American airstrikes on Venezuela, with Chinooks possibly flying in US military personnel.
- Thread starter Murrmurr
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We have a $38 trillion debt which requires a trillion per year in interest payments. Venezuelan oil isn't going to help much, whether we sell it or restrict the supply.
We have fought numerous wars on a much larger scale without canceling elections.
"Respected commentators" often say the dumbest things.
BTW did you know that the Biden Administration had a $25 million bounty on Maduro? I wonder if Trump is going to demand payment... to himself.
We have intervened either on an overt or covert basis in Nicaragua, Panama (where we invaded and imprisoned the head of state) El Salvador, Granada, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guatamela and elsewhere in the last 120 years or so. This is only different in terms of sheer audacity. (We invaded Canada twice, in 1776 and 1812.)
As I've said elsewhere, I don't have a good feeling about this, but we'll see. Meanwhile the Maduros are entering court in Manhattan for arraignment.
We have fought numerous wars on a much larger scale without canceling elections.
"Respected commentators" often say the dumbest things.
BTW did you know that the Biden Administration had a $25 million bounty on Maduro? I wonder if Trump is going to demand payment... to himself.
We have intervened either on an overt or covert basis in Nicaragua, Panama (where we invaded and imprisoned the head of state) El Salvador, Granada, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guatamela and elsewhere in the last 120 years or so. This is only different in terms of sheer audacity. (We invaded Canada twice, in 1776 and 1812.)
As I've said elsewhere, I don't have a good feeling about this, but we'll see. Meanwhile the Maduros are entering court in Manhattan for arraignment.
Been There
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Going into
Trump raised the bounty to $50 million on Maduro. During his news conference on Saturday morning, Trump said the $50 million will stay in the Treasury.
Been There
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Notable examples of U.S. presidents involved in unseating foreign leaders include:
- Dwight D. Eisenhower The CIA, with U.S. approval, orchestrated the 1953 coup that overthrew Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh to consolidate power with the Shah. A year later, the CIA organized an armed force to oust Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman.
- John F. Kennedy His administration supported the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion targeting Fidel Castro's government in Cuba. The CIA also funded and encouraged the 1963 coup against, and assassination of, South Vietnam's President Ngo Dinh Diem.
- Lyndon B. Johnson In 1965, Johnson sent over 22,000 U.S. troops to the Dominican Republic to prevent the return of former President Juan Bosch and a potential communist regime forming in the region.
- Richard Nixon The Nixon administration actively worked to destabilize and eventually supported the 1973 military coup led by Augusto Pinochet that ousted Chile's socialist President Salvador Allende.
- Ronald Reagan He ordered the invasion of Grenada in 1983 to overthrow the military government and protect U.S. medical students, an action also aimed at eliminating Soviet and Cuban influence.
- George H. W. Bush In 1989, he ordered the invasion of Panama (Operation Just Cause) with 24,000 troops to depose dictator Manuel Noriega and bring him to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.
- Bill Clinton He sent U.S. troops to Haiti in 1994 to restore the democratically elected government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide after a military coup.
- George W. Bush In 2003, his administration launched the invasion of Iraq, which led to the overthrow and eventual execution of Saddam Hussein.
- Barack Obama The U.S. and its allies conducted months-long airstrikes in Libya in 2011, which contributed to the fall of Moammar Gadhafi's regime and left the nation in political instability.
IKE
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- Oklahoma....U.S.A.
The news is reporting now that the operation also killed 32 Cuban military that were there providing security for Maduro.
Thirty-two Cubans killed during US attack on Venezuela
Thirty-two Cubans killed during US attack on Venezuela
Tom52
Member
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- The Villages, Florida
I am trying to understand why Maduro would be protected by Cubans instead of his own people. There has to be some extreme lack of trust with his own people, or Cuba has some sort of hold over him/ Venezuela that is not being much talked about.
CallMeKate
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- Mid-Atlantic US
AI Overview
Cuba holds significant leverage over Venezuela through deep integration of its intelligence, military, and security services, providing crucial support to the Maduro regime in exchange for subsidized oil, creating a dependency where Havana's expertise in surveillance and control helps maintain Caracas' power, making Venezuela's stability vital for Cuba's economy and political survival. This relationship involves Cuban advisors embedded in Venezuelan intelligence (SEBIN, DGCIM) and military, training forces in repression, guarding Maduro personally, and running critical infrastructure, solidifying a symbiotic but unequal bond.
The Cubans probably as a proxy of Russia or China were there to protect their interests. Not the first time Cubans have been used as a proxy. I think they helped prop one of the regimes in Grenada and were busy in places like Rhodesia or the Congo.
This is also an indicator of how delicate Maduro's regime was and/or how paranoid he was about his safety
Lawrence00
Senior Member
Yes it was raised again later in 2025.
Teacher Terry
Well-known Member
It doesn’t matter which president interferes in other countries matters because it always ends the same way. The country becomes worse than it was before due to the destabilization. It’s really sad that we never learned that lesson.
RambleTamble
Member
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- U.S.
We also overthrew the governments of Hawaii, Iraq, and Afghanistan. We kept Hawaii. I think we had Cuba for a while, too.
CallMeKate
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- Location
- Mid-Atlantic US
Could you provide reliable documentation that Venezuela has been in good shape for any time during the past ten years, please? Thanks... and of course I'll gladly read it if you can. (Real though, not fabricated.)
"Venezuela has been extremely unstable for over a decade, experiencing a severe, multifaceted crisis involving economic collapse, hyperinflation, humanitarian emergencies (food/medicine shortages), political turmoil, authoritarianism under Nicolás Maduro, mass emigration, and increased crime, leading to immense suffering and regional instability. This instability stems from government mismanagement, dismantling democratic institutions, and a deep reliance on oil, creating widespread social unrest and a massive refugee crisis"
Teacher Terry
Well-known Member
I never said that they were in good shape. I said all these countries end up worse once we interfere. It’s only our business if it’s a NATO country and then only to defend them if being attacked. Sadly we are no better than Russia and China.
Lawrence00
Senior Member
Just read that Maduro entered into a large agreement with Cuba for military intelligence capabilities and lots of other stuff including surveillance of his own military for any dissent. Weird.
RambleTamble
Member
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- U.S.
I think somebody else already posted this information, but it bears repeating...
Maduro faces four primary counts:
Maduro is being guarded by U.S. law enforcement personnel armed with machineguns.
Hmmm...
Maduro faces four primary counts:
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy.
- Cocaine importation conspiracy.
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
- Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Maduro is being guarded by U.S. law enforcement personnel armed with machineguns.
Hmmm...
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Knight
Well-known Member
Hmmm
a good ending since so much is unknown about the why of all that is happening. About the only thing we do know is millions of Venezuelans that have left their country are celebrating the successful removal of Maduro & are hopeful for the future of their homeland.
Tom52
Member
- Location
- The Villages, Florida
If we were on such a low level as Russia we would have tried to pound Venezuela into submission and confiscate chunks of territory with no concern for mass casualties of innocents. Your characterization of the recent US actions is blown way out of proportion.
Lawrence00
Senior Member
Personally I think we should take France. I would like some oceanfront property and I learned in grade school that in France the ladies wear no pants.
JustDave
Well-known Member
Are these crimes for other governments? Machine guns and destructive devices? Why not knives and hand guns? How about atomic bombs? or Just tanks and missiles? This seems kind of weird, like someone just made up a law to suit an agenda or something.
CallMeKate
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic US
He provided drug trafficking organizations in Columbia and some cartels with the machine guns.
Edited to say: The charges are not about him owning the guns, but about being involved in the drug trafficking that used the guns.
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Murrmurr
SF VIP
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- Sacramento, California
Whether one nation saves another or conquers another, there are always spoils. And some spoils are extremely beneficial; sometimes beneficial enough to offset the costs of either saving or conquering, and even rebuilding.
Do not suggest that this is an "American thing." It definitely is not. It's an *as long as humans have been here* thing.
Extracting, refining, shipping, and delivering oil, purchasing and maintaining all the necessary equipment, paying thousands of oil workers and managers, and doling out dividends to investors is expensive. And keeping the product price reasonable, so that it sells despite those costs, is crucial.
I don't begrudge having to pay .25 to $2.25 more per gallon of gasoline for my car, because I need all the oil products to keep coming.
DaveA
Well-known Member
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- Coastal Massachusetts, USA
The timing is perfect in one sense. It moves our minds and concentration away from the Epstein Papers which much of the country has been eagerly awaiting. Coincidence ?
Murrmurr
SF VIP
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- Sacramento, California
No.
Look, I get why it's fascinating when people in high places use a billionaire pimp when any ol' pimp would do, but that whole thing is totally unrelated.
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