Breaking: Venezuela attacked by U.S. Update: Maduro and wife captured.

[GoldenBoy89]

“We will stop racing to topple foreign regimes that we know nothing about, that we shouldn’t be involved with,”
President elect Donald J Trump
December 7, 2016

There’s always a tweet.

 

[Larniavc]

In Trump's annoucement just now, he declared "We are going to run the country".....

This seems very similar to Russia attacking Kiev to kill Zelenskyy.

 

[durangodawood]

This seems very similar to Russia attacking Kiev to kill Zelenskyy.

Except the Ukraine govt, for all its problems, wasnt remotely as corrupt and criminal as Maduro's. In fact I think it has full legitimacy and lots of support as well.

I actually think maybe half the motivation for this "adventure" is to distract from Trumps completely stalled and backsliding domestic situation. The bottom-half economy. Health care. Trumps personal corruption. Even the Epstein revelations. All forgotten!

 

[Pommer]

“We will stop racing to topple foreign regimes that we know nothing about, that we shouldn’t be involved with,”
President elect Donald J Trump
December 7, 2016

(Countries that don’t have precious natural resources)

 

[Laodicean60]

Yeah its becoming apparent that Trump has this knack of relating or something to other leaders. The art of the sale. He is able to get leaders to see things differently. Different futures. Then is able to make it happen.

But like you say I think he also knows how to use the best people and get the intel and set all this up beforehand. In some ways I think there is a knock on effect in that the more he can get things done the more he can get things done. It seems to work and if people are in a difficult situation for years and a positive option is made. It changes everything.

Either that or he has some magical powers to convince people. A bit like his TV personality persona. Its good acting. Maybe a bit of both.

I can't give him that much praise but I'm behind him on this one.

 

[Laodicean60]

So why aren’t we going after Iran, Russia and China?

Except for Iran we don't have the capability.

 

[BasedLutheran]

God bless Venezuela, and thank the Lord for removing Maduro.

https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2007526748246741010

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Except for Iran we don't have the capability.

Which means dictatorship is fine as long as they have the firepower to avoid US intervention.

 

[BasedLutheran]

Except for Iran we don't have the capability.

And those others have nukes

 

[GoldenBoy89]

God bless Venezuela, and thank the Lord for removing Maduro.

https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2007526748246741010

Yes thank the lord for unscrupulous presidents badly in need of a distraction from their failing domestic agenda.

 

[BasedLutheran]

Yes thank the lord for unscrupulous presidents badly in need of a distraction from their failing domestic agenda.

Siding with the marxist dictator who was sending gangs into the US is certainly a choice you have made. Not sure how great of one, but it certainly is a choice

 

[Laodicean60]

In any case, I don't consider a POTUS attacking another country without *any* prenotification to Congress to be "above board."

The president has 48 hours after hostilities start.
I can imagine if he had pre notified Congress it would have been plastered all over the news.

 

[Laodicean60]

Which means dictatorship is fine as long as they have the firepower to avoid US intervention.

Hasn't that been the case throughout history, fire power is everything.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Hasn't that been the case throughout history, fire power is everything.

Well there was that one time back in the 40s where we actually stood for something and followed through.

 

[rjs330]

Venezuela accuses US of attacking civilian, military installations in multiple states

This comes as the US military has been targeting in recent days alleged drug-smuggling boats.

nypost.com

Last I heard Venezuela had not released the five Americans they are holding, and the helicopters are American helicopters.

Oh this is going to get good.

 

[rjs330]

It's notable that Secretary Rubio explained at the press conference why Congress was not informed. He stated that such missions require extensive preparation, and the timing of the operation was decided at the last minute. However, when he was part of the Gang of 8 in Congress, the Obama administration did notify him prior to capturing Osama bin Laden.

Why in earth would they notify congress? One leak would destroy this operation. What a ridiculous idea that anyone would suggest it. I'm not saying you did by the way. I'm just noting there are prople who did and what a dumb idea that would be.

 

[rjs330]

Meh, just another reason for the Democrats to impeach Trump. After the midterms.

 

[durangodawood]

Why in earth would they notify congress? One leak would destroy this operation. What a ridiculous idea that anyone would suggest it. I'm not saying you did by the way. I'm just noting there are prople who did and what a dumb idea that would be.

Notification to certain committees or committee members in congress has occurred in similar situations without problem. It would be the normal thing to do.

The reason for a president to do it is to demonstrate that he has the slightest regard for the way the US constitution assigns and limits the powers of the various branches of govt.

 

[Richard T]

As a Reagan-Bush conservative, I'm pleased Maduro is gone and that the US will aid Venezuela's return to democracy. Unlike Iraq, Venezuela can recover with support, which may also reduce drug trafficking and migration to the US.

Having stated these points, my concern lies with the actions of the Trump administration regarding the invasion of another country and the kidnapping of its president. In contrast, when President Bush initiated military action in Iraq, there was a two-year period of preparation during which the American public was informed, whether or not they agreed with the war. The Bush administration publicly justified its reasons for intervention, presented its case to the United Nations, and communicated with allied nations. Ultimately, they formed a coalition of 29 countries before commencing hostilities.

Trump administration proceeded without engaging in any such process, did not coordinate with allies, and unilaterally ordered the abduction of a foreign leader. I would be interested to learn whether the administration informed Congress prior to this operation.


Edited: Secretary Rubio has stated that Congress was not notified. Interesting!

Yes the signaling was different in some ways. However, I remember Bush was at first waiting on the inspectors, but then he went in before the inspections were even done. There was a cloak of secrecy, the misleading the public too on WMD and yellow cake, etc.

I think that the reason Trump went so quickly is that Maduro was ready to negotiate.Trump too misdirected everything as if the drugs were the main reason. But they were obviously not because Venezuela is not the biggest player in South America. Neither President wanted any solution less than regime change. The similarities do not end there either. Both Bush and Trump are using unusual economic plans to lower taxes on the rich. For Bush it was the Laffer curve, for Trump it is Navorro's trade policy. These wars and economic policies are just covers for what they really want. I am sure Obama did the same thing. There is no ethics in this approach, just justifying what you want by making up something that the people will buy.
Seems very elitist to me, Trump especially ignoring Congress, the courts and even international laws, as if they barely exist. Hopefully it will be a feather in Trump's cap on the outcome, but there is a risk it will turn out poorly.

The rendition (kidnapping) is rather odd. Usually you pay to make them go to another country. Perhaps Trump has more evidence of criminal activity. I almost laugh that while we are trying to ship the criminal aliens out, here we take Maduro to New York. The Hague seems to be more appropriate but if there is evidence for a trial here trial here, I guess it is OK but it could turn into a circus. Trump will have to defer to the U.S. judicial system and it likely will be frustrating.

 

[jacorian]

Very positive devp. today in S. America & if we could get the rest of the countries to lean centrist & then hopefully Iran will fall. Then we can say we have made progress. Trump is just enforcing the Monroe Doctrine which many presidents have forgotten in recent decades. South America is our neighbor. The folks bought into the commie idea that everything will be free & we see the laws of economics apply. Hell they are even rooting in Spain, which took a socialist turn. Very much important for No. America to pay attention to our hemisphere. One has to be happy for the folks down there. Now of course the naysayers will come from the Democrats, the media, & maybe celebrities. Their argument will be that he did not go to Congress. The prez is Commander in Chief & has some limited powers known as the War Powers Act. The public may not know it but President Obama took out several thugs via drone as well as Osama Bin Laden & kept it secrete from Congress & the media. Remember Biden order the destruction of the major NG pipeline in the Ukraine war. Yes it was our people that took it out. Did not see people bat an eye. Going back further into the 90s Pres. Clinton took on Bosnia, Sbrenicia, & Kosovo & freed those peoples. See today the media & such want people to believe that only Congress gets the capacity to decide & God forbid you disrupt a communist regime. The excuse would be...oh they did not do it right...they did not resort to elections. Well as we know elections have become corrupted everywhere on Earth. As history points out only the US has the capacity to bring freedom. Democrats are mad because they assume that people will want everything for free & that they can promise that. And the media pushes it. The folks should be compliant & do what their masters have decided for them. Really what happen to unalienable rights? What happened to the God presence? Well they don't want God. Remember communism espouses atheism.