Venezuela air attack

Spot on Ashcombe!
Mr Trump has stated that the new regime will do as they are told .
I believe the quote was " She was very gracious, but she has no choice".
Nothing to do with oil, of course, just drugs.....of course, pardoning the convicted drug trafficking leader if Honduras was about, um, er,... something else?

Iran is likely to kick off in the near future. Or rather America and Iran.
Is that our fight too?

I think there is possible confusion here around "fight".

We haven't been using it literally, ie "boots on the ground" (and may it never have to be so 🙏)

An American and Iran conflict is so huge could affect the balances of power in many areas of the world, where it is of great diplomatic concern to our interests as well as possible provocation to armed conflicts that become our concern and ultimately, our fight.

But this is what Trump does. He disrupts, or threatens to disrupt.
It's his modus operandi, shown so colourfully last year in his tariff wars. Get everyone running around in a panic trying to appease, but end up not doing very much,

But meanwhile he is deliberately attempting to change the way countries relate to each other via International War and conventions, to try and benefit the USA

Except as Imaround and others point out, on the ground for huge groups of people in the USA it is not benefitting them at all, only the rich and powerful or key MAGA groups.

Two different things*Ronib " don't confuse or conflate them.

Maremia

Here's a wee twist, yes, from Facebook. But keep an eye out in case it comes up from a more reliable source.
The whole thing was a pre-arranged set up.
Look how easily it was executed
Did the Russians know in advance, and that's why they evacuated their people 14 days ago?

I saw or heard something along the same lines[not F acebook].

The whole tariff issue is about bringing manufacturing and jobs back into the US, more jobs mean more taxes are paid more manufacturing means more companies are paying taxes.

More taxes means public services and benefits can be paid, where else can it come from.?

ronib

Yes of course you are. MaizieD. Didn’t quite mean to imply that … but feel strongly this is not our fight.

The @not our fight@ thing.
Another poster said much the same thing upthread.

I always struggle to know what is and what isnt.

Why for instance would this not be, but Ukraine is?

And why not other places too??

On the other hand, this morning The Guardian has a lucid account of the operation under the title 'military'.

And if I had three hands, what else is going on, while we are focussed on this?
Remember Johnson's 'dead cat' ploys?

More taxes means public services and benefits can be paid, where else can it come from.?

Oooooooh. Don’t tempt me , David

Perhaps Ukraine is more 'ours' because of proximity?

And how well has the 'tariff' issue worked for the everyday citizen?

Traditional NATO loyalties and proximity to NATO countries that we are very close to (and could be "next" on Putin's list) brought us into issues in The Ukraine.

Maremia

On the other hand, this morning The Guardian has a lucid account of the operation under the title 'military'.

The FT is pointing out this morning (as I did yesterday) that the regime is essentially unchanged. I think it will be free to carry on ‘as usual’ so long as Trump gets what he wants from Venzuela.

I really can’t see him being in the least bit interested in improving life for Venezuela’s oppressed peoples.

Trump has now left Venezuela to the armed militia and criminal groups to fight over power.
The US leave a trail of misery whenever they interfere in other countries.
I fear for Greenland now as what's to stop Trump going in and taking over.

MaizieD

^More taxes means public services and benefits can be paid, where else can it come from.?^

Oooooooh. Don’t tempt me , David

Well it’s not going to cone from borrowing because the US already borrows 125% of GDP, the dollar is already under pressure.

I thought Trump had left Venezuela in the hands of the previously elected Vice President. Assuming therefore that the government itself has not changed.

But, they are still borrowing.

Who 'holds' that debt?

Only is she follows orders ronib, or it will be 'worse for her'.

Let’s guess what the orders might be? Stop drug smuggling to the USA and allow international oil companies to drill for oil?
Shocking? Or sensible? Maremia

ronib

I thought Trump had left Venezuela in the hands of the previously elected Vice President. Assuming therefore that the government itself has not changed.

Exactly Ronib the armed militia and criminal groups together with the corrupt government and the generals are what continue to prop up the old "Chavaz" regime which Meduro continued to run. On the death of Chavaz, nothing changed, with the removal of Meduro, nothing will change either. None of this will benefit the "people" of Venezuela

Maremia

Who 'holds' that debt?

Japan is the top foreign holder of US dept.

ronib

Let’s guess what the orders might be? Stop drug smuggling to the USA and allow international oil companies to drill for oil?
Shocking? Or sensible? Maremia

Maybe someone should tell Donald that the vast majority of drugs are smuggled into the US through the pacific route and not the carribian.
I would imagine the drug cartels were having a field day while he was attacking those ships coming out of Venezuela.

Yes the drugs element of this is farcical. Venezuela does not produce drugs and those entering the US come from elsewhere and through the Pacific route as petra says.