d be in a nuclear war with Rus….oh wait.
Yeah wars, so far Trump has NOT started WWIII. Trump wanted to get along with Putin, Hillary”s platform has “confront Putin”. So Trump isn’t doing as well getting along with Putin as he said he would like to. With the deep state & Hillary bots demonizing Putin at every turn as a way to tar Trump as Putin”s bitch, what is Trump to do. He has to talk tough. Not a time for sentimental flourishes. Confront the difficult issues that engender resentments. Be tough about working on real and important issues, not playing to the home team with cheap shots like bashing Venezuela. They are only a threat to themselves. Not worth going out on a policy limb to pile on their misery. Just adds to the ugly American mindset South of the border. Let the good Trump handle that portfolio. Let the bad Trump handle MbS and the Kashoggi butchering. Call the Saudis out on Nine 11. Saudi pilots,Saudi Princes sending money to the pilot boys. Does ANYONE think the Saudis are clean…????With their Wahabi confessional, the most virulent of extremist confessions, funding Madrassassination all over the ME & Africa, there will never be any peace before some SaudI Refermation and a little tolerance..
Yes, problem is, trump and cohorts are adding to the suffering in Venezuela. Pox on him. This “deep state” thwarting good relations with Russia has no there there. Obama went to Russia and got a renewal of the START treaty, despite the constant whines of “Obama surrenders” from the right, in the first 2 yrs of his tenure. All trump has done is to destroy functional disarmament treaties. The “antiwar right” really picked a losing booger, but wont see it, for some reason.
George, my point was that “Hillary would have had us in a nuclear war by now” is the go to excuse for everything and anything Trump does that might be construed as neither anti-war or pro-liberty.
Yeah wars r., That”s what we’ve got. It is not an excuse, It’s the reason we preferred to see Trump win. I thought the world would be safer with Trump trying to get along with Putin, than it would have been with the cackling witch of the Gaddafi snuff calling the shots….
and working on confronting Putin. I don’t like to hear about any confrontations between well armed thermonuclear countries…… Especially if I live in one of them where the nukes would be coming down. Maybe I’ll turn out to be wrong. Who knows, I don’t claim to “know” how things will shake out with trump. I just liked his instincts better. Kinda like betting on a game or horse race. I’m not that invested in Trump. A bad pick in a race with TWO bad pick choices. The two party system failed to get just one good choice in that race and ought to made to allow more candidates in the future.. This is about more than who’s right & who’s wrong.. There are the lives of hundreds of millions of people on the line in any superpower confrontations. I would hope we could avoid confrontations, but would expect our leaders to bargain and negotiate arrangements of mutual benefit as much as possibe to all the parties.
Pompeo is a lying thug: (a short commentary on his complete incompetence and unsuitability for the position of secstate:
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/pompeos-foreseeable-failures/
“Trump says Venezuela is under a lot of pressure, “they have no money, they have no oil, they have no nothing,”
But they do have their independence from the West.
The USA seems not to have noticed that the Homeland is falling apart from lack of repair of infrastructure, from poor management of big companies like Boeing, from the destruction of the economy by the banksters, huge death rate from opioids helped by Big Pharma, yet interfering in other countries carries on apace.
They have no nothing? They have millions of people. Tens of millions can be in the mive, if this newest adventure of regima change and then the splendid corruption called nation building enriches the usual suspects.
We are the ones with no nothing, and will have less then that as this new schema of daylight robbery of our money proceeds as planned.
We can blame Trump for being suffocated by the Swamp, but we the population are not blameless. The Swamp will do what Swamlp does for as long as populace takes it in stride, blaming leaders for being spineless. He has to pay the price for Mueller witch hunt ending. But jt will be a giant waste of money and reputation. And making loud noises about Russian military, can over time backfire in the region. The tentative hold on power many pro-US governments in Latin America have, can disappear. With the economies in shambles, many ruling elites are sitting on a top of a volcano. Russia may not mind getting into another Syria type situation. US will not invade without committment by other countries in the region, and all of them rulled out military solution. For Russis, this is for a change far away from their borders. What Maduri expects is terrorism — to start picking at isolated military posts, and unsuspecting police stations. They probably have remote farms and warehkuses stacked with weapons, and will target roads and infrastructure. Hopefully, military and intelligence are ready. They have a sharp foreign minister, so let us see will the weak collection of Latin American leaders be able to stay in the business of supporting US or will they be forced to back off.
Either way, we are going to lose. We have not managed to get Libyan oil yet, after sinking money in Libya all these years, and for years to come. Battle for Latin America just started. We have no clue how it will end.