"He already runs Venezuela from Washington.... While he has not visited Venezuela in person since the U.S. took over, the secretary of state is deeply involved in the country’s day-to-day operations, keeping in close contact with Delcy Rodríguez, who was Mr. Maduro’s vice president and now leads her country on an acting basis, with the imprimatur of the United States. The two exchange messages in Spanish on WhatsApp, trading gossip, birthday greetings and selfies. Despite the banter, the relationship between Mr. Rubio and Ms. Rodríguez is far from a partnership. It is a manifestation of Trump-era American power, in which the winner takes all regardless of sovereignty and international law.... In the early hours of Jan. 3, shortly after Mr. Maduro was captured, Mr. Rubio reached Ms. Rodríguez by phone. Speaking in Spanish, Mr. Rubio told her that she had a choice between working with the United States or witnessing a broader attack targeting Venezuela’s infrastructure, military bases and senior officials. After some negotiation, Ms. Rodríguez agreed...."
From "How Marco Rubio is Running Venezuela From Afar/The secretary of state effectively controls Venezuela’s finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government. His grip on the country is a vivid manifestation of American power in the Trump era" (NYT).

42 ટિપ્પણીઓ:
So long as this is leading to real elections, I don’t care.
The only ones complaining are Marxist that wanted to keep Venezuela in their control.
I’m surprised to see the words “Trump” and “strategy” in the same article.
I'd rather we oust the corrupt Castro family from their billions dollar perch - and free the people of Cuba.
I know Rubio wants this.
But there is no oil.
The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny
Rubio has been very impressive of late.
anyone who has read about the crap responses by the government during the earthquake recoveries would know that Sec. Rubio has very little idea about the day to day functions of life in this still crap government. Fees for help was one of the solutions offered by the "acting" president. Delays in delivery of basic supplies - so that help from the world did not make the government "look bac".
The US is in a war. It's a 4th and 5th generation war. Venezuela was part of the enemy alliance and they attacked the United States directly. The US counter-attacked and took Venezuela, conquered it. As always, the conqueror dictates terms.
What CAN'T Marco do?? Those memes are true!!!
After radically imposing our USA will on that country, "running it" is the responsible thing to do.
We didn't break the pottery. But we did ...shatter the illusion that it was perfect.
China was taking over. Never forget.
Archived here: https://archive.ph/DFt5U#selection-8371.0-8371.169
...for anyone interested in reading it. The problem is, every NYT article about the administration reads like a complaint, and this is no exception. There are some items of interest, on the progress being made. But anything that could be interpreted as complimentary is immediately followed by a paragraph beginning with 'But...'
The NYT is the sorriest example out there, of journalistic talent wasted on reflexive malediction.
What would they have America do, with Venezuela?
Viceroy Rubio
"Speaking in Spanish, Mr. Rubio told her that she had a choice..."
Isn't it a beautiful thing when the writeup insinuates that Rubio is a migrant offspring (if the name doesn't ring a bell), while the writer basks in the meticulous thoroughness of it all.
"Rubio has been very impressive of late."
It helps that everybody, including critics of every persuasion, and the press, think and say the same thing, which is that Trump's policies are entirely his own.
I can't remember that being so true of any other president in modern times.
I honestly cannot think of seeing a person being more groomed to become President than Marco Rubio is right now. The thing is, it's not just the opportunities he's being handed, it's that he seems to be so highly competent at everything put in front of him. And so the 'opportunities' keep arriving at his desk.
And...this is important- he is a good speaker, as it turns out. No flop sweat and water bottles anymore. He is sharp, funny, quick thinking, and intelligent. Deeply versed on a variety of topics.
The next year leading into the campaign year will be very interesting.
Mr Rubio,
Allow María Corina Machado into Venezuela, sir..
Do not bullshit me. I signed the Never Trump pledge. (I appreciate you not ratting me out to the president).
Your fan,
Taylor Carmichael
(a.k.a. Saint Croix on the Althouse blog)
So what was holding Rubio back? Was it the company he was keeping in Senate?
My observation about Rubio and his impressive competence and manner lately (i.e., the Trump 2.0 era) is that it's a lot easier to look, sound, and operate that way when Numero Uno is making all the hard decisions and taking all the flak and incoming fire for them. Don't forget that. It's not insignificant.
But yes, it's a great learning experience for him, and I would gladly vote for him in '28. I also want to thank the unsuspecting vile Democrats who imported so many Latino voters who will in fact vote for "Rubio por Presidente" in record numbers.
Rubio is impressive and would be my first choice in the ‘28 presidential sweepstakes. I’m waiting for the Vance knives to come out.
I'm sure a lot of the Establishment Republican Senators hate Rubio. "I should be Secretary of State" they think. Except unlike them, Rubio was smart enough not to sabotage and sneer at trump while in the Senate. So he got picked.
He wont be the 2028 nominee though.
All the neo-cons love Rubio. But that wont translate into votes in Iowa and New Hampshire. Having Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin singing your praises isn't a good thing when you need to win in Ohio.
Some people are better suited for executive roles than being a legislator.
"It is a manifestation of Trump-era American power, in which the winner takes all regardless of sovereignty and international law..."
"International law" meaning what the Euros want.
Are the Venezuelan people upset by this? I don't see much evidence of this. Machado, who wasn't even allowed to run during the Maduro dictatorship (and gave her Nobel to Donald Trump) is calling for elections, but otherwise I can't find much about it.
Mostly they are dealing with the earthquake.
When I put on my tinfoil hat it tells me that Machado is the CIA's choice for Venezuela, and Trump ain't listening...
"So long as htis is leading to real elections, I don't care."
God may or may not be dead but "real elections'? Get a clue.
Yo brad:
https://ve.usembassy.gov/update-on-the-trump-administrations-continued-delivery-of-life-saving-u-s-assistance-to-venezuela/
Sure--it's what the U.S. government would say. But is any of this false?
Marco Rubio on Machado
"Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan Iron Lady, is the personification of resilience, tenacity, and patriotism. Undeterred by formidable challenges, Maria Corina has never backed down from her mission of fighting for a free, fair, and democratic Venezuela. Machado's guiding principle has remained the same since I first met her over a decade ago -- to leave for her children Ana Corina, Ricardo, Henrique, and the children of Venezuela, a country free of tyranny. The phrase "hasta el final" encapsulates her enduring legacy. Over the past year, her resolve has faced unprecedented challenges as she has bravely confronted the Maduro regime's efforts to undermine the will of the Venezuelan people.
A woman of faith who valiantly marches the streets of her homeland armed with the holy rosary and supported by countless courageous Venezuelans, Machado has stood firm against it all, defending the land of Bolivar. Her principled leadership is a beacon of hope, and making our region and our world a better place." -- Marco Rubio
brad said..."anyone who has read about the crap responses by the government during the earthquake recoveries would know …"
Read where? Why no links?
I suspect there's an internal fight in Trump world over this foreign policy. On the one hand, it's the forces of Realpolitik (Nixon bullshit) vs Reaganites.
The Realpolitik group prefers not to get too involved in Venezuela politics as long as we've got a compliant leader in place. The Reaganite wing would say we ought to push the dictatorship into allowing Machado into the country. I am firmly with the latter group. I suspect Rubio is as well, but he's not in charge.
Liberal media ought to be pushing the Trump administration on this. "Why aren't you allowing Machado into Venezuela?" That's a very basic question. I get why the Trump administration doesn't want to install anybody. But it ought to be pushing the Venezuelans harder to releasing political prisoners and let democratic opposition into the country.
Claiming Rubio "runs Venezuela" is ridiculous. What slop in the NYT.
More on private conversations from the NYT ghost army of unnamed sources. Good enough for Democrats and other NYT buffs, but otherwise unreliable.
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...
I’m surprised to see the words “Trump” and “strategy” in the same article.
That's because you are a retard that is too stupid to understand how Trump is completely resetting the post world war 2 order.
That's quite an article. The struggle to drown out the positives of Trump's actions in Venezuela with negativity over every point at issue is so tiresome.
"In the early hours of Jan. 3, shortly after Mr. Maduro was captured, Mr. Rubio reached Ms. Rodríguez by phone. Speaking in Spanish, Mr. Rubio told her..."
Is there a SINGLE REASON to believe anything about that call is not pure NYT fiction?
"That's quite an article. The struggle to drown out the positives of Trump's actions in Venezuela with negativity over every point at issue is so tiresome."
I bet brad found it compelling.
“It is a manifestation of Trump-era American power, in which the winner takes all regardless of sovereignty and international law.."
And it was a bad thing that we captured Maduro and allowed VZ to become a semi-normal country? The people in VZ were suffering. Weren't they killing zoo animals to eat?
2. Marco is looking good to me as the next POTUS. Tough call between Marco and JD.
3. I get Vanity Fair magazine. There was an unhinged story by Ta-neshi Coates (son of a Black Panther) that was about how terrible US foreign policy has been. Colonialism by the US and all that BS.
He went off on the supposed "genocide" in Gaza by Israel after October 7th. He had a crazy number; something like 200,000 killed by Israel. He did mention, however, that 1,200 people were killed by Hamas or whoever the Palestinian terrorists were.
My thought was that if 200,000 Palestinians were killed, that's a good thing. What were they expecting after that brutal attack? If they weren't so stupid, they had to expect a massive retaliation by the IDF.
The only way for these Muslim idiots to learn is that they must suffer a complete and massive defeat. Deplete their numbers. Maybe then they will give up and live in peace. But I'm not optimistic. Lots of inbreeding and very low IQ numbers in that lowlife population. And, of course, the people in charge have an irrational hatred of Jews and Christians.
*I honestly cannot think of seeing a person being more groomed to become President than Marco Rubio is right now. *
Like it or not, Rubio has one, major obstacle becoming President. He's 5'9".
Think. About. This.
"The U.S. Treasury receives the revenue from most of Venezuela’s exports, then disburses it gradually to Venezuela through the country’s private banks…. Mr. Rubio and his team set the conditions on what that money can be spent on, and by whom."
Sounds like a foolproof plan, I'm sure it's entirely transparent and no one would dare abuse these public funds.
Rich liked it better when Maduro and his thugs set the conditions on what that money can be spent on, and by whom.
Think. About. That.
"Sounds like a foolproof plan, I'm sure it's entirely transparent and no one would dare abuse these public funds."
Well, no- that's not true. Democrats would. See: Food for children, learing center and hospice fraud.
"All the neo-cons love Rubio. But that wont translate into votes in Iowa and New Hampshire. Having Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin singing your praises isn't a good thing when you need to win in Ohio."
Are you for fucking real?
"The only way for these Muslim idiots to learn is that they must suffer a complete and massive defeat. Deplete their numbers. Maybe then they will give up and live in peace. "
And your solution is not genocide, exactly how? They are a bad race/religion/ethnic group is not a justification or excuse for genocide.
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