quote:

Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
Those soldiers dropping out of that ‘chopper.
That’s what an open can of whoopass looks like.

I am seriously impressed by the skills of the helo pilots in maintaining a wobble-free hover while deploying the fast ropes, especially that Chinook in the first video.

I used to watch the Rangers form Camp Merrill deploy over my airstrip in Dahlonega, and the extricate them after they did their "mission"

Our military is unsurpassed in training and professionalism.

Barack Obama vaporized a US citizen without a criminal charge. One would think that if a president could do that, and I don’t remember Democrats objecting en masse that you could arrest someone for trial with an existing indictment,”

quote:

Originally posted by downtownv:
Barack Obama vaporized a Two US citizens without a criminal charge.

FIFY.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:

quote:

Originally posted by downtownv:
Barack Obama vaporized a Two US citizens without a criminal charge.

FIFY.

Thank you, Sir!

quote:

Originally posted by JoseyWales2:
Interesting video I came across....
"If you really want to get a full assessment of the anger of Venezuelans toward the left, there is this video – an open letter that doesn't hold anything back– needless to say, it comes with a language warning: My Open Letter to Liberals and Democrats about Venezuela:"


My Open Letter to Liberals and Democrats about Venezuela

One of the best screeds about the Left and current events.
Him exposing on it takes-away the punch that it has so, best to read it separately

^^ For those interested in the read...



https://x.com/Knesix/status/2007960824783003721

That was a good read!

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
^^ For those interested in the read...

Jesus is based.

Another interesting Tweet worth reading

https://x.com/nettermike/statu...843044028428714?s=20

https://www.fidelity.com/news/...ED_KBN3O412O-OUSBS_1

Trump urges US oil giants to repair Venezuela's 'rotting' energy industry

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump met with executives from some of the world's largest oil companies at the White House on Friday to discuss Venezuela, saying he wants them to invest $100 billion in the country to vastly expand its production.
Trump has named oil as the priority for his strategy for the South American nation after U.S. forces seized its leader Nicolas Maduro in an overnight raid on its capital January 3.
"American companies will have the opportunity to rebuild Venezuela's ‌rotting energy infrastructure and eventually increase oil production to levels never, ever seen before," Trump said at the opening of the meeting.
He was flanked by top executives from Exxon Mobil ( XOM ), ConocoPhillips ( COP ), Chevron Corp ( CVX ) and others.
"We're ​going to be making the decision as to which oil companies are going to go in," the Republican president said.
He praised an agreement with Venezuela's ‍interim leaders to provide 50 million barrels of crude oil to the U.S., where numerous refineries are specially ⁠equipped to refine it. Trump said he ⁠expects such deliveries to continue indefinitely.
"One of the things the United States gets out of this will be even lower energy prices," he said.
U.S. forces have continued to apprehend Venezuelan oil tankers at ‌sea to enforce an embargo. The fifth such seizure was announced on Friday.
Trump ​administration officials have said they need to control Venezuela's oil sales and revenues indefinitely to ensure the country acts in America's interests, including by reducing corruption and drug trafficking.
Some Democratic lawmakers have criticized this approach as extortion. Industry analysts have also warned ⁠about political instability as the country treads a fine line between denouncing Maduro's ‍capture and appeasing ​the U.S.

"UNINVESTABLE"
Companies including Chevron ( CVX ), Vitol and Trafigura are competing for U.S. licenses to market Venezuela's existing crude oil, but oil majors are hesitant to commit to big, longer-term investments in Venezuela due to high costs and political instability.
Exxon CEO Darren Woods said at the White ‍House meeting that the company sees Venezuela as currently "uninvestable" and needs to see significant changes to return there.
"We've had our assets seized there twice, and so you can imagine to re-enter a third time would require some pretty significant changes," he said.
"We're confident that with this administration and President Trump, working hand in hand with the Venezuelan government, that those changes can be put in place," he said.
Exxon and ConocoPhillips ( COP ) departed Venezuela nearly 20 years ago after their assets were nationalized.
Chevron ( CVX ) Vice Chairman Mark Nelson said the company is committed to investments in Venezuela. Chevron ( CVX ) is the only U.S. oil major still operating ​in the country.
Several smaller ‍independents and private equity-backed players were also invited to the meeting, including some with links to Colorado, home state of Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Many of those executives praised Trump for his policies on Venezuela, and said they were prepared to invest in the ​country and market its oil.
Decades of underinvestment have eroded production in Venezuela, an OPEC member that boasts the world's largest oil reserves but accounts for only about 1% of global supply.
Venezuela pumped as much as 3.5 million barrels per day in the 1970s, more than triple current levels.
Trump said at the meeting that the U.S. would guarantee the physical and financial security of oil companies investing in Venezuela, but did not provide details.
On Friday morning, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in an interview on Fox News ahead of the White House talks that there is "a real possibility" the U.S. could use its Export-Import Bank to help fund large oil projects in Venezuela. This could reduce financial ​risks for companies that decide to invest there.
Trump added the ongoing discussions with oil companies are aimed at securing commitments.

"We have to get them to invest and then we have to get their money back as quickly as we can," Trump said. "And then we can divvy it all up between Venezuela, the United States, and them. I think it's simple. I think the formula ‍is simple."

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Another interesting Tweet worth reading

I'm not saying that's definitely a planted propaganda piece, but I am saying you couldn't ask for more effective propaganda.

^^^ Yes, if propoganda then highly effective. However, I read it (especially the last part) as more of the security guard having delusions of grandeur in knowing what "everybody" is talking about, knowing "everybody" is thinking twice about, and in tune with the pulse of South American leaders so he knows there will be regional change.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Another interesting Tweet worth reading

I'm not saying that's definitely a planted propaganda piece, but I am saying you couldn't ask for more effective propaganda.

quote:

I'm sending a warning to anyone who thinks they can fight the United States. They have no idea what they're capable of. After what I saw, I never want to be on the other side of that again. They're not to be messed with.

Can we call that to the attention of the violent leftists in California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Washington...

Did A Mysterious “Sonic Weapon” Really Aid Delta Force In Capturing Maduro?

We separate fact from fiction surrounding the viral claim about an exotic non-kinetic weapon that left Maduro's guards disoriented and bleeding.

by Joseph Trevithick
Published Jan 13, 2026 12:13 PM EST

A viral and as-yet totally unsubstantiated claim that U.S. forces used a mysterious “sonic weapon” that left security forces bleeding and stunned during the recent operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has been getting a ton of attention. The allegation – amplified, but not expressly confirmed by the White House – does add to years now of persistent rumors of weapons very loosely similar to this description being in use globally, with separate news on that front having broken just today. When it comes to the United States, this has been further fueled by decades of known work on directed energy weapons, including ones intended to produce novel auditory and less-than-lethal effects...

Complete article:

https://www.twz.com/news-featu...70a6ec2ded7375214687

Secretary of State Marco Rubio Testifies to Senate Foreign Relations Committee About Venezuela Operations

Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears today before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to outline the current situation with U.S. policy toward Venezuela against the background of Nicholas Maduro being captured by the U.S. Dept of Justice. In essence, Western Hemisphere policy.

The Senate has been fraught with anxiety over the Trump administration focusing on the American continent and strengthening the U.S. position in the region. Stability in the Americas is against the interests of the corporate and banking benefactors who pay for control of Senate seats and use their influence therein.

Having come from the Senate, after fulfillment of his fourteen-year corporate obligations, Secretary of State Rubio acutely understands the voices behind those on the panel delivering the questions. Rubio outlines the goals and objectives of the Venezuelan operation by speaking directly to the concerns of the banking and financial community; in addition, he answers the questions posed by the performance actors put in place by the corporate strategists.

Video is prompted to 14:33 to cut out the narrative engineered talking points from the chair and vice-chair. Secretary Rubio outlines the BIG PICTURE.
WATCH:



https://theconservativetreehou...rations/#more-280185

https://www.theepochtimes.com/...bOuSa0JkZmPcJEoYw%3D

US Allows Major Oil Companies to Resume Energy Production in Venezuela

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he expected sales of Venezuelan oil would total $5 billion in the coming months.

Major oil companies can resume operations in Venezuela after the U.S. government loosened its restrictions on the Latin American nation’s energy industry.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a broad license on Feb. 13 permitting BP, Chevron, Eni, Shell, and Repsol to restart their oil and gas operations in Caracas.

This represents the most significant rollback of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela since forces captured and removed leader Nicolás Maduro from power in January.

The United States has maintained sanctions on Venezuela since 2019.

Companies around the world will also be allowed to start negotiations regarding new investments in Venezuela’s oil and gas sector.

However, the Treasury’s move bars China, Iran, and Russia—as well as companies owned by or tied to joint ventures with individuals from those countries—from facilitating activities in Venezuela.

Over the past month, the Treasury has granted several general licenses to support exploration, development, and production of oil and gas in Venezuela, including the development of new sites.

The administration also approved U.S. equipment, software, services, and technology to be utilized for the development, exploration, and production of oil and gas in the country.

“Venezuela holds tremendous economic potential, but years of instability, corruption, and economic mismanagement have limited the nation’s growth and prosperity,” a Treasury spokesperson said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

“These general licenses invite American and other aligned companies to play a constructive role in supporting economic recovery and responsible investment.”
US–Venezuela Relations

Since the ouster of Maduro, President Donald Trump has urged U.S. and foreign energy companies to invest $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s energy sector.
The United States and Venezuela announced an energy agreement.

Trump confirmed on Truth Social that interim authorities would sell as many as 50 million barrels to the United States.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, as part of a three-day visit to Venezuela, said the United States will push for more oil and gas investments that will benefit the region.
“This year, we can drive a dramatic increase in Venezuelan oil production, in Venezuelan natural gas production, in Venezuelan electricity production, to increase the job opportunities, the wages, and the quality of life for all of the Venezuelans across the country,” Wright said during a press briefing alongside the country’s acting leader, Delcy Rodríguez.

“It will also enormously benefit the United States ... the Western Hemisphere, and the future partnership for all of us.”

Wright also told NBC News on Feb. 13 that upcoming sales of Venezuela could generate $5 billion over the next few months.

This money will then be transferred “into an account controlled by the U.S. government and released to authorities in Venezuela, subject to audit in Venezuela, and subject to continued positive progress in addressing American issues with Venezuela,” he said.

But, according to Wright, Trump will have the final determination “over the flow of funds into Venezuela.”

The United States will also “control the sale of their oil and the flow of their funds until a representative government is set up in Venezuela,” he said.

Trump recently suggested that the federal government would reimburse firms for rebuilding Venezuela’s oil and gas sector.

Venezuela possesses the world’s largest commercially viable oil reserves, estimated at approximately 300 billion barrels—approximately one-fifth of the global total.
However, more than half of that projection stems from the governments of Hugo Chavez and Maduro, raising questions about the veracity of these claims.

Still, if accurate, these socialist regimes failed to take advantage of the country’s self-reported reserves due to deteriorating infrastructure and threatening foreign companies with expropriations.

While domestic refining is at near-maximum capacity, the United States maintains the infrastructure needed to refine a large share of Venezuela’s oil.

Louisiana and Texas currently have six of the world’s largest heavy crude refineries.

Venezuelan crude oil is generally heavier, requiring more complex and expensive refining because it is dense, thick, and difficult to pump, refine, and transport.
Energy Markets

Following last year’s sharp 20 percent decline, crude oil prices have steadily risen this year, driven mainly by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
A barrel of West Texas Intermediate oil is up 10 percent this year to around $63 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

“Uncertainty around oil has also led option market participants to become increasingly positioned for a potential move higher in prices, with a bullish volatility skew in Brent,” ING commodity strategists said in a Feb. 9 note.

While U.S. financial markets have been volatile, energy stocks have had a solid start to 2026.

Chevron rose about 0.5 percent during the Feb. 13 trading session, adding to its year-to-date gain of more than 17 percent.

Shares of BP jumped nearly 1 percent, lifting this year’s increase to almost 5 percent.

Shell’s stock also ticked up 0.4 percent and is up 4 percent so far this year.