Just because so many countries agree that Venezuelan dictator Maduro has to go doesn't mean that it's a good idea to start a war.
The weekend's confrontation at the border with Colombia did not break troops loyal to Maduro (WashPost). There are no signs of diplomats or intermediaries doing anything to negotiate an agreement with the military or with Maduro. How about offering Maduro a villa in Brazil or the south of France?
Our Chief Diplomat! Secy. of State Pompeo has declared that Maduro's days are numbered. But where is he doing the counting? Presumably he will be monitoring Trump's exchanges with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, hoping that the president doesn't give away the store in exchange for license to build a golf course in No. Korea.
Instead, VP Pence (the man who will be president if Trump goes) is in Colombia to put more cards on the table. The NYTimes account of Pence's speech in Warsaw threatening our European allies if they don't get tough on Iran shows what an idiot Pence is. Apparently even Pompeo thinks so. So why send Pence?
Here's hoping the U.S. military is saying, "no way."
Venezuela looks like a great opportunity for disaster capitalism. A populace on the ropes. A nationalized oil industry to be privatized at bargain rates. The sooner the Annointed One becomes unelected president of Venezuela, the sooner the big bucks will be made.
ReplyDeleteBut, Lamont, I still don't understand why Trump would be roughhousing with Maduro if it is going to be another example of "gunboat diplomacy." I thought we were embarrassed about that. And another thing: Maduro is no sweetheart, but didn't our leader parade in his new shirt given to him by Duterte, who has killed more people personally than Maduro?
ReplyDeleteHeh heh heh, Well, Margot, there is just no explaining the mysteries of Trumpland.
In one way I think we should just stay out of it. But the humanitarian situation is a disaster, there are people dying or in danger of death. I still don't think military force is the way to do it. I think diplomacy could be used to pressure them to let in the aid that's sitting there close at hand already. But the Trump administration don't need no stinkin' diplomacy.
ReplyDeleteI think Mike (No sus)Pence going down there and making threats is what the administration thinks diplomacy is. Pence's demeanor and content were not much different from his Superior Officer's when that gentleman lectured our European allies in situ. And it's pretty much Mike Pompeo's style
DeleteMaybe Pence is what passes for diplomacy in Latin America! The NYTimes account of his speech in Munich to our (former) European allies didn't pass muster with Angela & Co., nor with Pompeo, even if he tends to the "bluster buster" style.
ReplyDeleteSorry, make that the speech in Warsaw. If he was in Munich, and if he did speak, that was no doubt an affront as well. Will the United States ever recover from this troop of ignorant bullies?
DeleteProbably not. Did you see the 60 Minutes segment Sunday about the Chinese company that is making a run at Tesla? The Chinse want electric vehicles ($13,000 tax break if you buy one because of air pollution, something else we don't believe in), and the Europeans want them. But our ignorant bullies only love oil and coal. Coal is very nice. And oil. So let's all stomp out Tesla so China can have the roads to itself. C'mon, Appalachia, who loves ya? (even though they want to take away your black lung payments).
DeleteWell, some billionaires, though over the top, like to bring on revolutionary technologies like electric cars, hyperloop trains, rockets into space that land on their butts like a 50's scifi movie. Other purported billionaires build casinos that fail, tacky resorts for the rich, golf courses. I'm no fan of billionaires in general, but I know which I prefer. Meanwhile, our steampunk president is supporting the cutting age technologies of the 18th century.
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