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Air Strikes in Caracas

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Sky news, almost as bad as the BBC.

These aren't serious people, but they have and will cause serious problems.

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Their endgame is Maduro-like, just more consolidated on a global scale for their masters.



Libs were immediate in their pornographic thoughts of China flattening Taiwan as 'retaliation.'
 
It's best to just observe. A lot of handwringing and declarations are being made across the political spectrum, but results are all that matters. I am hoping Edmundo Gonzalez is placed into power given he has legitimacy based on the election results where he won 2/3 of the votes. We will see how it goes during this period of uncertainty.

Establishing Edmundo Gonzalez as head of state is the only sensible solution, he has been recognized as president-elect by at least several major countries for almost a year.

It shouldn't be a matter of "if" but "how soon".
 
One half of me is sad to see a war in South America in 2026.

The other is happy to see a communist (or two) dictator being ousted right at my country's border whatever the motive used.

Inserting SOF on a full moon night in a city with more than 3M pop... In a country bragging to have bought thousand of point defense AAs.
It must have been one hell of a opportunity target.
I agree. The people are rejoicing for sure and I'm happy for them, and you for that matter.

But the problem is this is an oil grab operation disguised as a war on drugs. If anything good comes of this that's fantastic. But America has never been in a war since WWII that was for the benefit of any people that didn't have a return on investment.
 


Sky news, almost as bad as the BBC.





Libs were immediate in their pornographic thoughts of China flattening Taiwan as 'retaliation.'


Amazing to me that people like that delude themselves so much to the point that they cannot see the fundamental differences between Venezuela and Taiwan.
 
Amazing to me that people like that delude themselves so much to the point that they cannot see the fundamental differences between Venezuela and Taiwan.
Yep. Taiwan is a modern, stable, successful democratic republic. Its people want to remain independent. They are not being oppressed. They are not aggressors or destabilizing their neighbors.

Completely different scenario. Anyone conflating the two is operating in bad faith.
 
Whether it's the US spearheading it or a new local gov takes over, end of the day as long as the Vene people get a chance for freedom and improved quality of life, money, jobs etc.... that's what counts.

It'll take a long time though. The country seems to be in such a shitty situation and their key export that makes the money needs a lot of help updating the facilities. So not the type of thing that will be quick fix even if the greatest new gov took over tomorrow morning. Even if the US did one of those $100B bail out kind of deals, it'll still take lots of time to course correct.

It'll be interesting to see where Vene is at after 3yr, 5 yr, 10 yr etc....
It wasn't so long ago that Chavez was that chance for freedom and improved quality of life, money, jobs etc.
It would be nice to think that this will all just sort itself out but the reality is that you have decades of corruption before Chavez that allowed him to seem like a new hope - followed by decades of corruption under Chavez and then Maduro. The corruption is so deep in the infrastructure it would take major work to put things sort of right.
 


Just speculation now. Maduro was just the first domino? The legacy media has been largely silent about it but there have been pretty wide scale protests in Iran for the past few weeks and the Iranian regime seems to be teetering. The country has been in an economic crisis for some time now due to heavy sanctions against their oil sales and the air strike that destroyed their nuclear research facilities has removed their last bargain chip for lifting of sanctions at the same time Israel was destroying their assets around the Middle East during the Israel-Gaza War the past few years
 
I feel like too many people are signing off on it mentally, without asking what it involves. On one hand I feel happy for them, and on the other hand I feel like the old saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. This always starts out roses and ends with someone asking whos paying for it, ive just seen this same story replayed all throughout history. It's nice until it turns into nation building, and that's where everything goes off the rails. The longer it drags on, the more toxic it gets, and suddenly everyone pretends they were against it the whole time

Also what happens when Trump's gone. Do they quietly kneecap it just so they can point and say "see, it was a failure" and go balls deep in nation building? I'm not saying that's what will happen, I'm just not naive enough to rule it out. Personally we should be focusing on ourselves, especially with AI and our future, we should be doing the nation building here. Hard to do that when the world is constantly on fire and everyone wants you emotionally invested in ten crises at once. Again, im happy for them, just hoping this "transition" doesn't end up being another chapter where everyone swears they never supported it.
 
Speaking of Taiwan



More random geopolitical theory as to what we might be doing

Israel randomly curiously recognized Somaliland as a country just last week, people wondered at the time why that might be

It's becoming clear they didn't do it for fun, there's a geopolitical game being played here

If the US officially recognizes Somaliland as a country soon we'll know why lol
 


Just speculation now. Maduro was just the first domino? The legacy media has been largely silent about it but there have been pretty wide scale protests in Iran for the past few weeks and the Iranian regime seems to be teetering. The country has been in an economic crisis for some time now due to heavy sanctions against their oil sales and the air strike that destroyed their nuclear research facilities has removed their last bargain chip for lifting of sanctions at the same time Israel was destroying their assets around the Middle East during the Israel-Gaza War the past few years

It's interesting that poor water management and a lack of investing in infrastructure are some of the final pieces that will bring this regime down. But it's just desserts for decades of short-sighted, stupid policy decisions where the only unifying theme is "kill all the Jews". All that money thrown at Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and lots of other factions would have been better spent on desalination plants, among other things.
 
I feel like too many people are signing off on it mentally, without asking what it involves. On one hand I feel happy for them, and on the other hand I feel like the old saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. This always starts out roses and ends with someone asking whos paying for it, ive just seen this same story replayed all throughout history. It's nice until it turns into nation building, and that's where everything goes off the rails. The longer it drags on, the more toxic it gets, and suddenly everyone pretends they were against it the whole time

Also what happens when Trump's gone. Do they quietly kneecap it just so they can point and say "see, it was a failure" and go balls deep in nation building? I'm not saying that's what will happen, I'm just not naive enough to rule it out. Personally we should be focusing on ourselves, especially with AI and our future, we should be doing the nation building here. Hard to do that when the world is constantly on fire and everyone wants you emotionally invested in ten crises at once. Again, im happy for them, just hoping this "transition" doesn't end up being another chapter where everyone swears they never supported it.

If nothing else this removes a key foothold in the region for Moscow. Removing the Marxist dictatorship was a necessary first step regardless of what happens in the future. I get the "focus on ourselves" mentality, but isolationism is only going lead to being surrounded by enemies.
 
In his press conference, Trump appears to imply that if Delcy Rodríguez doesn't 'do what's right' then she'll be killed.

He doesn't say "killed". He says it would be "bad for her" Worse than Maduro, he said. He's trying to scare her by being vague. If he didn't kill Maduro then he isn't going to kill Rodriguez.
 
He doesn't say "killed". He says it would be "bad for her" Worse than Maduro, he said. He's trying to scare her by being vague. If he didn't kill Maduro then he isn't going to kill Rodriguez.
"If she doesn't do what's right, [Rodríguez] is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,"

What price is greater than your freedom? I'm not sure another extraction operation would be on the cards.
 
"If she doesn't do what's right, [Rodríguez] is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,"

What price is greater than your freedom? I'm not sure another extraction operation would be on the cards.

Like I said, he is being purposefully vague. Either way, it seems she is cooperating privately while trying to "save face" publicly.


It's unclear how long Rodríguez will hold power, or how closely she will work with the Trump administration.

Geoff Ramsey, a senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, a Washington research institute, said Rodríguez's firm tone with the Trump administration may be an attempt to "save face." Others have noted that Maduro's capture required some level of collaboration within the Venezuelan government.

"She can't exactly expect to score points with her revolutionary peers if she presents herself as a patsy for U.S. interests," Ramsey said.

 
I'm guessing those shacks at the base of the hill are people's homes. Communism in a nutshell.
I was showing my wife that picture and the first thing she said was, "those poor bastards at the bottom of the hill will be smiling today".

Almost every country I went to, when you went out of the military base area, or the resort areas, this is how people live, day to day. Diseases, no running water, plumbing infrastructure, constant electricity, etc.

Never forget going to the backside of Guam, from Big Blue and when I went past the last money area, it was just rows of shacks nailed together in the thousands. Damn sad.
 
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Like I said, he is being purposefully vague. Either way, it seems she is cooperating privately while trying to "save face" publicly.


It's unclear how long Rodríguez will hold power, or how closely she will work with the Trump administration.

Geoff Ramsey, a senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, a Washington research institute, said Rodríguez's firm tone with the Trump administration may be an attempt to "save face." Others have noted that Maduro's capture required some level of collaboration within the Venezuelan government.

"She can't exactly expect to score points with her revolutionary peers if she presents herself as a patsy for U.S. interests," Ramsey said.

OK, semantics I guess ... but being 'purposely vague' to scare her is a pretty obvious threat that she will probably be killed if she doesn't comply, regardless of what is happening behind the scenes.
 
Yep. Taiwan is a modern, stable, successful democratic republic. Its people want to remain independent. They are not being oppressed. They are not aggressors or destabilizing their neighbors.

Completely different scenario. Anyone conflating the two is operating in bad faith.
Fair enough, but lets not pretend that US went to Venezuela just to take him out and free the people. We all know the next step. bring US companies to get their oil for dirt cheap. This is Iraq 2.0. one is mass destruction weapons that never existed, the other is the claim of majority of drugs in US from there. which.. is also not true lol.

Not saying what he did is wrong. One less dictator ruling something. Just saying it wasn't done for free lol.
 
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Fair enough, but lets not pretend that US went to Venezuela just to take him out and free the people. USA. We all know the next step. bring US companies to get their oil for dirt cheap. This is Iraq 2.0. one is mass destruction weapons that never existed, the other is the claim of majority of drugs in US from there. which.. is also not true lol.
Nah that's incorrect. Trump needs to declare a war and waste thousands of us servicemen lives and never really achieve anything before it's Iraq 2.0
 
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OK, semantics I guess ... but being 'purposely vague' to scare her is a pretty obvious threat that she will probably be killed if she doesn't comply, regardless of what is happening behind the scenes.

Nah. Wouldn't make a lot of sense to assassinate her after capturing Maduro. Trump's playing his games.
 
Nah that's incorrect thus far. Trump needs to declare a war and waste thousands of us servicemen lives before it's Iraq 2.0
Nah. I think US found a better way to deal with it since Iraq. They no longer send troops there in a dangerous area when its not needed. which is smart. Just put a government that cooperates with the US and becomes an ally.
 
Nah. I think US found a better way to deal with it since Iraq. They no longer send troops there in a dangerous area when its not needed. which is smart. Just put a government that cooperates with the US and becomes an ally.
Like Russia did with Venezuela before yesterday?
 
Like Russia did with Venezuela before yesterday?
I am unaware of what you are talking about. Care to share a link? I believe you are correct, and if I have to guess. Russia wants from the same pie the US does if what u r saying is true ( and China as well )

I am not being pro or against what the US did. If anything, it's great that a dictator is out. So that is positive news. Just hoping that country doesn't turn into more shit than it already is.
 
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Really doesn't. I don't care for Trump very much at all myself. I just don't dislike him enough to say him removing a known Marxist dictator is a bad thing just because it is Trump. And that's the crux of the problem here.
I think this event is another organic filter to see who's disingenuous and just larping for dopamine.

I don't really like what went down, but it is what it is. Maduros capture has people exposing themselves for what they are and these are the types who can't wait to express the political ideology online for the collective, virtual back patting that seems to be diminishing as the months go by.

Speaking of Taiwan



More random geopolitical theory as to what we might be doing

Israel randomly curiously recognized Somaliland as a country just last week, people wondered at the time why that might be

It's becoming clear they didn't do it for fun, there's a geopolitical game being played here

If the US officially recognizes Somaliland as a country soon we'll know why lol

Thanks. I needed to see this as I was also thinking there is a longer strategy at play here and it could be that it's not over.
Calling it one thing when it's for something else entirely isn't off the table with these things.
I feel your post could put things in a much better perspective, should the information pan out.

Edit: Hero of Spielberg Hero of Spielberg
Didn't mean to tag you. But I am also curious about the transition/nation building. They need to root out the corruption or it will mean nothing.
That and infrastructure, training individuals for jobs. It's a monumental task, however which way it's taken on.
 
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I am unaware of what you are talking about. Care to share a link? I believe you are correct, and if I have to guess. Russia wants from the same pie the US does if what u r saying is true ( and China as well )

I am not being pro or against what the US did. If anything, it's great that a dictator is out. So that is positive news. Just hoping that country doesn't turn into more shit than it already is.
It was very well known that Maduro's regime was propped up by allied nations such as Russia, China, Cuba, Iran, and Turkey all who provide economic and diplomatic support. Just google it if you want some links.
 
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Sounds like things are already happening


Appears the regime will remain in power.

Along with a "dramatic shift in tone". Going to be interesting to see how this plays out.


"We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence," Rodriguez wrote in an online post.

She had delivered speeches projecting fierce defiance to the Trump administration earlier in the weekend and called for the U.S. to release Maduro. But her statement in English on her Instagram account marked a dramatic shift in tone.
 
Along with a "dramatic shift in tone". Going to be interesting to see how this plays out.


"We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence," Rodriguez wrote in an online post.

She had delivered speeches projecting fierce defiance to the Trump administration earlier in the weekend and called for the U.S. to release Maduro. But her statement in English on her Instagram account marked a dramatic shift in tone.
And Rubio clarifying that US won't be 'running' Venezuela too. Deals have been made.
 
I was showing my wife that picture and the first thing she said was, "those poor bastards at the bottom of the hill will be smiling today".

Almost every country I went to, when you went out of the military base area, or the resort areas, this is how people live, day to day. Diseases, no running water, plumbing infrastructure, constant electricity, etc.

Never forget going to the backside of Guam, from Big Blue and when I went past the last money area, it was just rows of shacks nailed together in the thousands. Damn sad.
If only the US could do something about the rulers of Guam. /s
 
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I was showing my wife that picture and the first thing she said was, "those poor bastards at the bottom of the hill will be smiling today".

Almost every country I went to, when you went out of the military base area, or the resort areas, this is how people live, day to day. Diseases, no running water, plumbing infrastructure, constant electricity, etc.

Never forget going to the backside of Guam, from Big Blue and when I went past the last money area, it was just rows of shacks nailed together in the thousands. Damn sad.
There are favelas like that even in the most beautiful South American cities. Most people already know about Rio's notorious favelas, but I was in Buenos Aires last year, even stood in almost the exact same spot in front of the obelisk that you saw videos of celebrating Venezuelan crowds yesterday, and there's a random favela right next to the international airport there surrounded on all sides by the rest of the city

Buenos Aires is a stunningly beautiful city and still there are favelas on its outskirts and in random spots within it. The barrio which surrounds the home stadium of Boca Juniors there is a remarkably poor part of the city and it has a reputation for being dangerous and even so there is an enormous gleaming blue stadium rising up out of that neighborhood seemingly unconnected to the poverty around it. South America is a wild place
 
Maybe Freedom Convoy protesters who had their bank accounts seized for daring to question that shitberg Trudeau will have the last laugh....
 
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