"That cannot continue. Those things cannot continue to be in place. You cannot continue to have the largest oil reserves in the world under the control of adversaries of the United States, not benefiting the people of Venezuela, and stolen by a handful of oligarchs around the world including inside of Venezuela, but not benefiting the people of that country. You know, we've seen how our adversaries all over the world are exploiting and extracting resources from Africa, from every other country. They're not going to do it in the Western Hemisphere."
Said Marco Rubio, on "Meet the Press" this morning.
Posts
87 comments:
That must’ve really set Welker’s panties aflame!
The idiot vile corrupt left and its stupid morally dead base are pissed - because the modern D party is not much different from the a-holes who rule Cuba.
...all you oldsters are having Khrushchev flashbacks, aren't you?
Neighborhood watch. Not on our watch.
They are finally saying the quiet part out loud.
The problem is the international marxists. We need to run them out of our country too.
Ah Venezuela with the "largest oil reserves in the world". Yes the oil is there; no it's not easy to get out or get at. Almost 30 years ago the then Venezuelan government granted six concessions on the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt. International consortiums (including the company I worked for) were set up to work the concessions. The Orinoco Oil is very heavy--if flows when warm, but once pumped to the surface turns into a wax candle. It's 200 miles to the coast. To get it out you need to build two pipelines--one each way. You need to build a refinery on the coast and a tanker shipping port. The refinery will send "cutter stock' aka kerosene down one pipeline--it will be blended with the Orinoco crude making it possible to send the back up the second pipeline. Once at the coast it would be loaded into tankers and sent to either Gulf Coast or Rotterdam where there is refining capability to handle this very heavy crude.
Well that's the way the projects were supposed to work--but with the political risk from the Venezuelan government one by one all the international companies dropped out--and the projects were never built. But they could be. We know what it takes equipment wise to make it happen.
"You cannot continue to have the largest oil reserves in the world under the control of adversaries of the United States, not benefiting the people of Venezuela, and stolen by a handful of oligarchs around the world including inside of Venezuela, but not benefiting the people of that country."
So Cuba and Russia are now are "adversaries"? And what the hell is an "Operating hub". LOL.
And if we want to control "chinese intelligence agents", maybe we shouldn't hiring them as Congressional aides or letting 500 thousand Chinese college students in the USA.
Not to mention, Pollard is now the greatest guy ever acccording to Mike Huckabee. Guess all that damage to USA intelligence caused by him was A-0K.
And what the hell does the Gazan political faction Hezzbalah or whatever they are have to do with Venezuela. Israel has them completely blockaded. Just more nonsense.
I just don't get how this is supposed to work. As I understand it, we've left the government in place, just removed Maduro. Why are they going to listen to Rubio? I think this arrangement is going to have to "evolve".
wow, those venezuelans sure are terrible - they elected a guy who helped our "adversaries". Of course, if millions want to come here as "Refugees" why that's great! Maybe Maduro's hardworking, immigrant cronies can come here. They can move to Minneapolis and work with the Somilias to elect Democrats.
Its a tricky tripwire we have to negotiate
Eric Schmitt on X: "Yes. Did I stutter? https://t.co/B7jMUOq7Du" / X https://share.google/z5PYYdwRmodl9OoRb
What's with all the newscunt's attempts at interrupting Rubio? She can't just shut the fuck up and let the man speak after she asks a question?
Rubio’s giving a rationale for containment and diplomacy, not a blank check for regime change.
If foreign alignment plus oil equals forfeited sovereignty, then the rule applies globally—and not just to countries that Trump doesn’t like.
Emigration reform to mitigate progress at both ends of the bridge and collateral damage throughout.
Get the oil flowing and send the Venezuelans who fled here back. Also, someone has to kill the Chavez-Maduro Loyalists. It should be the Venezuelans.
x
"Not a word, and no outrage from the loony left when President Joe Biden had President 'Juan Orlando Hernandez' of Honduras arrested and extradited to the United States for drug trafficking."
Conquering is one thing. Governing is another. I am hopeful for success. But there are many traps. I wish Rubio a long life to view the outcome of his success.
Also, I can't help thinking this regime change is better, out in the open, than one done via the CIA clandestinely.
You know who understands what Rubio is saying? Members of home owners associations. Just saying.
If this all works out, Rubio will have a much bigger chance to capture the presidency then JD Vance.
So Cuba and Russia are now are "adversaries"?
No. It happened 50 to 70 years ago. Crack a book.
Wow, sounds exactly like what Putin was saying about Kiev.
I’m ok with leaving the present government in place while the Venezuelan people figure out what to do next.
They’ll either topple the government or not. Remember they voted for all this when they kept reelecting Chavez. If they can create a democratic government great. If not, then they can just be the next Cuba. Our military and treasury shouldn’t go in as liberators or nation builders.
We’ve all heard this same neocon argument that we’ll be greeted as liberators and nation building will be easy. I don’t believe Venezuela is different. They managed to vote themselves from one of the richest countries to one of the poorest.
Maduro should thank Trump for having made him the most popular guy in the world. A week ago everybody hated him, and now they all love him. That alone merits a Nobel Prize.
Hugo C. and Maduro spent decades destroying a once prosperous nation.
Trump better fix it in 10 minutes.
If our military presence needs to be there to keep the peace - and allow for honest elections to occur - where Venezuelan voices can be heard again? Good.
But everyone whining about this - also has unrealistic demands.
In the mean time - a lesson back home. Our military must be a fighting force - filled with those who can handle conflict and the demands of skilled modern warfare.
Our military is NOT a They/Them/ Trans/Rainbow flag/ Social Club.
You know, we've seen how our adversaries all over the world are exploiting and extracting resources from Africa, from every other country.
I guess they lack our altruism.
Give me a fucking break. The term "banana republic" was invented to describe what we did to numerous Central and South American countries.
Cuba is run by a corrupt cabal.
The Castro family are vampires who sucked the blood out of the people - and have kept that nation in a bazar-o-world stagnant poor stand sill.
Cuba is a humanitarian crisis.
Remember when the white fat fuck Michael Moore - showed up with a bullhorn in some bay in cuba - ranting and raving about Cuba's socialized health care.
All lies.
cuba's health care system is a wretched dirty filth hole...
Other that the few elites with access - most of the nation is very poor.
Considering Rubio's background, this is especially hilarious considering that prior to the Revolution, Cuba was basically owned and operated by Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky.
"Cuba is a humanitarian crisis."
If only we could do something, you know, like lift the sanctions. We claim that the Cuban government just uses the embargo as a scapegoat for their own mismanagement. Well, here's an idea, lift the embargo and see if they stay poor! Prove your case!
"If the President believes military action against Venezuela is needed, he should make the case and Congress should vote before American lives and treasure are spent on regime change in South America," said Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, speaking on the House floor. "Do we truly believe that Nicolás Maduro will be replaced by a modern-day George Washington? How did that work out in Cuba, Libya, Iraq or Syria?"
Rubio is right.. 100% right.
It's early days. I hope it turns out perfectly great. A Renaissance of Venezuelan prosperity and culture. Or at least, a pathway to that goal.
That goal isn't impossible, but will be very difficult to achieve. Too much history too many moving parts short attention span of the American system etc.
One point in Trump's favor, however, is the fact that this country is probably the lowest of the low-hanging fruit for a potential successful regime change that actually benefits the people of that country. The oil wealth is a huge part of that whether we directly profit from it or not.
Jaq said...
"If only we could do something, you know, like lift the sanctions."
Or go destroy the Communist dictatorship at the top and free the country.. AND THEN ASK THE RESIDENTS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT. That might work better as you get the honest opinions and not the state propaganda line.
They are Communist Jaq... communist. Think hard about that.
"If the President believes military action against Venezuela is needed, he should make the case and Congress should vote before American lives and treasure are spent on regime change in South America," said Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, speaking on the House floor.
Great idea; tell them we're coming. How many dead would that incur?
Still believing commie propaganda howie
Doesnt matter that coppola smelt it
Now the problem is the current replacement delcy is the daughter of a red band guerilla who kidnapped william neuhaus for three years
So wrong lizard there
What's up with Edmundo González? Everybody says he won the last election, but nobody is talking about him now.
@Buwaya ... Well done
How did you manage to co-opt DJT into your scheme to restore Spanish empire in South America?!
Mike @ 3;16, “ Great idea; tell them we're coming. How many dead would that incur? ”
Here’s the kicker with this false dilemma that the MAGA crowd keeps trying to sell. The reality is that congressional authorization doesn’t mean announcing a date and time of attack. It means debate, limits, objectives, and accountability. The U.S. sought authorization before Afghanistan and Iraq without “telling the enemy we’re coming,” and presidents still retained tactical surprise.
But whatever it takes to keep that Trump turd polished, right?
Is anyone else miffed at Trump for giving a commie a helicopter ride that included a landing? I thought Trump knew his memes?
So we dont want a power vaccuum that empowers brigands like zarquawi or belhadj but we dont want continuation of the regime either
And they will flounce like they did 22 years ago
https://share.google/KNnmF7F5D5QzAx5hp
The idea that Cuba is utterly destitute because of the US embargo is obviously false. The example of Rhodesia-Zimbabwe proves it. Under Ian Smith's white-minority rule, it was embargoed by just about every other country in the world, yet somehow people were well-fed and there were plenty of late-model cars in the capital. Independent Zimbabwe is embargoed by no one, but is utterly destitute, like Cuba, and Venezuela. It's the socialism, and the one-party rule, and the brutality of the rulers, that destroyed all three. Embargoes had nothing to do with it.
Thats a trope that doesnt stand serious scrutiny, of course the usual suspects brandish it
So, "prior to the Revolution, Cuba was basically owned and operated by Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky"? I suspect this is a gross exaggeration, but what if it were literally true? That would mean that rule by Castro and his cronies is a hundred times worse than rule by literal mobsters! I believe Cuba was the third wealthiest nation in the Western Hemisphere when Castro took power, behind only the US and Canada, and even the peasants and lower classes were better off then than they have been since.
I agree with Howard at 3:13.
That is one for 2026. A second time is possible.
Ronald J. Ward said...
Rubio’s giving a rationale for containment and diplomacy, not a blank check for regime change.
If foreign alignment plus oil equals forfeited sovereignty, then the rule applies globally—and not just to countries that Trump doesn’t like.
"The United States stands with the people of Venezuela who expressed their voice in today’s historic presidential election. The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected. Despite the many challenges, we will continue to work toward a more democratic, prosperous, and secure future for the people of Venezuela."
Kamala Harris
List of U.S. presidents who have authorized airstrikes or military actions without specific Congressional approval:
-Harry S. Truman Korea (1950) – Deployed U.S. forces and authorized airstrikes in Korea without formal Congressional declaration of war.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower Lebanon (1958) – Ordered U.S. air and naval forces into Lebanon to stabilize a political crisis.
-John F. Kennedy Cuba (1961–1962) – Bay of Pigs (though indirectly supported), and later the Cuban Missile Crisis military posture.
-Lyndon B. Johnson Vietnam (1964) – Gulf of Tonkin airstrikes occurred before the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passe d.
-Richard Nixon Cambodia & Laos (1969–1973) – Conducted secret and unauthorized bombing campaigns as part of Vietnam War.
-Jimmy Carter Iran (1980) – Operation Eagle Claw failed attempt to free hostages
-Ronald Reagan Libya (1986) – Bombed Tripoli and Benghazi in retaliation for the Berlin discotheque bombing. Grenada (1983) – Invasion and airstrikes without prior congressional approval.
-George H. W. Bush Panama (1989) – Invasion and airstrikes to oust Manuel Noriega. Iraq (1990–1991) – Airstrikes began before Congress passed a resolution approving Desert Storm.
-Bill Clinton Bosnia (1995) – NATO airstrikes in Bosnia without Congressional approval. Iraq (1998) – Operation Desert Fox airstrikes against Saddam Hussein. Kosovo (1999) – 78-day NATO bombing campaign without Congressional approval.
-George W. Bush Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia (2001–2009) – Authorized drone strikes relying on the 2001 AUMF but without specific country-by-country authorization.
-Barack Obama Libya (2011) – Air campaign as part of NATO action to topple Gaddafi, without Congressional approval. Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen (2014–2016) – Airstrikes against ISIS and other terror groups under 2001 AUMF, no new authorization sought.
-Donald Trump Syria (2017, 2018) – Airstrikes against Assad regime over chemical weapons, without Congressional approval. Iraq (2020) – Ordered airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
-Joe Biden Syria (2021, 2022) – Airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia groups. Somalia & Yemen (ongoing) – Continued air campaigns under prior AUMFs.
rehajm: "...all you oldsters are having Khrushchev flashbacks, aren't you"
Yes, I want to see Rubio take off his shoe and pound it on the podium! CC, JSM
Never mind.
Ronald J. Ward said...
Mike @ 3;16, “ Great idea; tell them we're coming. How many dead would that incur? ”
Here’s the kicker with this false dilemma that the MAGA crowd keeps trying to sell. The reality is that congressional authorization doesn’t mean announcing a date and time of attack. It means debate, limits, objectives, and accountability. The U.S. sought authorization before Afghanistan and Iraq without “telling the enemy we’re coming,” and presidents still retained tactical surprise.
But whatever it takes to keep that Trump turd polished, right?
Everyone sees right through you shitheads Chuck. You are a fucking traitor.
Most of the Democrats in Congress and not a small number of Republicans are also fucking traitors. Our entire media is festooned with traitors.
All of you people would have danced with joy if a dozen Operators were killed and it embarrassed Trump. You would have waved those bloody shirts around and danced like you 'Kirked' another Republican.
And we can see your anger that their mission was successful and it made Trump look good.
People here need to stop pretending anything different about democrats and their republican allies in DC Even now the democrat party is mobilizing resistance in Venezuela. They are working in CCP funded marches in the US to protest this.
Our biggest enemies in this fight against marxism are right here in the USA.
How Jaq visualizes narciso
It's a fair cop.
Howard said...
It's early days. I hope it turns out perfectly great. A Renaissance of Venezuelan prosperity and culture. Or at least, a pathway to that goal.
That goal isn't impossible, but will be very difficult to achieve. Too much history too many moving parts short attention span of the American system etc.
One point in Trump's favor, however, is the fact that this country is probably the lowest of the low-hanging fruit for a potential successful regime change that actually benefits the people of that country. The oil wealth is a huge part of that whether we directly profit from it or not.
Whether this succeeds or fails depends more on our success here in the US than it does with anything that we do in Venezuela.
The people who started and ran the Iraq war and the Afghan war were evil shitheads. They are still around and they are right here on this board biting ankles.
The biggest problem I have with what Trump did in Venezuela is that he has not dealt with the problem here at home.
America needs to be dealt with First.
"Freder Frederson said...
Considering Rubio's background, this is especially hilarious considering that prior to the Revolution, Cuba was basically owned and operated by Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky."
Hey! I saw that movie! However,
AI disagrees:
Reality vs. Popular Myth
Despite their deep involvement, the idea that they "owned and operated" the entire country is an exaggeration.
Political Power: Batista remained the ultimate authority. He controlled the military and government, using the Mafia as a source of personal revenue and to modernize Havana’s tourism infrastructure.
Economic Competition: The vast majority of Cuba's economy was dominated by U.S. corporations, not the Mafia. American firms controlled the sugar industry, mining, telecommunications, and banking.
“Maduro was wearing Hello Kitty pajamas.”
https://x.com/RealDonKeith/status/2007543021563445383?s=20
Paul said...
List of U.S. presidents who have authorized airstrikes or military actions without specific Congressional approval:
================
So your argument is that because other Presidents have authorized military actions without specific Congressional approval, even if it is wrong and illegal, then Trump can do the same thing? What if China or Russia decided to bomb Washington, D.C. (something I am not entirely opposed to) and capture President Trump and take him back to China or Russia and try him for war crimes, are all of you good with this?
A sane, stable, civilized Western Hemisphere is in the best interests of every decent person in the world.
If we have to push the envelope to move towards making that happen then so be it.
Thank God we have a President with the nerve to try.
FullMoon said...
Economic Competition: The vast majority of Cuba's economy was dominated by U.S. corporations, not the Mafia. American firms controlled the sugar industry, mining, telecommunications, and banking.
You could do a before and after of the country.
It would make American Corporations look better than Castro obviously. There are worse things for countries than companies providing jobs.
lonejustice said...
Paul said...
List of U.S. presidents who have authorized airstrikes or military actions without specific Congressional approval:
================
So your argument is that because other Presidents have authorized military actions without specific Congressional approval, even if it is wrong and illegal, then Trump can do the same thing? What if China or Russia decided to bomb Washington, D.C. (something I am not entirely opposed to) and capture President Trump and take him back to China or Russia and try him for war crimes, are all of you good with this?
I am glad you acknowledged you are allied with Russia and China against the US.
It is long passed time for this civil war to get finished off. We need the marxists, neocons, and somali daycare operators out of the country.
Trump needs to come out and say he is distributing the $25,000,000 bounty that Biden put on Maduro's head to all of the military personnel who participated in capturing him.
What Trump did was good. A great start. What comes next will be controlled to a great deal, by Congress.
Congress, who allowed the M.E. wars to continue decades, with good men and women sacrificed for no reason.
The same Congress who profited greatly from the wars, and did so while digging a 37 trillion hole for the rest of us.
I would approve of another clandestine operation-removing every member of Congress, their lobbyists and other hangers on. Helo drops or scaffolds on the National Mall.
The corruption is so deep, and pervasive now, on both sides of the aisle.
If this fails, Trump takes a hit. The blame never goes back to the real problem, Congress.
Never forget that Castro was the cat’s paw of white supremacy. The white colonist/settlers could not allow a mulatto to run the country and generate wealth for the Cubans of color. They had to overthrow the multicultural government and impose a giver of the elite. Oh and also kill a bunch of homos!
*giver = member
"And gooddamn it, tuck up those pajamas!"
The problem is the international marxists. We need to run them out of our country too.
The local variety also.
Howard 3:13 - well put.
Give me a fucking break. The term "banana republic" was invented to describe what we did to numerous Central and South American countries.
Once again, if it benefits the United States, Freder is against it.
Fifth-column POS.
Trump's administration is relying on the same legal theory ("inherent protective power") for attacking Venezuela as he is for deploying US troops in American cities.
Let that sink in.
Curiously fidel was the illegitimate child of his fathers lebanese maid
You guys really should read Hugh Thomas' "Cuba". Yes its massive, but Thomas is (here) a sprightly writer and he was personally extremely connected to Cuba, having been there often and knowing a lot of the principals personally. Nobody should be permitted to comment on Cuba without doing that, at least.
Thomas btw was British "deep state", of the deepest.
Our family (on my mothers side) in part derives from settlers in Cuba, of the original families that settled Cienfuegos. My aunt has been there often doing geneological research. Castro's ally Osvaldo Dorticos, President of Cuba 1959-71, was our distant relative.
Its a rather hefty tome
"banana republic" refers to the economy of those states. Bananas were an early commodity crop that could be widely distributed globally, given steamships and railroads, formed a large part of the "commercial revolution" that paralleled the industrial revolution, and hence became a source of income for tropical countries that were otherwise were destitute, with subsistence level economies.
This was a good thing.
Anyone commenting on "banana republics" should take a hammer to their heads before saying anything, to get the just punishment over with early.
Yes its the primary staple
Like bauxite for jamaica
NPR this afternoon is carrying a worldwide expert opinion telethon of political horror at this development, featuring females of all persuasions and genders bemoaning how civilization is about to collapse from this calamity, this transgression, this obscene miscarriage of justice, the rendition of Maduro. The hyperventilating is truly hysterical, well, at least it is to me. It's amazing to me that this façade of righteous umbrage and indignation is still believed to be a credible approach to being the Opposition, given the events of the preceding administration, and the events in Europe. I don't know whether normal people really are this dumb, or whether they're so disgusted they've tuned out, but it still surprises me that the political leadership thinks it's a viable strategy for holding onto their power and authority.
Joseph Conrad's "Nostromo" (1904) is in its own way (in part, there is a novel there after all) a primer on Latin American economics and politics and society. It feels modern for the most part, as the arguments and the rhetoric haven't changed.
Conrad was a superb observer, and he spent a career as a ship captain in all those tropical ports.
Its a great novel also for those people whining about evil globalists. The book is full of globalists.
"You guys really should read Hugh Thomas' "Cuba". Yes its massive, .."
1184 pages.
Several million less than the Epstein saga.
Oh noes, how can we cope this...anyways
boatbuilder said...
The problem is the international marxists. We need to run them out of our country too.
The local variety also.
International Socialist is a differentiating term. International Socialists are the Russian variety patterned after Lenin/Stalin. They care little for national borders and tend to be more corrupt and statist and they nationalize large companies.
National Socialists are the Obama/Hitler variety. They team up with giant corporations to suppress political opposition.
Have you read this take?
The Secret History of Costaguana | Richard Gwyn https://share.google/TivM9EOIvCoucgqVG
Aggie:
Expert opinion my ass.
Have you read this take?
No! Thanks for the link!
The reality is that congressional authorization doesn’t mean announcing a date and time of attack. It means debate, limits, objectives, and accountability.
Let's think about how this might play out.
Pres.: "I want to bring Maduro in on the 2020 indictments."
Gang of 8: "What?! What do you mean, 'bring him in'"?
Pres.: "I want to arrest him, and bring him to the US to stand trial, like Noriega."
Gang: "Why?"
Pres.: "Read the indictments."
Gang: "How?"
Pres.: "I'm not going to tell you that. It's too risky."
Gang: "How dare you impugn us?!"
Pres.: "Yet here we are."
Gang: "You need to tell the American people - convince them. After all, this action could Thrust Us Into War!"
Pres.: "Same answer: too risky. We'll get one shot."
Gang: "You need to build an international coalition, get other countries' military resources involved."
Pres.: "Same answer."
Gang: "Well, what's your timeframe?"
Pres.: "You've got to be kidding. Look. I'm going to do this. Up or down, Gang."
And then, no matter how the vote goes, the next day in the news: "Exclusive: Trump plans to 'bring in' Maduro, sources say."
And of course Maduro wouldn't change his habits or preparation at all...
Let's think about how this might play out.
Whether you like it or not, that is what the Constitution demands.
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