January 3, 2026
"[Maduro] was trying to get into [his safe room], but he got bum-rushed so fast that he didn’t get into that.... I watched it literally like I was watching a television show."
"And if you would have seen the speed, the violence, you know, they say that, the speed, the violence, they used that term, it was just an amazing thing, an amazing job that these people did — nobody else could have done anything like it."
Posts
148 comments:
X
@wretchardthecat
"What the press has still not realized is the potential flood of Venezuelan supply would reduce the geopolitical risk premium in oil, potentially dropping prices by $10-20 per barrel on expectations alone, keeping them range-bound between $50-70. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has highlighted this as a way to lower energy costs for American consumers, offsetting any surplus pressures.
Iran, a major exporter of similar heavy sour crude, stands to lose from increased Venezuelan competition. Lower global prices would squeeze Tehran's revenues, which rely heavily on oil exports (already discounted due to sanctions) to fund its economy and regional activities.
Russia faces similar effects: as a key OPEC+ member and exporter of heavy crudes, increased Venezuelan output would heighten competition and depress prices, hurting revenues that fund its war in Ukraine and economy under sanctions.
It's a massive blow against Iran and Russia."
We just listened to his entire interview. He also said no one was killed on either side. The way this is being celebrated on the streets of Caracas and Havana it appears more than one commie dictator is losing control today. The videos of cheering Venezuelans should be heard by all. The video quality is so poor that one can safely assume it's not AI.
X
" My online feed includes Venezuelans celebrating Maduro’s ouster, Iranians praying for their own revolution, and some Western leftists doing their best to whitewash the brutal autocracies in Caracas and Tehran."
Ho Lee Fook!
https://x.com/i/status/2007401209662173270
American cultist Democrats are upset anytime people are set free from the corruption of a communist dictator.
Next stop: Kiev?
Automated Intelligence is a modulated scheme overlaid on Anthropogenic Intelligence.
Ok, so that's why Netenyahu was here for New years. He ordered a hit on Maduro, and his employee Trump carried it out.
Weird that Trump claims Maduro was a drug-dealer, because he pardoned the Honduras President claiming "Biden set him up on phony drug charges".
If Trump spents $150 billion "rebuilding" Venezuala, the R's will get wiped out in November. We elected Trump to stop all these wars - not do the opposite.
Speed is security. We were trained in violence of action.
We could have practiced this domestically.
Note, the video I watched just now was similar to but not the same video Althouse posted earlier. The interwebs should be chock full if I ventured into X or FB, but I'm enjoying a lazy Saturday morning.
Are the homeless people in America cheering.
This isn't what we voted for...
It's not healthy for America tearing down our own country to do Israel's bidding...
Yeehaw violence and might.
The old testament God must be proud...
Beat your chest and bang the Boyz, annie... there's a party in the usa! I'll put my trust in christian ways...
Sigh maduro is an ally of iran and russia
Too bad we can't trust our own Government - even Trump. I dunno if what Rubio is saying is true or not. This had better not turn into another "Forever war".
The Domino Theory, in reverse: The Domino Strategy.
RCOcean - Israel derangement syndrome extraordinaire.
"The Zionists did it! Wow - what can't they do?
Wave those purple fingers...
We globalists are helping create peace in the world!
Hoe many times will you asshole boomers fall for this? You should have learned from Vietnam, but you were too dumb or drugged up...
Probably the weirdest thing of all: Judge Boasberg didn't issue an injuction stopping the strike.
The most revealing and prescient thing any President ever said was "All we needed was a new President".
Hopefully, the same is true for Venezuela.
Go read. And you'll find what I'm saying is true. But then you're a zionist, so Israel - right or wrong. My country.
Good luck, Venezuelans. To a fruitful and viable national conception and birth.
LOL idiotic "Trump claims Maduro was a drug-dealer..." take spotted. Federal court in NYC indicted Maduro for drug trafficking and terrorism in 2020. You move the needle from "ignorant" to "stupid" by commenting on stories from within your retard bubble. When you do it in a flaming failure to getTrump then it becomes eminently mockable like your observations on Israel.
Does the antisemitic idiot actually think we are occupying Venezuela? What a maroon! Maduro was so hated his elite guards helped us effect a virtually bloodless capture.
Didn't Trump speak with Zelensky recently? Xi, too. Damn Zionist community organizers.
This is the kind of thing that makes impossible negotiations possible.
Speak loudly and carry a big stick.
The "speak softly" part was just a style point.
RCOCEAN II said...
Probably the weirdest thing of all: Judge Boasberg didn't issue an injuction stopping the strike.
It looks like this operation was planned outside of DC.
Really there is nothing useful in DC at this point and the whole city should just be emptied out and put in jail.
Nothing gets a psychopathic national leader's attention like the concept of never being out of reach from the USA's Special Forces. Quiet execution of missions like this pay huge dividends down the road. Only superpowers can claim immunity - after they perform a thorough check, first.
From Grok:
"Yes, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is strongly anti-Israel. His government has cut off diplomatic ties with Israel, frequently supports the Palestinian cause in international forums, and he has often used strident rhetoric to condemn Israeli actions."
On Irish X, Venezuelans living in Ireland are celebrating and being denounced by native Irish who are outraged by this turn of events. Very disappointing, but unsurprising. The Irish are childlike in their political stupidity.
RC and Achilles - the idiot twins.
OTOH, the "drug-dealer" whoops sorry, "Wrongly convicted of being a drug dealer" ex-head of Honduras is strongly Pro-Israel. Per Grok:
"The former Honduran President (2014-2022) known for his strong pro-Israel stance, including moving the Honduran embassy to Jerusalem."
Mike Wolf -
Indeed.
Sometimes you wonder who's POTUS. Is it Donald Trump or Jared Kushner and Ivanka.
Aren’t we all just quivering in anticipation of Ronald J. Ward’s first post here on this subject?
Was Maduro sodomized? Was his body lost at sea? This was not Libya, not Pakistan, not an ethnic Spring, with collateral damage. Obama and his little boy Biden are not in the house, and, [black) lives matter, Venezuelan lives matter, American lives matter, again.
RCOCEAN II said...
From Grok:
"Yes, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is strongly anti-Israel. His government has cut off diplomatic ties with Israel, frequently supports the Palestinian cause in international forums, and he has often used strident rhetoric to condemn Israeli actions."
Nobody actually cares about that.
The only thing that matters now is execution. Venezuela can be toppled by a tripartite war of great powers if we allow it to happen.
There is also the problem that the enemies of freedom are going to demand a Democracy rather than a Republic. The Venezuelan people aren't capable of democracy. That is why we are where we are.
A friendly regime will have to be installed. Hopefully they do a good job of this and they keep the execution of this outside of DC and outside the State Department.
Trump is one lucky son of a bitch, isn't he?
Although I am reminded of what Machiavelli says about luck in The Prince. Luck (or Fortune) only affects half of what we do, the rest is up to us. Fate may bring floods to two cities along the same river, but the city that built dikes will seem lucky to the city that didn't.
"The Zionists did it" - the same insane disease as the left's TDS.
Peachy said...
RC and Achilles - the idiot twins.
Sometimes I wonder just how stupid and incapable of being honest you really are.
RCOCEAN II said...
Sometimes you wonder who's POTUS. Is it Donald Trump or Jared Kushner and Ivanka.
Stop being an overemotional retard. You are sounding as stupid as Peachy right now.
Achilles said:
" It looks like this operation was planned outside of DC.
Really there is nothing useful in DC at this point and the whole city should just be emptied out and put in jail."
Achilles checks in with Cannea$$ for his 'pinions.
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
LOL idiotic "Trump claims Maduro was a drug-dealer..." take spotted. Federal court in NYC indicted Maduro for drug trafficking and terrorism in 2020. You move the needle from "ignorant" to "stupid" by commenting on stories from within your retard bubble. When you do it in a flaming failure to getTrump then it becomes eminently mockable like your observations on Israel.
The drug dealer take is stupid.
There is this stupid need to make this "legal" and "moral."
Just stop with the pretense already. Install a regime that enough of the people of Venezuela accept and lets get back to the business of $50 a barrel oil and rare earths development.
Now if only Trump will take America's biggest city back from the Socialist Muslim who has taken control of it.
Emigration reform abroad. [black] lives matter, now. Illicit NGOs here. Hamasidols there. You'd think that lefties would've got the message.
The Irish are childlike in their political stupidity.
This is very true. They traded British domination for the EU, and now are speedily on the way to becoming a satrapy of the impending Muslim caliphate.
Also, there is no country in the world that treats its diaspora in the US with such contempt. If I were Irish-American, I wouldn't set foot in the place just to listen to the drunks in the pub shitting on "plastic Paddys."
Peachy said...
Achilles said:
" It looks like this operation was planned outside of DC.
Really there is nothing useful in DC at this point and the whole city should just be emptied out and put in jail."
Those are good words.
It was a successful operation. If they planned it in DC it would have leaked.
If they try to run the transition through the State Department then Venezuela will be a shithole with pride flags everywhere in 2 years.
Really you should stop being a retard and read things before you post.
FormerLawClerk said...
Now if only Trump will take America's biggest city back from the Socialist Muslim who has taken control of it.
At the very least cut off the federal money to it and start arresting people committing and abetting welfare fraud.
Can we keep the baby and have the commerce, too?
Achilles: "Speed is security. "
Scroll to the road! RLTW, JSM
Maduro falls. Women and children hardest hit ...
Is Mamdani a Muzi or Dezi?
Hassayamper: "The Irish are childlike in their political stupidity. This is very true. They traded British domination for the EU, and now are speedily on the way to becoming a satrapy of the impending Muslim caliphate."
That's just the Irish political elites. The real indigenous Irish have had several near-riots over the wog invasion. And both green and orange Irish went together to Tommy Robinson's big London demo a few months ago. There's hope for the old sod yet! (also been said about me....) CC, JSM
Shouting Thomas said...
Nobody’s said much about this, so I‘ll be the first.
Venezuela has been rumored to have been the base for Chinese led interference with U.S. electronic voting machines in the rigged 2020 election.
This should be posted here too.
But true, their weakness is they do, both orange and green, love them some socialism. CC, JSM
NPR: Trump announced a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, but ... Dec 22, 2025
NYeT: Trump Says He 'Ended' the War Between Rwanda and Congo, but... Dec 4, 2025
"Also, there is no country in the world that treats its diaspora in the US with such contempt."
This is a pretty limited group of people who talk this way, they just stand out on X. For the most part (in fact without exception in my many years living there) they actually like American and are friendly and polite in person. It's like the way they "hate" the English. Very few actually hate English people, it's sort of a put-on. They hate the notion of the English. As I said, it's a bit childish. My son was born there, but he's a Yank through and through and everyone loves him. That was also my experience living in Ireland. If all I knew about the people was from reading on X, I'd think they are dreadful, but they really aren't.
@RC OCEANII: ..."Sometimes you wonder who's POTUS. Is it Donald Trump or Jared Kushner and Ivanka. ..."
No - sometimes you wonder. The rest of us are under no such delusion.
I didn't realize you were a closet Democrat until you gave it away by projecting onto everybody else, what you're hoping to delude yourself into.
Nobody’s said much about this, so I‘ll be the first.
Venezuela has been rumored to have been the base for Chinese led interference with U.S. electronic voting machines in the rigged 2020 election.
I've said it a number of times over the last couple of months.
Obama and Hillary attacked Libya and get Kaddafi killed.. remember that folks??? So if that was legal, then Trump's actions are legal!
And on January 3, 1990, Panama’s General Manuel Antonio Noriega, after holing up for 10 days at the Vatican embassy in Panama City, surrenders to U.S. military troops to face charges of drug trafficking.
So it's as legal as can be!!!…
MAGA!
I put up links to several news stories, an interview and to a book about it.
I hope the Islamist Supremacists of Iran - who subjugate and kill women - are shitting their man-panties.
I imagine removing Maduro and recognizing the proper leader of Venezuela will significantly reduce immigration from there and other nearby countries into the US. If proven sustainable, perhaps Venezuelan immigrants will choose to go back there. The ones who are gang members or terrorists will have an interesting choice.
I dunno. I’m just a lowly spectator wondering what the WH “war game” suggests.
I'm wondering how many of you Trump haters are locked in your safe room right now?
I’m flattered Wiskybum so I won’t keep you waiting and I hope I don’t disappoint.
Of course, this should have been requested from Congress and the American people. But as we know, Trump has Congress heeled. The DOJ should be looking into the legalities but then, Trump owns them as well.
Now, this is just a prediction but based on past patterns, such as Trump’s National Guard shit shows on American soil, it seems likely that a “stabilization” rationale will justify an ongoing U.S. presence in Venezuela.
The public focus will shift to security and order, while Trump and billionaires loot the resources. The complexities of occupation, governance, and resource control play out largely out of sight. Even if the Gulibles are told the intent is to help, this approach risks long-term chaos, resource exploitation, and precedent-setting executive overreach.
But for smash and grab grifters, there’s no time for those distractions.
Trump has moved the real White House to Florida, and he has cut out most of the Obama/Biden leftists.
He sent a message to China, Russia, Cuba, and Mexico that the Monroe Doctrine is now in effect.
He did so without large scale bombing, missiles etc.
No one in DC has a clue as to what happened, and all the usual leftist outlets , as well as the Congress, are unable to come up with anything right now.
I would bet that Congress, both sides, are trying to get in on all the oil money.
Everyone is wondering what happens next, and no one knows, which is wonderful-
Trump freaked out the entire world, by bringing in a huge force, and then used a small one to snatch Maduro. No one expected that, and it worked well.
Hopefully Maduro will have a swift trial, like Noriega did.
Wince said...
“The Domino Theory, in reverse: The Domino Strategy”
Excellent!
You can always vote yourself into communism but we once again see that you have shoot your way out.
Trump has moved a huge bet into the middle of the table with this operation and the rest of his presidency depends on how well it goes after today.
Ron Ward - when Hillary had Khadafi killed- did she ask?
The point should be obvious. Trump pardoned one convicted Central/South American President but kidnapped another to "Bring him to justice". why the difference? And the obvious answer is one was the enemy of israel and friend of Iran/Russia and the other was a great friend of israel.
Like I said, its obvious Netenyahu gave his blessing on New Years Day. If Bibi had said "No" - it wouldn't have happened.
After mastering the epidemiology of coronaviruses, the supply chain mechanics of eggs, breast-feeding, and NIMBY housing policy, the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas war.
I shall now turn to my beautiful mind to why Venezuela's president should be tried in New York State
Paul Singer, Miriam Addelson, etc. are all israel first. they finance the republican party. that's why the R's break out into 40 standing O's everytime Netenyahu addresses Congress. Its why they pass 20 resolutions condemning "antisemitism". So many even MTG got tired of the groveling.
Its not unreasonable to suspect this action toward Venezuela was to help Israel and hurt Iran. With drugs just being the fig leaf.
You can always vote yourself into communism but we once again see that you have shoot your way out.
When is the war to re-take New York going to begin?
María Corina Machado dedicating her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump was a smart move on her part.
I voted for Trump because I’m tired of wars. I don’t regret it. ~ MAGA
Again Kak, where is the war?
Kakistocracy said...
I voted for Trump because I’m tired of wars. I don’t regret it. ~ MAGA
The muppet is just mad he can't see videos of Maduro being sodomized.
He masturbated for months to videos of Gadafi being raped.
Kak - You voted for Kamala - because she's a drunken puppet - who obeys.
More rhetoric by the conspiracy theorists who thrive on this type of info as usual with no proven evidence. The smart people know this is about OIL and resources not drugs or democracy etc. Removing a dictator under the auspices of criminal activity ,how about Putin and Netanyahyu and the other despots,XI? C,mon man all the people said trump would stay out of world business and keep peace were so truly duped. Did Venezuela rig U.S. voting machines in 2020?
No credible evidence supports that claim.
What the search results show
Some public figures have repeatedly resurfaced the allegation that Venezuela’s government influenced U.S. voting systems, but these claims have been discredited by courts and investigators.
Even Trump’s own Department of Justice investigated people spreading the theory and found it to be a discredited conspiracy theory.
Voting machine companies like Smartmatic and Dominion have filed major defamation lawsuits, and media outlets have settled because the claims were false and damaging.
Independent fact‑checkers also classify the idea that Venezuela created or controlled U.S. voting systems to alter results as false.
Why the claim spread
A few factors fueled it:
Smartmatic originally worked in Venezuela years ago, which made it an easy target for speculation.
Political tension after the 2020 election created a perfect environment for unverified theories.
Some individuals promoted the idea publicly, but none provided verifiable evidence.
Courts, audits, and investigations — including those run by Republican officials — found no manipulation of votes by foreign governments. Eventhe generated trumpers called bogus claims, but where there is a conspiracy there will be the maga's alternative facts a flying as usual NO PROOF. Trump, the latest NEOCON war monger(he got a taste when Bibi had him do his bombing for him) is on a roll now. More global insertion and quagmires to follow. Meanwhile the OIL BARONS are liking it! The conspiracists are loving it and magas flip on a dime no war to hell yeah!
The allegations got airtime, but every authoritative review — legal, technical, and investigative — found no evidence of Venezuelan interference in U.S. voting machines.If you stick on GATEWAY PUNDIT, the cartoon guy Adams(people up in here quote him like Jesus, did you see what Scott said!! 1 HEAD stricken from the HYDR with the resyt of the heads still functioning,beautiful Hey not talking about EPSTEIN FILES AND THE BLATANT violation of law by DOJ mission accomplished!!! SAME AS IT EVER WAS(David Byrne THE TALKING HEADS WIN AGAIN)
Kakistocracy said...
I shall now turn to my beautiful mind to why Venezuela's president should be tried in New York State
I agree. This is stupid.
They should send Maduro to CECOT.
After mastering the epidemiology of coronaviruses, the supply chain mechanics of eggs, breast-feeding, and expertise on both the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas war —
NIMBY housing policy, I shall now turn to my beautiful mind to why Venezuela's president should be tried in New York State ~ Achilles 🤡
Is the jooohater actually unaware that all socialists, communists and islamacists hate Israel and Jews? I mean I know ocean is stoopid but is he that unaware?
It appears so.
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
Is the jooohater actually unaware that all socialists, communists and islamacists hate Israel and Jews? I mean I know ocean is stoopid but is he that unaware?
It appears so.
Your problem is that the truth is somewhere between the zionists and the jooohaters. Both sides are being ridiculous.
So much anger about an entire oppressed nation being freed. I don't think the average Venezuelan cares if Trump did it just for a gift certificate to Taco Bell.
I think what we are seeing is the left having a case of the sads. They are just shit posting and none of it matches reality. They got nothing but unhappiness that another communist regime has fell.
"I voted for Trump because I’m tired of wars. I don’t regret it. ~ MAGA"
There will be no Venezuela-Guyana war.
Why so many posts alleging we're at war? We zipped in and out and handed him off to the DOJ with zero resistance (disabling the Russian and CCP anti-aircraft weapons quickly helped) and cooperation of the Venezuelan military. If no one is shooting back and we have left the country who are the combatants in your imaginary "war."
Or near-zero resistance. One helo damaged.
Bothdidesism is lame Achilles. Some world events happen independently of Israel's influence. This event is 100% explained by US policy and our exertion of hegemony in the West. This is robust foreign policy and a diplomatic signal to Xi and his girlfriend Putin that they and Hamas are not welcome.
This is a good start in Venezuela but much more needs to be done. I wouldn't doubt that there were some among Maduro's crew that were just waiting for him to make a mistake so they could take over and now's their chance. Maduro's whole operation is still intact and there's no reason to believe it wouldn't continue on, only with a new leader. The populace is celebrating but that celebration may be premature.
bagoh20 said...
So much anger about an entire oppressed nation being freed. I don't think the average Venezuelan cares if Trump did it just for a gift certificate to Taco Bell.
My only problem here is we seem to be decisive and move with violence of action abroad fighting socialism and corruption.
But we haven't even deported 5% of the illegals in the US and we have billions in fraud going completely ignored.
Our President couldn't even plan or run this operation in Washington DC. Why are we just pretending that this is OK?
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
Bothdidesism is lame Achilles. Some world events happen independently of Israel's influence. This event is 100% explained by US policy and our exertion of hegemony in the West. This is robust foreign policy and a diplomatic signal to Xi and his girlfriend Putin that they and Hamas are not welcome.
Putin should be our ally against China.
Anything else is just stupid.
If you insist that everything that happens must be attributable to Israel, you are determined to misunderstand a lot of stuff, and still feel smarter than everyone else. It might feel good, but I'm still not trying it.
Dinky - Again - your prez-nit Joe Biden - had 4 years to
RELEASE THE EPSTIEN FILES!
bagoh20 said...
If you insist that everything that happens must be attributable to Israel, you are determined to misunderstand a lot of stuff, and still feel smarter than everyone else. It might feel good, but I'm still not trying it.
Israel is just another country. We should treat it that way.
They are another country with heroes like Jonathan Pollard and they donate money to way too many people in Washington DC.
Again as with most things the truth is somewhere in the middle.
I openly listened to a Israel hater once. I aksed questions and listened, openly.
He thought I was genuinely interested - so he just rambled on, and I let him - because I wanted to know where it all came from. His conversation devolved into - "The Jews were behind their own demise in Germany."
It really doesn't take much for RC's Jew hatred to erupt.
Israel is just another country. We should treat it that way.
No. They are a strong ally. We just treat them as such.
Many Male dominated Islamic supremacist theocracies are not our friends.
No matter how much money they give Tucker.
"No. They are a strong ally. We just treat them as such."
How do you figure? What strategic benefit does Israel provide to the US? Aside from making half the world hate us for supporting them?
No, I dont think "everything happens because Israel". But this is obviously connected to Maduro's dislike of Israel, and his connections to Iran and Russia. The hand wave of "Oh, thats a conspiracy" doesnt always work.
A couple points.
1 - I am betting that Maduro told DJT exactly where he could find him, and said "Come quickly! I can't keep the Cubans at bay for long!"
2 - The software that has been used to steal elections in at least a dozen nations, including the US, was developed in Venezuela, to put Chavez in power and keep him there. But the 2020 steal was actually run out of Serbia, using that software. And the reason it didn't happen again in 2024 is that someone managed to shut down that Serbian server for a couple days.
Peachy, who do you think is responsible for the "demise" of the Arabs in Palestine? The Arabs, right?
"The way this is being celebrated on the streets of Caracas and Havana ...".
Havana? I wish. But I don't think so.
On the other hand, this could be the end for the Castro regime. Venezuela has been propping them up with cash and oil. That's over.
Jupiter said...
Peachy, who do you think is responsible for the "demise" of the Arabs in Palestine? The Arabs, right?
Jordan has killed an order of magnitude more palestinians than the jews have.
I usually need to point that out because the "Palestinian" people need to be broken up as a tribe and absorbed by the surrounding tribes.
"RCOCEAN II said...
Probably the weirdest thing of all: Judge Boasberg didn't issue an injuction stopping the strike."
But, will he order him returned until his trial?
"Jordan has killed an order of magnitude more palestinians than the jews have."
That could be true. The Jordanians allowed huge numbers of Palestinian refugees (that Israel's sympathizers claim did not exist in the first place) into Jordan, where they promptly set about over-throwing the monarchy. So they killed a bunch of them, and drove most of the rest into Lebanon, where they promptly set about over-throwing that government. But the reason they are no longer in Palestine is not because Jordanians killed them. It's because they were very bad people, and the Jews were forced to drive them out. Right, Peachy?
FullMoon said...
"RCOCEAN II said...
Probably the weirdest thing of all: Judge Boasberg didn't issue an injuction stopping the strike."
But, will he order him returned until his trial?
FullMoon might have meant that as a joke, but there's a fair chance Boasberg (or similar) will.
Black september was named after this event many of the so called palestinians moved to lebanon
Where they helped ruin lebanon
Wince said...
“The Domino Theory, in reverse: The Domino Strategy”
Everybody gets a pizza!
Because their open display of weapons triggered the civil war
Now that I think about it, NATO has now become almost as bad an ally as Israel. While it was once a buttress against the Soviet Union, which did, in fact, have hostile intentions toward the US, it has now been hijacked by globalists who are trying to use it to drag us into a war we don't want with Russia, which is only hostile to the US because of NATO aggression. And like Israel, it costs us a fortune.
But it is still possible that the native Europeans will regain control of their countries, along with their sanity. It is difficult to see anything like that happening in Israel. Unfortunately, the political choices available to Israelis seem to be equally bad - a Greater Israel movement that wants to incorporate much of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt in Israel, and a pacifist party that thinks they can put all that behind them with some rainbow flags and guitars or something.
Nothing is done independently of anything else. And it's silly to think so. This action in Venezuela is good for our allies in the Americas and in the Middle East. How many of them had info that was helpful? Who knows. But the more coordination there is between friends, the better.
Israel is a great ally and it also has its own priorities and interests. If I was going to list useful dependable allies, Israel would be very high on the list.
https://x.com/ryansaavedra/status/2007516423233458191?s=46
"If I was going to list useful dependable allies, Israel would be very high on the list."
Yeah, I get that. You guys have said that so often you have started to believe it. But now could you explain exactly how Israel is useful to the United States? I assume you agree, that a useful ally should be, like, useful. Right? I gather that Israeli support is critical to a lot of American politicians. Is that what you are referring to?
Jupiter, tell me - who are our best allies?
Jupiter said...
Now that I think about it, NATO has now become almost as bad an ally as Israel. While it was once a buttress against the Soviet Union, which did, in fact, have hostile intentions toward the US, it has now been hijacked by globalists who are trying to use it to drag us into a war we don't want with Russia, which is only hostile to the US because of NATO aggression. And like Israel, it costs us a fortune.
But it is still possible that the native Europeans will regain control of their countries, along with their sanity. It is difficult to see anything like that happening in Israel. Unfortunately, the political choices available to Israelis seem to be equally bad - a Greater Israel movement that wants to incorporate much of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt in Israel, and a pacifist party that thinks they can put all that behind them with some rainbow flags and guitars or something.
Try to keep these issues separate. This is why the US needs to have Interests, not Allies.
NATO has obviously not been a good thing for the US. Being an "Ally" of Europe caused all sorts of problems. We should help them when our interests align. They clearly did not align in Ukraine. Europe successfully drug us into sending hundreds of billions of dollars to fund a bunch of bullshit when we should have been pursuing common interests with Russia vis a vi China.
The same is true but I believe to a lesser extent with Israel. We shouldn't call them an ally.
But we do have common shared interests in eliminating Shia Islam as a political force.
Eva Marie said...
Israel is a great ally and it also has its own priorities and interests. If I was going to list useful dependable allies, Israel would be very high on the list.
What makes them a great ally?
Sharing of intelligence, common interest in containing Iran.
What makes South Korea and Japan great allies - sharing intelligence and common interest in containing China.
Mossad is in Iran as we speak. Probably very helpful to the peoples movement in overthrowing the mullahs.
Told ya so…..
“So, we are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. And it has to be judicious, because that’s what we’re all about,” Trump added. “We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind.”
Can’t say I didn’t told ya so.
Actually, I was partially wrong. I used the term “stabilization” whereas this is actually “occupation”.
When a stable genius does it, it's stabilization. Do you think there is a smarter plan than taking over for now?
"What makes them (Israel) a great ally?"
Exceptional intelligence resources
Unmatched operational competence
Friendly open relationship
Compatible military technology
Strategic location
Synced ethical and regional goals
It would just be poor strategy to not be allied with them.
It makes no sense to ignore the middle east, even if you want to.
The issue isn’t whether there’s a “smarter” plan — it’s whether any president has the authority to decide unilaterally that the U.S. should run another country. History suggests “taking over for now” almost never stays temporary, and the hardest problems begin after the takeover, not before.
Speed and violence. I think it was Rush Limbaugh that defined the role of the military as killing people and breaking things.
“Exceptional intelligence resources
Unmatched operational competence
Friendly open relationship
Compatible military technology
Strategic location
Synced ethical and regional goals”
I disagree with all of those.
Exceptional intelligence resources - Johnathon Pollard
Unmatched operational competence - 9/11
Friendly open relationship - get a dog
Compatible military technology - we gave it to them
Strategic location - in the middle of a forever war of their own making
Synced ethical and regional goals - yeah, that's why they keep buying our politicians. To keep those goals synched.
It would just be poor strategy to not be allied with them. - True, it might piss them off.
It makes no sense to ignore the middle east, even if you want to. - I think that's a circular argument, but I'm not sure you actually completed the circle. The US has exactly one strategic interest in the Middle East - oil. And our "alliance" with Israel is why everyone who has oil hates our guts. Thanks, Israel. Can't take you to a party without getting into a fight, but at least you spy on us, attack our ships, and corrupt our political life. Can't have everything. Oh, and they are graciously willing to accept billions of dollars form us, in return for nothing. Got it!
That's really all you've got? That they are willing to hold our coat, and our wallet, while we fight the wars they get us into?
"Jupiter, tell me - who are our best allies?"
That's an excellent question. George Washington proposed the view, that the US should avoid "foreign entanglements". Of course, that was at a time when Great Britain and Napoleonic France were locked in mortal combat, and the US was barely a pawn on the chessboard. We now find ourselves the pre-eminent power in the world. Not surprisingly, many other nations seek to use our power to achieve their ends. And our Republic is rather easily swayed.
I would say, that the only powerful nation inimical to the US is China. China is as serious a threat as the Soviets were. Therefore, our best allies are Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. But China is moving against us in South and Central America, and it behooves us to improve our relations with those nations. China is also building footholds in Africa, but it is not clear, to me, that it is possible to find any worthwhile allies there.
Arguably, the nation we should be trying to come to terms with is the one on the other side of the Bering Sea, which has even more reason to fear China than we do. It also has vast resources that we could help it to unlock. Alas, the Russians can never be American allies, because of the recent Cold War. We hate them almost as much as we hated the British in 1776.
"... it seems likely that a “stabilization” rationale will justify an ongoing U.S. presence in Venezuela."
Yeah, you're right. What are you suggesting? That we should just take Maduro and his wife to NYC and leave Venezuela to whoever wants it? Is that your proposal?
Is Jeffrey Epstein s cell available?
I’m not proposing anything Jupiter. I’m just laying out the game plan for the heist.
“Russians can never be American allies, because of the recent Cold War. We hate them . . . “
No. Russia can’t be an ally because it never joined the 21st century.
Did they even fully embrace the 20th century?
Next he will grab Cuba and then Mexico!
Earlier Saturday, Trump told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" that "something's going to have to be done with Mexico" in response to a question about America's southern neighbor.
Trump went on to allege that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum isn't running her country, but rather that drug cartels control the nation.
He is playing "My Dog is bigger than your dog" but he is headed for a three dog night!
Aside from making half the world hate us for supporting them?
That 'half' of the world is going to hate us whether we support Israel or not.
No one hates us because we support Israel.
Eva Marie said...
Did they even fully embrace the 20th century?
Um. Who defeated Germany in WWII?
Just curious...
Eva Marie said...
No one hates us because we support Israel.
Why are we taking money from Americans and giving it to Israel? Because Israel gives a shitload of money to congress.
If they were true allies they would pay us back for the money we have been giving them for the last couple of decades.
What you people are describing are not allies. We aren't getting anything back. They are acting like a tribe in a tribal spoils system. This is no different than Somali day cares.
We have Common Interests. Until they pay the billions we gave them back we are not even.
No one is a true ally. Everyone is looking after their own interests first. With that in mind no one hates us because we have a mutually beneficial relationship with Israel.
And you’re right - way too much throwing our money around.
“Did they even fully embrace the 20th century?”
What I meant by that is the very paternalistic top down management style, governing style. You can see that (supposedly) with drone development. Ukraine is making rapid changes and advances. Russia is not.
Don’t you think India is more suited for the 21st century than Russia?
Looking at military "investments", narrowly - US SEAD has benefited enormously from cooperation with Israel. There have been excellent reasons for the US to make sure Israel has the latest stuff, because its part of an iterative R&D process. All those Israeli air raids on Syria and Iran are exercises and sources of feedback to maintain the critical US SEAD capability.
Money very well spent.
Eva Marie said...
Don’t you think India is more suited for the 21st century than Russia?
I can't think of a moral awful social contract than the caste system myself.
But they have the only pyramid shaped demographic curve among the major powers.
What will our presence in Venezuela look like? Minimal. They already know how to do democracy. We just need to keep Maduro's thugs out of it.
I wonder what will happen to Maduros Cuban advisers? Do you think they'll be allowed to go home?
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