Many Venezuelans welcome the ouster of Maduro, but worry his repressive regime remains in place

President Trump ticked off a list of reasons for his decision to capture and arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He talked about the Maduro regime sending illicit drugs and gangs to the U.S. and nationalizing American oil-company assets.

One thing that wasn’t mentioned: a desire to restore democracy in Venezuela.

https://archive.ph/TBzA3#selection-539.0-543.95

Let's see how long expat Venezuelans continue to celebrate when they come to grips with the fact that the Trump administration is proposing to keep hands off Maduro's whole corrupt crew and leave the system in place just so long as they regain access for US oil companies to Venezuela's oil.

I guess it's smart politics in the US though. I mean, if there is one sector of the economy that is beloved by Americans it's Big Oil. From the days of John D. Rockefeller, Big Oil has become synonymous for benevolence in the minds and hearts of virtually all Americans. This is going to play so well.

Democracy was never a factor in this s**t show at all. Driving factors were (in order of importance):

1. The Epstein/Trump files.

2. Oil.

I'm with Governor Pritzker.

3 hours ago, BLMFem said:

Democracy was never a factor in this s**t show at all. Driving factors were (in order of importance):

1. The Epstein/Trump files.

2. Oil.

1. Will only be good for a week or so.

2. The wheels are reported to already come off.

Militarily a successful operation. Politically a cock up.

Who would have thought, because if the Nobel Peace Prize winner is installed, how can he put this on his palmares for next year.

Nobel Winner Machado Left Out of Trump Venezuela Plan.

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump dismissed the idea of working with Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado on a political transition for Venezuela, a setback for the opposition leader who won international acclaim in her fight for democracy in the country.

While Machado is a “nice woman,” she lacks support and respect inside Venezuela, Trump said Saturday in a news conference to discuss the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. “I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader,” he said. Instead, he said the US plans to work with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s second-in-command.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nobel-winner-machado-left-trump-131238864.html

3 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Who would have thought, because if the Nobel Peace Prize winner is installed, how can he put this on his palmares for next year.

Nobel Winner Machado Left Out of Trump Venezuela Plan.

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump dismissed the idea of working with Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado on a political transition for Venezuela, a setback for the opposition leader who won international acclaim in her fight for democracy in the country.

While Machado is a “nice woman,” she lacks support and respect inside Venezuela, Trump said Saturday in a news conference to discuss the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. “I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader,” he said. Instead, he said the US plans to work with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s second-in-command.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nobel-winner-machado-left-trump-131238864.html

Well, she was forbidden from running for office for the latest Presidential election. So it was an ally of hers who ran and really won. But Trump is apparently ignoring him, too.

This is from a CNN interview with Stephen Miller.

“The United States of America is running Venezuela,” Mr. Miller said, dismissing international treaties enshrining a nation’s right to independence and sovereignty as “international niceties.”

“We live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power,” he said. “These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.”

“We set the terms and conditions,” Mr. Miller said. “We have a complete embargo on all of their oil and their ability to do commerce. So for them to do commerce, they need our permission. For them to be able to run an economy, they need our permission. So the United States is in charge. The United States is running the country.”

The Trump administration doesn't care who runs the country as long as they receive an envelope.

This is what he said about Greenland.

“Nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland,” Mr. Miller told Jake Tapper, the CNN host, after being asked repeatedly whether he would rule out using military force.

23 minutes ago, bunnydrops said:

This is from a CNN interview with Stephen Miller.

“The United States of America is running Venezuela,” Mr. Miller said, dismissing international treaties enshrining a nation’s right to independence and sovereignty as “international niceties.”

“We live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power,” he said. “These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.”

“We set the terms and conditions,” Mr. Miller said. “We have a complete embargo on all of their oil and their ability to do commerce. So for them to do commerce, they need our permission. For them to be able to run an economy, they need our permission. So the United States is in charge. The United States is running the country.”

The Trump administration doesn't care who runs the country as long as they receive an envelope.

This is what he said about Greenland.

“Nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland,” Mr. Miller told Jake Tapper, the CNN host, after being asked repeatedly whether he would rule out using military force.

Totally fascist.

Bonespurs bravado...

It's not just about the oil, and Epstein distraction:

"JPMorgan Chase underwrote a £6 billion ($8 billion) smelter plant investment in the United States just hours after Washington moved to seize Venezuelan metal wealth tied to longstanding international legal claims."

Boy, they sure did their diligence and then approved that fast. It's almost as if they knew about the invasion and subsequent confiscation of Venezuela's precious metals before hand...

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/jpmorgan-funds-6-billion-smelter-plant-hours-after-us-seizes-venezuela-metal-wealth/ar-AA1TBRnR?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds