Will Trump Invade Venezuela?

[Cassia]

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

[Hydra009]

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.

[Nobody]

The tail is about to wag the dog.

[Cassia]

"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

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Just now noticed that, did they?

[Cassia]

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/

[Hydra009]

"It's about drugs, not oil" so Trump pardons the drug dealer and seizes the oil tanker.  Sounds legit.  :/

[Gawdzilla Sama]

How long before the UN declares the US a rouge nation?

[aitm]

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.

[Cassia]

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.

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.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

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.

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.

[Cassia]

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.

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.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

downplay?

[Cassia]

downplay?

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.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You know ardent military historians like me don't skip those points. Cheers.