1 hour ago, connda said:

The US has been foreshadowing its intentions to provoke a hot-war with China over Taiwan within the next 5 years

You've got this the wrong way around. It's China that's doing all the military blustering over Taiwan and in the South China see and the Pacific. No doubt Trump views China as the biggest threat to international security and he's right to do so. Please explaimn how the US is provoking a "hot war" with China.

31 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

Russia needs a win to revive arms sales that collapsed after the Ukraine war,
Moscow now might be eager to showcase its hypersonic missiles in real combat.
Look at France — it sold Exocets to a tin-pot Argentina that sank a state-of-the-art UK destroyer,
French missile sales soared overnight.
Nothing sells like a war demo.
 

Not going to happen. It's the Russia/China relationship that's the worry. 

Some here seem gung-ho that their no war President will be attacking a sovereign country without significant legal and political ramifications specially the UN Charter. 
 

it will not be a walk in the park some here feel if the attacks were launched. Venezuela military may not be large in terms of active soldiers  but they can called up 3 million reservists. Venezuela also have 5,000 Russian Igla-S portable anti-aircraft missiles well positioned. The US fleet has been stationed in the Caribbean Sea for almost a month giving time for Venezuela to obtain Russia or China weapons to strike at the fleet.
 

Venezuela will not win the fight but it can cause causalities that will create backlash at home. Trump is unpopular and there already protests like the No King and should the Venezuela war result in fatalities, it will be back to 1971 Vietnam war civil unrest. 
 

 

 

Shutdowns, immigration crackdowns, assorted purges amd pressuring the Press Barons have not made an embarrassing shamefull little scandal go away.

 

Perhaps a good old fashioned shooting war will do the trick?

 

 

1 hour ago, novacova said:

I’m not a drug smuggler...

And there is no proof that any of the 60+ people killed in boats are drug smugglers either.

 "My government told me they are drug smugglers and I believe my government.  They would never lie to me!"

So, all you have pointed out is that a government only needs to label you as a "drug smuggler" in order to murder you.  You don't actually need to be a drug smuggler.  You just need to be accused.
That is why "Due Process" protections were written into our Constitution.  Toss away due process and you can be murdered by a government too for whatever reasons they wish to fabricate. 

15 minutes ago, connda said:

And there is no proof that any of the 60+ people killed in boats are drug smugglers 

…as there was no proof that many of the alleged terrorist killed by order of many US presidents were terrorist.

15 minutes ago, connda said:

So, all you have pointed out is that a government only needs to label you as a "drug smuggler" in order to murder you.  You don't actually need to be a drug smuggler.  You just need to be accused.

They are not labeled as drug smugglers. They are labeled as terrorist.

15 minutes ago, connda said:

That is why "Due Process" protections were written into our Constitution.

Due process where, in an offshore military court? Non US citizens do not have US constitutional rights, I’m sure you know this, correct?

8 minutes ago, connda said:

And there is no proof that any of the 60+ people killed in boats are drug smugglers either.

High speed boats and a semi-submersible submarine. Definitely out fishing.

6 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

High speed boats and a semi-submersible submarine. Definitely out fishing.

Origins of which were tracked. Not a willynilly thing that is being implied here by some.

Venezuela is obviously not able to prevent US military strikes.

 

However, would it solve anything? Wouldn't the current "Bolivarian" regime be able to strengthen its grip on the country by declaring martial law, eradicating opposition as "traitors", etc.....

2 minutes ago, candide said:

Venezuela is obviously not able to prevent US military strikes.

 

However, would it solve anything? Wouldn't the current "Bolivarian" regime be able to strengthen its grip on the country by declaring martial law, eradicating opposition as "traitors", etc.....

Not if he's gone. A coup or civilian uprising.

23 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

High speed boats and a semi-submersible submarine. Definitely out fishing.

Neither can those vessels made the 1,729 nautical miles to US coast. 

Just now, Eric Loh said:

Neither can those vessels made the 1,729 nautical miles to US coast. 

Quite right. They were heading elsewhere. A stop off or drop off point. The drugs, however, were more than likely heading for the US. 

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

Not if he's gone. A coup or civilian uprising.

The military is one of the main beneficiaries of the current regime (actually part of it).

 

A civilian upraising, maybe. However, a large part of the population is dependent on jobs and subsidies from this clientelist regime, and there are millions of people in the "Bolivarian" civil militia. So in this case, it would possibly lead to a civil war.

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Quite right. They were heading elsewhere. A stop off or drop off point. The drugs, however, were more than likely heading for the US. 

Thats a whole lot of speculation which does not hold well legally for US to bomb and kill. 

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

No doubt Trump views China as the biggest threat to international security and he's right to do so. Please explaimn how the US is provoking a "hot war" with China.

No doubt Trump views the Epstein Files as the biggest threat to his security and he's right to do so.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

You've got this the wrong way around. It's China that's doing all the military blustering over Taiwan

Taiwan is China.  It's only neo-cons, who itch for war, who act as though Taiwan is a sovereign nation.  It's not.  So the US is interfering in a Chinese domestic matter.  This is why the US keeps getting involved in international adventurism. Here's the US official recognition of Taiwan as being part of "One China."  https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1977-80v01/d104

3 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

No doubt Trump views the Epstein Files as the biggest threat to his security and he's right to do so.

This is the most pathetic pivot yet. Well done.

Just now, connda said:

Taiwan is China.  It's only neo-cons, who itch for war, who act as though Taiwan is a sovereign nation.  It's not.  So the US is interfering in a Chinese domestic matter.  This is why the US keeps getting involved in international adventurism. Here's the US official recognition of Taiwan as being part of "One China."  https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1977-80v01/d104

. Sure. I guess you think Xi isn't a dictator and China's the freest nation on earth.

52 minutes ago, novacova said:

…as there was no proof that many of the alleged terrorist killed by order of many US presidents were terrorist.

They are not labeled as drug smugglers. They are labeled as terrorist.

Due process where, in an offshore military court? Non US citizens do not have US constitutional rights, I’m sure you know this, correct?

So, all the government needs to do is to label you a "terrorist" and they can murder you.  Today you're smug because you agree with US policies and so you feel safe.
In the future when there is a change in administration, the members of that administration may not like your world-view, so you're labelled a terror, and based on precedent already set by the US, you can be extrajudicial murder. Well, don't go on any deep sea fishing trips with friends who hold your own political opinions.  You can just be labeled "terrorists," and if you're in international waters, blow to smithereens because -  well, maybe you're a US citizen, maybe your not, so no due process for you - terrorist.  

29 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Quite right. They were heading elsewhere. A stop off or drop off point. The drugs, however, were more than likely heading for the US. 

Easy to make up stories. Here's a story - dinsdale is a terrorist!  If they agree with me, then the US can murder you.  

5 minutes ago, connda said:

Easy to make up stories. Here's a story - dinsdale is a terrorist!  If they agree with me, then the US can murder you.  

 Have another drink and calm down.

7 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

 Have another drink and calm down.

This statement shows you don't understand the issue.

 

54 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Neither can those vessels made the 1,729 nautical miles to US coast. 

 

If SA Narco-subs can get across the Pacific/Atlantic they can make it to the US:

 

"In 2024, the Colombian Navy captured a semi-submersible carrying 5 tonnes of cocaine 1,200 miles southwest of Clipperton Island in the Eastern Pacific in a 62 country operation. Having been captured over 3,000 miles from the Colombian coast, the incident has been cited as proof that drug cartels are now willing to use narco-submersibles for direct, long-distance drug smuggling to Australia and New Zealand via a new route exceeding 4,000 miles rather than conventionally hiding smaller amounts of narcotics in commercial shipping.[46]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narco-submarine

 

"Using submarines to smuggle drugs across the Atlantic was once thought to be a myth.
 

But in 2019, when the Spanish authorities captured a 'submarine' off the coast of Galicia carrying 3,000kg of cocaine, it marked a turning point, confirming that an underwater drug trafficking route from South America to Europe was real.
 

The first known 'narco-sub' seized in Europe is now displayed in Spain's police academy."

 

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/article/how-narco-subs-are-shifting-thousands-of-tonnes-of-cocaine-across-seas/igkwfzltq

 

 

http://www.hisutton.com/Narco Subs 101.html

 

 

13 minutes ago, connda said:

Today you're smug because you agree with US policies and so you feel safe.

This has nothing to do with feelings emotions or presumptions. It’s about the sovereignty of a nation and its borders. There is no law that keeps the United States from protecting its sovereignty.

17 minutes ago, connda said:

In the future when there is a change in administration, the members of that administration may not like your world-view, so you're labelled a terror, and based on precedent already set by the US, you can be extrajudicial murder. Well, don't go on any deep sea fishing trips with friends who hold your own political opinions.  You can just be labeled "terrorists," and if you're in international waters, blow to smithereens because -  well, maybe you're a US citizen, maybe your not, so no due process for you - terrorist.  

Naivety of circular reasonings, that’s about it.

2 minutes ago, stevenl said:

This statement shows you don't understand the issue.

Which issue? Sending a nuclear powered aircraft carrier group to the Caribbean, speed boats and semi-submersible submarines aren't out fishing, Trump's got his eye on Venezuelan oil, Taiwan doesn't belong to China or Xi is a dictator? Please clarrify.

2 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

“Several months ago, a foreign policy expert on the international level went to advise Donald Trump. And three times [Trump] asked about the use of nuclear weapons. Three times he asked at one point if we had them why can’t we use them,” Scarborough said on his “Morning Joe” program.

 

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Joe of Morning Joe, is a complete idiot, of course.

Is this what you are implying here?

It's very wise to ask dimwits why we cannot use NUKES.

I commend Trump for pointing out the OBVIOUS, using rhetorical language.

Now that Trump has gutted FEMA, maybe a past solution of the stable genius might fill the gap — at least in hurricane season.
 

During a White House NSC hurricane briefing, Trump reportedly asked, 'Why don’t we nuke them?' — suggesting that as storms form off the coast of Africa the U.S. could drop a bomb in the eye to disrupt the system.
 

Maybe not as easy as using a Sharpie — but at least it will give him a reason for some nuclear testing.
 

Later, it was very wise of the NSC to tell the dimwit why we cannot use NUKES.

https://www.axios.com/2019/08/25/trump-nuclear-bombs-hurricanes

Amazing.  Gabbard should get on the same page as the rest of the administration.  Trump is on the cusp of conducting regime change in Venezuela.

This is Norway's fault. Should have given him the peace prize. Now, you've got Genghis Don on your hands.

16 hours ago, connda said:

The "Ugly Americans" will again be doing what America has been doing for two centuries since its inception¹:

 

Yes, but the US administration claims the President there is heading the cartels or colluding with cartels, which is seriously hurting and a threat to the US. Massive drug smuggling and getting a bunch of people addicted to dangerous drugs is a form of warfare. If he has been enabling cocaine to enter the US, this is self-defense. 

 

While I don't know if this is true, it shouldn't be dismissed. According to a quick search I did on ChatGPT, Argentina and Ecuador may actually back up Trump's claims on this. Argentina and Ecuador also seem to have identified Maduro as the leader of this cartel. 

 

In that case, you're not dealing with a normal civilized country leader and the gloves are off. 

 

From ChatGPT:

 

The claim that Nicolás Maduro heads the Cártel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) is supported by major U.S. government allegations, but the full picture is more complex and contested. Here’s a breakdown of the evidence and caveats.

 

What the U.S. Government and other sources say

• In a 2020 indictment the U.S. Department of Justice alleged that Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials have “operated” the Cártel de los Soles for decades, enabling the trafficking of tons of cocaine into the United States. The Washington Post+2Department of Justice+2

• On July 25 2025 the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Office of Foreign Assets Control) designated the Cártel de los Soles as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” organisation, stating it is “headed by Nicolás Maduro Moros and other high-ranking Venezuelan individuals in the Maduro regime”. U.S. Department of the Treasury+2Voice of America+2

• Several Latin American countries (e.g., Argentina, Ecuador) have joined in designating the Cártel de los Soles a terrorist organisation based on evidence of illicit transnational activities, and in these announcements Maduro was identified as the leader.

 

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Which issue? Sending a nuclear powered aircraft carrier group to the Caribbean, speed boats and semi-submersible submarines aren't out fishing, Trump's got his eye on Venezuelan oil, Taiwan doesn't belong to China or Xi is a dictator? Please clarrify.

Yes, that's not the issue.