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Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4830 –
Quote from: DJC – on
King Taco might try to grab low hanging fruit but he didn’t earn his nickname lightly.
Putin, Xi and Lil Kim assassinate domestic opponents and occasionally a foreign based dissidents, but not foreign bureaucrats or leaders, in this regard they are somewhat smarter than RedTrump.

RedTrump is a two bob bully, and bullies never pick on someone who is capable of fighting back! ;)

It seems to me this event has exposed a major weakness in the USA, they are desperate for oil. Obviously the US domestic reserves aren't anywhere near as abundant as the GOP claim, otherwise they'd be busy enacting the "drill baby drill" protocol in their own backyard, instead they embarked on an exceptionally expensive foreign incursion.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4831 –
Taco's very worrying announcements include:

"We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure."

"We'll be selling large amounts of oil."

However, US oil giants haven't responded to Taco's claims.  Chevron, is the only US oil company currently operating in Venezuela, and they have undertaken to follow Venezuela's “relevant laws and regulations”.  I suspect that Taco doesn't understand that multinational companies have to operate in an international context and can't play fast a loose with the resources of sovereign nations.

The formerly US-backed opposition leader and  Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Corina Machado, seems to have had the rug pulled out from under her.  Despite her "the hour of freedom has arrived" comment, Taco says that Machado doesn't have "support or respect".  He is backing Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, saying "she's essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again." 🤮

Of course, Rodriguez is remaining loyal to Maduro and is promising to resist US aggression ... for now.
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4832 –
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: Lods – on
Looks like the boys are dividing up the world.

Count Vlad gets Europe
Emperor Xi gets Asia and
King Don get's the Americas ::)

Realistically, Vlad’s Ukrainian excursion has shown that Europe has got his measure, particularly with the huge losses in men, materiel and budget.

Xi seems to have had Asia stitched up for some time, but you never know what strange bedfellows may get up to.

King Taco might try to grab low hanging fruit but he didn’t earn his nickname lightly.

Just finished watching the BBC production of War and Peace...very good, barracking for the Russians for a change. :D

Russia always plays the long game.

Capturing land in Ukraine is one objective they're struggling with, but in the end it is unlikely  that any of the land they have already captured will return to Ukrainian control.

Destabilising NATO would also be an objective, and while some countries hold firm there are a few waiverers.
Countries like Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey don't seem to have the same commitment as others...and could the allaince really count on the USA if the chips were down under the present administration.

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4833 –
Quote from: DJC – on
Taco's very worrying announcements include:

"We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure."

"We'll be selling large amounts of oil."

However, US oil giants haven't responded to Taco's claims.  Chevron, is the only US oil company currently operating in Venezuela, and they have undertaken to follow Venezuela's “relevant laws and regulations”.  I suspect that Taco doesn't understand that multinational companies have to operate in an international context and can't play fast a loose with the resources of sovereign nations.

The formerly US-backed opposition leader and  Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Corina Machado, seems to have had the rug pulled out from under her.  Despite her "the hour of freedom has arrived" comment, Taco says that Machado doesn't have "support or respect".  He is backing Maduro's deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, saying "she's essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again." 🤮

Of course, Rodriguez is remaining loyal to Maduro and is promising to resist US aggression ... for now.

It's sounding more and more like there were elements of the Venezuelan administration who were actively involved in negotiating Maduro's capture.
Rodriguez and some of the military may have been involved.
While she publicly condemns the USA it's no certainty she isn't just blustering for a bit of a show and will fall into line.

One suggestion floating around regarding the oil is that by controlling it it will limit the supply to Cuba thus derailing the ruling regime there.
That would be a feather Trump would like to add to his cap.

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4834 –
The US Senate and House of Representatives weren’t notified of the Venezuela military action and did not authorise it.

That makes the action illegal under US law (and international law) but I doubt whether the GOP majority has the balls to stand up to Taco.
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball
 

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4835 –
Quote from: DJC – on
The US Senate and House of Representatives weren’t notified of the Venezuela military action and did not authorise it.

That makes the action illegal under US law (and international law) but I doubt whether the GOP majority has the balls to stand up to Taco.

This wasn't a military operation though.
 ::)
It was a Drug Enforcement Agency operation ;)
There was even a guy with a DEA patch on his uniform there :D
The military were just along for the ride and to make sure the DEA folks were OK ::)  ::)  ::)

Seriously though, even if they would have us believe that line, there is so much wrong with the fact that a US legal system can lay charges against a foreign national, whose crimes weren't actually committed in the USA, and then their military can cross international borders to carry out an arrest without going through some type of proper extradition process.

Imagine if that happened in reverse.
And the Venezuelan government charged Donald Trump with kidnapping Maduro.
And Venezuelan military arrested Trump and took him to Venezuela. ::)  ::)  ::)

It's a power imbalance
One side has the capability
The other does not

So for the current United States administration nothing is off the table.
Normal conventions and practices don't apply.
They've gone rogue.


Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4836 –
Quote from: Lods – on
Quote from: DJC – on
The US Senate and House of Representatives weren’t notified of the Venezuela military action and did not authorise it.

That makes the action illegal under US law (and international law) but I doubt whether the GOP majority has the balls to stand up to Taco.

This wasn't a military operation though.
 ::)
It was a Drug Enforcement Agency operation ;)
There was even a guy with a DEA patch on his uniform there :D
The military were just along for the ride and to make sure the DEA folks were OK ::)  ::)  ::)

Seriously though, even if they would have us believe that line, there is so much wrong with the fact that a US legal system can lay charges against a foreign national, whose crimes weren't actually committed in the USA, and then their military can cross international borders to carry out an arrest without going through some type of proper extradition process.

Imagine if that happened in reverse.
And the Venezuelan government charged Donald Trump with kidnapping Maduro.
And Venezuelan military arrested Trump and took him to Venezuela. ::)  ::)  ::)

It's a power imbalance
One side has the capability
The other does not

So for the current United States administration nothing is off the table.
Normal conventions and practices don't apply.
They've gone rogue.




Yep, the only reason they have gotten away with it (so far) is because the leader was not liked. Does this seem a little similar to another leader who had weapons of mass destruction **cough, splutter, wink** Good old oil, eh! Cue the Beverley Hillbillies opening theme song.

Vladimir will not be happy with you, Donald.
Only our ruthless best, from Board to bootstudders will get us no. 17

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4837 –
Texas Tea :D

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4838 –
The attempt to obfuscate the need for Congressional authority to use force under US domestic law won’t work if a couple of Republicans grow a spine.

While the US attacks in Venezuela are clearly a breach of Article 2(4) of the UN charter, nothing will come of that … apart from Putin acknowledging that international law does apply to other countries.

Taco was quick to bully Nigeria using the false claims that Christians are being killed.  The strike he ordered, without Congressional approval, was ineffective, unless you’re the owner of one of the mud huts the missiles hit.

No prizes for guessing what Nigeria and Venezuela have in common but Nigeria also has significant lithium deposits.

I suspect that Russia and/or China will be extending the hand of friendship to Bola Tinubu.
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4839 –
RedTrump, Maduro, Rodriguez, Putin, Xi, Kim, etc., etc., are basically all grifters lining their own pockets at the expense of the societies they live in, they are a den of thieves and cannot be trusted in either words or actions.

I feel the only way to get them into line is for society to threaten their personal wealth, but I have no idea how that could be accomplished. I'd like to see far greater personal risk attached to their investments, with much longer term liability.

Brazil did well with Bolsonaro, but Brazil is a rather unique politically active and highly motived culture that has a history of defending it's environment.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4840 –
Amidst all the bluster from all sides there may be a fair bit of talking taking place in private, that doesn't quite align with some of the 'public' declarations.

But just at the moment it seems that, having patted themselves on the back, the US administration isn't quite sure what the next step should be.

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4841 –
Pfft.  Everything old is new again.  I love how the world is making a big deal about this, but to me its not only on trend, its also on script.

Simply review the historic playbook and run it again.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States%E2%80%93Venezuela_relations

Also, im not sure if art imitates life, or life imitates art:

https://callofduty.fandom.com/wiki/Caracas

:D

"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4842 –
I think it's just a fundamental nature of tyrants, and there are tyrants on all sides of this issue, there is no good will evident from any angle.

The more disturbing aspect of this latest series of events, is that RedTrump did not even consult his own caucus in the planning. It's a sign he no longer holds regard for the political process, he has become bolder and bigger than the GOP. As a result I doubt he will abide by the next election result, and I suspect the fundamentals of the US constitution are now at very high risk, more so than at any time previous and previous events were alarming enough.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4843 –
Interesting that Taco informed the oil companies of the attack but didn’t bother with Congress.
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball

Re: Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

Reply #4844 –
Quote from: DJC – on
Interesting that Taco informed the oil companies of the attack but didn’t bother with Congress.

USA in a nutshell.
Priorities abundantly clear