(10-29-2025, 09:00 AM)CriticalStinker Wrote: I’ll be honest, being fearful of Latin America threatening our interests sounds like repackaged McCarthyism, except they’re not even close to the level of military threat.

Truth be told, we could have a healthy South America that we pivot to to fill the gaps while we decouple from China. We could keep all advanced manufacturing and give them the cheap stuff we don’t want to produce. Because the truth of the matter is no American is desperately waiting for cheap factory jobs. Even if they were, it’s not happening. Take a look at the stock market, record highs. Anything that is being onshored is being switched to robotics and AI, which should come of no surprise because the CEOs said that was their end goal.

So if we want to address immigration, let’s stop trying to destabilize the region.

Just like if we want to improve our situation domestically, maybe we should look here instead of focusing abroad. If drugs truly are a concern, maybe we should address quality of life here so people stop seeking an escape. We have the highest number of incarcerated citizens, yet still struggle with drugs. Is cracking down across the board going to fix it? Has it ever? This has been the same strategy for decades.

While attacking the source is a new strategy, we’re focusing on a country who accounts for 5% of one drug.

I struggle to see the logic in any of it.

Venezuela was supposed to collapse then they were going to swoop in with regime change and control of resources 

Evidently, this didn't happen in the expected time frame so they're going to take it by force, instead 

For anyone who believes the absurd excuse that this is about protecting the US from drugs, I have an exquisite handcrafted, one of a kind Trump watch to sell you

(10-29-2025, 09:00 AM)CriticalStinker Wrote: I’ll be honest, being fearful of Latin America threatening our interests sounds like repackaged McCarthyism, except they’re not even close to the level of military threat.

Well, without exhuming McCarthy, who if you go back and look had a lot more to him than what the common lens shows, let me clarify:

I didn't mean they were a threat, as in something that could overthrow America, haha. Simply that their actions—not participating in international trade coordinate with resource management and sanctions—are working against the "rules-based system". They're a mosquito, not a bear, but you don't let a hole in your mosquito net go unpatched. There is a "zero-tolerance" policy for actively working against the interests of the United States, especially in the Americas. It's why we Cuba is still under embargo. In fact, they don't need to be a threat at all, much less a military threat, they only need to potentially show that a country can get out of line and get away with it. That can't be tolerated.

That might sound extreme, but that is only because I'm not polishing what I say with shit and shinola. If you notice, it exactly matches what our hemispheric policy has actually been, in implementation, for the past 100 years. It could be worse: we want open trade routes instead of protectionism and anti-Americanism. That's it. Contrast with how Russia and China treat their neighbours.

Trump says he is not considering strikes within Venezuela

“On Friday, when asked by reporters on Air Force One if media reports that he was considering strikes within Venezuela were true, Trump said: "No."
It was not immediately clear if Trump was ruling out future strikes inside Venezuela or simply saying no final decision had been made yet.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/t...025-10-31/

(10-31-2025, 12:28 PM)Vermilion Wrote: Trump says he is not considering strikes within Venezuela

“On Friday, when asked by reporters on Air Force One if media reports that he was considering strikes within Venezuela were true, Trump said: "No."
It was not immediately clear if Trump was ruling out future strikes inside Venezuela or simply saying no final decision had been made yet.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/t...025-10-31/

Trump says many things. 
Can you confirm your unconditional devotion to him that this is true?

(10-31-2025, 12:28 PM)Vermilion Wrote: Trump says he is not considering strikes within Venezuela

“On Friday, when asked by reporters on Air Force One if media reports that he was considering strikes within Venezuela were true, Trump said: "No."
It was not immediately clear if Trump was ruling out future strikes inside Venezuela or simply saying no final decision had been made yet.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/t...025-10-31/

This is what I’ve been reading too.   IDK what they would go after? Labs, stash locations, crops, military bases?

(10-31-2025, 01:07 PM)KrustyKrab Wrote: This is what I’ve been reading too.   IDK what they would go after? Labs, stash locations, crops, military bases?

Now you question targets.
You don't find yourself questioning the legality or much more the important aspect that these actions have been conditioning you to support such actions?
You sir/Ma'am have been duped in my personal opinion.
Provide me with facts that support your reasoning?

(10-31-2025, 12:45 PM)RichardHurt Wrote: Trump says many things. 
Can you confirm your unconditional devotion to him that this is true?

It's a crazy, cringe worthy devotion. If Trump does end up calling strikes on Venezuela, they'll come right back to this thread to celebrate

(10-31-2025, 01:12 PM)RichardHurt Wrote: Now you question targets.
You don't find yourself questioning the legality or much more the important aspect that these actions have been conditioning you to support such actions?
You sir/Ma'am have been duped in my personal opinion.
Provide me with facts that support your reasoning?

Put the pipe down and just walk away, I know you can do it.   But seriously WTF are you talking about?  I never offered an opinion to be reasoned with nor am I being conditioned to accept whatever outcome their actions may bring.   

You seem to have a fondness for telling everyone how they think or should think or what they should do.  Give it a rest sparkles.

(10-31-2025, 01:50 PM)KrustyKrab Wrote: Put the pipe down and just walk away, I know you can do it.   But seriously WTF are you talking about?  I never offered an opinion to be reasoned with nor am I being conditioned to accept whatever outcome their actions may bring.   

You seem to have a fondness for telling everyone how they think or should think or what they should do.  Give it a rest sparkles.

You seemingly just answered my question and don't even realize.
Your a trade worker clearly.
All good mate. I will not question you. I will always know your answer.

I want to be very clear, I fully support you and will always have your back when shit gets bad.
We good bro