Even US invasions planned, staffed, and organized by "the best and the brightest" in time go FUBAR, as post-WWII history can readily attest. Now, if the tRump misfits and fuck-ups reckon that THEY have a handle on carrying out a "successful" military invasion of a sovereign country that demonstrably is NOT a threat to the US, we truly are in deep shit. Belief in their own competency and reasoning when evidence to the contrary is so palpable and firmly established is a recipe for monumental failure and consequences far beyond the control of the tRump gang.
But, as has been true since tRump 2.0 kicked off in late January, who's to stop them? As gangs of militarized goon squads terrorize many of our cities, the courts can only do so much, as rulings go ignored and squadristi move elsewhere to conduct violent operations. And where is Congress as the DOD, under orders originating SOMEWHERE from within the WH, but in tRump's name, whip up the military in a reprise of the Monroe Doctrine something-something?
The worst part of all these tRumpy initiatives, from tariffs, mass deportations, military adventurism, purging of the Civil Service, etc., is that so little thought — pure thought — has been given to the outcomes of these actions, both near- and long-term; and surely as god made little green apples, the killings and war-mongering in the Caribbean is heading for FUBAR territory quick-smart, OLC memos notwithstanding.
holy shit dude, just call him Trump. These cutesy nicknames are so much less clever than you think. Stopped reading the comment based on that. Like I hate Trump and that's cringe even to me
I think the WHY THE FUCK ARE WE REALLY DOING THIS question has some bearing on the situation. I read a blog yesterday that tries to get to the bottom of it all. Where is the intelligence coming from regarding Venezuela? I guess you’ll be shocked to hear it appears to be a situation Americans have become painfully familiar with - some asshole with an ax to grind gets visibility within the halls of American power and voila! We have a reason to trash another country based on their “insider knowledge”. It’s even more grotesque because it’s all tied up with the losers from 2020 (Rudy, Sidney Powell, Patrick Byrne, etc). A wild ride. You can read it all here. https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/trump-got-venezuela-intel-from-team?
Reminds me of the Bush administration's complete lack of an executable plan for Iraq after ousting Sadaam Hussein. They forget real people live in these countries.
Lance Khrome's comment ties together two of DD's running themes:
1) No one in his right mind makes foreign policy this way, and
2) Trump's "mandate" is mostly in his own mind, but he wields it effectively. The Madman Theory reaches out to disarm his supporters and confound his critics.
Where is the little boy who cried: "But he has no clothes on!"
Where is the little boy who cried: "But he has no clothes on!"
Yes where is that one person who is brave enough to criticize Trump where will this deeply courageous individual who has never appeared up till now show up
Well you’re not this Administration and neither am I. I am merely trying to understand the thought process that would lead to the U.S. threatening Venezuela with a force comparably sized to what we put off Libya.
His 75 vehicle convoy was stopped on the road via a drone strike (a US Predator controlled from Las Vegas) and then he was killed by rebel forces. Thats not really disputed.
It's important to remember that following orders is not a legal defence. This should end at The Hague for senior officials of the Trump regime, and people down the chain of command. Duterte is waiting for them.
I remember the debate on the ICC very well. Bush wasn't a big fan of international law back then either. The difference now is that Trump could very well actually try to break people free from the prison at The Hague. It's Duterte's only shot at freedom, actually. 🤔 They're very similar in many ways so the chances are not zero. 🙃
Professor Daniel W. Drezner: The JOHN-ROBERTS-COURT has so bought the "Unitary Executive" theory -- embodied by Dick Nixon, "If the President does it, that means it is not illegal" -- so that Right-Wing Lawyers believe DJT's war-acts are not reviewable, despite of Constitutional and Congressional limitations.
We have devolved from the Lynchpin of NATO to the Naval and Air Aggressor in Venezuela.
DJT produces a Theater of the Absurd with dark, tragic consequences.
Even US invasions planned, staffed, and organized by "the best and the brightest" in time go FUBAR, as post-WWII history can readily attest. Now, if the tRump misfits and fuck-ups reckon that THEY have a handle on carrying out a "successful" military invasion of a sovereign country that demonstrably is NOT a threat to the US, we truly are in deep shit. Belief in their own competency and reasoning when evidence to the contrary is so palpable and firmly established is a recipe for monumental failure and consequences far beyond the control of the tRump gang.
But, as has been true since tRump 2.0 kicked off in late January, who's to stop them? As gangs of militarized goon squads terrorize many of our cities, the courts can only do so much, as rulings go ignored and squadristi move elsewhere to conduct violent operations. And where is Congress as the DOD, under orders originating SOMEWHERE from within the WH, but in tRump's name, whip up the military in a reprise of the Monroe Doctrine something-something?
The worst part of all these tRumpy initiatives, from tariffs, mass deportations, military adventurism, purging of the Civil Service, etc., is that so little thought — pure thought — has been given to the outcomes of these actions, both near- and long-term; and surely as god made little green apples, the killings and war-mongering in the Caribbean is heading for FUBAR territory quick-smart, OLC memos notwithstanding.
holy shit dude, just call him Trump. These cutesy nicknames are so much less clever than you think. Stopped reading the comment based on that. Like I hate Trump and that's cringe even to me
I think the WHY THE FUCK ARE WE REALLY DOING THIS question has some bearing on the situation. I read a blog yesterday that tries to get to the bottom of it all. Where is the intelligence coming from regarding Venezuela? I guess you’ll be shocked to hear it appears to be a situation Americans have become painfully familiar with - some asshole with an ax to grind gets visibility within the halls of American power and voila! We have a reason to trash another country based on their “insider knowledge”. It’s even more grotesque because it’s all tied up with the losers from 2020 (Rudy, Sidney Powell, Patrick Byrne, etc). A wild ride. You can read it all here. https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/trump-got-venezuela-intel-from-team?
Reminds me of the Bush administration's complete lack of an executable plan for Iraq after ousting Sadaam Hussein. They forget real people live in these countries.
You express a doubt whether we're going to live through this. Does anyone in South America have nukes?
Do we have constitutional government? That’s what we might not live through
Any similarities with Vietnam here?
Would it not be easier to reduce demand?
In fact, what drives demand for drugs?
What are the main benefits to consumers of drugs?
I would argue for legitimising drugs and changing health insurance premiums accordingly, just like for alcohol and tobacco consumption.
Also, I would change lots of other rules & regulations such as driver's licences, etc. to reflect the free use of drugs.
That might possibly save a lot of money, especially if you make consumers aware of the financial cost of using drugs.
They don't give a shit about drugs that's just the pretext c'mon man keep up
Lance Khrome's comment ties together two of DD's running themes:
1) No one in his right mind makes foreign policy this way, and
2) Trump's "mandate" is mostly in his own mind, but he wields it effectively. The Madman Theory reaches out to disarm his supporters and confound his critics.
Where is the little boy who cried: "But he has no clothes on!"
Where is the little boy who cried: "But he has no clothes on!"
Yes where is that one person who is brave enough to criticize Trump where will this deeply courageous individual who has never appeared up till now show up
I think the Admin’s model for this operation is 2011’s Odyssey Dawn. Qaddafi was killed in a drone strike that barely cost the U.S. anything.
I don't think the policy that turned a stable country into an anarchic hellhole is the best plan to go with
Depends how you feel about anarchy? A terror to be avoided or an environment favorable to novel actions.
Yeah I prefer stable countries over CIA playgrounds and slave markets. Makes sense that an AI person would see this as a good thing, what a freak
Well you’re not this Administration and neither am I. I am merely trying to understand the thought process that would lead to the U.S. threatening Venezuela with a force comparably sized to what we put off Libya.
Gaddafi wasn't killed by a drone strike so maybe you can work this out in silence next time
His 75 vehicle convoy was stopped on the road via a drone strike (a US Predator controlled from Las Vegas) and then he was killed by rebel forces. Thats not really disputed.
It's important to remember that following orders is not a legal defence. This should end at The Hague for senior officials of the Trump regime, and people down the chain of command. Duterte is waiting for them.
America would invade the Hague to extradite any US soldiers in custody there, we passed a law about it
Probably. The US is big on impunity these days.
I remember the debate on the ICC very well. Bush wasn't a big fan of international law back then either. The difference now is that Trump could very well actually try to break people free from the prison at The Hague. It's Duterte's only shot at freedom, actually. 🤔 They're very similar in many ways so the chances are not zero. 🙃
....the law was passed in 2002
This is an armed conflict and Congress has barely seen anything like this memo but the War Powers Resolution does not apply. Got it.
I read the original story but spouse has not been trained from the torture memos to pay extreme attention when an OLC memo is talked about
Professor Daniel W. Drezner: The JOHN-ROBERTS-COURT has so bought the "Unitary Executive" theory -- embodied by Dick Nixon, "If the President does it, that means it is not illegal" -- so that Right-Wing Lawyers believe DJT's war-acts are not reviewable, despite of Constitutional and Congressional limitations.
We have devolved from the Lynchpin of NATO to the Naval and Air Aggressor in Venezuela.
DJT produces a Theater of the Absurd with dark, tragic consequences.
And how does Russia factor in?
Upon seeing the headline
I immediately thought
Which one?
". . . a few people are thinking through the topic at a range of institutions . . ."
This happened before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, too. The administration didn't pay any attention to it then either.
Someone already forgot how the Iraq War went