I think the Americans had a deal with the VP and Diosdado, they needed to put on a show to give them plausible deniability. Trump gets oil and a distraction, Chavismo stays in charge in Venezuela.
"In the year 2026, the US judiciary ‘can’ hold a foreign president responsible for breaking US laws, but not an American president." Brilliant Sarcastosaurus, that's how you start the new year with a bang!
“What is at least as shameful as this entire US ‘military operation’, are reactions from all the possible ‘democracy & freedom-loving’ zombie idiots in charge of the EU and the UK”
I was in some doubt at first, then consulted this:
"Correspondingly, the Republican committee chairman Michael McCaul read the resignation demand on the House floor, saying he could not stay silent while national security was put at risk."
What is your source for this? I don't believe Congress is sitting at the moment.
Doesn't answer my question. If Congressman McCaul called for Trump's resignation on the floor of the House of Representatives, that would be very big news indeed.
My 2-cents. It was an inside job. Hundreds of millions were used to pay off everyone surrounding him. Venezuelans, Russians (but not the Kremlin), Chinese, etc. The deal is simple. Let the U.S. take him and it will not interfere with anyone's ongoing interests. Some connected with Trump will try to further develop Venezuela's oil fields. Trump wants a distraction from Epstein. Everyone else has been working on this plan for years and now is the time they could get him to sign off.
The attacks were done AFTER the abduction. They are only for show. As you mention, The Chinese shit wasn't touched.
As for the oil. 1) The Chinese have the technology to develop it and have struggled, telling me it's more than a tech problem. 2) It's 14 years since Gaddafi left the scene and Libya is still 30% below previous production. 3) The U.S. doesn't have the resources/political will to police the oil fields so again, Libya again. And finally, the "good" oil is gone and the rest just economically not worth extracting yet (and may never be).
In a sense, Trump was able to sign off on this because he's a master at borrowing money (or taking it from a place it shouldn't taken from). Bankruptcy follows, but then he's onto the next scam. Sadly, bankruptcy isn't the end game here but Tom and Don know better what comes next.
There is the BRICs Unit, adopted formally some 2 weeks ago, for financial transactions that will get around using the US Dollar. Venezuela will no longer participate in the BRIC Unit it seems. This sends a message to all potential BRIC Unit users, especially non BRIC nations that might have been tempted. India and China use Venezuelan oil. It is heavy and sour while US crude is light and sweet. US refineries find heavy crude expensive to refine as it has too much heavy metal contamination. There is a huge oil glut on the market currently. There will be no impact on the overall oil market for the USA, but a huge impact for China and India as they will 1) have to use dollars for oil transactions, 2) the impact of this 'golpe de cabeza' will be the elimination of this market for them under the guise of making needed investments by US oil interests, and 3) This puts more money into the hands of Trump's ME allies and Russia (although that is dependent on how effective the sanctions and the recent efforts at countering the shadow fleet control Russian oil exports). I look for Trump to destabilize Iran oil export capacity to really make this his kind of negotiated peace plan.
I hope you're right. That all makes sense. But I feel the U.S. is too arrogant to worry about protecting the petrodollar. I've felt that for a long time.
My Venn diagram for TRUMP: Egoism, Stupidity, Amorality. The action allowed by the effectuation of the Admiral's resignation (Jan 1) and prompted by the BRICs Unit adoption 2 weeks ago. The US military is so good at what it does (attack, night raids, removal of threat) and so bad at what it does not do (Nation building). The former is quick and dramatic, the latter is slow and creeping until it is all past salvageable.
The bric is not only economical group in the bottom have political background together, perhaps is wise thinking this approach too. Thank for your analysis, is very interesting
Whatever it was, the point is this: this is - first and foremost - about Dumpf's private interests.
At most, his private interests might be declared for ‘higher national interests’ of the USA or similar nonsense (like, actually, this is done by various other of US oligarchs, ever since Guatemala of 1953). They might be (mis)explained with 'need for lower oil prices', 'deep state' and various other conspiracy theorities. But, their essence is still: Dumpf's private interests.
Therefore, it's on hand that - after learning the lesson with the Houthis (where the US remained involved for too long), but then as illustrated by the examples of Nigeria, and now Venezuela - Dumpf is ready to (mis)use the US military might for own purposes, whatever the reason. And that without the ‘usual logic’ applied in such cases at earlier times, and in complete disregard for any kind of international laws.
They simply do not matter to him. Because he's unaccountable.
‘Things’ like ‘democracy’ ‘freedom’ etc., etc., etc. are going to be misused in PR-statement, no doubt, but the essence are _h i s p r i v a t e i n t e r e s t s_.
And: any such ops are going to be limited - simply because he’s doing his utmost to keep the USA out of any longer wars.
As you know I'm obsessed with the Yangtze Incident. I don't believe the PLA or the Nationalist Party made some decision to fire on the HMS Amethyst. I think it was some local commander who figured he'd make a name for himself. Once he did that, and succeeded, the PLA went along. That's why from the Greeks until Trump no one can prevent "longer wars".
I'm a broken record. Someone will fire on a U.S. Navy vessel and our rust bucket situation exposed.
Going back further, in my view the English and French never wanted to go to war in Colonial America. And wouldn't have if Washington didn't bring a bunch of nitwits who fired into the French tents while they were sleeping. Unintended Consequences is the Goddess of war.
Not telling you anything you don't know better than I. Russian Roulette and Trump just spun again.
Here is my take on Trump's personal interest: He has moved aggressively to formalize his Trump Stable Coin. He is promoting legislation to prevent the US Treasury from minting "Stable coin" and moving to have private companies do that function. The soverienage from the printing of new dollars is a substantial source of revenue for the Treasury (differential between face value at sale and cost of printing). It is planned that new debt will be funded by Stable coin (w Trump Family Coin taking a large share of that market). Trump needs the US to be willing and able to issue new debt for his Stable coin to make him one of the richest people on Earth. In order for him to do that he needs the US Dollar to be the desired currency. The BRIC Unit was a blow to the supremacy of the US dollar. Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela were all planning to use the BRIC Unit for oil transactions. Watch for the move against the Iranian regime "to protect protesters" to include oil export facilities. Sanctions against Russia punish them for their discount on oil prices. Taking Venezuela off the market to "impove production" and enforcement fo Russian sanctions will increase demand for the US Dollar, increase demand for US oil, increase Saudi and US oil profits resulting in another round of ME "investments" into Trump family businesses, and the future is all planned. Then life intervenes.
Minor quibble. Oil price down is not in us interest now. It’s low enough. US is net exporter now. And prices where they are now cools down activity in the shale-oil patches in America. If anything they need slightly higher prices to ensure continued drilling.
shitty point, 2007 took control of Foreign companies and had them become state run facilities. THE US TAKING BACK THEIR OIL IS NOW A HORRIBLE THING? That oil being used to kill Ukrainians but orange man bad.
I've been looking forward to your take on this. This situation is so ridiculous just relating the known facts provides sufficient sarcasm for the post.
My guess - Trump told the russians it would be prudent if the guys should went on a holiday, if they were still there. They're more needed in the Africa Corps these days.
Thanks for the details Tom! Today we see that Beijing is demanding the immediate release of the Maduros. If they are serious, this would be the time to threaten to stop rare metals trades to the US again. Could be TACO Time.
Oil prices are low already. Lower prices will hurt some U.S. miners who have "more expensive" oil fields to mine. So, I do not think the oil price was the reason for the attack.
Some very good stuff there.
I think the Americans had a deal with the VP and Diosdado, they needed to put on a show to give them plausible deniability. Trump gets oil and a distraction, Chavismo stays in charge in Venezuela.
wiresouth.com/s3qw0
Looks likely, but we shall see.
"In the year 2026, the US judiciary ‘can’ hold a foreign president responsible for breaking US laws, but not an American president." Brilliant Sarcastosaurus, that's how you start the new year with a bang!
I missed this comment! Spot on!
Waiting until tomorrow on your comment of Zelensky appointing Budanov as chief of staff:)
“What is at least as shameful as this entire US ‘military operation’, are reactions from all the possible ‘democracy & freedom-loving’ zombie idiots in charge of the EU and the UK”
I was in some doubt at first, then consulted this:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx1rpxzyx9o
And yes, you are right: shameful.
As much as dictators deserve their worst fate, in no way can such operation be justified.
"Correspondingly, the Republican committee chairman Michael McCaul read the resignation demand on the House floor, saying he could not stay silent while national security was put at risk."
What is your source for this? I don't believe Congress is sitting at the moment.
One of Congressmen in question.
Is he lying?
Doesn't answer my question. If Congressman McCaul called for Trump's resignation on the floor of the House of Representatives, that would be very big news indeed.
wiresouth.com/s3qw0
Link is broken.
Oil prices will not be low... Tankers who were used to smuggle Venezuelan's low quality oil will be directed to ruzzians smugglin...
My 2-cents. It was an inside job. Hundreds of millions were used to pay off everyone surrounding him. Venezuelans, Russians (but not the Kremlin), Chinese, etc. The deal is simple. Let the U.S. take him and it will not interfere with anyone's ongoing interests. Some connected with Trump will try to further develop Venezuela's oil fields. Trump wants a distraction from Epstein. Everyone else has been working on this plan for years and now is the time they could get him to sign off.
The attacks were done AFTER the abduction. They are only for show. As you mention, The Chinese shit wasn't touched.
As for the oil. 1) The Chinese have the technology to develop it and have struggled, telling me it's more than a tech problem. 2) It's 14 years since Gaddafi left the scene and Libya is still 30% below previous production. 3) The U.S. doesn't have the resources/political will to police the oil fields so again, Libya again. And finally, the "good" oil is gone and the rest just economically not worth extracting yet (and may never be).
In a sense, Trump was able to sign off on this because he's a master at borrowing money (or taking it from a place it shouldn't taken from). Bankruptcy follows, but then he's onto the next scam. Sadly, bankruptcy isn't the end game here but Tom and Don know better what comes next.
There is the BRICs Unit, adopted formally some 2 weeks ago, for financial transactions that will get around using the US Dollar. Venezuela will no longer participate in the BRIC Unit it seems. This sends a message to all potential BRIC Unit users, especially non BRIC nations that might have been tempted. India and China use Venezuelan oil. It is heavy and sour while US crude is light and sweet. US refineries find heavy crude expensive to refine as it has too much heavy metal contamination. There is a huge oil glut on the market currently. There will be no impact on the overall oil market for the USA, but a huge impact for China and India as they will 1) have to use dollars for oil transactions, 2) the impact of this 'golpe de cabeza' will be the elimination of this market for them under the guise of making needed investments by US oil interests, and 3) This puts more money into the hands of Trump's ME allies and Russia (although that is dependent on how effective the sanctions and the recent efforts at countering the shadow fleet control Russian oil exports). I look for Trump to destabilize Iran oil export capacity to really make this his kind of negotiated peace plan.
I hope you're right. That all makes sense. But I feel the U.S. is too arrogant to worry about protecting the petrodollar. I've felt that for a long time.
My Venn diagram for TRUMP: Egoism, Stupidity, Amorality. The action allowed by the effectuation of the Admiral's resignation (Jan 1) and prompted by the BRICs Unit adoption 2 weeks ago. The US military is so good at what it does (attack, night raids, removal of threat) and so bad at what it does not do (Nation building). The former is quick and dramatic, the latter is slow and creeping until it is all past salvageable.
The bric is not only economical group in the bottom have political background together, perhaps is wise thinking this approach too. Thank for your analysis, is very interesting
Wis I could take credit.... That goes to Max of UNFTR.com
AFTER???
on what basis?
Whatever it was, the point is this: this is - first and foremost - about Dumpf's private interests.
At most, his private interests might be declared for ‘higher national interests’ of the USA or similar nonsense (like, actually, this is done by various other of US oligarchs, ever since Guatemala of 1953). They might be (mis)explained with 'need for lower oil prices', 'deep state' and various other conspiracy theorities. But, their essence is still: Dumpf's private interests.
Therefore, it's on hand that - after learning the lesson with the Houthis (where the US remained involved for too long), but then as illustrated by the examples of Nigeria, and now Venezuela - Dumpf is ready to (mis)use the US military might for own purposes, whatever the reason. And that without the ‘usual logic’ applied in such cases at earlier times, and in complete disregard for any kind of international laws.
They simply do not matter to him. Because he's unaccountable.
‘Things’ like ‘democracy’ ‘freedom’ etc., etc., etc. are going to be misused in PR-statement, no doubt, but the essence are _h i s p r i v a t e i n t e r e s t s_.
And: any such ops are going to be limited - simply because he’s doing his utmost to keep the USA out of any longer wars.
As you know I'm obsessed with the Yangtze Incident. I don't believe the PLA or the Nationalist Party made some decision to fire on the HMS Amethyst. I think it was some local commander who figured he'd make a name for himself. Once he did that, and succeeded, the PLA went along. That's why from the Greeks until Trump no one can prevent "longer wars".
I'm a broken record. Someone will fire on a U.S. Navy vessel and our rust bucket situation exposed.
Going back further, in my view the English and French never wanted to go to war in Colonial America. And wouldn't have if Washington didn't bring a bunch of nitwits who fired into the French tents while they were sleeping. Unintended Consequences is the Goddess of war.
Not telling you anything you don't know better than I. Russian Roulette and Trump just spun again.
Here is my take on Trump's personal interest: He has moved aggressively to formalize his Trump Stable Coin. He is promoting legislation to prevent the US Treasury from minting "Stable coin" and moving to have private companies do that function. The soverienage from the printing of new dollars is a substantial source of revenue for the Treasury (differential between face value at sale and cost of printing). It is planned that new debt will be funded by Stable coin (w Trump Family Coin taking a large share of that market). Trump needs the US to be willing and able to issue new debt for his Stable coin to make him one of the richest people on Earth. In order for him to do that he needs the US Dollar to be the desired currency. The BRIC Unit was a blow to the supremacy of the US dollar. Iran, Nigeria, Venezuela were all planning to use the BRIC Unit for oil transactions. Watch for the move against the Iranian regime "to protect protesters" to include oil export facilities. Sanctions against Russia punish them for their discount on oil prices. Taking Venezuela off the market to "impove production" and enforcement fo Russian sanctions will increase demand for the US Dollar, increase demand for US oil, increase Saudi and US oil profits resulting in another round of ME "investments" into Trump family businesses, and the future is all planned. Then life intervenes.
Minor quibble. Oil price down is not in us interest now. It’s low enough. US is net exporter now. And prices where they are now cools down activity in the shale-oil patches in America. If anything they need slightly higher prices to ensure continued drilling.
shitty point, 2007 took control of Foreign companies and had them become state run facilities. THE US TAKING BACK THEIR OIL IS NOW A HORRIBLE THING? That oil being used to kill Ukrainians but orange man bad.
Yep, there were rumors there were some attempts to bribe Venezuela's army generals to "sell" Maduro to USA by Biden's gov already.
I believe them!
a bounty? yes 25 million USD under Biden and Trump increased it to 50 million USD for Maduro. Don't call a bounty a bribe, sounding like a russian.
I've been looking forward to your take on this. This situation is so ridiculous just relating the known facts provides sufficient sarcasm for the post.
@tom cooper. What happened to the ground staff and allegedly 200 Wagner personnel Guarding Maduro?
No idea. Trying to find out - also because I used to have a few good links in the country (sadly, the best of them passed away some 10 years ago)...
And the cubans bodyguards?
To many ask about that too
Cuba says 32 of its citizens killed in Maduro extraction - https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-says-32-its-citizens-killed-maduro-extraction-2026-01-05/
Yeah, i here about yesterday, thanks!
My guess - Trump told the russians it would be prudent if the guys should went on a holiday, if they were still there. They're more needed in the Africa Corps these days.
Cubans and Wagners in Maduro's guards ... that shows his trust to Venezuelan forces.
Is there an official link to the resignation demand/request?
Haven't even sought for - because this came from one of the (R) Congressmen in qeustion.
Is he lying?
This is going to be an interesting show to watch ...
Thanks for the details Tom! Today we see that Beijing is demanding the immediate release of the Maduros. If they are serious, this would be the time to threaten to stop rare metals trades to the US again. Could be TACO Time.
Oil prices are low already. Lower prices will hurt some U.S. miners who have "more expensive" oil fields to mine. So, I do not think the oil price was the reason for the attack.
No doubt, the US is only doing this for the good of the Venezuelan people. As Tom Lehrer sang six decades ago:
They’ve got to be protected.
All their rights respected.
Till somebody we like can be elected.