Delta ForceJust a quick little Saturday morning hustle and bustle for some tier one operators
American airstrikes on Venezuela, with Chinooks possibly flying in US military personnel.
- Thread starter Murrmurr
- Start date
Yeah, there's this guy, Juan Orlando Hernandez, former President of Honduras, who has now been pardoned.
U.S. drug trafficking investigation, arrest, extradition and conviction
[edit]At the end of May 2019, U.S. prosecutors unsealed documents from 2015 which revealed that Hernández was himself the subject of a major drug trafficking and money laundering investigation, alongside his sister Hilda and others.[55][56]
Hernández was identified as a co-conspirator in a drug trafficking and money laundering case against his brother, according to document filed in U.S. district court. Prosecutors alleged $1.5 million in drug proceeds were used to help elect him in 2013.[56] Hernández responded by saying he was a foe of traffickers, who were out for revenge against him.[citation needed]
A document released by a U.S. district court implicated Hernández in a conspiracy with his brother, Tony Hernández, and other high-level officials — including his presidential predecessor Porfirio Lobo Sosa — "to leverage drug trafficking to maintain and enhance their political power." Tony Hernández was sentenced to life in prison in January 2021 following his conviction on numerous drug trafficking charges.[57]
On 7 February 2022, it was announced that Juan Orlando Hernández's U.S. visa was revoked by the Department of State at the start of July 2021, due to involvement in corruption and narcotics.[13] On 14 February, he was surrounded by the National Police and DEA agents at his residence to process his capture and eventually take him to custody of the United States for possible trial. The U.S. government also requested his extradition for involvement with narcotics.[15][14][16] After an extradition warrant was issued, Hernández decided to surrender to US authorities on 15 February 2022.[18] The same day, local authorities arrested Hernández at his home in Tegucigalpa.[17]
On 15 February, Hernandez's first extradition hearing before the Supreme Court of Honduras took place, Justice Edwin Ortez presiding.[58] At a second hearing on 16 March, Ortez approved the extradition order lodged by the Southern District of New York.[59] Hernández's lawyers appealed Ortez's ruling, but on 28 March 2022, the Supreme Court rejected his appeal and authorized his extradition to the United States.[60][61]
On 21 April Hernández was extradited to the United States.[62][19] The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York unsealed their indictment, charging him with conspiracy to import cocaine to the United States (21 U.S.C. § 963), as well as firearms charges (under 18 U.S.C. § 924).[63]
The United States specifically charged Hernández with accepting millions of dollars in bribes from narcotraffickers since 2004, and in particular the Sinaloa Cartel, led by Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. The indictment stated that Tony Hernández collected the bribes using men armed with machine guns; in exchange, Juan Orlando Hernández conspired to protect smugglers from investigation and arrest, specifically providing "access to law enforcement and military information, including data from flight radar in Honduras".[64]
In a video statement posted on social media, Hernández said he was innocent and that he had been set up by drug traffickers.[65]
On 10 May 2022, Hernández pled not guilty to all charges and complained about the conditions in which he was being held, with his lawyer describing those conditions as those of a "prisoner of war", and saying they were "psychologically debilitating".[66]
Hernández's trial began on 21 February 2024 in New York City[67] and concluded with a guilty verdict on 8 March. On 26 June, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison.[68][69]
Great news after the quote earlier today that "The US will run Venezuela". Good to see this sorted out. Our own country isn't been run very well. We sure don't need to add another one.
I am glad that we removed a crooked dictator that no one wanted and provided hope for a nation of great people.
Teacher Terry
Well-known Member
If it was really about drugs our country wouldn’t have pardoned at least 4 people that were convicted of crimes related to their massive drug operations in the past year.
The president probably knows a few people that he wouldn't mind pardoning but there is a process and most come through a recommendation or request of someone else. I don't find it a coincidence he wants to revive an old doctrine, did regime change in Venezuela and could be eye balling other countries including Nicaragua where communists like Daniel Ortega are still a thing. An advisor probably told him they could use Hernandez especially if they want to do more in this hemisphere.
Another theory is that Hernandez has access to $$$ and can pay back the favor.
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spookycat2
Member
- Location
- Indiana
I'm happy for the citizens in Venezuela now. Heard on the news that people were outside, celebrating. Made me very happy to hear that. 
Gardenlover
The world needs more love
What keeps someone else in the regime (vice president, son, etc.) from taking Maduro's place?
The US wants their vice president to take over but apparently she's ambivalent at this time flipping back and forth between outrage and ok I'll do it. But there is a real good chance of creating power vacuum. Don't think it will wind up being nation building but it will take a while to get a full fledged economy going again.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
I'm in wait-and-see mode. The Venezuelans are celebrating now. Let's see how they feel in two months or a year.
The US's reputation for interfering in other country's politics is long, historied and plenty ugly. Not since WWII has our government interfered without an overwhelming amount of self-serving reasons - vindictive payback for real or imagined insults, and more likely, plenty of dollars.
To imagine this recent move was based purely on benevolence to free Venezuelans from an oppressive dictator, or taking at face value the highly exaggerated drug story is, in my opinion, extremely naive. After all, we're still looking for the WMDs in Iraq...
The US's reputation for interfering in other country's politics is long, historied and plenty ugly. Not since WWII has our government interfered without an overwhelming amount of self-serving reasons - vindictive payback for real or imagined insults, and more likely, plenty of dollars.
To imagine this recent move was based purely on benevolence to free Venezuelans from an oppressive dictator, or taking at face value the highly exaggerated drug story is, in my opinion, extremely naive. After all, we're still looking for the WMDs in Iraq...
RambleTamble
Member
- Location
- U.S.
Stephen Kinzer's book Overthrow needs a new chapter.
In the past they used the CIA to topple regimes/regime change. Not a new development in South America. After the 1980s South America seemed to take a back seat. One of the most infamous CIA ops being Chile I think 1970ish. They also got involved in places like El Salvador and Nicaragua. And 36 years ago to the day Panama was invaded to capture/remove Manuel Noriega.
The good news local news had local Venezuelans celebrating which is good. But as much as they celebrate do they want to return there. This does have multiple elements too so not a single clear cut like rescue the hostages in Grenada. They definitely want to temper Venezuela before they became a full fledged puppet state of China or Iran like Cuba became for Russia during the Cold War. Throw in oil, drugs, dictator it made consensus much easier.
The follow up after an invasion or battle is key. It comes down to how well the occupation goes to determine true success.
RambleTamble
Member
- Location
- U.S.
Venezuelans are also protesting in support of Maduro and against the U.S. invasion.
I just don't see it as our business or in our own best interests. There's plenty of oil around and we should be develolping alternatives anyway.
Knight
Well-known Member
Why the focus on oil?
Production hovers around 1 million barrels per day, a fraction of its potential, with output stabilized somewhat by limited licenses for partners like Chevron.
The industry requires massive investment (potentially $100 billion+) and years to significantly boost production.
In essence, political decisions, corruption, and external pressures crippled the industry, leaving Venezuela with immense reserves but a shadow of its former production power, requiring a massive overhaul to revive.
Google Search
The way news cycles this big deal may not be news next week. Just have to wait to know how things will go. One thing we know for sure this took planning & secrecy.
Knight
Well-known Member
Protesting or listening to a speaker that may have been part of the regime that drove the country down?
Protesting for me is more like this.
Remembering the L.A. riots 30 years after officers who beat Rodney King were acquitted
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Oil may or may not be a stated prime motivator, but it'd be a safe bet that more money and more power are heavily involved. All one has to do is look at the players and how well their previous actions feathered their personal nests.
Past behavior is the best predictor of future behaviors.
Brookswood
Senior Member
I knew a Cuban fellow who would have loved for the USA to have invaded Cuba and kick out Castro. However, I am not sure that would be a good thing for most of us in the USA.
I don’t know what will happen. I hope they have some contact with alternative leaders in Venezuela who will rule more democratically. But, I don’t know any more than any of the idiots commenting on the TV news. None of these “experts” saw this coming, that’s for certain.
I don’t know what will happen. I hope they have some contact with alternative leaders in Venezuela who will rule more democratically. But, I don’t know any more than any of the idiots commenting on the TV news. None of these “experts” saw this coming, that’s for certain.
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
U.S. President Donald Trump, in November 2025, gave Nicolás Maduro an
ultimatum that included an offer of guaranteed safe passage/evacuation to another countryfor himself, his wife, and his son, if he agreed to resign immediately.
According to sources, the offer was made during a phone call between the two leaders, but the deal fell apart because Maduro made counter-demands that were rejected by the Trump administration.
Key details of the reported negotiations:
ultimatum that included an offer of guaranteed safe passage/evacuation to another countryfor himself, his wife, and his son, if he agreed to resign immediately.
According to sources, the offer was made during a phone call between the two leaders, but the deal fell apart because Maduro made counter-demands that were rejected by the Trump administration.
Key details of the reported negotiations:
- Trump's Offer: Guaranteed safe passage/evacuation to a country of his choice (Trump reportedly suggested China or Russia) for Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and his son, in exchange for his immediate resignation.
- Maduro's Demands: Maduro demanded a "global amnesty" for himself and dozens of his top officials and allies (some of whom were indicted on U.S. drug trafficking charges), control of Venezuela's armed forces, and permission for his allies to run a transitional government to oversee elections. He also reportedly asked to keep $200 million of his private wealth.
- Breakdown of Talks: Trump's team rejected Maduro's demands, particularly the blanket amnesty and retaining control of the military, which led to the breakdown of the conversation.
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
Dollars, yes. After WWII, we built an extremely expensive military and dozens of military bases in other countries.
I employed 2 guys who immigrated from Afghanistan, and 2 who immigrated from Syria. I met their families, had dinner in their homes, and helped one of their non-English-speaking cousins get better OB/GYN care less than 2 months before she delivered a baby boy, and I drew pictures to explain to her husband what a dry birth is.
But I'm getting way off topic.... All the men told me the WMDs were real, and were moved from Iraq to an underground bunker just inside the Syrian border, then moved again after US military planes flew too close to that spot. The man I was closest to was named Noor. He said everything was moved from Syria to a massive, partially man-made cave system in Afghanistan over a 3-day period.
He was a civilian, but he and several other men in his village were forced to drive trucks in one of the convoys. He said during the whole drive they were sure they'd be bombed by the US military, or shot by the Iraqi soldiers after the job was done, and they all cried and prayed together when they got back home alive.
All the trucks were covered or buried under fruit and other market goods so Noor was going on rumor...so who knows?
Anyway, just becuz it's a fun story, back to the Afghani couple who had the baby boy: they'd been trying to get pregnant for 14 years!, ever since they got married, and they immigrated to the US mainly to go to a fertility clinic. They still didn't get pregnant until several months after they gave up on that, so well after fertility treatment, but I'm pretty sure it helped.
She was 2weeks into her 7th month when I met them, and they were really confused about MediCal, which is why Noor took me to their house. I went over all her medical documents and saw that she wasn't being seen by an OB/GYN like she should have been.
You know how a woman's supposed to be seen once every week or so in the last few months? That wasn't happening, plus, she was going to a really crappy clinic that had a bad reputation, so I called a lady I'd dated for quite a while who's an OB/GYN at a university medical center, and she got the mother-2-be in for a check-up just a few days later, found that the mommy was leaking fluid (amniotic?), and scheduled an induced labor for 3 weeks later to avoid a dry birth.
To thank me for the help, the couple made me a nice dinner, and the woman went into labor while we were eating! So I called my OB friend and then drove the couple to meet her at the hospital. The mommy had to have a C-section, and while that was being set up, before her husband went into the delivery room, I drew illustrations to explain what was happening with the baby (the dangerously low fluid) and what a C-section is. He got teary-eyed and ran to the delivery room, but he took me with him and indicated he wanted me to watch through a window in the door...in case he needed more drawings, I guess?
Everything went really well (and quick), and when the baby was pulled out, the new father praised his God and then held out his fist toward me with one finger dangling down, and wiggled it, signaling it was a boy
.They named the baby Zaki Franklin. They don't normally have middle names, but they gave him one...mine. Pretty cool, right?
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David777
Well-known Member
- Location
- Silicon Valley
Ooooops, now EXPOSED...
Second front: How a socialist cell in the US mobilized pro-Maduro foot soldiers within 12 hours
Second front: How a socialist cell in the US mobilized pro-Maduro foot soldiers within 12 hours
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
This is partly why the US will "control" Venezuela until they establish a new gov't. Far more pressing is that the CCP, Putin, and probably Iraq would love to inject their influence.