3 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

You have to be somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun to be calling the Bush Administration left wing.

You must be drunk to be confusing the Bush with Obama.

Now tell us the left's "It was Bush's schedule" lie.

And by "captured" don't you mean "kidnapped?"

Just now, Yellowtail said:

You must be drunk to be confusing the Bush with Obama.

Now tell us the left's "It was Bush's schedule" lie.

You actually believe that the US was succeeding in Iraq until the Obama administration took over. I guess Liz Cheney and the rest of the neocons have in you a new friend. That's sweet.

1 minute ago, Alan Zweibel said:

You actually believe that the US was succeeding in Iraq until the Obama administration took over. I guess Liz Cheney and the rest of the neocons have in you a new friend. That's sweet.

You mean Liz Cheney, hero to the left?

4 hours ago, JerryM said:

NYTimes headline this morning:

Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Run the Country’ After Capture of Maduro

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell cited the rule in the summer of 2002 when warning President George W. Bush of the consequences of his planned military action in Iraq:

"You are going to be the proud owner of 25 million people," he told the president. "You will own all their hopes, aspirations, and problems. You'll own it all." Privately, Powell and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage called this the Pottery Barn rule: You break it, you own it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_break_it,_you_buy_it

_______________________________

From Sen. Mike Lee:

Just got off the phone with @SecRubio

He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant

This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack *

https://kmyu.tv/newsletters/utah-senator-mike-lee-comments-on-criminal-arrest-capture-of-venezuelan-president

NB * while serving the arrest warrant

No doubt Venezuela was in the midst of planning a full scale invision of the continental United States!

Many of us are aware of the fact that this is all about money, this is all about Venezuela's oil, it has the largest proven reserves in the world, and they have the heavy crude which is a lot more profitable than the light crude that the U.S produces.

I despise dictators and despots (unlike Trump), so my criticism of the invasion has nothing to do with getting rid of a dictator, which is kind of a cool thing. It's the aftermath that's always quite complicated, but simple minded goons like Trump and Bush Jr. never consider that.

This is nothing more than a colonial style Trump Land Grab. I wonder how this invasion is going to shake out over time.

Maduro Is Gone—Venezuela’s Dictatorship Is Not

Bloodied and humiliated, the regime could turn even nastier.

Quico Toro

Jan 03, 2026

NB Quico Toro, the founder of Caracas Chronicles, was forced to flee Venezuela’s dictatorship,

Donald Trump and Marco Rubio will take a victory lap today. They deserve it. They’ve struck an enormous blow against a genuinely evil regime. But they’ve not overthrown it. Chavismo is very much still in control of Venezuela. Bloodied, weakened, humiliated, yes, but still in control, and newly motivated to exert even more state terror in a bid to stay in power.

Venezuelans all around the world are celebrating the fall of a vicious tyrant. But if the regime manages to ride out this storm, we won’t be celebrating for long.

https://www.persuasion.community/p/maduro-is-gonevenezuelas-dictatorship

6 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

You mean Liz Cheney, hero to the left?

Nice try at deflection. The fact is that you agree with her and the other neocons responsible for the Iraq war.

2 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Nice try at deflection. The fact is that you agree with her and the other neocons responsible for the Iraq war.

Yeah, it's a shame the way the left flushed that victory down the toilet.

You must be proud.

Just now, Yellowtail said:

Yeah, it's a shame the way the left flushed that victory down the toilet.

You must be proud.

More neocon sentiments. I guess this makes you an uber neocon. It's amazing how quickly MAGA supporters turn on a dime when it comes to abandoning America First.

From CNN official account on Tiktok

https://www.tiktok.com/@cnn?_r=1&_t=ZS-92mP7K8bY1s

1 minute ago, Bacon1 said:

From CNN official account on Tiktok

https://www.tiktok.com/@cnn?_r=1&_t=ZS-92mP7K8bY1s

Maduro theatened to take over Guyana for the oil.

If he did that (like Sadam invaded Kuwait) , it would be justified

to take out Maduro, but he didn't.

Let's not forget Obama/Hillary murdered Muammar Gaddafi .

They still go unpunished.

I hope Trump looses the midterm this year.

After Iran , Venezuela and even thinking about Greenland, he should be

impeached next year.

The good he has done with immigration/DEI is not enough .

He can't get his own house in order , get the criminals

of previous regime convicted , but now a foreign leader

before a US judge ?

17 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

More neocon sentiments. I guess this makes you an uber neocon. It's amazing how quickly MAGA supporters turn on a dime when it comes to abandoning America First.

More deflection from you.

You have less than nothing.

Poor leftists lost another hero.

NK has got it right.

You've got to have nukes .

Kim is safe, Maduro not.

5 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Poor leftists lost another hero.

Eh...?

3 minutes ago, transam said:

Eh...?

oh no

11 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

More deflection from you.

You have less than nothing.

If you think that neocon approach to world affairs aligns with what Trump claimed would be the basis of his foreign policy, you have a point. Otherwise, not so much.

Trump has truly made Amercia Great Again - all hail the Chief - and to all that don't we have a liitle list....

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115832049332877712

Just now, Yellowtail said:

oh no

I thought you wouldn't provide an explanation, never mind, eh......😒

4 minutes ago, transam said:

I thought you wouldn't provide an explanation, never mind, eh......😒

eh?

6 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

If you think that neocon approach to world affairs aligns with what Trump claimed would be the basis of his foreign policy, you have a point. Otherwise, not so much.

And still more deflection from you.

You have less than nothing.

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

And still more deflection from you.

You have less than nothing.

I made my case. Unless you can offer an explanation of why it's a deflection, all you're offering is parroting.

There's a couple of things worth mentioning:

1. Yes, Venezuela is a far-lefty narco-trafficing failure that needs to become something different.

2. The oil factor is obviously there, as the refineries in places like Louisianna are the ones that specialise in the type of crude that Venezuela produces, and need feeding. Obviously a deal will be cut on this.

3. This change also denies China and Russia of influence and oil... and may even significantly lower the price of oil globally, which would be a disaster for Russia clearly, and China would have to find a new supplier. Both China and Russia would also lose their investments (rather like the US did before in Venezuela) and that which they have poured in regarding arms and other stuff.

4. Many observers are also making the call that Trump is also a supporter of the "Monroe Doctorine" which sees the Americas (northern, central, and southern landmasses) as the US's backyard and actively opposes any intervention or expansion (percieved or otherwise) within said area by any outside forces... rather than the world's policeman role previously operated, which Trump clearly is against.

5. If the reorganization of Venezuela goes reasonably well and handled correctly, then the US will get away with it... but if it turns into another Libya, then that's a problem.

6. There are many many Venezuelians that are probably very happy about this being done, and only far-lefties like Corbyn, basket-case Labour or Democrat politicians or, say, the the leader of the Greens etc. that will huff and puff about it all from their own personal lecturn.

5 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

I made my case. Unless you can offer an explanation of why it's a deflection, all you're offering is parroting.

You made no such case, just more of your tired chin-music.

5 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

There's a couple of things worth mentioning:

1. Yes, Venezuela is a far-lefty narco-trafficing failure that needs to become something different.

2. The oil factor is obviously there, as the refineries in places like Louisianna are the ones that specialise in the type of crude that Venezuela produces, and need feeding. Obviously a deal will be cut on this.

3. This change also denies China and Russia of influence and oil... and may even significantly lower the price of oil globally, which would be a disaster for Russia clearly, and China would have to find a new supplier. Both China and Russia would also lose their investments (rather like the US did before in Venezuela) and that which they have poured in regarding arms and other stuff.

4. Many observers are also making the call that Trump is also a supporter of the "Monroe Doctorine" which sees the Americas (northern, central, and southern landmasses) as the US's backyard and actively opposes any intervention or expansion (percieved or otherwise) within said area by any outside forces... rather than the world's policeman role previously operated, which Trump clearly is against.

5. If the reorganization of Venezuela goes reasonably well and handled correctly, then the US will get away with it... but if it turns into another Libya, then that's a problem.

6. There are many many Venezuelians that are probably very happy about this being done, and only far-lefties like Corbyn, basket-case Labour or Democrat politicians or, say, the the leader of the Greens etc. that will huff and puff about it all from their own personal lecturn.

1) The US removed Noriega from Panama in 1990 because he was a narcotrafficante. The United States actually has a strong presence in Panama which is now a bigger trans-shipper of drugs than ever.

2) How do you think that the Venezuelans are reacting to Trump's claim that the US will take back "stolen" oil resources? Have you seen any members of the opposition to Maduro supporting that?

3) As for China having to find a new supplier...do you understand that the world currently is verging on a glut of oil. In fact, there would be a glut if not for cartels. Why would China have trouble finding sources elsewhere? Is the US even going to cut off China's oil supplies? It's a pretty safe bet what China would do in response. It's done it before and made Trump back down.

4)China loves the Monroe Doctrine. It justifies its own bullying in its neighborhood.

5)If the reorganization of Venezuela goes well...how likely is that? Seems like wishful thinking.

6)I'm sure that the majority of Venezuelans were happy about the fall of Maduro. Just like the majority of Iraqis were happy about the downfall of Saddam. As for huffing and puffing, remember how not so long ago Trump was the one who would have been doing the huffing and puffing? Remember how he denounced nation building? I think that the Republican party should replace its mascot the elephant with the lemming.

Is there any American citizens in Venezuela ? Any chance of them leaving......

3 minutes ago, CANSIAM said:

Is there any American citizens in Venezuela ? Any chance of them leaving......

Yes and yes

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

No doubt Venezuela was in the midst of planning a full scale invision of the continental United States!

Many of us are aware of the fact that this is all about money, this is all about Venezuela's oil, it has the largest proven reserves in the world, and they have the heavy crude which is a lot more profitable than the light crude that the U.S produces.

I despise dictators and despots (unlike Trump), so my criticism of the invasion has nothing to do with getting rid of a dictator, which is kind of a cool thing. It's the aftermath that's always quite complicated, but simple minded goons like Trump and Bush Jr. never consider that.

This is nothing more than a colonial style Trump Land Grab. I wonder how this invasion is going to shake out over time.

These are the conditions for which a nation can invade another nation:

Lawful Conditions for Invasion:

1. Self-Defense (Article 51): A nation can use force if it's being directly attacked, but this must be immediate, necessary, and reported to the UN Security Council.

2. UN Security Council Authorization (Chapter VII): The UNSC can authorize military force (including invasions) to maintain or restore international peace, but this requires consensus among its permanent members and aims to address threats to peace, not individual state interests. 

Prohibited Reasons (Unlawful Aggression):

• Territorial Expansion: Taking land from another country.

• Regime Change: Forcing a change in another government.

• Punishment: Attacking to punish a people or government.

• Economic Coercion: Using military force to impose economic will. 

Murikkka clearly broke international law, but who will hold it accountable?