Trump, just now: Military action not off the table for Venezuela

[Coraxion]

Venezuela has not threatened our country. If Trump is even considering this, it has to do with oil reserves and trying to get them under his company's control.

Indeed. Of course the whores of the fossil fuel industry want to annex the world's largest proven oil reserves.

[Matty]

Lots of fake outrage in this thread

America, quite literally, has a "military option" for every nation in the world

Saying we will use military "if necessary" is an empty statement

[Dr. Arch]

Lots of fake outrage in this thread

America, quite literally, has a "military option" for every nation in the world

Saying we will use military "if necessary" is an empty statement

Way to cover your ears and eyes.

[DrScholl]

Lots of fake outrage in this thread

America, quite literally, has a "military option" for every nation in the world

Saying we will use military "if necessary" is an empty statement

There is no reason to discuss military action against any country that is not threatening the United States.

[Matty]

Lots of fake outrage in this thread

America, quite literally, has a "military option" for every nation in the world

Saying we will use military "if necessary" is an empty statement

There is no reason to discuss military action against any country that is not threatening the United States.

Very naive worldview!!

[ProudModerate2]

Lots of fake outrage in this thread
America, quite literally, has a "military option" for every nation in the world
Saying we will use military "if necessary" is an empty statement

There is no reason to discuss military action against any country that is not threatening the United States.

Very naive worldview!!

Yes, your opinion (marty)  is very naïve.

[Mike Thick]

It doesn't matter if we have a military option -- you don't say that in a situation where the dictator is justifying his actions by railing against American imperialism and there's no immediately foreseeable need for intervention.

[adrac]

I saw this somewhere else and I thought it was a meme.

[TheSaint250]

It doesn't matter if we have a military option -- you don't say that in a situation where the dictator is justifying his actions by railing against American imperialism and there's no immediately foreseeable need for intervention.

Yeah this is a very good point.

This might help strengthen Maduro's allies. Doubt it would convert any anti-Madurai Venezuelans but it might make them more wary of the US

[GeorgiaModerate]

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Max is a good guy to follow for national security and foreign relations.

[Xing]

But I thought Trump was a dove!!!! /s

This is either an attempt at a distraction, or Trump is hoping that military action is going to help his approval ratings.

[Daniel909012]

But I thought Trump was a dove!!!! /s

This is either an attempt at a distraction, or Trump is hoping that military action is going to help his approval ratings.

Bill clinton in haiti? Maximum Hypocrisy

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

It's the narcissism again.
He sees the news where they show him talking "tough" (supposedly) about North Korea, and he gets a major hard-on from that.
So like a 13-year child, he continues to talk in this manner to get more attention, but thinks nothing about the consequences of his neurotic words.
The man is very mentally ill !

Trump may articulate these issues at a 3rd grade level and through the medium of his narcissistic brain rage posting on Twitter and attention whoring for the media, but Trump's policies represent large financial and powerful interests within the United States. His Administration does nothing without having an underlying motivation for it - one which is obscured by the Democrats' and media's obsessions over his personal antics. If North Korea is attacked or Venezuela is invaded, it's not simply because Trump threw a tantrum - it was calculated, intentional, and aimed at achieving specific foreign policy objectives that advance particular American financial and power interests.

Trump is a mentally ill man who would be a very poor president even if he were sane. That's the reality. Sure, powerful interests may influence the government  in various ways. But seeing some sort of Illuminati-like plot behind his nonsense is just searching for comfort in some sort of order rather than acknowledging the reality: the Republican Party and their fellow travelers have put a stupid madman in charge of the most powerful military and economic engine in history.


http://time.com/3997033/conspiracy-theories/

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[HisGrace]

Good thing we didn't elect KILLARY president who would have invaded every nation on Earth within 72 hours of her inauguration.

It doesn't matter if we have a military option -- you don't say that in a situation where the dictator is justifying his actions by railing against American imperialism and there's no immediately foreseeable need for intervention.

Strategic thought isn't what Trump does.

[Blue3]

Trump needs to take a nap until this warmongering fad has gotten old for him. Dear god.

 (But remember what Trump said, Hillary is the big bad interventionist hawk, she might bomb Assad's forces in Syria...)

[JA]

Trump is a mentally ill man who would be a very poor president even if he were sane. That's the reality. Sure, powerful interests may influence the government  in various ways. But seeing some sort of Illuminati-like plot behind his nonsense is just searching for comfort in some sort of order rather than acknowledging the reality: the Republican Party and their fellow travelers have put a stupid madman in charge of the most powerful military and economic engine in history.


http://time.com/3997033/conspiracy-theories/

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Who's talking about conspiracy theories? What I said is about as conspiratorial as saying America's domestic policy is primarily driven by lobbyists, donors, and other influential financial figures and institutions. The same applies to our foreign policy. Follow the connections between Trump advisors, administration officials, and who'd benefit from X foreign policy. To honestly believe our foreign policy is entirely at the whim of Trump and unmoored from any particular objectives is either naive or stupid; your choice.

[Kingpoleon]

I mean, I'd agree if we weren't allies with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the Philippines...

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

This man is bat sh*t crazy. The amount of destruction he is capable of bringing to this world is really terrifying.

[Mike Thick]

It doesn't matter if we have a military option -- you don't say that in a situation where the dictator is justifying his actions by railing against American imperialism and there's no immediately foreseeable need for intervention.

Strategic thought isn't what Trump does.

It's extremely unfortunate that basic policy strategy is too much to expect at this point.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

Nikki Haley's face during the press conference was all of America... Terrified, worried, unsure.

[Confused Democrat]

It's the narcissism again.
He sees the news where they show him talking "tough" (supposedly) about North Korea, and he gets a major hard-on from that.
So like a 13-year child, he continues to talk in this manner to get more attention, but thinks nothing about the consequences of his neurotic words.
The man is very mentally ill !

Trump may articulate these issues at a 3rd grade level and through the medium of his narcissistic brain rage posting on Twitter and attention whoring for the media, but Trump's policies represent large financial and powerful interests within the United States. His Administration does nothing without having an underlying motivation for it - one which is obscured by the Democrats' and media's obsessions over his personal antics. If North Korea is attacked or Venezuela is invaded, it's not simply because Trump threw a tantrum - it was calculated, intentional, and aimed at achieving specific foreign policy objectives that advance particular American financial and power interests.

You're giving Trump FAR too much credit here.

[Yank2133]

The timing of this is incredibly stupid.

What is Trump even trying to accomplish?

My best guess is nothing. Remember, Trump's default response is that of the kid who didn't study the material and definitely didn't do his homework called up in front of the class to answer a question. His thought process may look something like this:

Venezuela, Venezuela, yeah, yeah, they're a mess right now, we don't get along with them. This Maduro guy, I haven't met him, he's the wrong kind of dictator. He hasn't groveled for me at all.  What would Obama do? I don't know. I don't know what these reporters are talking about. Obama probably wouldn't do something military. Military has been working good for me lately. Syria, very Presidential. North Korea, poll numbers up. Don't wanna commit to anything though, never commit yourself. Oh man they're all staring at me.

"We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option, if necessary." Yeah, got 'em by surprise! They weren't expecting that! Boom, more attention to how hugely presidential I am!

Exactly.

There is never any really rhyme or reason with Trump. The man is level 5 moron. This is what many of us feared about when he won election.

His racism and bigotry is a problem, but his stupidity is dangerous and can get people killed.

[AtorBoltox]

B..B..But I was told that Trump is a dove!

[Spark]

Not sure if that is even necessary IMO.

[Mike Thick]

Not sure if that is even necessary IMO.

Oh, it's totally unnecessary. Maduro has screwed up his country enough without our help, and any action beyond sanctions on individual officials (and maybe not even that) lets him scapegoat us for his country's problems and cement the still-present Chavismo base.