• All the elements are in place for a strike inside Venezuela

  • Diplomatic relations with Venezuela have been broken since 2019.

  • In 2020, the US indicted President Maduro for narco-terrorism, placing a $15 million bounty on him, subsequently raised to $25m and now $50m.

  • On January 20, Trump took office. Executive Order 14157 declared a “national emergency” and designated international drug-trafficking groups as “foreign terrorist organizations” (FTOs) and “specially designated global terrorists,” citing authority under the Alien Enemies Act.

  • By February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that FTOs posed an “existential threat” and laid the groundwork for treating cartels allegedly linked to President Maduro as enemy combatants.

  • In May, the administration opened the path to use military force against FTOs.

  • Then in July, a “secret directive” authorized military operations against FTOs at sea and on foreign soil.

  • By August, the US launched a massive naval deployment off the coast of Venezuela. By October, troop deployment reportedly reached 10,000.

  • On September 2, the US blew up the first of four or five alleged drug boats in international waters off of Venezuela, resulting in extrajudicial murders of the crews.

  • By mid-September, the Pentagon notified Congress under the War Powers Resolution that US forces were engaged in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.

  • This was followed on October 1 by the Defense Department’s “confidential memo” and more congressional briefings that the US was engaged in armed conflict.

  • Trump then terminated the last back-channel diplomatic contacts with Venezuela.

  • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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    5 days ago

    Don’t forget that the Nobel Peace Prize was just awarded to a right-wing, pro-US, pro-Israel Venezuelan lady.

      • Marshezezz@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        6 days ago

        Headlines shouldn’t end with a question mark. When I see a headline with a question mark, it screams to me that it is click bait and not worth reading.

            • mistermodal@lemmy.mlOP
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              6 days ago

              It’s a succinct article that lays out a timeline of events so we can better discuss the possibility of invasion. It takes care of the basics, so we can move to the geopolitical. How much can the US escalate? How much is bluster? How much of the bluster is so politically insane that it must be followed through on? There is a reason General MacArthur never became president.

                • mistermodal@lemmy.mlOP
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                  6 days ago

                  It’s remarkable that you think there is some sort of point to be made about how it’s good you don’t click before commenting, and I will take it seriously. You seem crabby and have nothing to add, so please go away.

  • Jaximus@lemmy.ml
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    6 days ago

    To the people saying this will be like Vietnam: that was a conflict between the rising mightiest superpower the world has ever seen and an agrarian economy that has undergone colonial occupation that had brought it to its knees, the superpower still lost. The current US may be stronger militarily on paper but on every other respect it is in decline (there is a possibility the US military is in decline as well but we cannot see it). I don’t think an attack on Venezuela will go well for the US, in fact a full blown war could be the catalyst that shows the superpower’s weaknesses more than anything else.

    • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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      6 days ago

      I like the optimism, but they have been manufacturing consent for a war against Venezuela for a long time now, even here in south america. they have also been preparing the opposition for a long time. Honestly, Venezuela is probably happening in a way closer to the customary coups in latin america.

      I also doubt they would let their military decline so much when it’s one of the only things they have an upper hand on these days. I guess we will see how they do in a full blown direct invasion like this in a country that can defend itself.

  • commander@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    It’d be a forever war. It won’t be as terrible as Vietnam since they’re a lot further from arms suppliers than Vietnam but Venezuela still has a significant military. They have a varied terrain including jungles and mountain ranges. US has historically antagonized every country in Latin America including now neighboring Colombia and Brazil - Brazil itself having a significant arms industry. You may not have a steady stream of Russian fighter jets to Venezuela, but I’m certain missiles, guns, artillery would all manage to make it to Venezuelan resistance. I wouldn’t be surprised if people all the way out from Nicaragua would make their way into Venezuela to fight the US

    • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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      5 days ago

      “significant” can somewhat describe it yeah, but it somehow feels a little generous. taurus makes notoriously shit weapons and i doubt there is any political will from this admin to support venezuela on this.

      for once we can hope our moguls get that greedy but they will do what they can to stop as much help from crossing that border as they possibly can.

      i’m curious but i do NOT want to find out on this one.

    • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.club
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      7 days ago

      I think it would look more like Iraq or Afghanistan than Vietnam. The USA would destroy the existing regime within days, but it isn’t going to be able to snuff out the various post war factions to create a viable country for years to come.

      The war would be won, but the occupation would be lost. Even if other countries don’t fund the resistance, there is always cocaine and that funded FARC for decades.

    • mistermodal@lemmy.mlOP
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      6 days ago

      Every day I wish for the ability to go back in time to stop the release of that idiotic movie Wag thr Dog. This is not a cohesive explanation. It’s clear he will face no consequences for being a child rapist. Which should make sense considering he is overseeing the largest modern day rape and genocide opetation possible, why would his hogs draw a line there?

      You follow my reasoning here? There’s so much more to what producrs the jingoistic US leadership ideology than accomplishing petty personal goals. The US lives off of predating on poor countries like this, and their development is a fundamental threat to its way of life.

  • Korkki@lemmy.ml
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    7 days ago

    The most convincing argument of why nothing will happen is that an another forever war would basically sacrifice Taiwan, Ukraine and Iran project. US is peaceful when all the warhawks can’t agree on what country they should coup or bomb next.

    This Gaza seize fire could however mean that they want to give themselves some space to either go after Iran again or attempt to do Venezuela quickly.