Banana Republic Newsflash

[Sigma_Orionis]

You can't possibly imagine how relieved I am to hear this... Lavrov certain Cuban Missile Crisis will not be repeated due to events in Venezuela.

Nor the confidence this gives me: Trump says may discuss Venezuela with Putin soon

[Thumper]

I've never trusted Tap water here. Despite that It's supposed to be drinkable. I have a stone water filter

I know plenty of people around here that don't trust the tap water. I have my own well and softener.

[SciFiFisher]

You can't possibly imagine how relieved I am to hear this... Lavrov certain Cuban Missile Crisis will not be repeated due to events in Venezuela.

Nor the confidence this gives me: Trump says may discuss Venezuela with Putin soon

Just like he discussed the Russian interference with our elections.

[Sigma_Orionis]

This is exactly what I was afraid of

[Thumper]

But the last act in this tragedy can only be performed by the Venezuelans, knowing that the sooner they and their armed forces evict the thieves, the sooner the world will pitch in to help them recover their lives.

I imagine alot of things would scare me. This last sentence seemed to be a glimmer of hope?

[Sigma_Orionis]

But the last act in this tragedy can only be performed by the Venezuelans, knowing that the sooner they and their armed forces evict the thieves, the sooner the world will pitch in to help them recover their lives.

I imagine alot of things would scare me. This last sentence seemed to be a glimmer of hope?

Doubtful. The Military's top brass has made it quite clear they're fully behind Maduro. Apparently, the middle ranks are fed up with him but are watched closely so they don't conspire.

In the last few days I've read an interview with some lawyer that claims he's preparing a legal framework that theoretically would allow Guaidó to frame Maduro and his clique as a drug cartel that has taken over the country. Supposedly with the idea of framing any intervention as a police action by a Venezuelan Government led armed force intervention WITH US assistance. Even if its not on shaky ground, and even if there was not international opposition Setting up something like that would take quite some time. Time we don't have.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Rumor has it that now Maduro wants to negotiate. Couldn't find a credible source. Just this

[Sigma_Orionis]

Everyone down here hates Julio Borges. I am of the opinion that he's one of the few within the opposition that thinks.

Cuba Has Hijacked Venezuela

[Thumper]

The NYT has told me to pound sand if I don't give them some money.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Your must have read more than 5 articles from their site this month.

[Thumper]

It appears I have. But I get the gist of it and have heard some brief reports.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Looks like there's a way to squeeze the Cubans out of here.

[geonuc]

The NYT has told me to pound sand if I don't give them some money.

Might be worth doing so. Their reporting is superlative.

[geonuc]

Looks like there's a way to squeeze the Cubans out of here.

Are those sanctions supported by a UN resolution?

[SciFiFisher]

Looks like there's a way to squeeze the Cubans out of here.

Are those sanctions supported by a UN resolution?

Nope. China and Russia pretty much block anything to do with Venezuela.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Looks like there's a way to squeeze the Cubans out of here.

Are those sanctions supported by a UN resolution?

Nope. China and Russia pretty much block anything to do with Venezuela.

Not that it matters much though. Cuba is going to have to find another Oil supplier. But, more importantly they're going to have to pay in cash for that oil. China and Russia can block whatever they want at the UN Security council. But, I doubt very much they'll give Cuba a single barrel of oil for free. Much less give them money to buy it elsewhere.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Wait, there was no humanitarian crisis right?

[SciFiFisher]

Of course there wasn't.

[code monkey]

You can't possibly imagine how relieved I am to hear this... Lavrov certain Cuban Missile Crisis will not be repeated due to events in Venezuela.

Nor the confidence this gives me: Trump says may discuss Venezuela with Putin soon

you're so young to be such a cynic, sigma. now if you can't trust lavrov and trump, whom can you trust?

[Sigma_Orionis]

You can't possibly imagine how relieved I am to hear this... Lavrov certain Cuban Missile Crisis will not be repeated due to events in Venezuela.

Nor the confidence this gives me: Trump says may discuss Venezuela with Putin soon

you're so young to be such a cynic, sigma. now if you can't trust lavrov and trump, whom can you trust?

Not Maduro, that's for sure...

[Sigma_Orionis]

I just posted this piece elsewhere. Because it looks like THIS TIME, PSFs are losing steam.

I can't say I disagree with this one though.

[SciFiFisher]

I just posted this piece elsewhere. Because it looks like THIS TIME, PSFs are losing steam.

I can't say I disagree with this one though.

I have a hard time understanding how even a corrupt regime can go from producing over 3 million barrels of oil to barely 750,000.

[Sigma_Orionis]

I just posted this piece elsewhere. Because it looks like THIS TIME, PSFs are losing steam.

I can't say I disagree with this one though.

I have a hard time understanding how even a corrupt regime can go from producing over 3 million barrels of oil to barely 750,000.

Because it wasn't corruption alone. There was a lot of ideological rigidity. By 2014 they had painted themselves into a corner. They could not admit their precious "Socialism for the 21st Century" had failed miserably. So, they doubled down, over and over again. Remember: they were so adamant denying we were suffering from hyperinflation that they refused to put in circulation higher denomination bills and there has been a cash shortage since 2017. Furthermore, they refused to do a currency re-conversion (as in removing zeroes and issuing new currency) until it was way too late (of course, the economic policies needed to stop hyper-inflation were never even considered because they were not "socialist"). They couldn't admit there was a a humanitarian crisis that made over three million people leave the country until it became international news.

Of course, we're way past the ideological phase right now. They're doing anything they can to cling to power. Because, they know that even if they aren't a a bunch of Drug Traffickers, there's no way they are not going to be let off with a slap in the wrist if (hopefully WHEN) they fall.

Of course, this doesn't happen only to "Socialists". Your Republicans seem to have gone down pretty far down that path. However, your Dems haven't still (despite it all) been bitten by "Ideological Purity". I consider that, THAT, which is seen as weakness these days, is their greatest strength in resisting nutjobs like the DSA.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Looks like Gauido is moving in to get to his endgame

Despite what Maduro's Propaganda Minister says, Numero Dos has called on all Chavistas to go to Miraflores (sort of like the White House) to defend Maduro. That suggests that this time there's a considerable number of Military Personnel backing Gauido

[SciFiFisher]

The news reports don't sound very promising here in the almost Banana Republic of the U.S.