An unnamed senior administration official says that the Trump Administration is seriously considering imposing a naval blockade on Venezuela, saying President Maduro has a “short window” to voluntarily resign before the US makes such a move.
Trump had recently told reporters he was considering a naval blockade or
full “quarantine” of Venezuela as the latest effort to try to impose
regime change, something the US announced it had recognized month ago
but which so far hasn’t happened.
President Maduro denounced the comments,
and called on his ambassador to complain to the UN Security Council
about the “illegal” US threat to blockade the Venezuelan coastline.
Maduro added it was “clearly illegal.”
Clearly illegal as a practical matter is likely to be very much beside
the point for US policy. Previous indications were that Trump had become
bored with Venezuela because of the lack of progress, and it’s likely
he’ll only try to impose a regime change in this manner if he believes
it will work.
If Trump follows through on these threats he will face organized protests unlike any he has had to deal with to date. The Central American protests began with a small but determined group of individuals that by the end of the 1980’s had grown to a massive nationwide movement. These cowards in congress and Trump himself will have no where to hide.
Besides what you just said, Mauel Thomas, it would cost DJT’s re-election bid in the 2020 QFS (Quadrennial Freak Show). The reason DJT won in 2016 was that he ran as a peace candidate .. And he hasn’t yet started any wars. If he starts just one war, he’s toast.
He HAD forgotten about this. Who put this bug back in his ear? Even from an amoral pragmatic standpoint, what’s the use in wasting money and putting Americans in harm’s way blockading Venezuela?
The Koch brothers ? https://www.seattletimes.com/business/koch-brothers-sue-venezuela-to-collect-409-million/
When government is for sale here in America it has devastating effects globally.
https://www.reddit.com/r/KochWatch/comments/aulqj2/the_koch_brothers_and_venezuela/
Because Venezuela is a clear & present existential threat to life in the USA as we know it.
The Maduro regime sends criminals, thugs, rapists and drug dealers to invade our southern border daily – on foot, armed with strollers and diaper bags. It’s a symmetrical response by this administration.
And the Trump regime is protecting it’s political donors interests much like the US regimes before it have at the expense of the Venezuelan people.
Funny how the Koch brothers and the other US state sponsored corporate thugs once again escape scrutiny via the ‘ol payola scheme…….
There is absolutely no truth in your comment. It reads like hasbara from the chicken hawks via MSNBC and CNN. Maduro has done nothing to instigate any problem with Murder Inc aka USA.
I am guessing pint was using sarcasm…..;?)
I thought the “armed with strollers and diaper bags” line made it clear this was snark.
Never know, in the age of Qanon….I use….;?)
Good to hear. It didn’t fit with your other comments.
The Chinese and Russians might have something to say about this. They’re Venezuela’s life line at the moment. Piracy on the high seas has a long tradition in the Caribbean. Wonder what the Russians would do if a Chinese oil tanker was stopped by a US destroyer? My guess, sink the destroyer in short order. What is Trump going to say about that? Oops!
The Russians wouldn’t do a damn thing. This is WAY outside their logistical zone, much like Ukraine is to the US.
Sorry, Baldric, that didn’t stop the USA from instigating more mayhem in the Kerch Strait, unless you are saying that the Russians are sane and the USA is not, in which case I would agree with you.
Really? Ukraine sending a rust bucket through the straight = Russia defending Venezuela in a war? Ok buddy.
You missed my point, Baldric. The insane thing is that the USA is messing around with Ukraine in the first place, supporting neo-Nazis right on Russia’s doorstep. We have a fleet in the Black Sea that is only there as a provocation.
If the US starts blockading shipping in the Caribbean it won’t be just the Russians who will challenge that. A Moskit anti-ship missile sinking a destroyer could come from almost any direction. The US fleet there are truly sitting ducks and Trump should know that.
The insane thing is that America sees itself as the home of the brave/land of the free, the greatest democracy, blessed by God and god jr.
Now that is truly bonkers.
We don’t have a fleet in the Black Sea. We are only allowed 1 ship in there at a time. And if you think Russia is going to start shooting missiles at our ship to save President Maduro you’ve lost you damn mind.
Right. As if Russia is only concerned about Maduro.
“much like Ukraine is to the US”
The entire planet is in our logistical zone.
I am anxious to see how a carrier would stop a Moskit attack!
According to a press release by the US Southern Command on Monday, March 27: “A U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group will deploy from the U.S. east coast to the Caribbean Sea to conduct Operation Partnership of the Americas” The strike group will be composed of the “aircraft carrier USS George Washington with embarked air wing, Cruiser USS Monterey, Destroyer USS Stout, and Frigate USS Underwood”.
They ought to rename the aircraft carrier the USS Sitting Duck.
A blockade is an act of war. In this particular case an illegal act of war.
I totally agree with you, Dieter. A blockade is, indeed, an act of war .. And in this particular case, it’s an illegal act of war. If Congress had the courage to prevent this blockade, such an act would be blocked.
More asylum seekers to demonize and scape-goat. It’s good campaign tactics.
Not asylum seekers, but folks wanting to sneak into our country illegally. There are laws for seeking asylum, but gatecrashing isn’t one of them.
Yes asylum seekers. Trump changed US policy – the US had followed UN guidelines, like every modern country, until then. Previously and for decades refugees escaping violence or persecution from their government or others could apply for asylum once they reached US soil. Part of the reasoning was that they might be pursued by their oppressors or that they would face unsafe conditions waiting at the border or in their home countries.
Trump made that process illegal.
Now refugees must apply in their home countries (impossible if they seek to escape governmental subjugation) or be forced to wait potentially months before being considered in unsafe tent cities or other inadequate conditions near the border, exposed to their oppressors. Not surprisingly, these refugees are enduring violence, sometimes at the hand of those they seek to escape. These delays and unsafe conditions are a features of Trump’s policies as “deterrence”. We have processed this level of asylum applications before without a problem.
So yes, the admin has manufactured a crisis where families and children face heightened risks while being demonized and scapegoated. They are cynical campaign tactics.
There’s also a US “interest” in making sure these countries stay “shit holes” in the first place that has been at work for decades now.
This is what is known as blow back of US foreign policy.
US Special Envoy to Venezuela, Elliot Abrams, has been at it for 3 decades. He wants to make Venezuela safe for oil companies.. eh.. democracy.
The lawlessness of the US regime knows no bounds. It’s political gangsterism.
Welcome to the way of the world over the last 5000+ years.
“saying President Maduro has a “short window” to voluntarily resign before the US makes such a move.”
Aren’t we kind now?
In a perverse sort of way you’re right. We haven’t threatened to level Venezuela officially……… YET.
Unfortunately, freinds in Venezuela tell me sanctions are doing the job of a neutron bomb.
It reminded me about G W Bush essentially telling Saddam if he got out of town by sunset he wouldn’t bomb the townfolk.
No problem , we have plenty of money for such projects, all around the globe. We are still blockading Hodeidah and preventing any country from bringing ships in with food, medicine and water. So, our lackeys, UN officials are controlling the spigot and giving food to starving people on straws. Then, crying about starving people. Spending money in all blockades , sanctions administration. We must employ more people keeping track of sanctions then in administering our health care.
But we are not complaining — clearly money is not the problem. Public is absolutely disinterested in money priorities. Why would politicians care? They know not to spend energy on something people are not incensed about. And to defend public, what would being outraged bring you? Nothing. In France every Saturday they protest, loosing eyes and limbs to “non lethal” weapons. Who cares — a side note in media.
No wonder we gave crazies shooting about. That gets attention. And when a person working the entire life gets sick, loses the health insurance the moment they miss paycheck deduction — and then has to lose the entire life savings on medical bills, and inly after beckoning a pauper— will Medicaid pick it up.
We do not care, until it hits home.
And of course, a blockade of Venezuela will be used to get the electorate used to the idea of using blockades for US policy – which means the next target will be Iran. And that of course is already being prepared as the US tries to get more ships in the Persian Gulf and has persuaded Britain to seize Iranian ships.
See how this works now, folks? Anyone *still* thinks Trump isn’t headed for war? *He’s* the one who brought up blockades!
I notice antiwar.com writers seem to fumble the ball over and over again in Venezuela. I wonder if it has something to do with funding ??
“The Koch brothers and Venezuela?
Courtesy of /u/LastFireTruck
I have learnt about the Kochs interests in Venezuela and potential
involvement in what is currently going with it, with articles to back it
all up:
Koch brothers’ need for
heavy Venezuelan crude for their refining business, and the already well
known fact that the Koch brothers own Pence and Pompeo:”
https://www.reddit.com/r/KochWatch/comments/aulqj2/the_koch_brothers_and_venezuela/
You “noticing” something isn’t the same thing as that thing actually happening.
Raimondo et al. were opponents of the Kochs and vice versa starting decades before Antiwar.com even existed.
That’s good to know. I did look, but just because you can’t find a connection doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist anymore due to the astroturfing and secretive nature of our authoritarian feudal lords and their servants. Between that and the theft of our language and or the hijacking of a good motive to hide a bad motive underneath of, you never can be really sure.
True. And it’s kind of wrapped up in esoteric history. A VERY brief rendition:
Justin Raimondo (and, IIRC, Eric Garris) were Rothbardians.
Rothbard was one of the founders of the Cato Institute, but very quickly had a falling out with the Kochs (its biggest backers) and Ed Crane (its long-time head and a Koch associate). Ever since then, Rothbardians and Koch/Cato types have pretty much been at war with each other.
I do not know for sure that the Kochs have never supported Antiwar.com directly or indirectly, but I do doubt that they would, or that Antiwar.com would ask them to, and I’m as certain as it’s humanly possible to be that Antiwar.com would never agree to skew its coverage in support of US interventionism as the price for such support if such an offer was made.
America – the arsenal for democracy (actually crony capitalism – as if they were the same thing). Bernie and Elizabeth should take warning with their socialist plans – as the old country song goes “You’re stepping on the fighting side of me”. Or “millions for defense – not one cent for a more equal society!”
Should note for the “build the wall” folks. Pretty obvious this administration is also intent on keeping you within the wall.
Pretty hard to negotiate wages and such if you can’t go anywhere without consent of the corporate authoritarian regime.
Where’s John Kelly ? Commander of SoCom during the Honduran coup, it was helicopters and personnel under his command moving the deposed leader. Taken to a US base in Costa Rica, the former HQ of the School of Americas, he is/was a board member of the “school”. I hear he is part of a company building concentration camps for refugees…I guess John is a carpenter ? He left as trump Chief of Staff as the administration escalated pressure on Venezuela in December.