US War with Venezuela
Posted by seblucj@reddit | PrepperIntel | View on Reddit | 244 comments
I know this is CNN, but with the rapid escalation going on in the Caribbean, it looks like Venezuela and the United States are on a collision course.
In the last three days, a Venezuelan boat that may have been carrying drugs was shot out of the water. A first for anti-drug operations in the Caribbean, no fast boats, no stop, no search. Just missiled into oblivion. The Administration had given little explanation of how this was conducted or why it was done with such extreme force.
Two Venezuelan jets flew near a US naval vessel. It is a shame Venezuela put its borders so close to US naval ships, but it had made Trump deploy 10 F-35s. This, on top of a small fleet comprised of a Nuclear sub, amphibious assault ships, 1,500-4,000 marines and numerous ships with long-range missile capabilities.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/venzeuela-planes-us-ship-1.7625855
https://www.newsweek.com/list-us-navy-ships-venezuela-trump-maduro-2123734
All of this comes on top of the political backdrop. Trump, in his first term, said it would be "Cool" to invade Venezuela, according to John Bolton. Silvercorp, a mercenary company that had ties to Trump by doing security at his rallies, was caught up in Operation Gideon in 2020. Marco Rubio is one of the loudest Hawks against Venezuela and Maduro in the government. The Trump administration has said that all cartels are terrorist organizations and has directly linked Maduro to the cartels.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gideon_(2020)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53089609
https://apnews.com/article/rubio-venezuela-maduro-drug-cartels-b33769bb581454eb8cf5cdf365d5f0c8
The Rhetoric of the Administration is one of a country already at war. An official said that they declared war on Venezuelan cartels. You can also hear the drumbeat of war on Fox News or in comments sections on YouTube videos about the topic (more than likely bots). Not to mention that the trump administration doesn't believe Maduro is the legal ruler of Venezuela.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/us/politics/hegseth-venezuela-drug-strike.html
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/venezuela-opposition-leader-juan-guaido-to-attend-state-of-the-union (from 2020)
The icing on the cake is, well, Oil.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves_in_Venezuela
I don't see a large-scale invasion happening tomorrow, but it looks like the US is preparing to strike the country in some capacity. I could see their calculus: the regime is weak, there is a strong opposition leader (unlike Iraq in 2003), lots of Oil, the American public isn't concerned about this situation, and if successful, would make Trump and the Department of "war" look strong. However, I don't think there is a plan for what happens after they bomb. The instability could lead to more migration, the largest state-to-state war in the Americas since the Falklands, and a quagmire they have no plan to get out of. Unlike Iran, Venezuela is close to the US, would only be fighting the US (IE, Israel isn't firing missiles at Venezuela) and hasn't been directly involved with large-scale conflict. Again, I think large-scale boots on the ground is unlikely, but raids and bombing seem probable.
We will just have to see how it unfolds, but it isn't looking good for the prospect of peace in the Americas.
StatisticianBoth3480@reddit
Here's what's up, very informative: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6932199
CBC, About That - Venezuela. 13 minutes, recent, spot on.
jasonwsf18@reddit
Trump is a Putin asset and Russia itself is a Chinese economic colony. If Venezuela receives aid from its allies the same way Ukraine receives aid from its allies. The U.S. will face a meat grinder which will shatter the U.S. military and the economy. This is the plan for Chinese hegemony and Russian freedom to play in Europe without ever having to go to war with nato or direct superpower conflict between U.S. and China
gibs71@reddit
Trump is looking for a “short, victorious war.” History shows that this doesn’t usually work out so good. (For a recent example, see Russia vs. Ukraine.)
Ello_Owu@reddit
Or a reason to cancel elections
koookiekrisp@reddit
Damn, he’s DEEP in those files.
Academic-Hospital952@reddit
U.S. vs Afghanistan, U.S. vs Iraq, U.S. vs Vietnam, U.S. vs "drugs"
We have never single handedly won a war, with the possible exception of the civil war lol
Luxpreliator@reddit
Those were not wars of conquest but wars that siphoned money away to wealthy industrialists.
SpongeSlobb@reddit
We have had wins though. The first Gulf war, Grenada, Panama. The thing all of these have in common is we went in, did whatever we wanted to do, and left. No occupation, no nation building, just go in, accomplish our military objectives, and leave
Eeny009@reddit
Two of these three are also tiny countries with tiny populations.
SpongeSlobb@reddit
We also quite quickly deposed of the governments of Afghanistan in 2001, and Iraq in 2003. Remember the “Mission Accomplished” banner? It was the occupations afterwards and the insurgencies that arose that are why these wars are remembered as “losses”.
My point is if trump wants a short victorious war, he can get that in Venezuela. The US military is more than capable of going in, deposing the government, arresting Maduro, and leaving. This could be a short victory if (and that’s a big if) he doesn’t make the same mistake of trying to occupy the place afterwards.
Eeny009@reddit
The problem with that approach is that if you get out immediately after, another leader with the same ideology/alignment can émerge, but now with grievances. The point of a war isn't to break things, but to accomplish a political goal.
SpongeSlobb@reddit
I agree with you completely. What happened in Libya in 2011 is a great example. Go in, break shit, leave a power vacuum, and now the place is worse off than it was before.
But for Trump, his goals for a military intervention somewhere would not be military goals. His goal would be to rally (mostly right wing) Americans behind him. Which, with his right wing propaganda machine, would probably work.
ChodeCookies@reddit
What about the War on Christmas? Since I hit my 30’s I only get like a pair of socks for Christmas. Why did we do this…
connected-dots-@reddit
Christmas is woke socialism stuff and kids should stop expecting free rides.
Sad_Movie_9310@reddit
Actually, coke and the capitalist oligarchs invented Christmas along with diamonds being a girls best friend
bars2021@reddit
I look forward to replacing the underwear with holes in it each year.
matunos@reddit
I still say "Happy Holidays" so they haven't won that one yet either.
Academic-Hospital952@reddit
We lost that war too, still called Christmas, not Xmas.
ChodeCookies@reddit
I almost always use Xmas…but I wanted to honor the fallen
Spunknikk@reddit
I'm 38... Id kill for some fancy high quality lounge socks lol
ValuableCertain9173@reddit
The Gulf War lasted like 6 months
nofolo@reddit
We fight a war in the place where 90 percent of the world's heroin is produced. 20 years later we have the worst opioid crisis the world has ever known. Literally killing a generation of people.
mwa12345@reddit
Apparently, the opium production there is back down to zero.
Far-Street9848@reddit
Nope, we’re still fighting that one too, apparently.
gibs71@reddit
lol. True. But a short, victorious war implies an authoritarian regime trying to boost its popularity through a military victory. The Russo-Japanese War in the early 20th century is a classic example.
sleepiestOracle@reddit
China's Military Footprint in Venezuela and the Current Crisis The Calm Before the Storm
Saurian42@reddit
"We'd like to congratulate drugs on winning the war on drugs."
Girafferage@reddit
France helped in the civil war.
Zerodyne_Sin@reddit
So much that it destabilized their economy and led to a bloody revolution. Almost as if wars are expensive...
SeatKindly@reddit
The US completed it’s objectives in Iraq in a month. Casualties in Vietnam and Afghanistan are 10:1 and 100:1 approximately. While there’s certainly an argument for political loss with respect to those two wars, the consequences for the people involved in them was absolutely a fuckin’ loss to the US.
I don’t say this to dick ride the US. I say it as a somber reminder than the loss of life from these types of campaigns are awful and the longstanding consequences take decades to recover from.
Mount_Treverest@reddit
Spanish American War, Mexican American War. If it's within reasonable distance of the US and annexable, the US have a better success rate. Not saying it's right, but Monroe Doctrine was successful at holding down the western hemisphere.
Gloom_Pangolin@reddit
TBF, the Korean War was not nearly as long a MASH made it out to be.
ch4lox@reddit
Good news, today he's threatening to start Civil War over resistance to his military occupation of American cities.
Exotic-Wing246@reddit
Yup
GirlWithWolf@reddit
By the state of things today I think the north can strike that off as a loss too
GBDeutschbag@reddit
Didn't even win the Civil War. Look at our "leadership" 😞
TransMessyBessy@reddit
Grenada?
Ape_Rebel@reddit
Nah those cockroaches are still in power
(Referring to the rebels)
kamjam92107@reddit
Its like everyone knows what attrition is now!
OrdinaryMix4013@reddit
US vs US next
omgahya@reddit
I only realized this after a friend of mine and I were talking about the bombing of the Cambodian/Vietnam border during the Vietnam war. He said what you just said, and I had to think on it. I was like, holy smokes you are right.
Then_Entertainment97@reddit
A single hand only works when you use it on yourself.
chrisgeleven@reddit
My guess: he'll try to replicate the Panama invasion / outcome.
Onlyroad4adrifter@reddit
The anti war clown wants war who could have seen this coming
ytman@reddit
I love how absolutely insane our military is to agree with this.
thuggishruggishboner@reddit
Didn't trump put puppets in place this time?
ytman@reddit
I mean when you join the military you are a puppet.
sciencesez@reddit
You do remember who our Sec of Def is right?
ytman@reddit
Sec of War.
Full empire mode engaged.
Retirednypd@reddit
Yes, but in no way is Ukraine venezuela or Russia the US
gibs71@reddit
True, but Venezuela will likely fight asymmetrically. Americans will get killed. It has the potential be a terrible, even catastrophic embarrassment for the administration.
mademeunlurk@reddit
The "department of war" is not looking for one short war. He gets off on feeling powerful and this is his new kink.
Intelligent-Rest-231@reddit
Grenada. He thinks it’s just like Grenada because the people aren’t white. What a fucking nincompoop!
beorn961@reddit
https://www.c-span.org/clip/white-house-event/president-trump-quips-about-canceling-2028-elections-if-us-is-at-war/5170008
Traditional-Handle83@reddit
Well with a nuclear sub nearby, this is could a really short war if he decides to just nuke Venezuela. Just no questions or attempts at negotiations, nothing. Just instant nuke without warning. It would definitely be the shortest war in history. It also would put the world into full scale potential nuclear war.
EasyDynastyBuilder@reddit
Probably more that they need a conflict to justify all of their emergency orders like the tarrifs
MySquidHasAFirstName@reddit
What would Smedley Butler have to say about this?
sambull@reddit
TrainXing@reddit
And this is the reason behind "Why Venezuela?". I hope the cartels save us from this pedo POS at this point.
SouthernWindyTimes@reddit
Isolates Mexico, causes fear in most of Lat Am, oil reserves, the right really hates Maduro (maybe I do too haven’t looked it up in awhile), the largest paramilitary anti-fascist (and honestly far left rebels) exist all through South America, isolate them there so home grown training doesn’t happen, I think it’s also why federal lands being sold of is a thing true story, because a real domestic tussle would be urban and the real hardcore core groups would need to get remote.
TrainXing@reddit
That is an interesting point about the land being sold off. God, what a sick way for them to think, and terrifying for what they have planned. This is worse than officials building bridges just a bit too low for school busses to pass under so kids couldn't be bussed into white schools. Like who even thinks of that??
SouthernWindyTimes@reddit
Honestly, I think we are forgetting what people in these circles are actually like because, once again surprise, non of us are in these actual circles. Like I use to run with VCs and startup guys, we were talking about trying to figure out an ethical model for population decline to hit 1,000,000,000 to maximize resource allocation literally 14 years ago (I was younger and now realize why those ideals lead to such evil). It always felt like a thought experiment, like dreaming up new tech, but it goes to show some of these guys I knew well that went on to have major success in VC and politics… never grew out of it. So I personally feel I can easily put myself in their heads.
TrainXing@reddit
Well fortunately for the resources, people are barely having enough kids to replace themselves, so that's about as ethical as that can get, using the term ethical very broadly here. 🫠
What were the ideas discussed and seemed most promising at the time? The world was sorta sane 14 yrs ago, so I am just curious. 😂
aredon@reddit
I suspect the secondary reason is isolating Mexico. They had the gal to elect a leftist who is now spending money on her people. If there's anything we know about the American war machine it's that simply cannot be allowed.
mwa12345@reddit
VNZ also did much to reduce poverty. Then the sanctions bit.
TrainXing@reddit
That's why the US installed Pinochet in Chile, Allende was handing out healthcare and college educations, didn't want Americans getting ideas.
SouthernWindyTimes@reddit
Did you notice, Trump has bombed 2 out of the top 4, including threatening the sovereignty of 3. I believe the logic is if the US can take Canada and Venezuela, Israel does Iran and/or Iraq, then US/Israel would hold the keys to the world for energy, and would have unilateral control over the petro states. It would be a non-nuclear offensive weapon to use against Russia and China. Most likely because Russia has all the blackmail for all of the US government and China they view as the biggest threat (especially with Taiwan). Cause ultimately China wants Taiwan, Russia wants Ukraine, and the US aren’t ideologically aligned enough. Idk what’s happening, but this is looking like a weird formulation of Axis/Allied powers.
Because if Russia/China attacks the US specifically, and I wouldn’t be surprised or maybe this allows to focus on their own things (Ukraine and Taiwan), NATO would be activated. Now we have a battle in Canada and the Northern US via Russia, China off the West Coast, Venezuela and LatAm to the South. EU support in the Atlantic, and Australian/Korean/Japanese support in the China Sea area. India and Pakistan get to kick off their spat.
joeg26reddit@reddit
Why’s USA not on that chart? America has 55 billion
The Venezuela reserves are mainly extra-heavy crude, which is very dense and requires more advanced and costly extraction techniques to make it marketable
CosmicalCaller@reddit
Which means more jobs! /s
dorianngray@reddit
Or prison labor… these guys will turn the planet to dust as long as they profit and have power
ecalz622@reddit
And more polluting.
Ok-Direction-7431@reddit
The gangsters of capitalism are hard at work.
Fragrant-Ad-5517@reddit
This “war preparation” is just another thing to distract the public from his Epstein scandal, his treasonous action to unleash the department of war on Chicago, the 3rd largest city in the US, and his blatant disregard of the US Constitution. Unfortunately, since the “compromised” Supreme Court had previously ruled that presidents had immunities while in office,most likely there will be a very minimum resistance by the congress who actually has the power to declare war on foreign countries and governments.
nunyabizz62@reddit
The sole reason is oil, mainly to stop China from helping Venezuela build its own refineries so Venezuela can sell its oil for more. As usual the world's pirates (US) is trying to steal another countries oil and mineral resources out of pure desperation to stop people from realizing that socialism is better than capitalism.
Its utterly disgusting and I am embarrassed to be from the US
Majestic-Bowler-6184@reddit
Friends, Romans, Countrymen, give me your ears! I don't think we need a federal government anymore. This is a poor joke, is 2025.
SqueezedTowel@reddit
Didn't Caesar take over the government in this play?
level9000warlock@reddit
My local fox news affiliate showed the boat being destroyed and then immediately followed it up with "During President Obama's terms he ordered drone strikes in 7 different countries"
Way to go with the whataboutism.....
BallsOfStonk@reddit
The last 50 years of Republican started wars has left nothing but millions dead, trillions of tax dollars wasted, a more unstable world, and the continued degradation of U.S. moral leadership and respect abroad.
But sure, this time will be different.
Quick_Astronomer4046@reddit
Saw this a while back also, what could cause a sudden surge of violence at the border that we need this.... Mmm I wonder
Matrix0007@reddit
THIS IS ALL A HOAX TO DEFLECT AND DISTRACT FROM RELEASING THE EPSTEIN FILES!!! DONT GIVE IN! THE CRIMINAL RAPIST NEEDS TO FEEL THE PAIN OF HIS ACTIONS!!!
PennyForPig@reddit
This invasion is illegal and it delegitimizes the federal government
savemoney_god@reddit
Trump trying to be like general Shepherd
pooinmypants1@reddit
Such bullshit. MAGA said Trump was a president of peace. The full truth is Trump is the anti christ
NippleFlicks@reddit
They misspoke, they meant he is a POS president.
dorianngray@reddit
Trump is fucking satan
pooinmypants1@reddit
😂 Fox News confirms
InfoSec_Intensifies@reddit
Yeah, and he's going to demand a Nobel Peace Prize for ending the war in Venezuela
pooinmypants1@reddit
He will have ended 30 wars are this rate
Dmckilla7@reddit
You give him far to much credit.
pooinmypants1@reddit
Probably. Maybe he is just ducking Satan (like the last South Park episode 😂)
scupperdong@reddit
The followers will bear the mark upon their foreheads
pooinmypants1@reddit
Like those hats 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Amazing_bluishthing@reddit
Trump.please send missiles to spammers too.
RedwoodsareAwesome@reddit
Venezuela is mainly tropical, according to the climate map I just looked at. If we did try to invade, we'd be fighting a guerilla war in the jungle...also, Caracas has a population of five million...you'd need a very large, long term force.
LivingElectronic5349@reddit
This will take 3-5 days…
PolicyWonka@reddit
I think Trump wants a war for the history books. It’s very clear that he’s getting his idea of what a successful presidency looks like from the likes of McKinley.
As a reminder, William McKinley instituted the Spanish-American War — leading to acquisition of Spanish territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This is why Trump has fantasized about Greenland and Canada annexations.
dorianngray@reddit
He has said Andrew Jackson was the president he most admired… you know, the guy who slaughtered the Native American population manifest destiny crap
PolicyWonka@reddit
Yeah, he did say that for his first term. It definitely seems he’s wanting to model his second term after McKinley.
The dude is probably just learning about these historical figures for the first time. Just like how some kids make their whole lives around the Roman Empire when they first learn it. Dude’s a toddler. Lmao
Apprehensive_Pea7911@reddit
Release the unredacted Epstein files. Send all pedos to jail. Don't let any conflict distract you.
Check_Me_Out-Boss@reddit
What does this have to do with prepping?
pireply@reddit
Gotta know what thing to prep for, would be my guess. Prep for everything? Prep for something specific? Gotta stay ahead of the game.
Girafferage@reddit
I am prepared to see the full list.
J_Bright1990@reddit
Extra judicial murder and an unpopular illegal war of aggression are not "distractions".
They are legitimately things to be angry and upset about, and ignoring all the attrocities Trump commits in the name of focusing on the Epstein files makes the Epstein files the distraction, not the other way around.
My advice, be mad about all of it.
Girafferage@reddit
To be fair, I think it's also acceptable to focus on one or two major items. Chasing all wrongs will quickly lead to burnout. Focus hard on what you can do in something where you can actually make change.
cymonesunshine@reddit
Thank you!!! It almost feels like a psyop everyone saying real life atrocities and our country tumbling is a distraction from that case. Apples to oranges people!
grandnp8@reddit
Appreciate this perspective!
One-Employment3759@reddit
My advice, don't be mad, get even.
Overall_Age8730@reddit
The Epstein files have been a rolling distraction for years at this point.
AmberDuke05@reddit
Trump isn’t going to send himself and his donors to jail.
its_endogenous@reddit
Yea I’m not dying for some oil in South America
vagrantprodigy07@reddit
Same. I don't even use much oil, I'm on renewables for power and vehicles.
50_61S-----165_97E@reddit
You mean you don't want to fight in Latino Vietnam to recapture Exxon assets that were nationalised decades ago? Won't somebody think of the poor shareholders...
its_endogenous@reddit
I’d rather Trump nuke Venezuela than have to deal with them. In Minecraft of course
SpaceMonkey_321@reddit
You know, the irony is that many young people who do serve are immigrants from the south.
HomoExtinctisus@reddit
Just pay your taxes.
Fancy_Exchange_9821@reddit
You don’t have to
Hamhockthegizzard@reddit
We just got a “new department” so nah, it’s not looking good for us in terms of peace lmfaoo
cheongyanggochu-vibe@reddit
But but but Trump was the peace candidate! No new wars, remember!?
Unhappy-Plastic2017@reddit
Maga all like .... Uhh... Uhh... Dj spin that shit.
Straight-Range-3566@reddit
Maga can't remember anything they said even a day ago. They'll just claim it was never said even though it's on the record otherwise.
HalfTeaHalfLemonade@reddit
Memory is hard with all the pills and booze
btstphns@reddit
Memory is hard with all the stupidity. Kind of surprised they can remember to breath.
xXXxRMxXXx@reddit
Hopefully some day they forget
Agora2020@reddit
It’s not a war. It’s a special military operation
EastTyne1191@reddit
An emotional support military operation, perhaps.
yeahimokaythanks@reddit
as a treat
ZaggRukk@reddit
OMG! I hope they (trump administration) calls it that!!
Bozhark@reddit
STOP DOING THIS SARCASM IT EMBOLDENS THEM
No-Impress-2096@reddit
He needs a distraction from how much Putin is humiliating him, and it will allow him to keep on draggin his feet about Ukraine.
phish_phace@reddit
That was then. This is now, where he’s gained inspiration from Zelensky (and Puntsky) on canceling elections due to being in a war. Now if we can just find a war…
APraxisPanda@reddit
No war but class war- Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves. That's what this is actually about I bet.
Thehealthygamer@reddit
I think they'll do airstrikes, cruise missiles, and special operations missions which will have a high likelihood of failing and getting a buncha americans killed. After that point it'll be anyone's guess whether they just pretend it all didn't happen, like with Iran, or they double down and we send in tens of thousands of kids to die in another pointless war.
I made a video about this topic today https://www.instagram.com/reel/DORRtzXDEFl/?igsh=bjJsdWxiNW1yMm10
Trump, kegsbreath, theyre enamored with special operations and they believe all their own propaganda. Cause the vet bro SEAL guys permeate the same ecosystem that Trump, Kegsbreath exist in, so in their mind they probably think sending in devgru or ST6 to kill Maduro is the same as killing random HVTs in the middle east. And they've removed all the actual leaders so no one is going to tell them that sending in 12 guys venezuela means almost certain death for them no matter how fast they can clear a house.
seblucj@reddit (OP)
Their rhetoric about “Narco terrorists” is why I agree they are probably going to launch a shock and awe strike. They dream of standing in front of podium and saying “operation thunder cock was a go at 0 3 dash 3 0 alpha Mike; ‘am’ for you woke liberals. Our warriors heroically bombed these narco terrorists into the stone ages. We bravely killed 78 aliens. The Biden administration allowed cartels to flood our country so now we take the fight to them. Op thunder cock penetrated deeper into Venezuela than sleepy joe could have”
They definitely have no in-depth plan past that. Expect using it as a reason to get more domestic power by saying bc there is a war with narco terrorists we need national guard with ice everywhere and we need national guard on the streets to prevent an insurrection.
banned-from-rbooks@reddit
Obama captured Osama Bin Laden so Trump has to take out Maduro.
It’s like the Nobel Peace Prize thing.
Fit_Strength_1187@reddit
Btw, has Trump mentioned today how he deserves a NPP? Has his staff made sure to breathlessly remind us how much peacing he is doing?
GoldenboyFTW@reddit
Cause that works out so well in North Korea in 2019 as we now know…
reality72@reddit
Okay but remember when we threatened war with Canada and Greenland?
seblucj@reddit (OP)
Can’t recall that the US killed 11 Canadians or Greenlanders in direct military action recently.
matunos@reddit
I'm not generally one to call the outrageous things Trump does distractions, because they're all terrible things in their own right and to dismiss things as distractions from more critical matters risks downplaying their awfulness.
With that said, this feels very much like a tail wagging the dog situation. Nobody, except maybe among the fringe corners of the world, has been calling for an invasion of Venezuela. Surreptitious support for regime change, maybe, but direct war? No.
Maybe they think the Maduro regime will implode under pressure and they can call it a quick victory. I doubt it. This was the story with Saddam Hussein too, and he was a much more brutal dictator than anything I've heard about Maduro. Attacking Venezuela will more like increase the grip of the Maduro regime, not loosen it. And if Trump and Hegseth think they can bomb Maduro into submission… unless they directly assassinate him, they will need boots on the ground to win, and that is not going to be popular at all among Americans. And this sort of thing tends to have a life of its own… once you start bombing and not achieving your goal, it's is very hard to avoid escalating your involvement to save face.
Regime change is needed, but not just for Maduro.
seblucj@reddit (OP)
I agree with this. I am conflicted if it is a bluff or if they do intend a strike. The reason I am learning towards it resulting in a direct strike is their rhetoric and recent history. I am not an expert on all us military operations, but it seems like hegseth loves to bomb people. Yemen and Iran are perfect examples. I also feel like they are serious about the cartels. A war with Venezuela could allow Trump to exert more force on the domestic soil. My idea here is that direct military confrontation would make ICE raids truly a part of national security and would make National Guard deployments alongside ICE/DHS easier. They aren't just going after "illegal aliens", they are going after "the Narco terrorists we are at war with". JD Vance would probably say something like "It is a pity Democrats made the situation so bad that we have Venezuelan Narco Terrorists in Chicago, Baltimore, Miami, and LA. That is why our brave National Guardsmen are assisting ICE. Liberals complain it is "fascist" when all I see is safety"
I agree on the distraction stuff, this seems to be going hand and hand with the domestic national guard deployments, ice raids, war on drugs 2.0, Trump's Monroe Doctrine and Middle East bombing campaigns. If you just label everything non-Einstein a distraction, you lose the bigger picture,
I do try to stay level-headed and logical. I think a lot of people would tell you this is a bad idea, which is why I lean towards it being a pressure campaign. However, that comes from the place of assuming Trump 2.0 is a good-faith logical actor who is predictable; he isn't that at all.
Material_Practice_83@reddit
Can’t wait to see another Iraq and Afghanistan. What are we planning on doing once we destabilize and fuck up the country?
I’ve never seen any success once we decide to invade, destroy, then try and nation build.
The pedophile is a fuckin moron and so is his fake ass defense secretary.
GrumpyGaijin@reddit
“You can also hear the drumbeat of war on Fox News…”
Yeah, that, and they literally just renamed Department of Defense to “Department of War”.
sweatgod2020@reddit
Why are all these power house countries bullying smaller ones at an alarmingly similar fashion and rate?
Mysterious-Guest-716@reddit
Taking down Maduro is good foreign policy. Anyone with a brain should support this escapade of Trump's.
News flash, you can still demand the Epstein files and hate the man for all the crap he does while acknowledging and supporting the things he does that are good for the world and the west.
OppositeArt8562@reddit
Taling down Sadam is gppd foreign policy. Anyone with a brain should support this escapade of Bush's. /s.
seblucj@reddit (OP)
Yes, destabilizing the region so that more people are forced to leave and head to the US is so smart. It is such a good thing the Trump administration is so welcoming of Latin American migrants right now! Like, it is crazy how genius taking down Saddam was, the effects of the invasion of Iraq were so good that we should replicate it with a bigger country on our door step! Fuck I just can't fathom the political 9D chess. True masterminds.
EndTheFed25@reddit
Venezuela is already destabilized. Bomb the drug manufacturers and blockade the country.
One-Employment3759@reddit
The USA can't abdicate it's global responsibilities and then later go, oh but actually we do want to be able to decide who is a baddie and invade them.
That's not how it works.
Ebscriptwalker@reddit
No, let outher countries sort their own shit out was what he ran on. America first was supposed to be no new wars. Isolationist foreign policy. All those that voted for Trump that buy into these foreign interventions are just showing how easily influenced they are.
Basic_Ask8109@reddit
Just wondering... If Venezuela stuck US soil would they invoke article five of NATO?
Trump has threatened allies and technically they're still part of NATO( as far as I know). With many European allies trying to support Ukraine they won't be keen to help the US.
Canada went to the aid of the US in 2001/2002 and that was a twenty year thing. Not sure that Canada would want to help the US other than to ward off the threat reaching Canada.
The USA is increasingly becoming friendless and Trump is playing war with individual American states and now whole countries.
seblucj@reddit (OP)
That is a good question, especially because Venezuelan drones are capable of hitting Miami. I think if the US starts the war, then no. However, any competent political leader makes sure they spin it so the other side looks like they started it. Ie Putin with Ukraine, Hitler with Poland. It is bold to say the Trump administration is competent. They are probably going to make it obvious they are the aggressors. If they are obviously aggressing and they invoke Article 5 I think NATO could collapse. Europe is too busy with Russia to focus on a protracted war in the Jungle.
That being said, the likelihood they would bomb Miami is very low. I could see a mission to PR for the shits, but I think it would be focused on the direct threat of the Naval ships. This question does make me think they might pull a Gulf of Tonkin. If you don't know about what happened in the Gulf of Tonkin, I'd look it up. I am realizing how eerily similar the conditions are right now while typing this.
As a Canadian, I would be livid if we got involved.
OppositeArt8562@reddit
I think Venezuala wouldnt ricm it simply because they need all potential assets focused on the US military if the US decides to attack. There are plenty of targets off their coast.
dorianngray@reddit
Yeah that sounds about right… giving the President extra powers to wage war by lying about aggression and attacks from the “enemy” country…
brokeboipobre@reddit
The attack on the boat was to see if the US could get Venezuela to attack a US ship. Which would justify a land invasion, it’s no big secret Venezuela has more oil reserves than Saudi Arabia. Ground invasion of Venezuela would be Trump’s Iraq. To steal the oil.
nofolo@reddit
What kind of drug smuggling fast boat contains 11 people? They contain 1 to 3 and the rest would be drugs. Think about it. This is total bullshit. It more than likely was 11 migrants getting the fuck outta dodge.
anywhoImgoingtobed@reddit
This is like Jake Paul boxing retired ufc fighters
00001000U@reddit
Unjust wars are the death throes of an empire.
AdministrativeFly192@reddit
“So not we are going to war against Venezuela, Chicago, Portland and Canada. Oh, and we are going to take over Greenland and parts of Mexico. We love our Dear Leader.”
DocDMD@reddit
Thank you. Venezuela has oil and Greenland has minerals. Of we are anticipating that China will cut us off at some point and that Saudi Arabia cuts is off from their oil then we need another source. Shale oil peaked in 2023 and is currently in decline.
IncomingAxofKindness@reddit
nomad2284@reddit
Have you seen Wag the Dog? It makes more sense that way.
maas348@reddit
Trump's Iraq
hennabeak@reddit
We all know that "Cartels" is just the excuse.
Mexico and Columbia is far more famous for cartels, and yet, US isn't doing anything. Oil is the reason for it.
The reason they blew up a boat was to force Venezuela to retaliate so that US has an excuse for starting a war.
All of that aside, don't let this distract you from the Epstein files.
switchquest@reddit
President of peace indeed. What is that stupid Nobel peace prize committee waiting for??!
ForthrightGhost@reddit
Oh it’s going to happen soon:
https://thecradle.co/articles/us-war-department-to-shift-focus-from-china-to-threats-in-latin-america-report
vexillographer7717@reddit
What is Iznotreal? Did you mean to type Israel?
sirlurkalot1234@reddit
Exactly. Looks like you’re getting the hang of it :)
ForthrightGhost@reddit
IsNOTreal.
GildedPlunger@reddit
Trump didn't bring the chip company here. Biden did. China's plans to invade Taiwan have been telegraphed for over a decade now. Most of our weapons use that technology now. So we needed production closer to home to prevent China from cutting off our weapons production in that conflict whenever it comes.
sassyscorpionqueen@reddit
GlidedPlunger is correct, Biden brought in TSMC, and Biden approved the CHIPS Act.
certified_forklyfter@reddit
Thanks for the comprehensive write up
Aramedlig@reddit
Fuck Trump.
IncomingAxofKindness@reddit
And the Congressional empty suits rubber stamping his bung hole
RAMS_II@reddit
fuck mature
AdMiserable6896@reddit
Does anyone have more info on this Silvercorp PMC group. Couple years back on YouTube I got recomendend music videos called GoldCorp.
Razafraz11@reddit
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gideon_(2020)
They’re idiots
AdMiserable6896@reddit
Just to add it definitely looked like a recruiting/propaganda video and it was pretty well done.
N0SF3RATU@reddit
1.) Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. 2.) Venezuela provides oil to Russia. 3.) USA fucks with Russia through Venezuela.
If it were truly about drugs, we'd have invaded Mexico long ago.
Razafraz11@reddit
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2025/9/4/venezuela-has-the-worlds-most-oil-why-doesnt-it-earn-more-from-exports
Venezuela barely exports any oil at all, I don’t see how this has anything to do with Russia.
Razafraz11@reddit
Why are these people so fucking stupid
Proud-Dust5046@reddit
As american. I say no war
Airith0@reddit
He’s literally just copying exactly what happened in 1989 with Operation Just Cause.
Dontbelievethehype24@reddit
But we are talking about the fact that [USA] had an election, which was a very strange election, to put it mildly,… Fixed it!
Buschfan08@reddit
Its not like Venezuela has any chance against america's military.
Location_Next@reddit
SelectiveScribbler06@reddit
This feels like Gulf of Tonkin.
WRungNumber@reddit
Should have started with Cuba They run Venezuela.
slendermanismydad@reddit
So we are halting wind projects that are nearly done to go steal more oil?
This is a game is SIMS.
Gygax_the_Goat@reddit
BAU
😔
rudefruit99@reddit
Didn't they come in saying they were the administration of peace?
Metal-Lifer@reddit
I guess they will put the “Ministry of War” to work
AnomalyNexus@reddit
Man I hope they're not insane enough to kick this hornets nest
GildedPlunger@reddit
They are.
myladyelspeth@reddit
I thought Venezuela was holding prisoners on behalf of the administration. What happened? They threatened to tell everyone they were killing them and now we have to go in and bury the evidence?
Herdistheword@reddit
At you thinking about CECOT in El Salvador?
GildedPlunger@reddit
No. Venezuela accepted prisoners too.
nosocialisms@reddit
Is suppose they already release all the Americans prisoners months ago, so we only have our prisoners and probably some stupid European that for some reason they believe was a good idea visit my country
Bruticus_Heavy_T@reddit
I thought congress had to approve shit like this. How the fuck…
HughMungus77@reddit
I’d be curious to see if Brazil gets involved in some capacity. Relations between them and Venezuela have become incredibly strained over the past few years. Plus Brazilians really dislike the volatile authoritarian Maduro regime being so close to them
Vegetable-Egg-1646@reddit
Trump wants Venezuela’s oil.
dieseljester@reddit
“Oh but he’s the president of peace! He needs a Nobel peace prize!” 🙄
Johnny-Unitas@reddit
It's another distraction from the Epstein files and his horrible economic policies. Trump is likely hoping someone fires on US military assets because it would really shift the news cycle.
QuixoticSun@reddit
Nothing says it can't be both a distraction and a move to secure resources for the oil barons.
Johnny-Unitas@reddit
Certainly.
Overall_Age8730@reddit
The Epstein files ARE the distraction. Do you you retards really think our own government is going to release anything Epstein related ? The corporate media propagated the while thing so far. Im convinced most of these comments are bots and that not everyone is this damn stupid.
L-J-@reddit
Anyone wondering if this also has something to do with the prisoner trade & the illegally extradited folks may have info Trump doesn't want out or lawsuits sent.
windandgales@reddit
Russia tried this with Ukraine and way before that with Japan. Governments looking for swift easy victories as a way to bolster support from their people rarely ever work. In fact...that time with Japan went so poorly Russia became the Soviet union.
Oolongteabagger2233@reddit
Hahaha enjoy getting drafted Gen Z. This is what you voted for
Fancy_Exchange_9821@reddit
You think Gen Z would be cool getting drafted? They can barely speak proper English, they’re just gonna dodge and wait it out. Easy
Oolongteabagger2233@reddit
Enjoy getting deported by the guy you voted for then.
Fancy_Exchange_9821@reddit
Deported? For what exactly? Wait did I tell you I voted for him? Go back into your reddit hole 😂
Oolongteabagger2233@reddit
Go back to tiktok while you have the chance
Fancy_Exchange_9821@reddit
Terrible comeback, also fuck china.
Oolongteabagger2233@reddit
Ok
AffectionateElk3978@reddit
This will do wonders for Anti-Americanism around the world
KarasuKaras@reddit
Bomb first and never question our dear leader -magats
applebag_dev@reddit
I swear this is another war started for oil just so they can fuel the energy requirements to prop up more data centers for AI slop...
BatmanMeetsJoker@reddit
There are so many big beautiful oil wells waiting for us in Venezuela.
Kernog@reddit
To paraphrase Oversimplified:
"Now, if you find yourself the barely legitimate leader of a corrupt american country and you start getting into hot water, here's an advice that has been tried and tested throughout the centuries: start a war to distract everyone from their misery!"
suddenvalleyfarms@reddit
Trump wants his very own Ukraine war.
BatmanMeetsJoker@reddit
Yeah, in order to declare martial law. He needs that now to solidify his power as dictator.
ThunderClap300@reddit
Nothing never goes right when fighting for other countries freedoms.
UncleCarolsBuds@reddit
We need the oil?
Chib_le_Beef@reddit
Epstien files... Epstien files... We still demand to see the Epstien files.
Top_Blackberry9182@reddit
How many of the “illegals” were actually military and cia assets going in early?
Devmoi@reddit
This butt munch will do anything to distract from issues that actually matter. Like The Epstein Files (of which he was allegedly an FBI informant) and the abysmal job market or the rising prices due to tariffs.
The Orange Imbecile is destroying our country. Pretty soon, we’ll be glad we actually prepped because of his dirty, shit-stained ass.
Harkonnen_Dog@reddit
biggron54@reddit
So anyone here know about the Island off the coast of Venezuela that hosts terrorist groups? I believe it's called Margarita....
fastfood12@reddit
Those files must be even worse then we ever could have imagined.
nosocialisms@reddit
Venezuelan here not 100% war yet but oh god I'm really wishing to throw some maverick to Maduro and his people or at least they can fuck enough the drug business for maybe they can just fled the country or kill each other.
mutualbuttsqueezin@reddit
Thanks to all non voters and maga for this
dj_skittles24@reddit
Honestly, Venezuela has to go
spacegiantsrock@reddit
So does North Korea. Should we invade them too? Maybe we should head back to Afghanistan.
dj_skittles24@reddit
🫨
One-Employment3759@reddit
So does Trump, why not invade Whitehouse?
dj_skittles24@reddit
🫣
commandercacti@reddit
This is a practice run for their future goals of invading Mexico. The cartels in Mexico have incredible influence in both are a very big security risk for insurgency. Venezuela has little influence/security risks and therefore is an easy target. Not to mention being an crude oil haven.
Creative-Cow-5598@reddit
They are allies with some maker’s of drones. They have been known to sink big ships.
adarcone214@reddit
I feel like we're Fletcher Reed (Liar, Liar) shouting in the phone, "STOP ANTAGONIZING OTHER COUNTRUES, ASSHOLE!"
OtheDreamer@reddit
Was there also not a factor (someone else pointed out here not me, trying to recall) about Venezuela contesting newly found oil reserves in Guantanamo? Some 11B barrels of oil that Venezuela has tried to / failed at claiming.
The heat on Venezuela makes a lot more sense if the objective is securing Guanya’s oil reserves for the US.
ThaCURSR@reddit
We already take out middle Eastern leaders so why not just bring it closer to home so deployments are shorter /s
Individual-Engine401@reddit
saw this coming……
Gonna_do_this_again@reddit
Pretty sure that's why the Domino's Pentagon tracker has been so active lately
ThisIsIdaho@reddit
I fear you may be right. And Trump likely got "permission'' to do so from his daddy while in Alaska...in exchange for Ukraine.