From: nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com   
      
   On Sun, 4 Jan 2026 07:25:02 -0500, Rhino   
    wrote:   
      
   >On 2026-01-03 4:31 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:   
   >> On Jan 3, 2026 at 12:24:41 PM PST, ""Adam H. Kerman""    
   wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> BTR1701  wrote:   
   >>>> Jan 3, 2026 2:53:42 AM PST, shawn :   
   >>>   
   >>>>> Looks like we went to war last night with Venezuela.   
   >>>>> Multiple bombs were dropped in Caracas centered on the military   
   >>>>> installations. Then there were multiple helicopters sent in,   
   >>>>> apparently to drop off troops to capture Maduro. It's unknown   
   >>>>> if that was the sole purpose of this attack or if there is more to   
   >>>>> come.   
   >>>   
   >>>>> At least it looks like the bombing has stopped. Trump is supposed to   
   >>>>> hold a press conference at 11AM. That's when we should find out just   
   >>>>> what was the intent of this attack and if removing Maduro is the end   
   >>>>> of it.   
   >>>   
   >>>> I'm ambivalent about all this. Maduro is a monster who was legitimately   
   >>>> indicted for actual crimes and he deserved to go down. His flirting with   
   >>>> Iran and China just sealed that deal. But I really wish Trump didn't   
   >>>> spend his entire press conference basically saying, "Now we've got all   
   >>>> that oil and now we're going to make so much money." I mean, even if   
   >>>> that's why you did all this, show a little PR sense and focus on stuff   
   >>>> like "Now the people of the Venezuela are free and we'll be working on   
   >>>> rebuilding the democracy that existed before Maduro and Chavez and making   
   >>>> sure those who are starving get fed", etc. etc. 'Cause right now it just   
   >>>> looks like you took over a sovereign nation to steal their resources.   
   >>>   
   >>> Even if there is a narcotrafficking case to be made, don't the people of   
   >>> Venezuala deserve the opportunity to prosecute this asshole?   
   >>   
   >> Well, if we're going with what the people of Venezuela want, they were   
   dancing   
   >> in the streets with joy over the news of Maduro's capture and rendition.   
   >>   
   >>   
   >Not that their feelings really matter to the media. The media need to   
   >paint EVERYTHING Trump does in the worst possible light because they   
   >hate him and that's all that matters. They either ignore previous   
   >precedents like the arrest of Noriega or they insist this is different.   
      
   Um, correct me if I'm wrong but did we decide that we were going to   
   run the country after Noriega and take the resources of the country?   
   I don't believe we did but that was what Trump said we were doing in   
   his speech.   
      
   >Viva the soon-to-be-free citizens of Venezuela and long may they enjoy   
   >the restoration of democracy! (And yes, I know the current regime isn't   
   >gone but I'm optimistic that they soon will be.)   
      
   Hopefully that happens, but sadly, we haven't had a great track record   
   in rebuilding countries.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)