Trump Does Not Rule Out "Military Option" in VENEZUELA

[packman]

Source: CNBC

President Donald Trump on Friday said he would not rule out a "military option" in Venezuela.

"We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option, if necessary," Trump told reporters at his New Jersey golf club on Friday.

The president did not answer a question about whether American troops would lead that potential operation.


"We don't talk about it. But a military operation, a military option, is certainly something we could pursue," he responded.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/11/trump-on-venezuela-im-not-going-to-rule-out-a-military-option.html

Read more: Link to source

[thesquanderer]

1. He won't rule out a military option anywhere...

...except Russia, or any place with one of his hotels or golf courses.

[Wolf Frankula]

2. There will be no 'Military Option' in Venezuela

North Korea, Iran or any other country that can actually FIGHT. When was the last time the US fought an enemy that could FIGHT? Oh, Vietnam, and they lost.

Wolf

[EX500rider]

4. Iran and her 200,000 to 600,000 dead might argue the Iraq could fight.

And Venezuela would be a cake walk compared to Iraq or Afghanistan.

(and no, I don't have to go enlist, I didn't say we should do it)

[denverbill]

8. Venezuela committed the ultimate sin: It nationalized it's oil industry.

America, including many Democrats, hate socialism FAR more than they hate dictatorship. That's why we are just fine (under Bush, Obama, AND Trump) supporting a incredibly repressive dictatorship in Saudi Arabia, where people are being beheaded for peaceful protests, and we make a big stink about violent demonstrators dying in Venezuela.

Rex Tillerson, former Exxon CEO, LOVED his visit to Saudi Arabia, because there were no protesters, and was clueless that it was because Saudi Arabia arrests (and sometimes executes) people who protest. Venezuela, otoh, allows the opposition press to operate and allows peaceful demonstrations. It arrests people who commit arson, destroy property, throw Molotov cocktails, and shoot at people.

So why are we considering 'military options' against a democratically elected regime in Venezuela versus a repressive monarchy in Saudi Arabia? Talk to the oil men.

[COLGATE4]

16. You do realize that Venezuela nationalized its oil

some 41 years ago? The "oil men" haven't had much to say or much interest in Venezuela since then.

[denverbill]

17. So the US just randonly deemed Venezuela arch-enemy #1 in 1999 for no reason?

And the 2002 coup attempt had nothing to do with oil executives and was opposed by Bush?

[GulfCoast66]

18. You deftly deflected from the point at issue.

You prefaced you entire argument on the nationalization of the oil industry which was pointed out to you happened over 40 years ago and had nothing to do with the attempted coup, regardless of any unproven US involvement. Facts do matter.

I thought the coup attempt evil at the time. In retrospect it might have been better had it succeeded. Better a dictator that can feed his people then the one they have now who cannot.

[EX500rider]

20. Venz. nationalized her oil in 1976....

....like over 60% of other oil producing countries, no one cares.

[COLGATE4]

23. None so blind and those who will not see...

[madokie]

28. And thats the rub

the oily boys want so much to get their greedy oily hands back on their oil that happens to be under the soil of Venezuela. Our cia is the rich's army and has been soiling the government of Venezuela every since then

If you read or hear anything in our or the British press about Venezuela you can bet your bottom dollar it is a pack of LIES

[COLGATE4]

34. Venezuela's oil is of the worst quality. It's heavy and nasty

and requires a great deal more expensive refining than any other crude. There's not a great demand for their oil except for 1) countries that get it free or at greatly reduced prices and 2) China, who takes it in partial repayment of the billions of dollars they've loaned Maduro to prop up his failing economy. Try as you may, you just can't make a case for US oil companies being desperate for Venezuelan crude.

[madokie]

35. Cities service loved it

or was heavily invested in it.

Try as you may this issue is all About the Oil that the oily boys think belong to them. They'll lie cheat bullshit whatever it takes to make as many people believe what isn't the truth to get to it. Exactly what has been happening for years now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citgo

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cities+service+company+history&t=hb&ia=web

[COLGATE4]

36. Cities has been invested in oil extraction since the nationalization.

A fact which still does nothing to prop up your cia/oil men fantasy.

[denverbill]

38. The U.S. Oil Industry Is Pushing Back on Sanctions Against Venezuela

http://time.com/4894874/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-sanctions-oil/
...............
The prospect of an import ban has alarmed U.S. oil companies that rely on Venezuelan crude.

Nine companies, including Chevron, Valero, Citgo and Phillips 66, currently process Venezuelan crude in more than 20 U.S. refineries, most of them located along the Gulf Coast, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Many of these refineries are designed for the type of heavy crude that Venezuela exports and replacing those supplies would be disruptive and costly.

.............
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-11/threat-of-venezuelan-oil-ban-pits-oil-boss-hamm-against-refiners

.....
The prospect has inspired frantic appeals by companies that spent billions optimizing at least 20 different refineries to process heavy crude from the country. The leading refining trade group, the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, sent two letters to Trump last month warning that a blockade would destabilize crude markets, causing an increase in oil prices as refiners scramble to replace Venezuelan supplies with ill-fitting, higher-cost substitutes and leading to bigger gasoline bills for consumers.

Sanctions may not even work as intended, as Venezuela finds other outlets for its crude beyond the U.S., said AFPM President Chet Thompson.
.....


"Try as you may, you just can't make a case for US oil companies being desperate for Venezuelan crude."

See above.

[COLGATE4]

39. Of course companies are going to be against an import ban

on Venezuelan crude since they have invested in refineries which are designed to handle the stuff. That's not exactly news. But from that simple fact to the wild-eyed conspiracies about the CIA, Bush, Colombia, the Bilderberg Group, etc. is not just a stretch - it's fantasy a la Alex Jones variety.

[EX500rider]

45. "the oily boys want so much to get their greedy oily hands back on their oil"

They already do, where do you think most of Venz's oil goes? The US.

And this whole "the US is trying to destroy Venz's economy" is stupid, the US is Venz's biggest trading partner for exports AND imports.

http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/ven/

[madokie]

46. Believe what you may

but don't expect me to buy into any of it.

Have a good evening

[EX500rider]

47. To heck with those pesky facts?

I am not "believing what I may" but quoting facts.
Or do you just prefer your own reality unrelated to the actual facts?

Are you saying most of Venz's oil doesn't come to the US?


Or the US isn't their biggest trading partner?

Exports
US: 39.8%
The Netherlands: 7.6%
China: 4.6%

Imports
US: 26.1%
Colombia: 12.6%
Brazil: 10.7%
China: 6.9%
Mexico: 4.8%

http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/venezuela/export-import.html

[Perseus]

19. You don't seem to know about the situation in Venezuela

Although most people in Venezuela know that Trump is a con man, and they do make jokes about him, at this time they would welcome an intervention with open arms.

You don't seem to know the reality of that country, I do, so please stop offering your opinion about something that you obviously don't know anything about.

The situation in Venezuela is dire, the people who destroy are part of the government, the protests ARE peaceful, in two months of protests there were 80 people killed by the Guardia Nacional, there is no food, no medicines, the hospitals don't even have clean sheets, to go to a hospital there you have a 20% of survival.

So, maybe you are a Chavista/Madurista trying to provide fantasy stories, or maybe you are just ignorant of the reality that country is suffering every day.

Since Chanvez, Venezuela has never seen so much corruption, the infrastructure is crumbling, no jobs, no food, killings every day, the kidnapping has become an industry, I know of so many people who have been kidnapped there, young people are taken prisoners and tortured.

Please abstain of supporting something you show to have zero knowledge about.

[madokie]

29. OTOH

You demonstrate that you've bought the cia's take hook line and sinker. You have no idea as to the goings on there

[EX500rider]

41. The CIA's take?

....so there is no shortage of food & medicine?
Or:
Worse homicide rate in South America?
Failing oil production due to mismanagement?
Caracas the murder capital of the world?
Failing infrastructure causing rolling blackouts?
Worst inflation on the planet?
No dollars for imports?
Starvation & malnutrition on the rise?
Severe unemployment?
Airlines pulling out of servicing Venz?
Owing billions to China and Russia?
Brain drain?

All made up by the CIA I suppose..

And the desperate Venezuelans I met in Colombia with no where to stay and no money, CIA plants too I suppose?

[SWBTATTReg]

30. my heart goes out to you, if you have friends/family down there

I had a wonderful friend who was from Caracas (he lived in STLMO at one time, worked for Mariott Hotels). He's long gone, but stories he told (early 1980s) were nice...

If friends/family still there, may God protect all of them...

[Corgigal]

3. Sure

Republican senators children first...

Step right up.

[sandensea]

9. Starting with Narco Rubio

He's been instigating this for years.

[HAB911]

24. +++++++++++

[DK504]

5. Does he know where Venezuela is? Or that his pal Pootie Poots

just bought up their oil? Why the hell would he interfere with his boyfriends actions?

[doc03]

6. All this bluster plays very well with the Deploribles, beleive me nt

[Still In Wisconsin]

7. You're forgetting one important thing about TRUMP: he's not afraid to use nuclear weapons.

In fact, he appears to be eager to do so.

[red dog 1]

11. Using nukes against North Korea would take the headlines away from the Mueller investigation

At least, that might be what his tiny, stupid mind is thinking..
However, I doubt that he would need to use nukes against Venezuela, even if he did decide to invade that country.

What a total & complete asshole he is!

[doc03]

10. Has Tweety got that thrill up his leg yet? nt

[C Moon]

12. Sounds like he learned a new word: military option

[red dog 1]

13. K&R

The closer we get to Mueller asking one or both of the Grand Juries for indictments, the more desperate Drumpf might get, and starting a war is quite likely.

Why the hell should the USA get involved in Venezuela anyway?
Venezuela is not a threat to the USA.

(North Korea, on the other hand, IS a threat to us, but no sane head of state would threaten to use nuclear weapons)

[HAB911]

25. Venezuela is white

African countries experiencing the same situations, not so much

[ananda]

14. Can 45 be prosecuted and impeached ..

.. while waging one or two crazy wars ???

[bpositive]

15. What did I miss?

I thought that we were going to war with NK? When did this happen? I can't keep up

[Sneederbunk]

21. Not only will he invade, but Venezuela will pay for it.

[dalton99a]

31. He guarantees it

[PatrickforO]

22. So...do you people think that Trump

actually knows where Venezuela IS?

Because somehow I don't think he does.

In fact I have very, very little confidence in President Trump.

He doesn't seem to know much of anything.

[HAB911]

26. No

his facial expression when he spoke told me his comment was off the cuff and he had no idea about Venezuela's current problems and you can bet he has no idea where it is



You can bet he only knows about things via those white nationalist papers he's show every day + Faux News

[SWBTATTReg]

27. and I thought tRUMP said we are NOT the policeman of the world???

Did I hear tRUMP say this? If he did (and I vaguely thought he did), it's interesting now of a sudden he's interested...hmmm, maybe tRUMP smells a Mueller down the WH hallway, and is trying to deflect attention, eh?

I do hope we don't interfere in Venezuela, and instead, let the UN or central American/South America take care of, w/o American interference. America has interfered too much in the past, time to change our reputation.

[dalton99a]

37. "We cannot be the policeman of the world, we cannot protect countries all over the world"

- Trump in first presidential debate, Sep 26, 2016

[SWBTATTReg]

42. thanks! :)

[left-of-center2012]

32. Draft dodger Trump likes playing General Patton?

[GaryCnf]

33. Because the US interest in Venezuela

Who isn't even threatening its neighbors, much less us is . . .

WHAT?

Pure wag the dog

[David__77]

40. This is so, so helpful to Maduro!

And to the ruling party in Venezuela. It's "Maduro vs. Empire," and I forecast he will consolidate his base of support.

[Bengus81]

43. Maybe they're taking away their citizens healthcare,Trump wants to help!

Kind of like how Bush wanted free healthcare for Iraqi's.

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. Venezuela crisis: Latin Americans condemn Trump over 'military response'

The South American trading bloc Mercosur has condemned President Trump for saying he was considering military action in the Venezuela crisis.

Argentina said dialogue and diplomacy were the only ways to promote democracy in Venezuela.
...
Other Latin American countries also condemned Mr Trump's comments, including Mexico, Colombia and Peru, which said Mr Trump's threat was against UN principles.

Peru has been a fierce critic of Mr Maduro's government. On Friday Peru expelled Venezuela's ambassador after Caracas sent an "unacceptable" response to regional condemnation of its new constituent assembly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-40912523

Even among those who oppose Maduro, Trump can bring them together with Venezuela to say "Trump is wrong".