Trump has just declared Venezuelan airspace to be closed and looks to be planning ground strikes. It's what failing dictators always do, start a war.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/29/politics/venezuela-trump-pressure-campaign
I'm getting too old for this shit.
I sincerely hope this doesn't happen because the US taking its eyes off of Russia (and China) would be a colossal error that they would no doubt exploit to its fullest.
The tail is about to wag the dog.
"The president is well outside the window of the War Powers Act"
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/12/09/congress/senate-speeds-toward-war-powers-clash-as-trump-ratchets-up-threats-of-strikes-in-venezuela-00683072
Just now noticed that, did they?
Here we go. The U.S. has seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, officials said Wednesday, escalating tensions between the two countries.
"As you probably know, we've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large. Largest one ever seized, actually. And other things are happening, so you'll be seeing that later and you'll be talking about that later with some other people."
When asked by a reporter what will happen to the oil on the ship, Mr. Trump responded, "Well we keep it, I guess. "I assume we're going to keep the oil."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-seized-oil-tanker-off-the-coast-of-venezuela-trump-says/
"It's about drugs, not oil" so Trump pardons the drug dealer and seizes the oil tanker. Sounds legit. :/
How long before the UN declares the US a rouge nation?
Trump adores Putin so much that he too wants to simply take what he wants, laws be damned. Now he prances about as if he is equal to Putin in audacity and "power".
I am not worried about military actions by either China or Russia. They are after economic power. They know damn well they could never invade a country where the population has 4 times the weapons the military has. And a few of us know which end of the rifle to use.
Quote from: aitm on December 12, 2025, 01:25:31 PMTrump adores Putin so much that he too wants to simply take what he wants, laws be damned. Now he prances about as if he is equal to Putin in audacity and "power".
I am not worried about military actions by either China or Russia. They are after economic power. They know damn well they could never invade a country where the population has 4 times the weapons the military has. And a few of us know which end of the rifle to use.
Chinese military action could bring our economy and military to our knees. Taiwan currently manufactures 90% of the most advanced microchips. A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would cause an immediate, catastrophic disruption to the global semiconductor industry. The U.S. military relies heavily on semiconductors from Taiwan, particularly advanced chips from TSMC, for critical defense systems like F-35 fighters.
The US should be doing everything it can to bring production back here and get working close with S. Korea and Japan on a defense plan. China is watching the US do little against Putin as we dick around with Venezuela, our immigrants, and antifa.
The worry is not about an invasion of the US. If it was, I am not so sure that the armed residents living on my semi-rural street would be effective war fighters. Especially against a trained, well-equipped military. Unlike the colonials during the 1700s, we could maybe hold out for a day or two; but most folks can barely get out of their own way and don't stock thousands of rounds of ammo under their beds.
Quote from: Cassia on December 12, 2025, 01:52:44 PMThe worry is not about an invasion of the US. If it was, I am not so sure that the armed residents living on my semi-rural street would be effective war fighters. Especially against a trained, well-equipped military. Unlike the colonials during the 1700s, we could maybe hold out for a day or two; but most folks can barely get out of their own way and don't stock thousands of rounds of ammo under their beds.
But during the Revolutionary War the British used standard European tactics, very rigid because they needed to fire coordinated volleys to achieve any hits at all. Ball-loaded smooth-bore muskets are crap for aimed fire. The bullet rises like a golf ball and Buddha knows where it will hit. "Kentucky riflemen" were prized for their accuracy by the US side and hated by the lobsters.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on December 12, 2025, 02:29:09 PMBut during the Revolutionary War the British used standard European tactics, very rigid because they needed to fire coordinated volleys to achieve any hits at all. Ball-loaded smooth-bore muskets are crap for aimed fire. The bullet rises like a golf ball and Buddha knows where it will hit. "Kentucky riflemen" were prized for their accuracy by the US side and hated by the lobsters.
And we like the downplay how France and Spain seized the opportunity to convert our little war into a global revenge continuation of the Seven Years' War against the British Empire.
downplay?
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on December 12, 2025, 07:43:42 PMdownplay?
Yeah, in my high school it mostly all about the Minute men, the squirrel-gun sharpshooters and Paul Revere riding his ass off. Hardly even mentioned the French navy blockade and victory and all the other global action Britian had to deal with. I do wonder how many Americans even know that France was instrumental to our independence. I hear a lot of Americans shaming the French about WW2, sometimes painting a picture of cowardice.
You know ardent military historians like me don't skip those points. Cheers.
OK, Maduro captured. Now what? Nation building? Civil War?
Maybe the melon felon will get his peace prize now.
Quote from: Cassia on January 03, 2026, 08:23:03 AMOK, Maduro captured. Now what? Nation building? Civil War?
My guess would be a generous oil deal in exchange for a cooling of hostilities.
(https://i.redd.it/v4pyz4bxa3bg1.jpeg)
BBC had an almost comedic write-up (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpdyvn176lzo) about this latest US aggression:
QuoteUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio anticipates no further action against Venezuela, according to Republican Senator Mike Lee.
!RemindMe two weeks
I suspect that Trump was not the architect of this invasion, I think it was Miller, who apparently has Trump wrapped around his middle finger.
Venezuela now, but who's next?
What other countries don't have nuclear weapons?
We can only be sure that it won't be Russia, North Korea, or Israel. Everything else is up for grabs.
WE did this, because WE PAID FOR THIS WITH OUR TAXES!!!
Quote from: Nobody on January 03, 2026, 02:50:14 PMWE did this, because WE PAID FOR THIS WITH OUR TAXES!!!
"We" did this because Americans are stoopid and elected an idiot.
Hey, don't blame me. I didn't vote for the convicted felon, who should have been in prison long before the election.
Quote from: Nobody on January 03, 2026, 01:59:37 PMVenezuela now, but who's next?
Laos
Suriname
Senegal
Micronesia
...where else have you never heard of that doesn't have a military?
Quote from: Nobody on January 03, 2026, 02:50:14 PMWE did this, because WE PAID FOR THIS WITH OUR TAXES!!!
Shared guilt? No. I didn't authorize that, I didn't want it.
Quote from: aitm on January 03, 2026, 02:58:20 PM"We" did this because Americans are stoopid and elected an idiot.
It was not a unanimous vote for T.rump. Get that clear.
Maybe Greenland will be next.
Trump pardoned convicted drug kingpin, Honduras President Hernández about a month ago, LOL. What a clown. I bet Trump's admin is doing this for Jesus, LOL.
I don't think any country south of the Rio Grande is safe from Trump's madness!
Quote from: Paleophyte on January 03, 2026, 03:22:48 PMLaos
Suriname
Senegal
Micronesia
...where else have you never heard of that doesn't have a military?
Vietnam? Cause that worked out so well the last time.
I think maybe this is Trump's Canada, his Greenland that he didn't get. Maduro's opposition, Machado basically promised Trump that if she were in charge, she would let him have a great Venezuela oil deal.
Trump, is probably thinking "why should I give up power to Machado? Why don't I just keep Venezuela", LOL.
What's the Venezuelan equivalent to "Lee Harvey Oswald"?
I just heard from Meidas Touch that Miller's wife has suggested that America should "soon" invade Greenland.
OpSec fail?
Venezuela has the largest oil reserves on the planet, plus it is the same heavy crude we can already refine. If we just take it, we could avoid clean energy for decades. Thank You Jesus.
Since both Canada and Denmark are founding members of NATO, if the USA attacks Canada and/or Greenland, the other NATO members would be obliged to defend them. What would that lead to, another world war?
Who has "Trump Starts WWIII Over Greenland" on their Bingo card?
Burgess Meredith is waiting in the wings. He has books picked out.
Putin knows how to pick losers and despite all the praise he gets from Trump, Trump is fucking him like he does all his buddies (including you, Elon). Russian was spending big bucks propping up Assad in Syria and Iranian Ayatollahs (Iranians are going ape-shit on the mullahs as their currency dives), and now Maduro, who got deposed in the blink of an eye.
So now China can just point at the US when they go for Taiwan, maybe as soon as next year. If there is gonna be WW3 this decade, surely a China vs USA showdown spiral could certainly end the world as we know it.
I seriously doubt that the melon felon would do anything at all to protect or defend Taiwan from China.
Humpty Trumpty will have a great fall. So great that not even the Supremes can ignore it.
Darth Invader might have another rebellion on his tiny hands if he continues using the Dark side of the Force.
Quote from: Nobody on January 05, 2026, 12:08:58 AMI seriously doubt that the melon felon would do anything at all to protect or defend Taiwan from China.
He'd really have no choice; the pressure from our oligarchs would be intense. Taiwan not selling chips to us or even fucking with costs or quantity would screw everything... fighter jet, car, laptop and phone production. It starts with China blockading the island, US Navy shows up, and China sinks one or vice-versa, so we or they fire back and so on.
Yeah, that's exactly what I'm afraid of.
"I don't doubt that Maduro is a criminal but so is Trump." (https://www.reddit.com/r/UnderReportedNews/comments/1q5k5vt/i_dont_doubt_that_maduro_is_a_criminal_but_so_is/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Preach it, brother! 👏
If Venezuela starts pumping out much more oil, won't that cause a decrease in global oil prices, losing money for the oil companies?
Quote from: Nobody on January 06, 2026, 10:40:43 PMIf Venezuela starts pumping out much more oil, won't that cause a decrease in global oil prices, losing money for the oil companies?
US big oil already got burned down there when production became nationalized. Probably not thrilled about risking billions to turn it around.
The oil companies will be lap dogs for POUTUS.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on January 07, 2026, 06:18:59 AMThe oil companies will be lap dogs for POUTUS.
With any luck, he'll be long gone before significant oil starts flowing. And they still have an illegal vice-president with essentially the same government. I'm not really understanding this whole thing.
I wrote something back during the Iraq war that still seems relevant in the current situation:
America has been betrayed
By the politicians' corporate greed,
And by a president, whose only creed
Is "Get the oil! No need for trade,
We want the oil, so let's invade!"
The neo-cons' agenda's weighed
In the moral balance, and found wanting,
Like the robber-barons, who still are haunting
The conscience of a world decayed,
A world where caring's been mislaid.
For long the corporations preyed
On the cheapest labor they could find,
And "Profit only!" they've enshrined,
While the ones who work are underpaid,
Who slave away with pen or spade.
The politicians masquerade
As pious saviors, while they steal
The nation's sweat, and then conceal
The avarice of their charade,
While responsibility they evade.
But now the truth has been displayed,
Though we've just begun to recognize
The wolves who long were in disguise;
We're not just sheep, we're not afraid,
And we will NOT let our country fade!
Quote from: Nobody on January 07, 2026, 11:32:41 AMI wrote something back during the Iraq war that still seems relevant in the current situation:
America has been betrayed
By the politicians' corporate greed,
And by a president, whose only creed
Is "Get the oil! No need for trade,
We want the oil, so let's invade!"
The neo-cons' agenda's weighed
In the moral balance, and found wanting,
Like the robber-barons, who still are haunting
The conscience of a world decayed,
A world where caring's been mislaid.
For long the corporations preyed
On the cheapest labor they could find,
And "Profit only!" they've enshrined,
While the ones who work are underpaid,
Who slave away with pen or spade.
The politicians masquerade
As pious saviors, while they steal
The nation's sweat, and then conceal
The avarice of their charade,
While responsibility they evade.
But now the truth has been displayed,
Though we've just begun to recognize
The wolves who long were in disguise;
We're not just sheep, we're not afraid,
And we will NOT let our country fade!
So ironic that now China gets 10 times the oil from Iraq than the US does. The US oil firms get just 4% of total Iraqi production which is about 4% of our imports, LOL.
Quote from: Blackleaf on January 06, 2026, 12:31:44 PM"I don't doubt that Maduro is a criminal but so is Trump." (https://www.reddit.com/r/UnderReportedNews/comments/1q5k5vt/i_dont_doubt_that_maduro_is_a_criminal_but_so_is/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
But how can this guy know (because he made a blatant affirmative claim, so as to say) that Trump "rigged" the election?
I'm 100% anti-Trump, but my rationality cannot sometimes but simply wonder if people don't go too far with their rhetoric...