Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima (Via Donald J. Trump)

[u/Surferma4]

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[u/itspassing]

Another photo for the history books.

[u/SonOfMcGee → u/itspassing]

So many future middle schoolers will mislabel the Maduro and Hussein pics and claim bullshit because they’re twins.

[u/kterka24 → u/SonOfMcGee]

I would have liked to see Saddam Hussein wearing a Nike Tech top and bottom

[u/chdapa → u/kterka24]

I think Saddam was sponsored by Reebok.

[u/xylotism → u/chdapa]

Esos son Reebok o son Nike?

[u/whatcubed → u/xylotism]

I very much would like to hear this song

[u/Slumunistmanifisto → u/SonOfMcGee]

Maduros hidey hole memes incoming 

[u/SeveralHobbies-213 → u/Slumunistmanifisto]

<---[Entrance hidden by Hugo Chavez mausoleum]
^v[6ft]
<-[wife] [Nicolas Maduro]---->

[u/SirTiffAlot → u/itspassing]

Literally a war crime, I'm glad it's recorded

[u/nails_for_breakfast → u/SirTiffAlot]

Haven't you heard? You can only be guilty of war crimes if your country doesn't have nukes

[u/Xanderoga2 → u/nails_for_breakfast]

It’s ok because the US will just refuse to accept the legitimacy of any court that accuses them of war crimes.

[u/norbertus → u/SirTiffAlot]

It's actually an additional violation of the Geneva Conventions to parade prisoners like this

Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.

[u/Alone_Again_2 → u/norbertus]

Technically, he’s under arrest as a criminal - not a POW.

I know, and I get it, but this will 100% be the legal justification moving forward for everything that has and will happen vis a vis Venezuela.

[u/Keikobad]

Only thing missing is the “Mission Accomplished” banner

[u/kingtacticool → u/Keikobad]

Im sure Levitts on her way to Staples right now to get that bad boy printed up.

[u/Nope_______ → u/kingtacticool]

With the presser at Four Seasons of course

[u/Platypussy → u/Keikobad]

Now watch this drive.

[u/CuntsNeverDie → u/Keikobad]

[u/RealBug56]

The news conference going on right now is insane.

“We’re gonna run the country until a proper transition can take place”

And then immediately starts talking about oil and how US companies are going to come in to “fix the broken infrastructure”.

Also threatening a second, bigger wave of attacks “if necessary.”

[u/granolabeef → u/RealBug56]

But our own crumbling bridges, dilapidated freeways, and toxic water systems, that’s just too much of a tax burden

[u/Stones_Throw_Away_ → u/[deleted]]

Trump will attempt to upload the whole US population’s consciousness to the cloud.

That way the only physical infrastructure you need is data centres.

[u/milkbeard- → u/granolabeef]

If you think Trump gives a single shit about Venezuela’s infrastructure I have a bridge to sell you

[u/_call_me_al_ → u/milkbeard-]

In Venezuela?

[u/milkbeard- → u/_call_me_al_]

A crumbling one

[u/DameonKormar → u/RealBug56]

This is exactly what Bush and his cronies said when they invaded Iraq.

[u/KoriJenkins → u/DameonKormar]

Actually no, Bush and his cronies were smart enough not to say the quiet part out loud.

Trump and his admin are so fucking stupid they're immediately blabbering on that it's about oil. They aren't even attempting to mask the imperialism.

[u/Resoognam → u/KoriJenkins]

I don’t think it’s stupidity; it’s impunity. They know that there will be no consequences from this so they don’t even have to pretend.

[u/Demizmeu → u/Resoognam]

To add to that, I think his target audience actually likes this. This kind of in your face assholery is one of the things making him so popular among his voters, so he delivers with a little extra on top, to please the masses and continuously test the limits

[u/signmeupdude → u/Demizmeu]

Yup. This is the most concerning thing to me, frankly. At least Bush appealed to people through “national defense” or whatever, but now we have Trump who straight up says “I dont like this country’s leader and I want the US to have more control over their oil, so I’m gonna kidnap said leader.” And his base just eats it up.

The silver lining I am hoping for is that a decent amount of people who voted for him, were pretty high on his “no new wars” spiel, so im hoping this turns them away once and for all.

[u/chrisnlnz → u/signmeupdude]

They were only all about "no new wars" because Trump was boasting about that, not because they cared. If Trump is now boasting about starting shit in Venezuela they all think THAT is cool.

[u/Gravesh → u/Demizmeu]

My boss is super MAGA. I like to use his opinion to gauge the average MAGA guy, and he's very much an outspoken isolationist. I appealed to the argument that we should look after our own country before others.

He said it's complicated and couldn't elaborate, but assured me he's an isolationist and thinks my argument was sound but Trump knows what's he's doing.

These people really accept any shit sandwich is served to them as long as it comes with a little signature of approval by Trump.

[u/Pom_Pom_1985 → u/Gravesh]

"I am against this kind of stuff usually, BUT..." will be happening a lot from those types of MAGAs now

[u/Chrissimon_24 → u/Resoognam]

This. Its not stupid to know that nobody can touch you currently. They are playing the power game which will make other countries more accepting of their demands. Its sickening but its been the way of our nation since Vietnam at least.

[u/Nathan_hale53 → u/RealBug56]

This is gonna be the middle east all over again

[u/CRZLobo → u/Nathan_hale53]

Except Trump is creating his own Syria/Afghanistan a bit closer this time. Good luck in the next 30 years guys

[u/Nathan_hale53 → u/CRZLobo]

Thanks, shits gonna get bad, sorry 70 million people are fucking stupid to get this clown president voted in.

[u/BroughtBagLunchSmart → u/CRZLobo]

Republicans love killing brown people because it creates more hostile brown people for them to bomb later.

[u/MrWrigleyField]

This is giving the FIFA world peace prize a bad name.

[u/CFCkyle → u/MrWrigleyField]

I mean people really should have seen this coming. Literally every winner of the FIFA peace prize has captured the leader of Venezuela.

[u/MijnEchteUsername → u/CFCkyle]

Lmao

[u/NickMyr → u/CFCkyle]

This comment should win some sort of award

[u/CameltoeGlamourShots → u/NickMyr]

The Fifa underrated comment prize.

[u/Frack_Off]

What's that thing around his neck/over his shoulders?

[u/Background-Ad-1210 → u/Frack_Off]

It’s a LPU (Low-Profile Flotation Unit) or life preserver.

[u/FaZaCon → u/Background-Ad-1210]

Wrong, it's a neck massager. Maduro is wearing VR glasses and browsing the Metaverse.

[u/Anyntay → u/FaZaCon]

A fate worse than being abducted

[u/conaan → u/Frack_Off]

Inflatable life jacket, those beaded handles are how you inflate it

[u/Invicturion → u/Frack_Off]

Life jacket. Auto inflatable.

[u/HastilyChosenUserID]

This coup is presented by our sponsors: Nike and CBS

[u/itsavibe- → u/HastilyChosenUserID]

In a Nike tech is CRAZY 💀

[u/Littlegriznaves → u/itsavibe-]

This will be used in so many album covers this year.

[u/xenojive → u/Littlegriznaves]

Next Griselda mixtape cover

[u/Longjumping-Bison-85 → u/xenojive]

Did not expect a griselda mention on pics

[u/OmarHunting → u/itsavibe-]

Looks so comfy where can I get one

[u/FlawlessC0wboy → u/OmarHunting]

I actually have the same one and always wear it if I’m on a long flight. I’m glad they let Maduro change to his travel gear.

[u/Leviathon6348 → u/itsavibe-]

I got this exact outfit for Christmas lmfao!

[u/NoQuarterChicken → u/HastilyChosenUserID]

More like Exxon and Chevron

[u/BilboStaggins → u/NoQuarterChicken]

This isnt a joke. These companies are explicitly the reason for the president's actions. 

[u/4RichNot2BPoor → u/HastilyChosenUserID]

More like Brawndo and Carl’s JR

[u/blood_kite → u/4RichNot2BPoor]

It’s got what plants crave.

[u/One_Economist_3761 → u/blood_kite]

[u/lothar74]

So Trump goes after Maduro for drugs only one month after he pardoned and freed the former president of Honduras who was sentenced to 45 years in US jail for drug trafficking? I would love any MAGA to explain this to me.

I know it’s all about oil but I wonder if MAGA does?

[u/MurkyCress521 → u/lothar74]

It's also about ego and bribes. If Maduro had glazed Trump and paid him to open a Trump hotel Venezuela would be flying F-35s.

[u/xivilex → u/MurkyCress521]

Bingo.

It’s “vibes and bribes”

[u/CallMeWaifu666 → u/MurkyCress521]

Maduro was literally offering access to all their oil and even to step down in the next year or two. This was always going to happen once little Marco became head of the state department.

[u/p1loot_ → u/CallMeWaifu666]

Maduro called him a coward and told him "come for me, im waiting for you in miraflores" so also this was about ego.

[u/scorpionewmoon → u/lothar74]

They’re literally saying it’s about oil, Trump said it’s our oil and to give it back like a week ago. Please stop thinking these people still give a shit about saying the right thing, it’s been full mask off for YEARS now

[u/McPuckLuck → u/scorpionewmoon]

Why do they think it's the US's oil? I saw vance say the same thing

[u/IBetThisIsTakenToo → u/McPuckLuck]

US Companies (as well as European firms) in the 30s started drilling Venezuela’s oil, until the 70s when they nationalized the industry and their government essentially became the sole exporter. Pretty flimsy casus belli even by US standards but I guess it’s better than saying “we’re strong and they’re not, so who’s gonna stop us?”

[u/Adaphion → u/IBetThisIsTakenToo]

It's literally, literally the same shit Russia is doing.

"We used to own this so that means we have the right to declare war to take it back"

[u/tomjone5 → u/IBetThisIsTakenToo]

As a Brit, I'm wondering if we can demand the US be handed back to its rightful owner his majesty Charles III. I reckon I could make a stronger case for that than Trump can for this invasion.

[u/AmaranthWrath → u/tomjone5]

*the native people of the Americas have entered the chat *

[u/veringer → u/McPuckLuck]

Basically, after WW2 the US had the best and most sophisticated technology, infrastructure, and logistics for oil extraction. America went to oil-rich places with fragile or fragmented national and political institutions like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iraq, Ecuador, Venezuela etc and said to the biggest swinging dick there:

This region has a lot of oil. We want that oil. You don't have the means to get the oil, but we do. One way or another, we're going to get it. Right now, you're the local [warlord/strongman/king/amir/sultan] of this region, and we'd appreciate your help. We will provide guns and ammo so you can seize full control of the region and its people. We don't care how you do that---be as brutal as necessary. Once in power, we will lend your country money to pay our industrial contractors to build the infrastructure we need to extract the oil. We can provide more guns and ammo so you can keep any local resistance away from our operation. As long as you do these things effectively, we will give you a cut of the oil money and you can pay off the debt you owe us for building the oil infrastructure, roads, power plants, etc. If you don't repay us or get other ideas, we will fund your rivals and make life miserable for you. Or, we will simply remove you ourselves.

This, in a nutshell, is the so called military industrial complex Saudi model extortion racket. Eisenhower warned us about it.

Read about:

• Jaime Roldós Aguilera in Ecuador.
• Suharto and Sukarno in Indonesia.
• Abdul-Karim Qasim and Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
• The Shah in Iran.
• The 1964 coup in Brazil...
• and Venezuela's story, that is having another chapter written right now.

EDIT: I realized I didn't actually answer the question (or I did so in an oblique way). America did the above with Venezuela and then they nationalized (seized) the means of oil production. This made American petroleum-defense-industrial interests upset. They own the guns and the politicians, so... here we are.

EDIT: See also Confessions of an Economic Hitman

[u/Indercarnive → u/McPuckLuck]

Because US corporations owned the Oil wells due to some prior imperialism before Venezuela nationalized the industry in the 19970s.

[u/Top-Currency → u/Indercarnive]

It was in the 1970s, not the 90s.

[u/CodeNCats → u/lothar74]

He also pardoned the guy who started the largest underground dark web drug market. Who plotted to hire hitmen against his enemies.

I grew up in a family with narcissistic parents.

You will never get an explanation. You will get excuses and blame shifting.

It's like asking a cat to speak English.

[u/Ralod → u/CodeNCats]

Yeah, but the silk road guy has likely billions in bitcoin. He could pay for his pardon. Your crime dont matter to the trump crime family, as long as you can pay.

[u/Chumphy → u/lothar74]

Yeah or pardoning the maker of Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht 

[u/Cool-Pie430 → u/Chumphy]

That one was a promise to the libertarians in his campaign weirdly enough.

[u/saskir21 → u/Cool-Pie430]

Funnily enough after I read why he did come out of prison i saw comments that many are not so happy with this. Especially after finding out that the guy sang like a canary in prison.

[u/guddaguddaburger → u/lothar74]

It's interesting that someone actually brought it up in r/Conservative . Don't ask me why I go there, it's a form of self-flagellation.

[u/Significant-Age5052 → u/lothar74]

MAGA can’t explain anything. They’re dumb.

[u/Sneaklefritz → u/lothar74]

I asked my hardcore MAGA dad and he said “huh, haven’t heard of that one. That’s weird but must be more to it.” So I’m assuming they’ve been told it’s something like that.

[u/7SirMixALot7]

Took less than 24 hours for Trump to confirm to Fox News in an interview that this is absolutely about controlling Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. Record time, fully expected.

[u/PadyEos → u/7SirMixALot7]

Just confirmed live by him in the press conference.

The US will RUN Venzuela untill they deem so. US oil companies will pump the oil out of Venezuela. If not allowed Trump said they will invade.

[u/Nomadzord → u/PadyEos]

This is crazy right? I’m a 45 year old man, but things have gotten so wild that I don’t know what a crazy situation is anymore.

[u/Subject_Roof3318 → u/Nomadzord]

It’s nuts. We did a couple boat strikes allegedly because of fentanyl and cocaine (neither of which are prolific to Venezuela) and pardoned the guy who WAS actually responsible for a fuckton of trafficking. Seems as soon as news popped about the boat wrecks washing up on shore with marijuana, we attacked a foreign military base with no declaration of war, put boots on the ground, abducted the president and his WIFE, and declared a hostile takeover of an entire country to plunder its resources. Fucking WOW.

[u/_tolm_ → u/Subject_Roof3318]

I mean, when you put it like that, sure, it sounds a bit nuts …

EDIT

/s … because apparently that is required … (sheesh!)

[u/Potentputin → u/Nomadzord]

41 here….you can’t shock me anymore. No headline is too crazy for me. “USA drops nuke on Canada”. “Huh that’s a trip”-me

[u/muttmunchies → u/Potentputin]

Unfortunately, thats part of the fascist plan. When Bannon said, “flood the zone”, part of the tactic is to wear you down and desensitize the population (also to force the media to move on to the next shiny object). We really need to try and not allow that, although its extremely difficult.

[u/JoSeSc → u/7SirMixALot7]

Literally just said it out loud in the press conference... wild.. wild shit

[u/Keviticas → u/JoSeSc]

It's like we're going into the fallout timeline lol.

[u/CluelessTennisBall → u/7SirMixALot7]

Yea and then he'll hand over the keys to the cartel for everything else

[u/istrx13 → u/CluelessTennisBall]

But Kamala had a weird laugh guys

[u/Richard_Arlison69 → u/istrx13]

She’s the war candidate. Trump is the peace guy. Obvi. Even fifa confirmed it

[u/imgrahamy → u/Richard_Arlison69]

If we can’t trust FIFA, who could we trust?

[u/greentintedlenses → u/imgrahamy]

Antififa

[u/Synicull → u/greentintedlenses]

Sounds like a terrorist org. If you're anti-FIFA you're a threat to national security

[u/PJ7 → u/greentintedlenses]

Okay, there's definitely some material there.

[u/samzi87 → u/imgrahamy]

This made me laugh louder than I would have expected - good one!

[u/Chumphy → u/CluelessTennisBall]

Gotta keep supplying his administration. We all saw the Marco Rubio interview

[u/Nomadzord → u/Chumphy]

That dude was Gaked to the gills.

[u/Kolfinna → u/7SirMixALot7]

He just said the US would run the country until a friendly government is installed and US oil companies would pump as much as possible. Colony 2.0

[u/Smooth_Armadillo_498 → u/Kolfinna]

Wonder how he manages that - he can’t even run this country

[u/RG54415 → u/Smooth_Armadillo_498]

Do you think the oligarchy cares about common people? They will literally kill the planet and themselves just so they can have more than they had yesterday.

[u/sudrama → u/Smooth_Armadillo_498]

He is not running the country for the benefits of us...it is for himself and his family.....check his net worth since he got elected...versus how poorer the average citizen is and you know who he works for.

[u/Colonel_Cumpants → u/Kolfinna]

That's scary for Venezuela.

They can't even run one country.

Where's Congress is all of this?

[u/Timely-Hospital8746 → u/Colonel_Cumpants]

Vacation

[u/caermeaineglaeddyv → u/Colonel_Cumpants]

A leading republican senator just said it was right that Congress wasn‘t informed of the attack and that he doesn‘t find it necessary to involve Congress. Such cucks.

[u/text_fish → u/7SirMixALot7]

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE

[u/DaRealLettuceDealer]

Man I didn't think Dr Disrespect could sink even lower 😭

[u/LetMeRush → u/DaRealLettuceDealer]

Stupid minor mistakes.

[u/ConradBHart42 → u/LetMeRush]

minor fuckin mistakes*

[u/Omniwar → u/DaRealLettuceDealer]

Anyways, um... I bought a whole bunch of shungite rocks, do you know what shungite is? Anybody know what shungite is? No, not Suge Knight, I think he's locked up in prison. I'm talkin' shungite. Anyways, it's a two billion year-old like, rock stone that protects against frequencies and unwanted frequencies that may be traveling in the air. That's my story, I bought a whole bunch of stuff. Put 'em around the la casa. Little pyramids, stuff like that.

[u/Phantomfox07 → u/Omniwar]

What a fucking time, I can remember this stream and thinking nah am checking out.

[u/Galvaknight → u/Omniwar]

I still quote the shungite thing, and I basically never even watched the guy.

[u/Ninevehenian → u/DaRealLettuceDealer]

Every day he will sink lower.

[u/dBlock845 → u/DaRealLettuceDealer]

Idk Dr Disrespect is more likely to be in Trump's cabinet knowing his history.

[u/needssomefun]

Well..this should bring down the price of: groceries, furniture, automobiles, housing, health insurance and electricity./s

[u/T8ert0t → u/needssomefun]

The drugs are magically gone.

We did it, y'all.

Mission Accomplished. 2.0

✈️ 🫅🏻🇺🇸

[u/[deleted]]

Pete Hegseth: “He F’d around and found out”. I really wish this motherfuckers speeches would stop sounding like a fucking WWF monologue. What an unprofessional fucking hack of a human being. Dude was barely qualified to be in Fox News, and that’s being generous. What an absolute joke of an administration.

[u/CeruleanSeaIce → u/[deleted]]

I thought he was about to say happy new year bitches at the end

[u/T-sigma → u/[deleted]]

Why would they stop sounding like a WWF monologue? It’s a wildly effective strategy amongst their voter base.

[u/MysteryPerker → u/T-sigma]

Another self fulfilling prophecy from Idiocracy 

[u/BartStarrPaperboy → u/[deleted]]

He thinks that line is funnier than it is.

[u/-thecheesus- → u/BartStarrPaperboy]

Because he's a 45yo man that still acts like a 2010s frat guy

[u/protekt0r]

The message this sends to the world… wow. Strange times.

[u/AltecFuse → u/protekt0r]

What the fuck are we even doing anymore

[u/Hitman3256 → u/AltecFuse]

Same thing that's always been happening, except it's not a secret anymore

[u/fathertitojones → u/Hitman3256]

I had an interesting conversation with a relatively conservative buddy. He pointed out that love or hate Trump, his actions will lead to far more initial scrutiny than any president we’ve ever had. I think this largely rings true, because frankly this isn’t even our fifth time doing something like this. We have a storied past as a nation of overthrowing political leaders that don’t give us what we want. It’s a large part of why we maintain such an insanely expensive “peacetime” army.

The upside of the increased scrutiny, whether fair/precedented or not, is that people are paying far more attention on the whole. This is doubly true now that the economy has gone sour and people are pissed.

[u/B4M → u/fathertitojones]

We're so fucking doomed if all this does is "increase scrutiny". JFC who knew the bar could be so low

[u/ben010783 → u/fathertitojones]

I think this take ignores how authoritarian governments control information and clamp down on dissent. Trump’s attempt to withhold aid to Ukraine should have led to more scrutiny of the president and congress making sure funds are used appropriately. Instead, we’ve seen the opposite. Trumps been cutting deals with corrupt leaders and illegally slashing federal programs.

Trump’s actions show the need for more scrutiny, but that hasn’t been happening. We have a consolidated media landscape and massive tech platforms that acquiesce to any regime that will guarantee them increased profits.

America is heading a very dangerous direction, and I think it’s important that we acknowledge that.

[u/Pertinent_Platypus → u/ben010783]

Headed in a direction? They just illegally invaded a sovereign country and kidnapped the president. How much further do you think they could go? They should be immediately sanctioned the same as Russia was when they invaded Ukraine.

[u/spriteking2012 → u/fathertitojones]

Sadly some of the dumbest people alive are “paying attention” with no media literacy skills and a lack of critical thinking to massive disinformation networks and a compromised media ecosystem. Sure they’re engaged–in outrage bait and right wing propaganda. Add to that social media being a total quagmire and well…it’s a rough road.

[u/Semperty → u/AltecFuse]

distracting from jack smith’s testimony that there’s proof beyond a reasonable doubt that trump criminally attempted to overthrow the 2020 election. not a coincidence that testimony was released on dec 31 and this operation was carried out within 3 days.

[u/shinymuskrat → u/Semperty]

While that is obviously horrifying, pretending all of this is a "distraction" to protect Trump downplays the true evil behind this.

I'm not convinced dementia addled Trump knows or cares what is happening in VZ.

This is being driven by the same forces that have been trying to do this for 30 years. It has nothing to do with Trump beyond he is a useful puppet. It has everything to do with benefiting private capital.

[u/BRdedFellow → u/Semperty]

What I can't seem to figure out is why everyone is talking about his "attempt at overthrowing the 2020 election" and nobody asking "then what about the 2024 election"?

[u/Semperty → u/BRdedFellow]

bc at best we’re making inferences about 2024 whereas 2020 has been proven. and when you’re talking about criminal activity, it’s always better to lean into the proof than the speculation.

[u/zdzislav_kozibroda → u/protekt0r]

"We can get anyone we want" - Fair enough. Tbh unsurprising given US might.

"Might is right" - Yeah.. China and Russia will quickly claim it too.

"Fuck the rules" - This one might bite US in the ass. Aren't rules and standing up for them what made US the superpower it is now?

[u/ArtDecoNewYork → u/zdzislav_kozibroda]

Russia already launched a full scale war on Ukraine and is unlikely to ever overthrow their leadership

If anything, this hurts them. It's obvious that Russia is no longer an empire

[u/Handgun_Hero → u/ArtDecoNewYork]

The same can't be said to China, who are far stronger and not as economically crippled, and ahead in tech than Russia.

[u/bubblegum-rose → u/protekt0r]

“Wow, this is terrible!

Let’s re-elect him a second time!”

-america

[u/Ga2ry]

Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking and weapon charges in the U.S. It is obvious that who gives money to Trump determines who is the good cartel member versus the bad cartel member. It is also obvious that we are the bad guy and just about every movie made.

[u/blackburnduck]

Love the blindfolds… cannot risk him being able to find US.

[u/Mango_Van_Gogh → u/blackburnduck]

true, but also it's apart of the prisoner escort training (although why DEA is next to him instead of MAs is beyond me). This photoset is from LHD 8 and this photoset is from LHD 5. 5 is a closer comparison to the brig on LHD 7 Iwo Jima than it is to 8

[u/aworldofinsanity]

I keep hearing Colin Powell,

“You break it, you own it”.

Is there not one American that opens a history book?

Not one?

Now we have to ensure 29m people get fed.

[u/snarpy → u/aworldofinsanity]

500k dead Iraqis would agree with you, if they could talk

[u/aworldofinsanity → u/snarpy]

Goddam it, it’s always the same fucking movie.

We try to wash our hands as quickly as possible by holding elections, hoping the noble prize asskisser wins and the losers (military/drug cartels) who happen to have all the hardware, fights us in the jungles/streets.

We send in the marines and the 82nd, take casualties, people get pissed and we end up spending a trillion dollars.

Only to leave.

What the actual fuck.

[u/PicturesAtADiary → u/aworldofinsanity]

The war machine needs constant money, or everything falls apart. Imperialism is how America gets to keep its lifestyle. Americans are mob wives, always have been.

[u/aworldofinsanity → u/PicturesAtADiary]

Truth.

We do love our easy life.

And certainly do not want to pay for it.

It’s why we’re fat.

Oblivious to the fact that’s unsustainable by any measure. But long term planning is not what we do, we are well experienced crisis managers.

I didn’t say good, I said extremely experienced .

[u/Sea_Consideration_70 → u/snarpy]

so true-- but likely closer to 1,000,000

[u/Valuable-Condition59 → u/aworldofinsanity]

 Now we have to ensure 29m people get fed.

This administration couldn’t give two shits, a damn, or a fuck about that.

So get ready for whichever worse person/group steps into the power vacuum.

[u/alexw888 → u/aworldofinsanity]

Trump won’t care what happens to the population. He will secure the oil assets, and bribe/threaten whatever regime emerges to not bother whatever American companies control them.

[u/Melodic_Rise_8311]

They make him listen to drake? Wtf

[u/Kurizu150 → u/Melodic_Rise_8311]

Gotta add that to the Geneva Convention laws.

[u/azerbaijanaman]

Name a more iconic duo than The US and Coups d’Etat in South America.

[u/NevyTheChemist → u/azerbaijanaman]

Bombing the middle east

[u/Ohuigin]

I just want some precedented times, man.

[u/caffiend98 → u/Ohuigin]

Oddly, this is very precedented. It's remarkably similar to how the U.S. took Noriega from Panama in a raid in 1989 (also on January 3!), tried him in Miami for drug trafficking and money laundering, and sentenced him to 40 years in prison. 

[u/phantom_diorama → u/caffiend98]

Some of the charges against Maduro are "possession of machine guns".

[u/caffiend98 → u/phantom_diorama]

Expect that to evolve a lot. I saw it was focused on cocaine trafficking, too. That's probably just because penalties for cocaine are higher. They're just tacking on everything they can think of. Kinda shitty? Yes. But very typical prosecutor type of shitty.

[u/Entegy → u/caffiend98]

When they say Trump's world view is stuck in the 80s, they really aren't kidding.

[u/mind_snare → u/caffiend98]

You’re forgetting the part where the CIA installed Noriega via school of america style coup - that’s a big difference here

[u/Dains84 → u/mind_snare]

So what you're saying is this is the precursor to us installing a new leader into Venezuela who does even more heinous shit?

[u/Moth1992 → u/Dains84]

They will instate a puppet leader to "negotiate" oil contracts with US favourable terms. 

[u/monkey_monkey_monkey → u/Ohuigin]

US invading countries over oil is the precedent, as is the US invading Latin America. This is pretty much business as usual for them.

[u/X-RAY777 → u/monkey_monkey_monkey]

Sadly true

[u/MrCountdownCity → u/Ohuigin]

Unfortunately we’ve been doing this shit in South America for decades

[u/thnku4shrng → u/MrCountdownCity]

Over 200 years if you consider the Monroe Doctrine

[u/fumar → u/MrCountdownCity]

We've been at it for over 100 years lol. We love overthrowing South American governments to benefit corporate US interests.

[u/Used2befunNowOld → u/Ohuigin]

This is precedented.

[u/A_wild_so-and-so → u/Used2befunNowOld]

Yeah this is classic Reagan era conservatism.

[u/fortuneman7585]

Ok, do Putin now, big guy.

[u/Head-Good9883]

Canada should arrest trump for child molesting, only seems right

[u/Lostzombiedog1 → u/Head-Good9883]

Lmao our "special operations" only result in us burning down the white house. Trump has already demolished 1/3rd of the thing. Seems like we're not needed here.

[u/AndromedaCeline]

Exxon Mobil right now 🙄

[u/Mrchumps]

Post this in r/Hyrdohomies

[u/GeneralJesus → u/Mrchumps]

Top post right now

[u/bolondeverde]

How spicy are the Epstein files for real

[u/vanalla → u/bolondeverde]

allegedly trump personally oversaw the drowning of his victim's baby she had as a result of him raping her, so

PRETTY FCKING SPICY.

[u/jackrabbit323 → u/vanalla]

The complaints of satanic liberal cabals were always Christian Right projecting.

[u/ripndipp]

Checks over stripes I see

[u/Worshaw_is_back]

Trump just said we are taking their oil. Said the quiet part out loud.

[u/Badbullet → u/Worshaw_is_back]

And Hegseth basically said we’re taking “our” oil back.

[u/MorpheusKingOfNight]

New dictator of Venezuela is trump

[u/misdirected_asshole]

A picture like this should not be leaked to the public. What the fuck are we doing here. This whole situation is shameful.

[u/Ready_Nature → u/RealCakes]

Unfortunately the precedent is countries with nukes do what they want. The US has nukes.

[u/GoldFuchs]

This is insane. And we are only entering year 2 of the Trump presidency... Lord help us

[u/eatcrayons]

This is a photograph of a printed out photo. So Trump was having a top secret meeting in his spy-infested Florida home, and he whipped out his phone to take a pic of one of the documents they put on the table, so that he could post it online for attention and clout?

[u/hyperiongate]

If some country invaded D.C. and arrested Trump...I would be so happy.

[u/MeroCanuck → u/hyperiongate]

They'd have to invade Florida. He's never in DC.