The legality argument IMO is bad when you deal with a dictator. It's great that Maduro is out, the problem is that the reason why Trump loves other dictators but captured Maduro is oil. He wants Venezuela to trade a Venezuelan dictator with a foreign one that wants to deplete them of their resources. That's what the focus should be on. Otherwise we go back to the same issue of Democrats focusing on norms rather than substance
This whole Administration is criminal. I do not recall Trump running on appropriating Venezuela's oil...
With his pardon of the former President o Honduras, who was properly condemned in a Court of Law for bringing in TONS , yes, I said "TONS" of cocaine in our country, we knew that Drug enforcement had nothing to do with his illegal invasion of Venezuela.
Regime change? yeah, maybe... But the real brass ring is the very rich oil fields as, only hours after illegally kidnapping a Foreign leader, Trump stated that they would rule Venezuela until it was safe to leave. Really?
Foreign interest was initially sparked around World War I, with British and Dutch companies, such as the Royal Dutch/Shell Corporation, securing early exploration rights from the dictator General Juan Vicente Gómez.
In 1922, very large deposits were discovered and well moneyed interests started to invest heavily in the oil fields of Venezuela.
So much so that pretty soon, 98% of companies pulling the oil out were foreign companies..
On January 1, 1976, President Carlos Andrés Pérez, made a broad nationalistic effort to regain economic sovereignty over its natural resources and expropriated all foreign oil companies.
Were they compensated? Hmmm.. yes, but how do you come to a perfect agreement with so many Foreign oil companies when you may not know just how many more riches the oil fields can offer... Venezuela offered compensation in the 1970s for nationalized oil assets, primarily through cash and 6% government bonds, but many foreign companies found the offers inadequate, leading to disputes, while others accepted, operating under new terms with the state-owned oil giant, PDVSA. (Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.)
This is what Trump is seeking to revive: The dispute over the compensation given to all these companies, most of them American.
Not long ago, as soon as someone mentioned the oil fields of Venezuela, I knew what the Felon was up to.
trump is an international criminal and should be treated as such. If he had any sympathies for Venezuela or an interest in seeing a regime change, he would hand over the country to Edmund Gonzalez Urrutia, the winner of the last election there before Maduro refused to accept the results, and then back off and leave the newly elected President to handle his country. trump will do nothing of the sort, being the lying authoritarian putin wannabe that he is.
We absolutely must win the majorities in both houses of Congress in 2026 and make sure the winners take their place in power. trump will do everything he can not to give up his criminal spree. We can't let him get away with this illegal behavior. He must be brought down and removed from power.
The primary process will be absolutely essential to ensuring that we have democrats in office willing to actually hold Trump and his collaborators accountable. Statements like the one from Hakeem Jeffries do little to inspire confidence that we have that sort of leadership right, so the first big battle of 2026 will be as much internal as anything else.
This is so very true. There are far too many Dems who are complacent, satisfied by their state and not willing to make the changes necessary for all people. They must go. I continue to get young people registered to vote, but make it a point to encourage them to run for office, emphasizing their ability to make the changes they seek. I've been reading about some of the newcomers running for office in the country, some that instill hope and change. I hope there are serious changes in party leadership in 2026.
The legality argument IMO is bad when you deal with a dictator. It's great that Maduro is out, the problem is that the reason why Trump loves other dictators but captured Maduro is oil. He wants Venezuela to trade a Venezuelan dictator with a foreign one that wants to deplete them of their resources. That's what the focus should be on. Otherwise we go back to the same issue of Democrats focusing on norms rather than substance
And another point: Trump has gone around the bend: He is drunk on his own power (so is little Peter H, by the way).
That's when very serious mistakes start to accumulate very rapidly in the life of a Dictator.
It's a kind of drunkenness, because just like folks who are addicted to alcohol, "One glass is too much and 10 glasses still are not enough".
Are you all aware of how many countries our Felon has attacked, just in 2025?
SEVEN!
Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq Syria, and now, Venezuela.
SEVEN...in one year!
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/31/how-many-countries-has-trump-bombed-in-2025
Those are physical attacks. but many more have been threatened:
Canada, the Panama Canal, the Gaza strip, Greenland, and now, he just stated that he US would administer Venezuela... at least for a while...
He's gone daft. The guy is certifiable, ready for the rubber room and the straightjacket!!
This whole Administration is criminal. I do not recall Trump running on appropriating Venezuela's oil...
With his pardon of the former President o Honduras, who was properly condemned in a Court of Law for bringing in TONS , yes, I said "TONS" of cocaine in our country, we knew that Drug enforcement had nothing to do with his illegal invasion of Venezuela.
Regime change? yeah, maybe... But the real brass ring is the very rich oil fields as, only hours after illegally kidnapping a Foreign leader, Trump stated that they would rule Venezuela until it was safe to leave. Really?
Foreign interest was initially sparked around World War I, with British and Dutch companies, such as the Royal Dutch/Shell Corporation, securing early exploration rights from the dictator General Juan Vicente Gómez.
In 1922, very large deposits were discovered and well moneyed interests started to invest heavily in the oil fields of Venezuela.
So much so that pretty soon, 98% of companies pulling the oil out were foreign companies..
On January 1, 1976, President Carlos Andrés Pérez, made a broad nationalistic effort to regain economic sovereignty over its natural resources and expropriated all foreign oil companies.
Were they compensated? Hmmm.. yes, but how do you come to a perfect agreement with so many Foreign oil companies when you may not know just how many more riches the oil fields can offer... Venezuela offered compensation in the 1970s for nationalized oil assets, primarily through cash and 6% government bonds, but many foreign companies found the offers inadequate, leading to disputes, while others accepted, operating under new terms with the state-owned oil giant, PDVSA. (Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.)
This is what Trump is seeking to revive: The dispute over the compensation given to all these companies, most of them American.
Not long ago, as soon as someone mentioned the oil fields of Venezuela, I knew what the Felon was up to.
I'm sorry I was right...
trump is an international criminal and should be treated as such. If he had any sympathies for Venezuela or an interest in seeing a regime change, he would hand over the country to Edmund Gonzalez Urrutia, the winner of the last election there before Maduro refused to accept the results, and then back off and leave the newly elected President to handle his country. trump will do nothing of the sort, being the lying authoritarian putin wannabe that he is.
We absolutely must win the majorities in both houses of Congress in 2026 and make sure the winners take their place in power. trump will do everything he can not to give up his criminal spree. We can't let him get away with this illegal behavior. He must be brought down and removed from power.
The primary process will be absolutely essential to ensuring that we have democrats in office willing to actually hold Trump and his collaborators accountable. Statements like the one from Hakeem Jeffries do little to inspire confidence that we have that sort of leadership right, so the first big battle of 2026 will be as much internal as anything else.
This is so very true. There are far too many Dems who are complacent, satisfied by their state and not willing to make the changes necessary for all people. They must go. I continue to get young people registered to vote, but make it a point to encourage them to run for office, emphasizing their ability to make the changes they seek. I've been reading about some of the newcomers running for office in the country, some that instill hope and change. I hope there are serious changes in party leadership in 2026.