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[Topher]

Comparing the arrest of the dictator who stole power and absolutely treated his citizens like scum to the invasion of a nation with a duly elected leader (Ukraine). Smart.

Look at the people in Ukraine fighting desperately against Russia. Look at the people in Venezuela celebrating Maduro's removal.

These are not comparable.

I'm neither, I'm pro-Democracy and have a very lucid understanding of who Trump is. A torchbearer for democracy he is not...

How many Venezuelans do you think would agree with you right now?

 

[LordCBH]

I'm neither, I'm pro-Democracy and have a very lucid understanding of who Trump is. A torchbearer for democracy he is not...

Pro democracy
Bitches about a barbaric dictator getting removed

 

[E-Cat]

We democratically elected this individual, there's your "distinction."

Sure, but that's not relevant to the action of violating international law that we're discussing here.

The world is perfectly fine with us blowing the fuck out of pirates to protect their internation trade. But dictators are off the table when the opportunity arrives? yeah ok

Are you gonna be saying the same thing when the US takes Greenland by force, de facto attacking a NATO ally? Where do YOU draw the line?

 

[Denton]

Wow. Here is hoping Maduro gets his just deserts and Venezuela returns to prosperity.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Where do YOU draw the line?

Just after France

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

How many Venezuelans do you think would agree with you right now?

To be fair, people celebrating something doesn't automatically mean there is going to be a great outcome for them.

 

[Brazen]

Sure, but that's not relevant to the action of violating international law that we're discussing here.

Are you gonna be saying the same thing when the US takes Greenland by force, de facto attacking a NATO ally? Where do YOU draw the line?

No Maduro was violating international law that we're discussing here.

I draw the line into not going into what-if-conspiracy theories.

 

[Topher]

To be fair, people celebrating something doesn't automatically mean there is going to be a great outcome for them.

More than likely better than it has been under a Marxist dictator.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Youre assuming American jingoism only falls on one side of the fence.

It doesn't. It never has.

Don't tell me what I "assume."

All you're gonna do is make an ass out of u and me.

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

More than likely better than it has been under a Marxist dictator.

Maybe, or maybe it will be the same but 'under new management' or maybe worse… who knows.

 

[LordCBH]

violating international law that we're discussing here.

Oh no, international law

Go call the international police

Oh wait, we are the international police

LMAOOOOOOOO

 

[GudOlRub]

The state and private companies working together is corporatism(aka fascism). Socialism is the elimination of private ownership of the means of production and in eliminating private ownership of the means of production it makes rational economic calculation impossible. "The aim of Socialism [is] to transfer the means of production from private ownership to the ownership of organized society...." It's in the name, it literally means collectivism.

Although socialists often talk about members of the socialist community deciding how to make use of the means of production, often pointing to the socialist utopia as freeing workers for the bondage of wage labor, the only apparatus available to the socialist community to exert this kind of control is the State. The State must have total control over every aspect of production in a socialist commonwealth. Additionally, there is simply no way of socializing the means of production without forcibly taking from some to give to others and forcing some to work more than they would choose to work given the rewards.

Yeah no thanks, there are many forms of socialism, this is pure semantic silliness.
All I'm saying is, if you think socialism is a problem in the west then you'll have to erase literal millions of people who are for some forms of it. Myself included.

 

[E-Cat]

Look at the people in Ukraine fighting desperately against Russia. Look at the people in Venezuela celebrating Maduro's removal.

These are not comparable.

How many Venezuelans do you think would agree with you right now?

Comparing the arrest of the dictator who stole power and absolutely treated his citizens like scum to the invasion of a nation with a duly elected leader (Ukraine). Smart.

Look, I agree with you that Maduro is a bastard and don't give a shit about him. It's also probably true that a lot of Venezuelans hated him and are happy for this development.

But it's the bloody principle of the thing. Pardon me as a European being on edge watching this fuckwit piss on our entire continent. We're on a very slippery slope now, because any invasion can be justified with the right words. "The US needs Greenland for its national security (precious US national security!), therefore it's fair game". Cause fuck Danish national security, right? And fuck NATO.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Oh no, international law

Go call the international police

Oh wait, we are the international police

LMAOOOOOOOO

avengers, assemble

 

[Topher]

Are you gonna be saying the same thing when the US takes Greenland by force, de facto attacking a NATO ally? Where do YOU draw the line?

Invading Greenland would be an entirely different scenario and no, I know for a fact that I would not be saying the "same thing". The line between a true democracy and a dictatorship couldn't be any clearer and the differences don't stop there.

Maybe, or maybe it will be the same but 'under new management' or maybe worse… who knows.

Who knows, indeed. I see a lot of hope from Venezuelans right now. Would you rather Maduro still be in charge?

 

[Come On Tars]

Still figuring out how i feel about this. So far seems like this is a victory for the Venezuelan people. As far as our involvement time will tell. Take out the personality of Trump on paper this fall under "we are a serious country now" policy. You can't swarm our border, you can't overtly send cartels and drugs over here. You can't defraud taxpayer because you're brown. You can't tariff us without tariffing you. Were not fucking around

 

[LordCBH]

Look, I agree with you that Maduro is a bastard and don't give a shit about him. It's also probably true that a lot of Venezuelans hated him and are happy for this development.

But it's the bloody principle of the thing. Pardon me as a European being on edge watching this fuckwit piss on our entire continent. We're on a very slippery slope now, because any invasion can be justified with the right words. "The US needs Greenland for its national security (precious US national security!), therefore it's fair game". Cause fuck Danish national security, right? And fuck NATO.

As a European, you should be more concerned with the importation of endless Islamic invaders into your lands.

 

[Topher]

Look, I agree with you that Maduro is a bastard and don't give a shit about him. It's also probably true that a lot of Venezuelans hated him and are happy for this development.

But it's the bloody principle of the thing. Pardon me as a European being on edge watching this fuckwit piss on our entire continent. We're on a very slippery slope now, because any invasion can be justified with the right words. "The US needs Greenland for its national security (precious US national security!), therefore it's fair game". Cause fuck Danish national security, right? And fuck NATO.

No, there is no "slippery slope" here. US isn't invading Greenland. That was nothing more than Trump talking out of his ass.

 

[The Mad Draklor]

More than likely better than it has been under a Marxist dictator.

That's great and all, but better for how long? Removing Maduro is the easy part. Now comes the hard part of putting together a functional and stable government that has effective guardrails against another Marxism uprise. That instant gratification high feels nice, but there needs to be a good solid plan that is not another "planting the seeds of democracy".

 

[Brazen]

No, there is no "slippery slope" here. US isn't invading Greenland. That was nothing more than Trump talking out of his ass.

And people getting arrested for social media post...

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Sure, but that's not relevant to the action of violating international law that we're discussing here.

International Law is the illusion. USA has been maintaining the international law to their own detriment.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Look, I agree with you that Maduro is a bastard and don't give a shit about him. It's also probably true that a lot of Venezuelans hated him and are happy for this development.

But it's the bloody principle of the thing. Pardon me as a European being on edge watching this fuckwit piss on our entire continent. We're on a very slippery slope now, because any invasion can be justified with the right words. "The US needs Greenland for its national security (precious US national security!), therefore it's fair game". Cause fuck Danish national security, right? And fuck NATO.

The US is powerful enough to not need to set any sort of precendent or come up with a justification to go after greenland, frankly.

 

[Topher]

That's great and all, but better for how long? Removing Maduro is the easy part. Now comes the hard part of putting together a functional and stable government that has effective guardrails against another Marxism uprise. That instant gratification high feels nice, but there needs to be a good solid plan that is not another "planting the seeds of democracy".

I agree. Now comes the hard part. Maduro had to go. That was step one. Now there are probably a few dozen steps to follow to make sure Venezuela isn't right back here in 20-30 years.

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

Who knows, indeed. I see a lot of hope from Venezuelans right now. Would you rather Maduro still be in charge?

No, of course not. But I don't think the Venezuelan people's lives were necessarily the deciding factor in this move so I'd just say perhaps their celebrations could be premature.

 

[DeepEnigma]

*Cough* President of peace *cough*

*cough* "peace through strength" *cough*

 

[The Mad Draklor]

I agree. Now comes the hard part. Maduro had to go. That was step one. Now there are probably a few dozen steps to follow to make sure Venezuela isn't right back here in 20-30 years.

No, of course not. But I don't think the Venezuelan people's lives were necessarily the deciding factor in this move so I'd just say perhaps their celebrations could be premature.

I hope that the Venezuelans who cheered for Maduro's ouster are aware of the hard work that awaits them and not go "Wait, making a better governmental system is not easy?" with Surprised Pikachu faces. It its the latter, then... godspeed.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

My fellow europeans, you can either bitch and moan or prepare for the future and learn the amercian version of english, as i am.

And mandarin just in case

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Pardon me as a European being on edge watching this fuckwit piss on our entire continent. We're on a very slippery slope now, because any invasion can be justified with the right words.

You should be more concerned about being arrested over online posts. Foreign policy should be last on your mind now.

 

[Brazen]

No, of course not. But I don't think the Venezuelan people's lives were necessarily the deciding factor in this move so I'd just say perhaps their celebrations could be premature.

Concerning the Venezuelan people, I think there is motive to improving their lives/condition so a third of the country isn't seeking asylum/etc.

It's all a wait and see though, and given history it's good to be pessimistic/cautious about it all.

 

[E-Cat]

Well fortunately our election was decided by the American people, and not you.

35% approval rating within 1st year, great foresight there

Pro democracy
Bitches about a barbaric dictator getting removed

Sure, why not unilaterally remove every barbaric dictator in the world by force? Start with choking Putin and Kim Jong Un on the long dick of Uncle Sam.

Just after France

Some ally, indeed

I draw the line into not going into what-if-conspiracy theories.

Really? A conspiracy? When it's the expressly stated position of the POTUS and the newly-named special envoy to Greenland who said he would "lead the charge"?

Invading Greenland would be an entirely different scenario and no, I know for a fact that I would not be saying the "same thing". The line between a true democracy and a dictatorship couldn't be any clearer and the differences don't stop there.

I'm happy to hear you say this.

As a European, you should be more concerned with the importation of endless Islamic invaders into your lands.

I'm much more concerned about Russia, thanks though.

No, there is no "slippery slope" here. US isn't invading Greenland. That was nothing more than Trump talking out of his ass.

Such is the loss of soft power and legitimacy of the US in the world stage today that true intentions are impossible to be deciphered and alliances must be doubted. I'm truly sorry it has come to this. If you are in the US, it must be impossible to see the damage done to your international reputation.

You should be more concerned about being arrested over online posts. Foreign policy should be last on your mind now.

Total nonsense. We have freedom of speech, our idiotic right-wing politicians just received international flak over making "China eyes" on social media.

At least I don't have to worry about getting ass-raped by ICE.

The US is powerful enough to not need to set any sort of precendent or come up with a justification to go after greenland, frankly.

I.e., a rogue nation. Get fucked, American supremacist zealot

 

[Topher]

I hope that the Venezuelans who cheered for Maduro's ouster are aware of the hard work that awaits them and not go "Wait, making a better governmental system is not easy?" with Surprised Pikachu faces. It its the latter, then... godspeed.

I mean......Maduro is a shithead dictator that needed to be removed. That's worth cheering for regardless of the hardships that come down the line.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Some ally, indeed

France is litterally the only country that don't get invited to the EU council parties

No one likes them.

 

[Meicyn]

I don't really think OPEC cares. They would be happy to see the price of oil go low enough to bankrupt the American frackers who have thrown a wrench into their domination of global oil production

And the Americans will now be getting crude from Venezuela which means they won't need the fracking as much either so it's kind of a win-win for OPEC, the only real losers will be Russia in this equation and I think we can all agree that's a good scenario

OPEC may not care for the time being, but certainly Saudi Arabia does. They know oil's importance is dwindling longterm, and it's why the crown prince is so heavily focused on reforms and shifting the nation's future to something beyond oil revenue. Tourism, video games, you name it, they're diversifying.

China still needs a lot of oil, but they're investing heavily into solar and battery tech and likely will dominate there. Nuclear power is on a resurgence. The goal is to reduce dependence but there will still be a need to import no matter what. Pipeline from Russia to China is actively being built, Russia will essentially become a de facto vassal state for China on the current path, so their oil future is secured.

Both the US and China, the two largest growing economies in the world, will need less and less Middle East oil as the years progress. It's going to be many years before anything substantial happens because infrastructure takes a long time to develop, but change is coming. Hell, I would be surprised if Venezuela remains an OPEC member going forward.

 

[Windom Earle]

edit: decided not to be mean

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Guys, ignore E-Cat, he is crazy.

I can fix him

 

[Paasei]

France is litterally the only country that don't get invited to the EU council parties

No one likes them.

I've always been very happy we have Belgium between us and that shithole France.

 

[Brazen]

35% approval rating within 1st year, great foresight there

Really? A conspiracy? When it's the expressly stated position of the POTUS and the newly-named special envoy to Greenland who said he would "lead the charge"?

America is divided you know. His approval rating has maintained a higher rating than at any point in his first term, so there's that.

Yes, a conspiracy theory, if you have evidence of a Greenland take over being in the works, plans, etc and not some political rhetoric theatre, I'm all ears.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

No, there is no "slippery slope" here. US isn't invading Greenland. That was nothing more than Trump talking out of his ass.

That's just Trump joking around knowing it'll piss off losers who take it seriously.

Like him saying a bunch of times he wanted to annex Canada as the 51st state. Most people know that's a troll joke for laughs, but some people and media here took it seriously like they think there's something to it and wants to mobilize a front and invade the border.

LOL

 

[Sephimoth]

Nice. Maybe Trump can liberate that shithole ResetEra next

 

[Begleiter]

Hillary would be proud. She'd have gone for more fireworks and wouldn't want Maduro alive, so Trump had more restraint than she would have.

 

[DeepEnigma]

No, there is no "slippery slope" here. US isn't invading Greenland. That was nothing more than Trump talking out of his ass.

They still can't see the man deals with so much sarcasm like a typical 80s-90s Liberal New Yorker, which he is.

TDS needs to be studied since there's a total lack of picking up on any form of that when he talks. They take EVERYTHING at such a face value, it's truly fascinating behavior.

That's just Trump joking around knowing it'll piss off losers who take it seriously.

Like him saying a bunch of times he wanted to annex Canada as the 51st state. Most people know that's a troll joke for laughs, but some people and media here took it seriously like they think there's something to it and wants to mobilize a front and invade the border.

LOL

Bingo.

 

[Topher]

Such is the loss of soft power and legitimacy of the US in the world stage today that true intentions are impossible to be deciphered and alliances must be doubted. I'm truly sorry it has come to this. If you are in the US, it must be impossible to see the damage done to your international reputation.

lol...you think you have your finger on the pulse of international reputations? Oh lord....time to leave this conversation.

 

[GermanZepp]

Cocaine is the primary drug that comes out of Venezuela, not fentanyl. But I'd say the Russian/Chinese influence in the region as well as the confiscation of the oil industry by Chavez are the primary motivators in wanting the regime removed.



Venezuelans seem to be happy with their new found freedom. That's clown world?

Oh they *seem* happy, I didn't know that . That solves everything. Usa delivered happiness thru attack choppers and obviously give a shit about venezuelas people.

Look man. Maduro was a 3rd world caricature if a dictator, no argument. More than 8 million people exile from their country.

imo is venezuelas peoples business to kick the bullshit out of power, even if take 50 years. Retarded population has to learn. Explicit outside intervention establish a fucking rot presedent.

 

[Unknown?]

That's great and all, but better for how long? Removing Maduro is the easy part. Now comes the hard part of putting together a functional and stable government that has effective guardrails against another Marxism uprise. That instant gratification high feels nice, but there needs to be a good solid plan that is not another "planting the seeds of democracy".

It is up to the people to want freedom from collectivism to prevent it from reoccurring.

 

[EviLore]

Oh they *seem* happy, I didn't know that . That solves everything. Usa delivered happiness thru attack choppers and obviously give a shit about venezuelas people.

Look man. Maduro was a 3rd world caricature if a dictator, no argument. More than 8 million people exile from their country.

imo is venezuelas peoples business to kick the bullshit out of power, even if take 50 years. Retarded population has to learn. Explicit outside intervention establish a fucking rot presedent.

They were disarmed and the government murders them when they try to peacefully protest. Easier said than done.

 

[DeepEnigma]

People are now speaking on behalf and telling Venezuelans how they should feel or think.

Peak first world narcissism, arrogance and the bastion of privilege.

 

[EN250]

Comparing the arrest of the dictator who stole power and absolutely treated his citizens like scum to the invasion of a nation with a duly elected leader (Ukraine). Smart.

What's worse is people arguing ethics and morals of it or diplomacy and institutions that could theoretically "solve" the problem, meanwhile China has been threatening Taiwan for years invading all mass of water near it in preparations for a massive siege without caring what neighbouring countries think about and Russia straight up went and invaded Ukraine with the purpose of anexing it like it's nothing, this situation is nothing like that

 

[Topher]

That's just Trump joking around knowing it'll piss off losers who take it seriously.

Like him saying a bunch of times he wanted to annex Canada as the 51st state. Most people know that's a troll joke for laughs, but some people and media here took it seriously like they think there's something to it and wants to mobilize a front and invade the border.

LOL

Yep. I mean...the guy talks out of his ass regularly. That's just normal speech for him. Amazed folks still can't see it.

Oh they *seem* happy, I didn't know that . That solves everything. Usa delivered happiness thru attack choppers and obviously give a shit about venezuelas people.

Look man. Maduro was a 3rd world caricature if a dictator, no argument. More than 8 million people exile from their country.

imo is venezuelas peoples business to kick the bullshit out of power, even if take 50 years. Retarded population has to learn. Explicit outside intervention establish a fucking rot presedent.

Pretty hard to do any of that when the government started disarming the people over a decade ago.

 

[Lord Panda]

 

[LordCBH]

I'm much more concerned about Russia, thanks though.

Funny, because the Russians aren't driving through European Christmas markets and burning down European churches. Or I guess you're happy that the number one name in most of these countries will soon be Mohammed.