Trump recognizes Guaido as Venezuela leader. Link

Maduro breaks relations with US, gives American diplomats 72 hours to leave. Link

Looks like a civil war brewing down there. One faction, against another, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to voice their displeasure. Grab the popcorn, this is going to get good.

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Originally posted by WaterburyBob:

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Originally posted by OMCHamlin:

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Originally posted by bigdeal:
And the most disappointing part of all this, the suffering and demise its completely unnecessary.

It's very necessary, it's a lesson to all...

Yes, but the progressives here that support socialism are either too blind or too stupid to learn that lesson.

I think it’s safe to rule out blind!

Yes. I think things are about to pop.

It will get uglier before it’s gets better .... and the time table is moving fast and taking on a life of its own...which is at least an advantage for the people of VZ and the US if we are involved militarily. Knowing nothing about the strategic thinking behind such things this seems as it has the makings of a brilliant piece of brinkmanship on the part of the US. If the only shot fired is through the brain of that asshat murderer then someone ought to give a medal to our dimplomats and strategists. God help those in harms way if it comes to that. I pray not.

If I’m the head honcho in VZ I want to stall stall stall while I prepare and try to bring in other countries, the UN (China, Cuba, Russia), etc. to counter the US position. Obviously, it’s bad, over and out for that socialist piece of crap if military action begins. Just ask Noriega.

I Still believe they'll have to drag Maduro's limp and bloody corpse out of the capitol. Were I king of the USA, I'd drop pallets of firearms and ammo in the streets to hurry things along.

Russia, China, and Cuba back Maduro.

Russia Warns US Intervention In Venezuela Would Have "Catastrophic Consequences"

Russia has dismissed the political crisis engulfing Venezuela as an attempted coup while expressing concern over the role of external states and the potential for foreign military intervention, calling Juan Guaido's move to declare himself president illegal.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, “We are very concerned by statements that don’t rule out some kind of external intervention,” as cited by Bloomberg. “We consider such intervention unacceptable,” Peskov added while describing the internal unrest spilling into the streets after the catalyst of Monday's failed military revolt of 27 officers in an opposition neighborhood of Caracas an “attempt to usurp power”.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news...trophic-consequences

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Originally posted by chellim1:
Russia, China, and Cuba back Maduro. <snip>

I’m surprised that Russia is backing Maduro. Maduro will be gone before long – in this revolt, or the next. Putin is usually more adept at picking the winning side.

Erdogan supporting him I don't find surprising, but I think you're correct about Putin.

Isn't China putting a base in Venezuala?

I could see Russia backing Maduro, if it furthers stress and potential conflict between the US and China.

Frankly, as long as Venezuela remains a typical Latin Country, it will be a screwed up one. It won't matter how rich it is, in resources. Mexico is awash in resources, and completely hopeless, so long as the people remain Mexican.

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Originally posted by Aglifter:
Isn't China putting a base in Venezuala?

I could see Russia backing Maduro, if it furthers stress and potential conflict between the US and China.

Frankly, as long as Venezuela remains a typical Latin Country, it will be a screwed up one. It won't matter how rich it is, in resources. Mexico is awash in resources, and completely hopeless, so long as the people remain Mexican.

My family is Venezuelan - being “screwed up” is not a typical trait of this country, and really has been a factor since Chavez/Maduro (I.e. the last 20 years).

Venezuela has had a fairly stable democracy since 1958, and before that a fairly stable dictatorship. It was the wealthiest and safest Latin American nation for many years, and can easily be so again.

Mexico, and Central America have other problems that are more endemic.

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Originally posted by reloader-1:
My family is Venezuelan - being “screwed up” is not a typical trait of this country, and really has been a factor since Chavez/Maduro (I.e. the last 20 years).

Venezuela has had a fairly stable democracy since 1958, and before that a fairly stable dictatorship. It was the wealthiest and safest Latin American nation for many years, and can easily be so again.

Yep. Socialism destroys everything.
It's the doctrine of envy.

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
-- Winston Churchill, speech at the Scottish Unionist Conference, Perth, Scotland (28 May 1948)

The XYZ’s of Socialism
The ABC's are the initial promises. The XYZ's are the ultimate results.
https://fee.org/resources/the-xyz-s-of-socialism/

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
Russia, China, and Cuba back Maduro.

Russia Warns US Intervention In Venezuela Would Have "Catastrophic Consequences"

Russia has dismissed the political crisis engulfing Venezuela as an attempted coup while expressing concern over the role of external states and the potential for foreign military intervention, calling Juan Guaido's move to declare himself president illegal.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, “We are very concerned by statements that don’t rule out some kind of external intervention,” as cited by Bloomberg. “We consider such intervention unacceptable,” Peskov added while describing the internal unrest spilling into the streets after the catalyst of Monday's failed military revolt of 27 officers in an opposition neighborhood of Caracas an “attempt to usurp power”.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news...trophic-consequences

Yea, well go worry about the Crimea, you Russian bastards. In the meantime, Monroe Doctrine, so fuck off. I could care less what these commie assholes think. They can't project power. All they can do is run their yaps and bitch like a toy poodle.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
Russia, China, and Cuba back Maduro.

Russia Warns US Intervention In Venezuela Would Have "Catastrophic Consequences"

Translation: "We have our eye on all that oil, so you Yankees better not mess this up for us!"

Venezuela is likely to be a big story in the next year and beyond. Just a matter of time until things spiral out of control and it's not going to be pretty.
I'd much rather see our efforts be on central and South America to get them somewhat straightened out in the next decade or so. All of those countries south of our border could be prosperous without the corrupt governments and a little development that a stable political situation could advance. That would help out the illegal immigration problem much more in the long term.
Now that we can exist without middle east oil, let's back out of some of those overseas shitholes we have been dumping money and our soldiers lives on for decades. Get our southern neighbors on the right track and let the Russian thugs, Chinese commies and European Socialists see if they can deal without our help for a while.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
Isn't China putting a base in Venezuala?

I could see Russia backing Maduro, if it furthers stress and potential conflict between the US and China.

Frankly, as long as Venezuela remains a typical Latin Country, it will be a screwed up one. It won't matter how rich it is, in resources. Mexico is awash in resources, and completely hopeless, so long as the people remain Mexican.

I totally disagree with this statement, Venezuela is not your typical Latin Country at all. I have traveled there many times on business and they are much more westernized and economically advanced than most. Chavez/Maduro have been a total disaster for the country and hopefully it's the beginning of the end for that era.

^^ Agreed. There are leaders down there, including Mexico, Brazil and Argentina; Venezuela has been one and could most certainly be one again.

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Russia, China and Cuba back Maduro.

Russia desperately needs to exercise as much control over the international oil market as it can in order to protect it's biggest, most stable and most predictable source of hard currency. It can't possibly project major power into the region, so it's also hoping Venezuela can act as a festering sore on the hide of American foreign policy in general and in the Western Hemisphere in particular.

China needs oil, period. They're also deeeeep into Venezuelan debt at a time when their economy is starting to choke a bit. They would love to have a naval base on the Carribbean because it's one more geographical point (and one more point close to our home waters) where they can get all sensitive about American hulls in the water and American overflights.

Cuba just plain needs a sugar daddy. Venezuela's capacity to provide that for them has been much reduced over the past several years, but the Cubans are hanging on and desperately hoping for better times - or at least an incompetent screaming liberal in the White House someday.

None of them will or can do squat in the face of decisive American action.

All three of them would be utterly helpless to change the outcome in the face of a broad-based revolt among the Venezuelan people.

Rock on, Muskrat.

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Venezuela is not your typical Latin Country at all. I have traveled there many times on business and they are much more westernized and economically advanced than most. Chavez/Maduro have been a total disaster for the country and hopefully it's the beginning of the end for that era.

Yep.
Get rid of socialism and Venezuela will thrive again.
I wish the kids in the US who think socialism sounds great were more aware of what happens to countries that go down that path.

Among Republicans, Gen Z stands out in views on race, climate and the role of government.

Pew has an excellent report on changing attitudes of generations. In that regard, Generation Z Looks a Lot Like Millennials on Key Social and Political Issues.

No longer the new kids on the block, Millennials have moved firmly into their 20s and 30s, and a new generation is coming into focus. Generation Z – diverse and on track to be the most well-educated generation yet – is moving toward adulthood with a liberal set of attitudes and an openness to emerging social trends.

On a range of issues, from Donald Trump’s presidency to the role of government to racial equality and climate change, the views of Gen Z – those ages 13 to 21 in 2018 – mirror those of Millennials. In each of these realms, the two younger generations hold views that differ significantly from those of their older counterparts. In most cases, members of the Silent Generation are at the opposite end, and Baby Boomers and Gen Xers fall in between.

It’s too early to say with certainty how the views of this new generation will evolve. Most have yet to reach voting age, and their outlook could be altered considerably by changing national conditions, world events or technological innovations. Even so, two new Pew Research Center surveys, one of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 and one of adults ages 18 and older, provide some compelling clues about where they may be headed and how their views could impact the nation’s political landscape.

Only about three-in-ten Gen Zers and Millennials (30% and 29%, respectively) approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president. This compares with 38% of Gen Xers, 43% of Boomers and 54% of Silents. Similarly, while majorities in Gen Z and the Millennial generation say government should do more to solve problems, rather than that government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals, Gen Xers and Boomers are more evenly divided on this issue. For their part, most Silents would like to see a less activist government.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news...ing-or-young-naivete

If President Trump agreed to use "Air America" (in however it is currently manifest) cargo planes to deliver them, how many of you would buy an inexpensive AR-15 with three loaded magazines taped to it, for air drop to the pro-Guaidoitems?

It's the only way this coup will succeed, since Chavez and Maduro disarmed the people.

I’d empty my safe if need be, but I’m a more interested participant than most, in all likelihood...