44 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

Alan, Venezuela's oil production peaked near 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in the late 1990s, but has since collapsed due to underinvestment and sanctions, stabilizing around 1 million bpd in 2024-2025, though recent reports show levels closer to 900,000 bpd.

If really it is about the oil, then massive investments to reactivate the oil sector are inevitable. And with investments in drilling, more investments in logistic, financial services, infrastructure, etc. are required.

Unlike Chinese ventures, American ventures do not employ almost exclusively Chinese workforce, consume their meals exclusively in Chinese run eateries, use logistic services of Chinese companies equipped with Chinese made hardware, etc.
In an American led Venezuela, some investments will be backed by foreign investors, other by locals.

This may not equal to a full "rehabilitation" of Venezuela, but it is the closest it can ever be.

And I strongly and honestly believe that the USA is best positioned to ensure Venezuela get a good kickstart. The people of Venezuela, after so much suffering, deserve it.

To get petroleum production back to the level it once is projected to cost at least $100 billion and not be completed until 2040. And even if oil companies could be persuaded to invest in Venezuela, which is a big "if", why do you believe that this will redound to the benefit of the Venezuelan people? Do you know why Hugo Chavez gained popularity in the first place? That's because the previous government was extremely corrupt and kept pretty much all the benefits of that oil money for itself. The current rulers are, if anything worse. Haven't you ever heard of the "Resource Curse" or "The Paradox of Plenty'? What makes you think that the Trump administration will engage to protect Venezuelan citizens from these predators? Even when natural disasters strike American citizens, Trump has often displayed a profound indifference to their plight.

3 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

If there's one thing I've learned in my long life, it's that Russophobia is perfectly justified.

Name a single product, useful and beneficial to the daily life of humanity, that was invented in Russia.

Everything Russia has ever created is tied to military uses, and to mass destruction. No television, no internet, no phones and mobile phones, no washing machines, no cars, no air-conditioning, nothing.

All came out of Russia in its millenary history is servitude, misery and death, and Ukrainians know this too well.

Apart from sweeping generalizations and the fact that they're all Orthodox Slavs with a long history of pogroms, anti-Semitism, and endless wars, you may have a point.

Russia Floated Venezuela-for-Ukraine Deal to Trump – Ex-Advisor

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/67441

Hill brought up Venezuela in 2019 as she shifted from discussing the Burisma scandal during her testimony.

“And I was also told by Amos and other colleagues that they had some linkages, so I also want to, you know, get you to step back at this period,” Hill said, according to a transcript published by Politico.

Amos Hochstein was a senior vice president of marketing at US-based Tellurian, a liquified natural gas firm. He served as special envoy for international energy affairs at the US State Department under the Obama administration, and later as a supervisory board member of Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Naftogaz.

2 hours ago, JerryM said:

Can one have it both ways?

"As Secretary Rubio has said, there is no war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying a country," (U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Mike) Waltz said, according to the readout. "This was a law enforcement operation in furtherance of lawful indictments that have existed for decades."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-united-nations-emergency-meeting-mike-waltz/

But then:

“We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said during the press conference Saturday.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/03/trump-venezuela.html

It’s just like Schrödinger’s cat.
Not a war, not an occupation — until someone opens the box,
And asks — who’s actually running the country.

Nevertheless, it’s a brilliant distraction.
While everyone debates semantics, Epstein slips out the backdoor.

I'm sure this was a coincidence!😂

6 hours ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Given that Stevenl had explained that he didn't mean that the USA is literally a banana republic, and your original comment didn't take that into account,nor do youoffer any explanation of where his comprehension has faltered, it's not at all clear that you understand what you wrote.

Why do you think you're owed an explanation?

2 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Why do you think you're owed an explanation?

Why are you making this about me? It's about your comment. Either you can back it up with reasoning or you can't.

3 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Why are you making this about me? It's about your comment. Either you can back it up with reasoning or you can't.

Again. Why do you think you deserve that ? You made it about me first. Now go away you're annoying as f.

1 minute ago, blaze master said:

Again. Why do you think you deserve that ? You made it about me first. Now go away you're annoying as f.

Still no explanation.

9 hours ago, novacova said:

Why don’t you ask the people of Venezuela who’s election was ripped off by the criminal thug illegitimate dictator.

What like in a free, fair and prompt election,