Posted on 08/26/2017 9:41:12 AM PDT by Oatka
(Videos at site)
Venezuela kicks off two days of military drills on Saturday in response to US President Donald Trump's threat of military action and newly announced sanctions on the crisis-stricken nation.
Trump warned on August 11 that the United States was mulling a range of options against Venezuela, "including a possible military option if necessary."
His Vice President Mike Pence later played down the threat, insisting that Washington was prioritizing a diplomatic solution and economic sanctions.
National security advisor HR McMaster followed suit, saying "no military actions are anticipated in the near future."
But tension only surged again when the White House made good on the sanctions threat on Friday, unveiling its first-ever sanctions to target Venezuela as a whole, rather than just Maduro and his inner circle.
That could choke off access to New York debt markets and substantially raise the likelihood of Venezuela being forced into default.
"We will protect our people and the people of the republic, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, are going to stand up," said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza.
Trump's threat of military force has bolstered Maduro's oft-repeated claim that Washington is plotting to topple him and wants to grab control of Venezuela's oil -- the largest proven reserves in the world.
Maduro is under international pressure over his handling of an economic and political crisis.
The socialist president is resisting opposition calls for early elections to replace him.
The center right-led opposition and international powers including the US say he is turning Venezuela into a dictatorship.
Maduro's opponents accuse military police and pro-Maduro militia of beating and killing anti-government protesters. Protest clashes have left 125 people dead so far this year, according to prosecutors.
Maduro says the violence and the economic crisis are a US-backed conspiracy.
Maduro, the political heir to the late Hugo Chavez, has managed to hang onto power through it all, despite food shortages and social upheaval.
His grip is largely thanks to the support of the military, which holds vast powers in his government, including over food distribution. The opposition has repeatedly called on the army to abandon Maduro -- so far to no avail.
He has only faced low-level dissent, such as from the two rebel officers who staged a raid on an army base this month.
On Thursday, the president issued a stern warning to the armed forces not to break ranks.
"We must be clear, especially for the youth in the military, that we must close ranks within the homeland -- that this is no time for any fissures and that those with doubts should leave the armed forces immediately," he said in a speech to the top military brass.
"You are with Trump and the imperialists, or you are with the Bolivarian national armed forces and the homeland," he added. "Never before has Venezuela been threatened in such a way."
Maduro's critics accuse him of coopting the military with top cabinet posts, as well as hijacking state institutions, such as by installing a new constituent assembly packed with loyalists.
Cuba does this, they have drills everyday and tell Cubans the Americans are going to invade. The people work hard every day to defend themselves from an invasion that never came.
If we ever had to get in a shooting match with Venezuela, we should drop leaflets on their Soldiers that entitle the bearer to one free run through the line at our Mess Tent if they surrender.
The war would be over in an hour.
The “boogieman” principle.
One MOAB on one palacial compound overlooking Caracas and it’s over.
Why would we go to war with Venezuela?
Just drop rolls of toilet paper. That’ll wipe out their army. No pun intended....yeh right.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Russia's push into Ukraine has put many on edge. But less known is that Russia is also strengthening its military links south of the Rio Grande and re-establishing itself as a power in the region.
Vladimir Putin has been strengthening military links here, and Russia is now the largest arms dealer to governments in Latin America, surpassing the United States.
Russia has even floated the possibility of building new military bases in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and putting its warships permanently in the Caribbean.
In the midst of the Ukraine crisis, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov recently visited Cuba, Peru, Chile, and Nicaragua, where he announced that Russia would also pour money into the new Central American canal project. ..."
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140508/russian-arms-military-trade-latin-america
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BY: Bill Gertz
February 20, 2015
Russia agreed to provide military training for three leftist regimes in Latin America and increase military visits and exercises following a visit last week to the region by Moscow's Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, Pentagon officials said.
Shoygu met with defense and military leaders in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and signed several agreements on warship visits and military training during the visit, which ran from Feb. 11 to 14. It is not clear whether any new arms deals were completed during the visit.
Defense officials said the Russian leader is seeking bases in the region for strategic bomber flights that Shoygu recently promised would include flights over the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russia-boosts-arms-training-for-leftist-latin-militaries/
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“Despite efforts by the United Nations to impose isolating sanctions on North Korea in response to the country’s continued development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, trade between Russia and North Korea soared more than 85 percent in the first four months of the year.”
http://www.dw.com/en/russia-steps-up-north-korea-support-to-constrain-us/a-38867861
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From the Sino-Russian Joint Statement of April 23, 1997:
"The two sides [China and Russia] shall, in the spirit of partnership, strive to promote the multipolarization of the world and the establishment of a new international order."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/HI29Ag01.html
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"Joint war games are a logical outcome of the Sino-Russian Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed in 2001, and reflect the shared worldview and growing economic ties between the two Eastern Hemisphere giants."
http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2005/09/war-games-russia-china-grow-alliance
I've read that WWI happened, in part, due to the sabre rattling on both sides.
Mobilization wasn't cheap, and since they felt it was necessary to mobilize...might as well not let it go to "waste".
“Cuba does this, they have drills everyday and tell Cubans the Americans are going to invade. The people work hard every day to defend themselves from an invasion that never came.”
You’d think after 60 years, they would have figured it out. Actually, we should have made good on an invasion, but JFK managed to Eff that up. You can bet that Russia would not allow something like Cuba to exist as close as it is.
When you consider the covfefe people have to deal with in places like Ukraine and Poland, probably generated by the CIA, it’s hard to fault them for keeping us out.
Surrender to the Americans - free buffet.
War games cost money and supplies. Something I can’t think they have.
that is hilarious
Venezuela today is what Chile would have looked like if Alliende had not been removed from power.
But don’t worry! The socialist Communists will do it right “next time!”
Toilet paper?
The photo of the soldier with his ammo out in the elements, bad idea. And don’t believe all the bs about firing when full of sand and mud.
He used the cardboard box the ammunition was packed in for TP.
Noooooo. Keep our Army out of conflict in countries south of our southern border. Public affairs messes down there have only been made worse over the past few decades by our globalism-obsessed business interest lobbies. There are no good parties to side with down there—only hard fascism versus hard communism.
Also, notice the incidents where young men were accused and set on fire by political activist protesters. That’s always wrong. It’s something we don’t want in the U.S.A. There are no real “assets” from down there.
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