Trump Administration Announces Operation Near Venezuela - deploys fleet

a reply to: Lumenari

That sounds like War College fantasy and psychobabble, right out of the New Cold War mindset.

What about Iran and Cuba? Don't you want to include them as bogey men?

Maybe so but it may also be the most important time to sure up the dollar and there is no bigger national security issue that the dollar being the Reserve Currency whomever challenges that status must be defeated because it would be the beginning of the end for the USA

originally posted by: conspiracy nut
Bad time to invest in another mission when we will soon be up to our eyeballs in new debt thanks to the coronavirus and 6 trillion dollars stimulus.

a reply to: kloejen

Next up anyone caught selling drugs in America will face
military tribunal for sedition. If found guilty they'll
be taken out behind the paint shed and shot.

a reply to: Blaine91555

Oil war? I think your a decade late on that idea. I'd think it's exactly what it appears to be on the surface. A further attempt to take down Maduro and at the same time stop some of the drugs from making it into the US. Why would the US be interested in their oil anyway?

I agree to an extent.

on one hand, their oil is a pain in the ass right now... It's sour heavy. Our refineries are more geared towards sweet light Texan oil... Yum.

On the other, they have the largest proven reserves in the world. And while me not necessarily be interested in it, Russia and China sure are. Both have floated some pretty hefty loans to save Venezuela, and more specifically I think the regime in place.

Russia has gotten collateral for said loans, if memory serves correctly, they have both fields and stake in one or a few of the Venezuela oil companies.

Now, aside from Covid, one of the lesser talked about talked about variables in our market black swan events is the Russia Saudi Arabia oil trade war. That's when the market really started a volatile trend.

While we may not be interested in their oil, I could see the naval posturing as pressure towards Russia to play ball with the oil talks.

But, that's all speculation, and while those dots are true on their own... They might not all connect like I see it.

originally posted by: derfreebie
It mighty be just to CONTROL the oil

My thoughts also.
Keep control of the oil, simply buy the election for a US friendly prez.

Maybe its true, so of course some old hawks in the Cocaine Import Agency are getting offended, its a price war?

To those saying its not the oil.. seriously ? Having control of prices and currency is everything. Two birds with one stone?

Oil Consumption by Country (2020)
Proven Oil Reserves by Country (2020)

originally posted by: Salander
a reply to: Lumenari

That sounds like War College fantasy and psychobabble, right out of the New Cold War mindset.

What about Iran and Cuba? Don't you want to include them as bogey men?

It's actual reality.

If you choose not to live in reality that really isn't my problem.

China and Russia would love a staging point in this hemisphere... that's a no-brainer.

As for terrorists in Latin America...

Hezbollah has long maintained a presence in Latin America, especially in the infamous Tri-Border Area, a semi-lawless region where Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil converge.

But even beyond the Tri-Border Area, Hezbollah is well-entrenched in Venezuela, where the Shiite terrorist group has long worked to establish a vast infrastructure for its criminal activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and illicit smuggling.

For example, Margarita Island, located off the coast of Venezuela, is a well-known criminal hotbed where Hezbollah members have established a safe haven. Under the regime of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the government took a more active approach to offering sanctuary to Venezuela-based supporters of Hezbollah.

Linky

Deny ignorance.

Don't define it.

This doesn't make sense when security is already high in the USA?

Copy from the transcript: THE DRUG CARTELS AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 WERE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION AND TRY TO INFILTRATE ADDITIONAL DRUGS INTO THE COUNTRY.

I think something else is up.....

a reply to: fringeofthefringe

Like I said, I think you are behind the times on this one.

Yes, this is no doubt about taking down Maduro, but the oil is inconsequential IMO.

originally posted by: Blaine91555
a reply to: fringeofthefringe

Like I said, I think you are behind the times on this one.

Yes, this is no doubt about taking down Maduro, but the oil is inconsequential IMO.

Whatever the reason....weapons of mass destruction should be thrown into the mix for good measure.

Perhaps Maduro can be the new Saddam...that worked out well.

a reply to: CriticalStinker

I do agree we have a vested interest in not seeing Maduro type regimes spread and in keeping Russia at bay, but I'm just not seeing it as being about oil. Influence and drugs yes, but not oil, although it is in the mix.

Maduro is it seems a drug lord, so we might just see him taken down, but I think it would be with much of the worlds blessings in the end. Remains to be seen.

For now it could just be as advertised.

Really they seem more interested in removing the Captain of the TR than actual Navy functions.

a reply to: Blaine91555

But, the Navy?
Aren't drug runners usually the responsibility of the Coast Guard?

a reply to: kloejen

If we do go to war with Venezuela then say hello to the first shot fired in a long stream of them there and elsewhere.

When do we say "ok this is it"....

Respectfully, I think you are underestimating what it means to have the Reserve Currency.
This is a deep topic that has the highest national security ramifications, much greater than drug trafficking.

www.investopedia.com...

Through bilateral agreements with Saudi Arabia beginning in 1974, the U.S. managed to influence members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to standardize the sale of oil in dollars. In return for invoicing oil in dollar denominations, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states secured U.S. influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict along with U.S. military assistance during an increasingly worrisome political climate, which saw the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the fall of the Iranian Shah, and the Iran-Iraq War. Out of this mutually beneficial agreement, the petrodollar system was born.

However, the privileges associated with being able to run persistent current account deficits come at a price. As the reserve currency, the United States is obligated to run these deficits to fulfill reserve requirements in an ever-expanding global economy. If the United States were to stop running these deficits, the resulting shortage of liquidity could pull the world into an economic slump. However, if the persistent deficits continue indefinitely, eventually, foreign countries will begin to doubt the value of the dollar, and the greenback may lose its role as the reserve currency. This is known as the Triffin Dilemma.

originally posted by: Blaine91555
a reply to: fringeofthefringe

Like I said, I think you are behind the times on this one.

Yes, this is no doubt about taking down Maduro, but the oil is inconsequential IMO.

originally posted by: olaru12
Perhaps Maduro can be the new Saddam...that worked out well.

Yea good idea! They even look alike:



Throw in some improved DeepFakes too, it will be awesome

Fingers crossed they take him DEAD, or alive.

Message to tin pot socialists and commies World-wide: your presence on this planet is a threat and we won't tolerate it.

originally posted by: Lysergic
This oughta cure the CCP Virus right up.

Indeed.

Pallets of confiscated cartel cash will buy lots of masks, ventilators and taxpayer relief.

a reply to: JBurns

I guess during this time of emergency if the Petro Dollar collapses so does America. You cant have one without the other. Trump tweeted that Russia and the Saudis reached a deal to cut production, then Oil went up bigly. But when the Russian foreign minister was asked their was no such deal. But talks are planned. Crazeee times!

originally posted by: JBurns
Fingers crossed they take him DEAD, or alive.

Message to tin pot socialists and commies World-wide: your presence on this planet is a threat and we won't tolerate it.

Unless you're lil Kim or Putin, then you get invited to the White House.

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: Blaine91555

But, the Navy?
Aren't drug runners usually the responsibility of the Coast Guard?

In the US. I don't think our Coast Guard patrols other countries. I could be wrong.

They want Maduro to step aside and put in a transitional government while lifting sanctions. I think the Navy presence is appropriate considering Maduro is basically a drug lord. Strangling off Maduro's cash cow has no impact on the people there, who don't see a dime of it anyway.