president Maduro captured after US strikes

[Vermilion]

What if I don't think about it like that?

What if it's too abstract for me to connect such an event to ideas like  "freedom" and "caring about a specific corrupt government in South America," to call it a foray into globalist altruism? 

Jesus, It's like Narco-Greneda that's also sorta communist, with strong ties and support in The East.

So instead of viewing it through that starry-eyed lens in the name of world freedom, I will view it as...

"LMFAO, @PeoplesRepublicofChina, we just PWND your South American black market bitch state. ALL THEIR OIL IS NOW OURS! AS WE ARE NOW IN CONTROL. MUHAHAHAHA!"

And then..

"STFU world.  What are you gonna do, send The ICC after us? Lol. You can't do shit except carefully craft your responses to us temporarily taking over Venezuela.". 

Because that is how I would rather view it. Looking at it like that makes my brain hurt less, and there is no refined sugar kool-aid drink to force down.

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun"

“Oh I’m afraid the Monroe Doctrine is still quite operational…” -Emperor Don Palpatine

[titenutz]

You were the one who put words in my mouth. You claimed I said we got their oil for free. Not only did I never say that, I said we bought it all and paid more for it than it was worth, both in funding the war, and controlling the oil after while buying it. We got that control because we "liberated" them.

But I do find it ironic someone who started the whole premise on something I didn't say would like to police the accuracy of the statements I did make. Go google it buddy, it's all there. We controlled their oil and imported quite a bit of it. 

Or, you can continue to think it had something to do with 9/11 or WMD. Which is funny to me, only one country had direct or indirect involvement in 9/11 (officially), and that's Saudi Arabia. Every admin since then has licked their boots.

My God Man ! Turn off the tv. Of the dozens of countries the US has supposedly " liberated " care to list those that were left better off ? I'll wait .

[titenutz]

I'm just glad America can fight government corruption in any country...

except our own

*** we have a winner folks !  best comment of the thread by far ! *****
RIP self reflection USA .

[Vermilion]

My God Man ! Turn off the tv. Of the dozens of countries the US has supposedly " liberated " care to list those that were left better off ? I'll wait .

A bunch of European countries.
Twice.

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

“Oh I’m afraid the Monroe Doctrine is still quite operational…” -Emperor Don Palpatine

Just gotta know why everything this administration (and supporters) use is from the time at or before the Civil War.  

​The Monroe Doctrine was written when we were still dealing with "Great Britain."  We had just bought The Midwest from France, who got it back from Spain...  or however that went.  It was about colonial European powers.  Who then all went after Africa instead. 

Does the original context of these things really matter? Or which North part of America it was referring to?

Anyway, today was sorta like waking up to the headline, "The USA takes over South American Country."  The lunatics are in my digital newsfeed. 

And it's all on the darkside, at least half the time... 

[SomeStupidName]

My God Man ! Turn off the tv. Of the dozens of countries the US has supposedly " liberated " care to list those that were left better off ? I'll wait .

The United States itself, Venezuela, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Guam.

[Vermilion]

Just gotta know why everything this administration (and supporters) use is from the time at or before the Civil War.  

​The Monroe Doctrine was written when we were still dealing with "Great Britain."  We had just bought The Midwest from France, who got it back from Spain...  or however that went.  It was about colonial European powers.  Who then all went after Africa instead. 

Does the original context of these things really matter? Or which North part of America it was referring to?

Anyway, today was sorta like waking up to the headline, "The USA takes over South American Country."  The lunatics are in my digital newsfeed. 

And it's all on the darkside, at least half the time... 

[Video: https://youtu.be/yyP8tew0OUQ?si=71RJdLMJrWnQ6G0b]

The first and second amendments, as an example, predate the civil war too and the Trump administration (and its supporters) think those are pretty cool as well.
Why not stick to foundational principles which are best for the country?

If you’re butthurt that Russia, China and Iran can no longer exploit Venezuelan oil, I’ll just say sorry not sorry.
The Venezuelans seem very happy about it.

[EXETER]

And who is this mysterious ""board of people.""

Presumably, including Donald J Trump.

Who will run the nation of Venezuela until such time as a judicial outcome can be achieved?

......

The Maduro crime syndicate, with Trump taking Maduro's place, will run Venezuela.  Here's why:

What President Trump said today:

“We are going to run the country [Venezuela] until we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump told a news conference. He did not provide full details on implementation, and he surprised many observers by saying opposition leader Maria Corina Machado did not appear to have the support necessary to govern. 

“When pressed by reporters as to who inside Venezuela would form part of that group, Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been talking to Delcy Rodríguez, the country's Vice President.

Trump said Rodríguez had expressed her willingness to do "whatever the US asks".

And what are the qualities of Vice President Delcy Rodriguez?

“In September 2018 [Trump’s first term], the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Rodríguez and other high-ranking officials within Nicolás Maduro's inner circle, explicitly linking the actions to allegations of corruption and undermining democratic institutions. These sanctions bar U.S. citizens from doing business with her and freeze any assets she might have under U.S. jurisdiction.”

And what did Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado have to say about this today?

“This is the hour of the citizens. Those of us who risked everything for democracy on June 28th. Those of us who elected Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate President of Venezuela, who must immediately assume his constitutional mandate and be recognized as Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces by all the officers and soldiers who comprise it.

Today we are ready to assert our mandate and take power. Let us remain vigilant, active, and organized until the democratic transition is complete. A transition that needs ALL of us.”

To recap:

Trump kidnapped by force the head of state of Venezuela [Maduro].  This was done on the grounds that Maduro is a corrupt, drug-dealing, incompetent communist.  All of which is pretty much true.  So, who does he plan on replacing Maduro with?  The guy who received about 2/3 of the votes in 2024, who was recognized by the US and most of the rest of the world as being the legitimate President, and who is endorsed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado?

Nope.  Trump wants to put Maduro’s Vice President in charge—another corrupt, drug-dealing, incompetent communist. Even though current US law prevents any US citizen [which would theoretically include Trump] from conducting business, trade, or financial transactions with her. Clearly, Trump is not motivated by a desire to restore the blessings of Democracy to the people of Venezuela, so his motives must lie somewhere else. Where could his motives possibly be?

This is the classic move that a Mafia Don makes when he wants to take over a rival’s racket.  Remove the rival from the playing field one way or another and then make the second in command an offer she can’t refuse.  When Trump says he will run Venezuela, he means he will take over the remaining corrupt Maduro empire and make it work for him, with Delcy Rodríguez as his stooge.  And, of course, he will get his cut of the action in the process.

However, the 2/3 of the population that wants a competent democracy restored in Venezuela is not going to take this lying down.  There will be civil war in Venezuela.

And the US will be on the wrong side. Just like we were in Vietnam, and for the same reasons.

[vonclod]

Venezuela was responsible for around 5% of cocaine in the US by our government reports.

At best, that increases the prices a little bit.

Cocaine isn’t even that dangerous anyways. It’s fentanyl and opiates that are the issue, neither of which Venezuela was a substantial source of.

I just about fell of my chair laughing at the concept the drug trade has been eliminated in America. Not one single solitary drug user will go without.

[vonclod]

As to grave danger, see MTG about that sort of thing.

After some of the phone calls and threats shes receved simply because she chose not to toe the party line and go against Trump.

I just had to comment on this, the sheer irony/karma. She initially won her spot because her opponent received threats and dropped out of the race..leaving her the only candidate.