USA air bombing Venezuela's Capital (Maduro has been 'captured and flown out)

[arista]

First Title : USA Marines Siezes 3 Oil Tankers in Venezuela Waters

This could have been sold to Cuba.
Iran could even own it.


USA Marine Troops landed on the Ship from helicopters.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/12/10/22/104623581-15372421-Footage_released_by_the_Trump_administration_on_We dnesday_showed-m-48_1765406778535.jpg


This is all to do with illegal drugs going into the USA.



CNN USA on UK TV.


Venezuela says this is Robbery.


https://news.sky.com/story/us-forces-seize-oil-tanker-off-coast-of-venezuela-reports-13481897

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy07yk63x80t


https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/12/10/20/104620021-15372421-image-a-15_1765399265986.jpg
[President Trump has positioned a fleet of Naval
warships across the
Caribbean Sea around Venezuela]


[When asked about what the US will do
with the oil seized from the
Venezuelan tanker, Trump said, 'We keep it.'

This week's seizure marks the first
time the Trump administration has
moved to interfere with the
country's oil distribution amid the
hostile pressure campaign.

When a reporter on Wednesday asked Trump
about who owns the seized oil tanker,
the President responded,
'You'll get that information later.'

Venezuela's main source of annual
revenue comes from oil exports abroad
to Russia, China, and other Caribbean nations.]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15372421/Trumps-warships-seize-Venezuelan-oil-tanker-sparking-blockade-fears-escalation.html

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-8e6a4037-1c75-4548-8e64-a457dcf1d11c.jpeg

[emseateng2014]

at least it was like a 1980s action movie style mission where usa sent spiecial forces like john mcclaine ben richards korban dallas john rambo dutch schaefer and douglas quaid to find the oil tanker

[arista]

The USA now has 3 Oil Tankers.

Taken from Venezuela's control

Meanwhile, thousands of USA Troops have arrived
in Puerto Rico.


Ref : Ch4 News

[arista]

Good on Sky News
Have Stuart Ramsey there inside the Troubled Nation

https://news.sky.com/video/on-the-ground-in-venezuela-as-us-threats-continue-to-escalate-13486220

2mins report.+

[arista]

CNN USA on UK TV
reported today,

The CIA Drone Bombed
a Port Facility in Venezuela


https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/29/politics/cia-drone-strike-venezuela

[arista]

This is getting worse

5 Americans in Venezuela
are being held/arrested.

Ref: CNN News

[arista]

Multiple Bombings in the capital, Caracas


Military areas hit

[arista]

The Venezuelan Government
rejects the military aggression by US

[arista]

https://video.dailymail.co.uk/preview/mol/2026/01/03/7364452831649089668/964x580_JPG-SINGLE_7364452831649089668.jpg

[arista]

[At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft
were seen in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas amid
Donald Trump's escalating threats against
its leader Nicolas Maduro.

Airplanes, loud noises and at least one column
of smoke were being heard and seen in
Venezuelan capital Caracas in the early hours
of Saturday morning, witnesses told Reuters.
It is not immediately clear what caused the blasts.

CNN reported the blasts began at 1:50am local time
and one targeted Fort Tiona, which is where
the Venezuelan ministry of defense is headquartered.
The southern area of the city, which is near
a major military base, has been without electricity]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15430773/Explosions-Venezuela-speculation-US-airstrikes.html


Live on SkyNews
it is 4AM in Venezuela there

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/03/07/105196455-15430773-image-a-38_1767426180381.jpg

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/03/06/105196335-15430773-image-a-32_1767423555670.jpg
[Pedestrians run after explosions were heard in Caracas]


On Sky News Live and
CNN USA Feed Live on UK TV

[arista]

An unnamed Trump Official in DC
has now confirmed this attack on Caracas



There is No UN Resolution on this


Also President Trump
remains in Florida

[Parmy]

Venezuelan President has been captured and flown out of the country with his wife.

[bots]

but Trump doesn't like wars

[MTVN]

Kinda crazy how Trump was elected on a mandate to stop the US getting involved in wars and he's now obsessed with striking other countries and carrying out regime change

[bots]

Venezuela and Iran have one thing in common ..... lots of oil

[arista]

but Trump doesn't like wars



This is a Clean Takeover


The Leader and his Wife
were removed by Delta Force Helicopters

[arista]

Venezuelan President has been captured and flown out of the country with his wife.


Yes, well done,
USA Delta Force
took them back to the USA Warship.

[bots]

do they think that the Venezuelan people and drug gangs will suddenly change now that the president is gone?

[arista]

do they think that the Venezuelan people and drug gangs will suddenly change now that the president is gone?


Yes, it will take time


President Trump is going Live around 4PM UK Time
11AM USA Time

[Glenn.]

Mr End all wars :joker:

[arista]

https://video.dailymail.co.uk/preview/mol/2026/01/03/3473475699999096636/964x580_JPG-SINGLE_3473475699999096636.jpg

[arista]

Mr End all wars :joker:


So Far,
This is not a war.

It is a Clean Takeover

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/03/06/105196341-15430773-Multiple_explosions_have_been_reported_in_the_Vene zuelan_capital-a-25_1767423170994.jpg

Yes, you scum former leader
Soon you will go to prison in the USA
After a Court Hearing in the USA

[arista]

UK PM Starmer
must back this

[Livia]

So Far,
This is not a war.

It is a Clean Takeover

Yes. There's a difference... Although this is as clearly against international law as an army crossing the border of a neighbouring sovereign country... I'm looking at you, Putin.

[arista]

PM Starmer has now spoken
UK is not involved in this.

He is concerned with the 500 British there

[arista]

Yes. There's a difference... Although this is as clearly against international law as an army crossing the border of a neighbouring sovereign country... I'm looking at you, Putin.


Of Course

[arista]

[The US has captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro
after a large scale strike on the South American country,
US President Donald Trump has said.

Trump said Venezuela's left-wing president
and his wife were flown out of the country in a
military operation in conjunction with
US law enforcement.

His comments came after explosions were
reported across capital Caracas in the early hours
of Saturday morning, including at military bases.
The Venezuelan government has since demanded
proof Maduro is alive. It has also deployed
its armed forces and declared a national emergency.]


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmlz7r0zrxo

[bots]

Better Trump focusses on Venezuela than Greenland

[Livia]

Better Trump focusses on Venezuela than Greenland

Agreed.

[arista]

From CNN USA Live on UK TV

Local People talking in Caracas
want to know he is
alive,

I assume at 4PM Live we may see him
cuffed

[arista]

Trump now Live

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/03/16/105201987-0-image-m-10_1767457899267.jpg

Under Arrest
you punk

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/03/14/105200283-0-image-m-6_1767451824883.jpg

[arista]

Trump claims he will take Temp Control

Until a proper leader takes over

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/03/15/1767453041893_wide_galleryImage_210304_N_WP865_109 1ATLANT.JPG

The Battleship
that holds the former leader and his wife

[arista]

Trump went on about stopping Crime in the USA

[arista]

Now going over Crimes
connected to Venezuela

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/03/16/105202241-0-image-m-12_1767458730179.jpg

[arista]

Now, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
is speaking,

[arista]

General Dan Caine
(Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)

Now speaking Live



He thanked the CIA
for helping them.

In total, over 150 aircraft
were used last night


Low-Level Helicopters
Landed at 1AM


On Aircraft was hit,
but still made it back

[MTVN]

You can't just decide you're now going to run a country lol, especially when there is a long history of anti-American sentiment in a country like Venezuela. This is going to be messy

[arista]

Now the Press are asking
Who is running it?

[arista]

Trump claims he is

[arista]

He will update the press later
who will run it.


The Venezuelan Vice President is in talks with Marco

[arista]

You can't just decide you're now going to run a country lol, especially when there is a long history of anti-American sentiment in a country like Venezuela. This is going to be messy



So far
not the case

[Benjamin]

Better Trump focusses on Venezuela than Greenland

For now. I fear this is a sign of what’s potentially to come for Greenland further down the line.

[arista]

For now. I fear this is a sign of what’s potentially to come for Greenland further down the line.


But they have a Stable Leader


Nothing like this punk in South America

[Benjamin]

But they have a Stable Leader


Nothing like this punk in South America

I mean in terms of Trump just going in and taking over.

[arista]

I mean in terms of Trump just going in and taking over.


Really.


Is it that easy?

[arista]

President Trump
will take back the oil.

[Benjamin]

Really.


Is it that easy?

I never said he’d succeed or it’d be easy.

But he has plans for Greenland, and he’s already said he’d use military force if need be.

[DrunkerThanMoses]

I'll will literally popping the champigne when the orange **** dies

Might book a trip to USA for piss on his grave as well... Sadly will be a long queue

[arista]

I'll will literally popping the champigne when the orange **** dies

Might book a trip to USA for piss on his grave as well... Sadly will be a long queue


Sure, but at this time

He is the USA President


Nice to see you post

[arista]

Trump spoke for over one hour.


He has Concluded

[arista]

I never said he’d succeed or it’d be easy.

But he has plans for Greenland, and he’s already said he’d use military force if need be.


Yes, he said that months back.

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/03/17/105202717-0-image-m-19_1767460757357.jpg

[bots]

I mean in terms of Trump just going in and taking over.

he could actually say ..... Greenland is now mine, a bit like he renamed the gulf of Mexico

[arista]

Trump was Bloody Right
about not telling the Democrats

They would leak it

[joeysteele]

Trump really is unhinged I'd say.
He's extremely dangerous in my view.

[arista]

he could actually say ..... Greenland is now mine, a bit like he renamed the gulf of Mexico


That would be a Shocker

[bots]

Trump was Bloody Right
about not telling the Democrats

They would leak it

the group of 8 wouldn't leak it, don't be silly

[arista]

Trump really is unhinged I'd say.
He's extremely dangerous in my view.



I can understand your alarm.


But the General that spoke
made a lot of sense

[arista]

the group of 8 wouldn't leak it, don't be silly


It could

[arista]

Live on CNN USA on UK TV


An Angry Democrat Seth Moulton
(Massachusetts) ( Armed Services Committee)

Ideal for Joey

[bots]

It could

nope, they understand what national security is

[arista]

Ch4 News on Now

[Maru]

Not much was being said here about Venezuela so it is going to be a shock to a some and not in a good way if we end up with another occupation. Yay.

[arista]

From Ch4 News

Years back, Obama
spent 2 months Bombing Libya

[Maru]

Venezuelans utterly jubilant looking at our local social

[Oliver_W]

Venezuelans utterly jubilant looking at our local social

I was gonna say, I bet the Venezuelans themselves aren't pearl-clutching about international law or whining about how crazy Trump is.

[arista]

Venezuelans utterly jubilant looking at our local social


great

[bots]

It's a problem, because a lot of the rich and powerful have been feathering their nests in the current regime for a while. They wont want to relinquish power, because that will mean prison or death

[emseateng2014]

its like star wars or game of thrones

[Maru]

I was gonna say, I bet the Venezuelans themselves aren't pearl-clutching about international law or whining about how crazy Trump is.

Oh no, they're over the moon. Some people want to return and it's a possibility now in their mind. We are a high immigrant area. Whites are 23% and Latino/Latin American is 44% of the population. If you look at local postings, it's flooded with support from all over the place. A few people griping about "grr, it's Trump", but it was surprisingly minimal when I checked. I'm sure it will shift when the prewritten narratives are provided, because people frankly are mostly just sheep. Edit: International news here is very very shoddy, so there is low interest and investment in it to begin and no education. So it's not hard for either side to dominate the conversation about some other domestic nonsense is going on in Washington ... which there always is, let's be honest.

I just don't think we need another Iraq, whoever the President is. I don't buy into everything I'm reading as far as the reasoning, exactly, but I'm not going to shed a tear if there are less drugs. Where I live, trafficking is a massive issue and yet I have not seen raids of any kind. People still wait outside of Home Depot. I live in an Latin American neighborhood.

Still, he is the first President to push back on Mexico and their bullshit. This impacts us more domestically than other countries. So I'm mildly more supportive of it, but also at the same time, highly skeptical because of the amount of interests that could get involved here.

[Maru]

Some Venezuelans in Houston gather together and online to celebrate Maduro's capture
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/venezuela-strike-houston-21274452.php?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=nextdoor.com&utm_campaign=nextdoor_news

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/55/52/11/28746324/3/960x0.webp

For some in Houston's growing Venezuelan community — especially in Katy — news of the U.S. raid that captured President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday was an exciting surprise.

"You better believe Venezuelita (Katy, TX) is on party mode right now!" a Twitter user wrote on X Saturday.

The Houston area’s Venezuelan population more than tripled from 2012 to 2022, according to Census data, with much of that growth concentrated in and around Katy. From 2012 to 2022, the Venezuelan population in the four ZIP codes of the Katy area has grown by more than 400% to more than 15,000. With over 50,000 residents of Venezuelan descent in the Houston area, the community has grown into one of the most prominent Latino groups in the region.

Several gathered outside a market in Katy on Saturday, waving Venezuelan flags and dancing, celebrating the fall of the deeply unpopular president. Maduro, who was sworn in this year, has been criticized domestically for his handling of the nation's economy and authoritarian rule.

One of the celebrants was 50-year-old Luz Mora, who left her native Venezuela for Florida in 2001, when Hugo Chavez was president.

"This was one of those news (stories) that you were waiting for," Mora said, "Its the type of news that surprises you and that you're going to remember forever."

Mora, who made her way to Katy two years ago, said she remembers the day she received an arrest notice from the Venezuelan government in 2014. She actively showed opposition of Maduro on social media and was told she would be arrested if she returned to the country.

"It was tough to not feel afraid, even when you're outside of Venezuela," Mora said. "Because your family and friends are still there so you have to be careful."

Mora now hopes she can return to visit family, and that with Maduro captured and out of the country, more freedom and economic opportunities await Venezuelans.

In the U.S., President Trump has accused Maduro of stealing oil drilling operations from American companies, facilitating drug trafficking and backing deadly criminal gangs. Maduro was indicted in 2020 on U.S. charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.

In other parts of the U.S., Venezuelans celebrated the news of Maduro's capture. The Associated Press reported that many gathered outside a South American eatery in Florida on Saturday, wrapping themselves in Venezuelan flags and cheering. At one point, the crowd chanted “Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!”

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott echoed Trump's criticisms of Maduro in praising the action, saying "Texas and the world are better because of his capture."

Opposition

But the sudden military incursion has raised questions among lawmakers about the president's legal authority to carry out the strike without congressional approval.

"President Maduro’s authoritarian government was illegitimate and oppressive," said U.S. Rep Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, in a statement. "But President Trump’s statements today made clear that be believes he has the unilateral authority to depose foreign leaders and take over foreign countries. He does not."

Fletcher said that Congress never authorized strikes on Venezuela, and that the "multiple rationales the administration put forward to justify its actions raised more questions than they answered.

“The Trump administration must immediately and fully brief Congress and answer questions from the representatives of the American people," she added in her statement.

Some Houstonians are organizing a protest of Trump's action, calling for a rally Sunday afternoon near downtown's Post Houston. The organization hosting the protest called it a "war (that) is not about drug trafficking ... (but) about stealing Venezuela's oil and dominating Latin America."

Other protests are being held around the country as well.

[arista]

Now in the USA

NYC.

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-6a3aef7a-3114-48cb-93e5-d98c0807b56d.jpeg


https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-948a405e-07dd-4a8a-9bef-9407550048fe.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-252f0755-311b-4ef3-8556-bac2fce92b0a.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-a6f6dde8-1e16-42ce-adf0-1e559d4c634c.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-c557e37e-50af-4255-b8ef-ec5eb3203603.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-b027e519-8ddb-4cd7-8da1-26712a25f29e.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-19a14f57-1167-43bb-86b8-5648e6314b12.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-8838533a-b115-4a19-97e3-8c111f86dd41.jpeg

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-1faac07f-4a6c-4bec-8ddf-8322a0eb631e.png

[arista]

The Online ONLY Paper


https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-7fa85465-ecc7-429b-be2e-6e526170ae87.jpeg

[arista]

Some are saying,
better to have Temp., President Trump
than a puppet leader?

[arista]

So far,
The Lady Vice President is running Venezuela

Delcy Rodriguez,


https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/who-is-delcy-rodriguez-vice-president-who-could-replace-venezuelas-maduro-2026-01-03/

[arista]

[Some Venezuelans in Houston gather together
and online to celebrate Maduro's capture]


How nice for them
Maru

[arista]

The USA General
Used technology to turn off the Venezuela Lights
As the Armed Helicopters went in and out.

Ref: Sky News.

[arista]

Another Good Point
This will not be a Libya mess-up.

[Mystic Mock]

Regardless of what anyone thinks of Maduro, it's concerning that Trump believes that he has the god given right to go into another country and overthrow their leader.

Isn't that what most of us condemned Bush and Blair for, during the Iraq War?

[bots]

he isn't just over throwing the dictator, who admittedly isn't a nice guy. He is going to run their country and plunder their oil. If he thinks it will be that simple, i think he is in for a bit of a surprise

[arista]

he isn't just over throwing the dictator, who admittedly isn't a nice guy. He is going to run their country and plunder their oil. If he thinks it will be that simple, i think he is in for a bit of a surprise


Valid Points



This is Trump's Back Yard

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/04/08/105213993-0-image-a-18_1767513793260.jpg


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15432055/Maduro-dated-wife-TWENTY-years-wed-secret.html

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/04/06/105211879-15432055-The_pair_met_the_same_fate_Saturday_captured_from_ their_beds_in_-a-44_1767506701410.jpg


The Former Leader
marched into the DEA Detention Centre
in NYC.

[joeysteele]

Regardless of what anyone thinks of Maduro, it's concerning that Trump believes that he has the god given right to go into another country and overthrow their leader.

Isn't that what most of us condemned Bush and Blair for, during the Iraq War?

Yes indeed it is as to your last point.

I totally agree with your whole post there Mock.

Equally so, I agree with the points bots made too.

[arista]

2007405439244521649?s=51&t=TEfd6ZCZRSCJE7JlCxDb6A

[MTVN]

Valid Points



This is Trump's Back Yard

Yes the Monroe doctrine which is basically the view that the US has the right to manage whatever happens in the Americas and Europe is irrelevant - now reinvented as the Donroe doctrine

[Livia]

The BBC desperately trying to get Venezuelans to condemn Trump's action but they're all delighted lol...

[MTVN]

The big test for Trump will be if/when American servicemen start dying on some of these campaigns. It's all great when you're inflicting big defeats on your enemies with flawlessly executed operations which don't spill a drop of blood but that can't continue for ever. Sooner or later something will go wrong, people will die and then there will be big questions to answer. The US has tried nation building and neocon foreign policy before and it's often been a disaster. I'm not convinced this is going to be any different

[Livia]

The USA plan to tick the country over till a fair election can be held. It's what the huge, expensive, toothless, pointless UN should be doing.

[bots]

The USA plan to tick the country over till a fair election can be held. It's what the huge, expensive, toothless, pointless UN should be doing.

that's not actually what was said. Knowing Trump, they will want to install someone who will be compliant with the USA. However, The current regime have been arming up militias for years. The regime doesnt want to go to jail and the opposition want to put them there. It's not a recipe for peace

[Livia]

that's not actually what was said. Knowing Trump, they will want to install someone who will be compliant with the USA. However, The current regime have been arming up militias for years. The regime doesnt want to go to jail and the opposition want to put them there. It's not a recipe for peace

I get that... Of course they'll want someone in who's favourable to the US or surely they wouldn't have bothered. And no, who would imagine it will go smoothly and without opposition? But I still say he's done what the UN should be doing: deposing tyrants and enabling elections.

[arista]

USA Press


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9zm-LkWkAAC0em?format=jpg&name=900x900

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9zNqYjWgAA3yUn?format=jpg&name=medium

[arista]

Maru's Houston, USA

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9znYfJXsAAehDY?format=jpg&name=large

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9zn-C6XUAAXgvt?format=jpg&name=large

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9zNJOrXUAAEA_i?format=jpg&name=900x900

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9y7CoPXUAAwuiv?format=jpg&name=large

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9y-omYXwAAW_90?format=jpg&name=large

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9yztdoXYAAja_7?format=jpg&name=900x900

[bots]

I get that... Of course they'll want someone in who's favourable to the US or surely they wouldn't have bothered. And no, who would imagine it will go smoothly and without opposition? But I still say he's done what the UN should be doing: deposing tyrants and enabling elections.

Do you think he should do the same to Denmark then, because greenland is certainly still on the radar. I would also assume that Cuba and Mexico, Columbia (and Canada) are the next logical targets

[arista]

Marco Rubio
was on NBC Meet The Press

He said he had Cuban Bodyguards

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/04/14/105218059-0-image-m-7_1767537205037.jpg


Vice President Delcy Rodriguez


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15433043/Venezuela-interim-leader-Delcy-Rodriguez-Maduro-Trump.html

[Livia]

Do you think he should do the same to Denmark then, because greenland is certainly still on the radar. I would also assume that Cuba and Mexico, Columbia (and Canada) are the next logical targets

I'm sure if he did the same to Denmark the Danes wouldn't be as happy as Venezuelans appear to be.

[bots]

I'm sure if he did the same to Denmark the Danes wouldn't be as happy as Venezuelans appear to be.

I don't think the Venezuelans will be so happy when they realise the regime is going to stay in place

[Livia]

I don't think the Venezuelans will be so happy when they realise the regime is going to stay in place

I suppose we'll see as the weeks go on.

[Maru]

Regardless of what anyone thinks of Maduro, it's concerning that Trump believes that he has the god given right to go into another country and overthrow their leader.

Isn't that what most of us condemned Bush and Blair for, during the Iraq War?

No lol. Other than the war-is-always-bad folk, virtually no one had an issue with POTUS striking back specific to 9/11. Of course many also felt uneasy about the idea because direct war was still a distant prospect, and kinda still is really, but it was expected we would do something significant in response. Support for the military in general was quite high around that time before 9/11. 9/11 woke people up to threats from the outside and that made Americans more tolerant to things like the Patriot Act, the TSA checks, etc. There was more push back against this than outright major conflict from what I remember.

The sentiment was fairly strong that we didn't want to just be victims so retaliation was more or less expected. The war became unpopular when it turned to an occupation, when POTUS decided to make it into a personal campaign. Largely continuing the tasks where his father had faltered (Gulf War). If you look back to see who were critical voices and figures during the Gulf War, you'll see very familiar names in Bush Jr's cabinet. The propaganda became very apparent when they kept coming up with reasons for us to be there that had nothing to do with the original premise that gave them public consent in the first place. Hence "Weapons of Mass Destruction".

In summary, the American govt can do all the strikes and bombings it wants as long as they're not too frequent and it serves some purpose, but it has to be temporary. We don't bomb our friends and don't do anything prolonged. The tolerance for that is relatively high and that's been established over decades. Our military budget isn't massive for no reason and many seem to think that that is for good reason (subject to debate). Not that we can restrict the spending as voters.

Many Americans will support the toppling of Maduro for the reasons above, because we're not peacekeepers in the sense we will try to coax and ask others to play nice. We're peacekeepers in the FAFO sense where we promptly put an end to the problem as permanently as possible and then move on. (Depends on the problem and purpose)

Whatever we think of Trump, we never had to question the stability of our government during past conflicts. It was 100% clear who was in control, compared to now, where political chicanery are myriad and there's unelected outsiders coming out of the woodwork to place their thumb on the scale. Washington was more "locked down" back then also, especially federally, so there was less whispering and saber rattling about what we may or may not do. There's so much going on domestically, it's possible that people aren't as responsive to what happens to Venezuela (in the long-term).

[Maru]

Houston-based energy giant only major U.S. oil company in Venezuela
https://www.chron.com/news/article/houston-based-energy-giant-major-u-s-oil-company-21274579.php?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=nextdoor.com&utm_campaign=nextdoor_news

Following the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in an overnight raid Saturday, all eyes could be on Houston-based energy giant Chevron in the coming weeks.

Chevron is the only major U.S. energy company in Venezuela. Others either left, were kicked out, or had their oil assets nationalized and taken over by the Venezuelan government. Chevron said for now, its attention remains on its employees and operations.

"Chevron remains focused on the safety and wellbeing of our employees, as well as the integrity of our assets. We continue to operate in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations," a Chevron spokesperson told Chron on Saturday in a prepared statement.

Trump eyes Venezuelan oil in Saturday news conference

Trump said Saturday the U.S. plans to operate the South American country and would sell "large amounts" of Venezuela's oil reserves to other countries. Venezuela has the world's largest known crude oil reserves.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday the U.S. will rebuild Venezuela's infrastructure and get "reimbursed" for the cost.

"We're going to have our very large United States oil companies—the biggest anywhere in the world—go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country," Trump said.

Why Chevron is the only U.S. oil company in Venezuela

Chevron says it has projects across 74,000 oil and gas acres. It first began exploring in Venezuela in 1923, discovered the Boscan field in 1946, and has operated there for more than a century.

Other oil companies like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips once operated in Venezuela, but starting in 2006, then-President Hugo Chávez ordered all oil companies to partner with the state-owned oil and gas company PDVSA and turn over ownership of at least 60 percent of their projects to PDVSA. Exxon and ConocoPhillips refused and left Venezuela. Chevron agreed to the demands and stayed.

Despite growing U.S. sanctions against Venezuela, Chevron continued to operate in the country with a special license from the U.S. Treasury. That license allows Chevron to produce and export Venezuelan oil, provided it operates only existing projects and its profits do not directly benefit PDVSA or the Venezuelan government.

At least he's transparent?

I'm amused at the reimbursed part because isn't the country supposed to be financially destitute?

Why Venezuela Is Poor Despite Having The World's Largest Oil Reserves
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/latin-america/26/01/49681330/why-venezuela-is-poor-despite-having-the-worlds-largest-oil-reserves

Several structural factors help explain this gap:

-Venezuelan oil is overwhelmingly extra-heavy crude, primarily from the Orinoco Belt, which is more expensive to extract and refine and sells at a discount.
-The state oil company, PDVSA, has suffered from years of underinvestment, mismanagement, and aging infrastructure.
-Government subsidies have kept gasoline extremely cheap domestically, reducing export incentives and fiscal revenue.


To get the results he is claiming, this occupation sounds very permanent.

[Mystic Mock]

he isn't just over throwing the dictator, who admittedly isn't a nice guy. He is going to run their country and plunder their oil. If he thinks it will be that simple, i think he is in for a bit of a surprise

He'll probably get what he wants unfortunately.

[Mystic Mock]

No lol. Other than the war-is-always-bad folk, virtually no one had an issue with POTUS striking back specific to 9/11. Of course many also felt uneasy about the idea because direct war was still a distant prospect, and kinda still is really, but it was expected we would do something significant in response. Support for the military in general was quite high around that time before 9/11. 9/11 woke people up to threats from the outside and that made Americans more tolerant to things like the Patriot Act, the TSA checks, etc. There was more push back against this than outright major conflict from what I remember.

The sentiment was fairly strong that we didn't want to just be victims so retaliation was more or less expected. The war became unpopular when it turned to an occupation, when POTUS decided to make it into a personal campaign. Largely continuing the tasks where his father had faltered (Gulf War). If you look back to see who were critical voices and figures during the Gulf War, you'll see very familiar names in Bush Jr's cabinet. The propaganda became very apparent when they kept coming up with reasons for us to be there that had nothing to do with the original premise that gave them public consent in the first place. Hence "Weapons of Mass Destruction".

In summary, the American govt can do all the strikes and bombings it wants as long as they're not too frequent and it serves some purpose, but it has to be temporary. We don't bomb our friends and don't do anything prolonged. The tolerance for that is relatively high and that's been established over decades. Our military budget isn't massive for no reason and many seem to think that that is for good reason (subject to debate). Not that we can restrict the spending as voters.

Many Americans will support the toppling of Maduro for the reasons above, because we're not peacekeepers in the sense we will try to coax and ask others to play nice. We're peacekeepers in the FAFO sense where we promptly put an end to the problem as permanently as possible and then move on. (Depends on the problem and purpose)

Whatever we think of Trump, we never had to question the stability of our government during past conflicts. It was 100% clear who was in control, compared to now, where political chicanery are myriad and there's unelected outsiders coming out of the woodwork to place their thumb on the scale. Washington was more "locked down" back then also, especially federally, so there was less whispering and saber rattling about what we may or may not do. There's so much going on domestically, it's possible that people aren't as responsive to what happens to Venezuela (in the long-term).

I remember nearly everyone calling them both war criminals, and it severely damaged both in terms of public opinion.

Yet Trump doing the same thing is A-okay for some reason.:laugh:

Edit.... The weapons of mass destruction stuff I remember being deathly unpopular with the public at the time.

[Zizu]

Fear not

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260104/f42abd3c86a710e5f52425923770e07d.jpg

[Oliver_W]

I wonder if former hunger striker Amy Gardiner-Gibson "Amu Gib" will be changing her name again to reflect the current cause de jour.

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-73cf9067-aa8a-4895-98d1-390caa92f14a.png

[bots]

Houston-based energy giant only major U.S. oil company in Venezuela
https://www.chron.com/news/article/houston-based-energy-giant-major-u-s-oil-company-21274579.php?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=nextdoor.com&utm_campaign=nextdoor_news



At least he's transparent?

I'm amused at the reimbursed part because isn't the country supposed to be financially destitute?

Why Venezuela Is Poor Despite Having The World's Largest Oil Reserves
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/latin-america/26/01/49681330/why-venezuela-is-poor-despite-having-the-worlds-largest-oil-reserves



To get the results he is claiming, this occupation sounds very permanent.

The USA could be designated a rogue state now, but the real issue is that leaders have been kidding themselves that there is a rules based system to avoid country's being attacked. It's never been upheld. If one country wants to attack/invade another country, they will.

There is all sorts of speculation that deals are being done behind the scenes, to spilt up the spoils across the globe. The very rich are coming out of the shadows and have stopped pretending that they don't influence regimes

The world is being reshaped in front of our eyes and most of the world is helpless to do anything about it

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-96503f04-10ca-42a3-81f3-f44efeb3ac14.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-687f663f-cc2d-4bd7-a3ca-99453d8915be.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-68edcdf0-ef63-48cc-864c-200f0b49250e.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-0275c945-ff19-46f6-9725-43fc493b9ae9.jpeg

[arista]

Maduro is now in the NYC Court

Early in the morning

[arista]

Marcedes De Freitas
Executive Director Transparencia Venezuela,

Speaking at the UN Live

on CNN

[arista]

UN Holding a Emergencey Meeting


NYC


They have called this a breach
of international law.


As if President Trump cares................

[arista]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/01/04/14/105218059-0-image-m-7_1767537205037.jpg


Vice President Delcy Rodriguez


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15433043/Venezuela-interim-leader-Delcy-Rodriguez-Maduro-Trump.html


Delcy Rodriguez
is now being sworn in
as Venezuela-interim-leader.


Was just on BBC News

[arista]

Live Both News Ch's


Mike Watz (USA)
in the United Nations



Having a good go at the UN.


He stated 8million have left that corrupt nation.


Time in NYC is 11:12AM

[MTVN]

The UN are completely powerless really, as most recent conflicts show. Unfortunately Europe is also proving itself completely powerless too. The only countries who seem to matter these days are USA, Russia, China and Israel. Maybe Iran too

[arista]

The UN are completely powerless really, as most recent conflicts show. Unfortunately Europe is also proving itself completely powerless too. The only countries who seem to matter these days are USA, Russia, China and Israel. Maybe Iran too



Yes, it looks that way.



They are there just to state their statements

[arista]

Maduro in Court
is shouting is he is innocent, not guilty.


He pleads not guilty


USA CNN Live on UK TV

[arista]

Maduro & Wife
are now on their way back to the DEA detention centre.

NYC


Ref: Sky News.

[arista]

Much of Venezuela's Oil was shipped to China.


There are reports of one ship full of Oil
off the coast of the UK.
(USA Watching it)

[arista]

Our Home Secretary Copper
now live on SkyNews



She is reading a list of
All the crimes of Maduro
has done.

[Maru]

Maduro in Court
is shouting is he is innocent, not guilty.


He pleads not guilty


USA CNN Live on UK TV

Everyone in court ever

[Maru]

The USA could be designated a rogue state now, but the real issue is that leaders have been kidding themselves that there is a rules based system to avoid country's being attacked. It's never been upheld. If one country wants to attack/invade another country, they will.

There is all sorts of speculation that deals are being done behind the scenes, to spilt up the spoils across the globe. The very rich are coming out of the shadows and have stopped pretending that they don't influence regimes

The world is being reshaped in front of our eyes and most of the world is helpless to do anything about it

Laws in general only really apply to the masses as accommodations can always be made for those higher up the food chain to ignore them all together. International laws even more so, as they're basically a veneer. When one country does the inconvenient thing that the others will ultimately benefit from, they'll all make a show but that's all it will ever be.

The "gasp, look what Trump did" headlines are big part of that as well as it's putting all the attention on him versus the countries/parties not up to snuff, imo. Many leaders and established folk seem to get on with him just fine, especially behind closed doors. We have seen that semi-publicly, but it has to be studied. The only people that do go against most things he does do so when it's politically advantageous to their own political careers, so I find the whole Trump hysteria to be a complete manufactured farce. Our politics has always been a theatrical. There are enough people that are still easily whipped up by the sound of his name though, they'll keep pointing the finger at him as long as it helps them to exonerate themselves from any of the long-term consequences. Consequences they'll easily all find a way to benefit from anyway because the pendulum always swings back with American politics.

Western politics, but anything regarding the US in general, has always been a game of pretend, even down to the social level/masses. How often are we asked to play make belief and pull the lever? The hope is that enough people keep wanting to play along with whatever new thing they want to push, that the numbers alone will push out voices that see through it. It's survival 101, especially in the age of social media.

[arista]

[Our politics has always been a theatrical.
There are enough people that are still easily whipped up
by the sound of his name though,
they'll keep pointing the finger at him as long as helps them to
exonerate themselves from any of the long-term consequences]


Yes Great words Maru

I get the feeling with my USA Fox News Live Feed
on its own computer
I can even enlarge the subtitles

[arista]

https://video.dailymail.co.uk/preview/mol/2026/01/05/2729377010998161561/964x580_JPG-SINGLE_2729377010998161561.jpg


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15435381/Nicolas-Maduro-captured-reconstruction-Trump-Operation-Absolute-Resolve.html

[arista]

Jeremy Corbyn (Your Party MP)
was just on Sky News
says he should be returned.

[Ninastar]

I talked with my Venezuelan friend about everything going on and as always, it’s way more complicated than what the media portrays. She sent me an article that someone else wrote and I feel a lot of empathy for everything they are going through.

“More perspective from an actual Venezuelan;
Voice from a Venezuelan:
“As a Venezuelan, I can say this plainly: much of the left leaning media is going to aggressively twist this story. What needs to be understood is that when the bombs fell, they struck only military bases and an international airport that had already been closed, with all international flights suspended.
Many Venezuelans did not panic, they cheered from their homes when they saw the helicopters. This was not random or uninformed support. Roughly 75% of Venezuelans voted for María Corina Machado, backing her platform and her openly stated plan to pursue cooperation with the United States, including the possibility of U.S. intervention, to remove Nicolás Maduro from power in exchange for reopening Venezuela to free trade.
This was a calculated choice. Venezuela has resources the United States wants, and the United States has the leverage and support Venezuela needs. It was a path we knowingly chose, fully aware of the risks involved.
Love it or hate it, do not accept the narrative at face value. This was not imposed on us. We chose this path.”

Author: Crhia Michel San Martin”

Then she also said this “And difficult situation, mainly because Venezuela has spent 26 almost 27 years living through one of the worst periods of terror: killings, censorship, and hunger.
Our families are okay. There were no civilian casualties in Venezuela. The situation still isn't resolved, there are still people from the regime/ drug-traffickers in power, but this gives us hope that a real solution could be possible.”

I like to hear from people who have actually experienced and gone through the hardships of living in corrupt countries. I like the idea that some people have hope now. I’m hoping that the president they voted for (think it was something like 75%+ that voted for her which is craaazy.

I’m not saying that what my friend said is correct or better than anyone else’s opinion… I just think that it’s good to read all perspectives

[arista]

Maduro's court case is now in March


Ch4 News said

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-9e4c78b6-f544-446a-9929-d15ae1ab17e6.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-2123f12e-f80e-4cdd-8766-89c7d407e45d.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-899c0fa7-ed26-4df9-ab1b-7488b193a96a.png

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-03f4e91b-20bc-4490-97a9-9d430b23d2a9.png

[arista]

Some of those killed as the Delta Force
took the leader and his wife,
Were Cuban troops he used to protect him
and his wife

Dead Cubans - Tough Luck.


Ref: BBC Newscast
on now.

[arista]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-77d4ef18-487d-4b54-baf6-f170a5b638f2.png

[Parmy]

https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-9e4c78b6-f544-446a-9929-d15ae1ab17e6.png

They seem to have her cuffs on the wrong way.

[arista]

They seem to have her cuffs on the wrong way.


Yes good job
not for long

[Parmy]

Can Trump now claim the 29 million bounty the Biden administration put on Maduras head?

[Maru]

Venezuela issues 90-day order to ARREST anyone backing US attack as armed motorcycle gangs hunt down Trump supporters in Caracas
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15440735/Venezuela-motorcycle-gangs-hunt-Trump-supporters.html

Gangs of armed men on motorcycles are patrolling the streets of Caracas, looking for supporters of Donald Trump and his military operation in Venezuela with the support of at least one key government official.

The Colectivos are a group of paramilitary militias that still support deposed leader Nicolas Maduro and have been searching vehicles at checkpoints.

The bikers, many of them masked and armed with Kalashnikovs, have searched phones and cars looking for evidence of people backing Trump's action in Caracas as an unofficial tool of the state.

In the wake of Maduro's arrest, a 90-day state of emergency put in place by the Venezuelan government orders police to 'immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States.'

[Maru]

Posting for clips: 2008024943745966279

2008194614994571597

[Maru]

What we know about US seizure of Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela
https://news.sky.com/story/what-we-know-about-us-seizure-of-russian-flagged-oil-tanker-linked-to-venezuela-13491539

The sanctioned tanker, originally known as the Bella 1 and now called the Marinera, is now in US custody, the United States European Command has confirmed

Where was the tanker seized?

US forces boarded the tanker in the North Atlantic, between Iceland and Scotland as it was travelling north.

A Russian submarine and warship were close by, two US officials told Reuters.

A US official told the Associated Press the military seized the vessel and handed over control to law enforcement officials.

In a statement on X, Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of war, said: "The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT - anywhere in the world."

Why was it seized?

The US has been pursuing the tanker for two weeks since it slipped through a maritime "blockade" around Venezuela.

It was sanctioned by the US in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The US Coast Guard initially attempted to intercept the vessel last month, but it refused to be boarded.

It has since registered under a Russian flag; when it left the Caribbean, it was sailing under a Guyana flag.

Was the UK involved?

RAF surveillance planes were involved in the US operation and monitored the tanker as it passed through waters between Iceland and the UK, according to The i newspaper.

The paper said UK airbases were used to launch US military aircraft involved in the operation.

The Ministry of Defence is yet to comment on the seizure.

Sky News OSINT producer Lydia Morrish said three US Air Force special operations command aircraft left Wick Airport in Scotland in the afternoon, heading in the direction of Iceland and were expected to land in Reykjavik around 3pm.

An RAF military transport aircraft was also estimated to land there at the same time after taking off from RAF Brize Norton around 11.30am.

It was unclear what those planes were doing or if their movements were linked to the US oil tanker operation.

What has Russia said?

Before the US seized the vessel, Russia's foreign ministry said the tanker was in international waters and was acting according to international maritime law, according to Russian state broadcaster RT.

The ministry said the ship was flying the Russian flag and called on Western countries to respect its right to freedom of navigation.

[bots]

at least the Trump regime has brought all these nutters into plain sight. Obviously, Graham is well known already