USA just sunk a drug boat from Venezuela

[cherokeetroy]

Trump hates hypocrites.

Oh my

[CriticalStinker]

This whole mess looks like it checks a few boxes for Trump.

Drug war
Oil
Allied with both China and Russia

There's nothing but upsides

The crazy thing is, there is a world full of baddies out there.

No question Venezuela is run by some. They’re oppressive to their people, but that’s something we actively support on other countries.

Maybe they have 5% of the coke supply. Best case scenario, we wipe that out and what? Prices go up by 5%?

Bad case is we blow a lot of money which we have proven to do in our foreign policy post WWII.

Worst case we lost some more troops, and even more suicide when we neglect them after we’ve lost interest in the war we claim was obviously a horrible idea in hindsight.

[Sky727]

4 more Drug boats no more   https://youtu.be/XCcZiJeDJfc  Post the video and it crashes

[IDELB2006]

The crazy thing is, there is a world full of baddies out there.

No question Venezuela is run by some. They’re oppressive to their people, but that’s something we actively support on other countries.

Maybe they have 5% of the coke supply. Best case scenario, we wipe that out and what? Prices go up by 5%?

Bad case is we blow a lot of money which we have proven to do in our foreign policy post WWII.

Worst case we lost some more troops, and even more suicide when we neglect them after we’ve lost interest in the war we claim was obviously a horrible idea in hindsight.

It doesn't need to make sense. It just needs to entertain the population.

Like modern day gladiators.

[UltraBudgie]

It doesn't need to make sense. It just needs to entertain the population.

Like modern day gladiators.

well they need to 4k that boat explosion footage cause the filmed with a black and white potato crap really isn't cutting it

its okay i guess but needs an audio track

pinkmist is fine just don't show women and kids

maybe some more on land stuff because the videos where they are all like 'oh no incoming freedom!' and scurry around like helpless ants before the bootstomp, that is always good stuff

everyone likes to see america kick ass even the libs like it because it twists their panties though they won't admit it, they need it too

[CriticalStinker]

well they need to 4k that boat explosion footage cause the filmed with a black and white potato crap really isn't cutting it

its okay i guess but needs an audio track

pinkmist is fine just don't show women and kids

maybe some more on land stuff because the videos where they are all like 'oh no incoming freedom!' and scurry around like helpless ants before the bootstomp, that is always good stuff

everyone likes to see america kick ass even the libs like it because it twists their panties though they won't admit it, they need it too

I think what the establishment will struggle with is selling to importance of this “priority”.

In recent years, it’s been close to 0% of politicians, pundits, news and even public discourse calling for action in Venezuela. That’s because it’s not in a vast majority of people’s interests.

[UltraBudgie]

I think what the establishment will struggle with is selling to importance of this “priority”.

In recent years, it’s been close to 0% of politicians, pundits, news and even public discourse calling for action in Venezuela. That’s because it’s not in a vast majority of people’s interests.

you are correct that it is no substitute for a strong domestic agenda

it should not be used as a distraction from that; foreign/domestic are parallel priorities, not competing

i'm not even going to do more that point out that "recent years"=biden, because that is simplistic and it is well-known that venezuela has been a long-time priority of us hemispheric policy. you're simply wrong with 0%.

having a strong military and a foreign policy that is not afraid to use it has been a keystone of us policy since well before the days when kennedy had to btfo khrushchev. when our neighbours start skirting sanctions and cooperating with iran, it's a bad idea to let that slide.

[CriticalStinker]

you are correct that it is no substitute for a strong domestic agenda

it should not be used as a distraction from that; foreign/domestic are parallel priorities, not competing

i'm not even going to do more that point out that "recent years"=biden, because that is simplistic and it is well-known that venezuela has been a long-time priority of us hemispheric policy. you're simply wrong with 0%.

having a strong military and a foreign policy that is not afraid to use it has been a keystone of us policy since well before the days when kennedy had to btfo khrushchev. when our neighbours start skirting sanctions and cooperating with iran, it's a bad idea to let that slide.

Our strong military and foreign policy has been our downfall.

We have been dishonest or outright lied about the real reasons for action to the public since WWII, and we’ve objectively failed in many of the theaters at stated goals.

The one thing that has been successful is our global naval footing ensuring safe trade globally. That aspect has gotten US ports and presence globally without toppling governments.

If we’re looking at South America specifically, one could argue the whole immigration fallout is a hangover from our constant toppling of governments, or propping up ones we favor. 

We can’t say this is about freedom or democracy, because for every dictator we topple, there is one we support. 

If we zoom into Venezuela, I don’t see how hitting them would protect strength. They are a non peer, it’s not a question if we can take them, the only unanswered one is the cost/benefit. We didn’t look big and bad after Iraq even though we conventionally wiped the board in weeks.

[UltraBudgie]

If we zoom into Venezuela, I don’t see how hitting them would protect strength. They are a non peer, it’s not a question if we can take them, the only unanswered one is the cost/benefit. We didn’t look big and bad after Iraq even though we conventionally wiped the board in weeks.

I think it is like Libya. Unacceptable because letting them coordinate with cartels and neighboring states could create an anti-American nexus that could spread. In particular, look at Cuba and Columbia. That, as well as the direct threat of their cooperation with Iran to skirt sanctions, obviously threaten American power— American power that is being used to protect a world-wide system of international trade; this isn't just about us.

You're right about the deceit, that disgusts me too. It treats the American public like 12-year-olds that need to be spoonfed "good guy/bad guy" narratives. That simplistic Hollywood mentality has poisoned our politics, casting a veil over how the world really works. And, as mentioned previously, it is a disservice to our military: I'm no expert, but I suspect many veteran suicides are due to disillusionment that they can no longer believe such stories after their experiences. There is a destruction of trust, which is unfortunate because the honest truth is that there are many historic examples of governments much worst. In fact, we're not so bad. But the incessant way we always spin to be the "good guys" can make it seem like there's always some hidden evil to conceal, even when there isn't.

I've said before that one of the best thing about Trump is he lets that mask slip, sometimes. I think that's a good thing.

[CriticalStinker]

I think it is like Libya. Unacceptable because letting them coordinate with cartels and neighboring states could create an anti-American nexus that could spread. In particular, look at Cuba and Columbia. That, as well as the direct threat of their cooperation with Iran to skirt sanctions, obviously threaten American power— American power that is being used to protect a world-wide system of international trade; this isn't just about us.

You're right about the deceit, that disgusts me too. It treats the American public like 12-year-olds that need to be spoonfed "good guy/bad guy" narratives. That simplistic Hollywood mentality has poisoned our politics, casting a veil over how the world really works. And, as mentioned previously, it is a disservice to our military: I'm no expert, but I suspect many veteran suicides are due to disillusionment that they can no longer believe such stories after their experiences. There is a destruction of trust, which is unfortunate because the honest truth is that there are many historic examples of governments much worst. In fact, we're not so bad. But the incessant way we always spin to be the "good guys" can make it seem like there's always some hidden evil to conceal, even when there isn't.

I've said before that one of the best thing about Trump is he lets that mask slip, sometimes. I think that's a good thing.

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.