What’s happening in Venezuela and what does it mean?

[theotherfossilsister]

I’m confused- has the US gone to war with them? What are the implications if so?

He’s been threatening Canada for a decade. He’s really ramped up the last 5 years. Hes mad now we are not vacationing in the states despite that he’s now making it more difficult to do so.

Our oil in in Alberta. The Premier of Alberta has all but bowed at his feet. She doesn’t want an invasion. (She’s still a horrible person and leader with damaging policies for her province)

As an American, I think you're overestimating the amount the majority of the US population really cares about this in the face of their health insurance premiums doubling and tripling from beyond affordability to laughable. I do think there's a faction that likes the displays of military might, but I don't think it does the much good ultimately. A lot of young men are already abandoning him.

I do think, however, it creates a nice distraction and is a stepping stone to cancelling the mid-terms.

I agree with the stepping stone to cancelling the mid-terms. I think he knows voters have turned away from him.

"What would his reason be for Greenland and how would that fly in Europe with govt in Denmark not exactly being of the same genre as theocracy in Iran or dictatorship of Maduro."

Trump has already stated his reason - he sees Greenland as strategically important in terms of northern shipping and military routes and he doesn't want Russia or China to gain control of the Arctic. Of course there are also untapped mineral deposits that the people who bankroll Trump would love to get their hands on, and Trump will be eager to get his millions in commission if and when this happens.

Many of the governments of European countries are of a very different colour to Trump's "Free Trade / Everything and everyone has a price and to hell with fair shares" philosophy. He would like nothing more than to see the relatively social democratic economies fall under the control of the USA. He's on course to achieve this with the UK, where the Conservative "Atlantic Bridge" supporters and the anti-Euopean Brexit supporters succeeded in removing the UK from the EU, and where any UK-US trade deal will be on American terms and will make the UK a Vassal State, controlled by US interests. His backers are now pumping money into Germany (AfD), Italy and France with the intention of getting right-wing governments elected in these countries.

Plenty of people starving in the US, many without basic health care as well.

From the Guardian on what could happen next:

The US has in the past carried out war games to simulate a scenario where Venezuelan leadership was “decapitated”. The simulations predicted prolonged chaos, with refugees pouring out of Venezuela and rival groups fighting one another for control of the country.

“You’d have prolonged chaos … with no clear way out,” Douglas Farah, a Latin America expert who helped run the war games, said.

So more refugees to help destabilise Europe?

I wish people could focus on Venezuelans for a moment. They are in the midst of this.

National security. then he can say the evidence is secret and he cant reveal it but hes seen it and its good enough for him. what has happened in venezuela is a flagrant breach of international law. there is NO justification for what has happened here. its utterly outrageous.

He has removed a tyrant who shoots dissenters to his regime in the street and who recently lost an election by a landslide but was propped up by the military and who has changed Venezuela from an oil rich democracy to a basket case - well done Mr Trump!

Where trump is concerned, the statement ‘it takes one to know one’ really is true.

This. The ignorance on this thread is depressing. The moronic optimism that this will help the people of Venezuela or that the USA has ever given a shit about anything other than power and money. It’s literally worth enduring years of suffering (before getting their own shit in order) to keep sovereignty and resources. The alternative is always worse.

Do you agree with the Michael McFaul in the link below on removing him but through sanctions, or do you think he should be left as is?

Same question to @TeaandCock

Don't be fcuking stupid! "Agreed to go"???

@TeaAndCock so you think Maria Corina Machado is a “moron”?

I would also agree to go if I was risking death by bombing!

And what do you think is going to happen next? Maduro's VP is still there with the military supporting her (so far).

are you actually joking? what makes him the arbiter of the world. why should america decide who and who is not a dictator. and if he feels so bloody strongly about it why has he not acted against all the other dictatorships in the world. oh yes, thats right because the biggest one is russia who have their hands up his backside and are working him like a puppet and all the others dont have oil. are you going to sign up and join the fight?

Lets just look at the other stunning successes of american invasions over the years and how its made things so much better for the people living in the country? oh wait.... it hasnt has it. absolutely bonkers statement.

@mummymeisterread that link below, it’s useful on this

who trump or maduro

The link is clear. It’s a good way to get up to speed.

which link? cant see one so can you post it please? and FWIW i have lived and worked in Venezuela.

Refugees are more likely to pour into Brazil from what I've read. However, interestingly, Trump doesn't like the current government in place and favours his mate Bolsonaro who may well end up benefitting from a refugee crisis in Brazil.
Ironically, I think refugees will also try and sneak into the US in vast numbers.

Removing a dictator often seems to just create a vacancy for the next one.