Banana Republic Newsflash

[Sigma_Orionis]

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

It didn't go well. Now the US is claiming that the Russkies intervened and convinced Maduro of not resigning. Of course, Maduro and the Russkies are denying that ever happened.

If this was the Obama administration or even the George W. Bush administration, I'd be inclined to believe them. For some odd reason, I don't trust Trump or Pompeo very much.

In this article in Spanish, Elliot Abrams claims that the US State Dept. was negotiating with Chavista Apparatchiks and suddenly they stopped taking calls.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Hell, if it's already on the NY times. I guess it's more than a rumor now

[Sigma_Orionis]

Happy May 1st.

[Thumper]

[SciFiFisher]

Hell, if it's already on the NY times. I guess it's more than a rumor now

Wow!

[geonuc]

This analysis doesn't sound promising:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/02/worl ... -coup.html

[Sigma_Orionis]

Indeed. And I can't disagree with it.

[Sigma_Orionis]

As usual, Michael Shifter describes the situation Venezuela is in, very well.

[SciFiFisher]

Trump called Putin today. Putin says he is not meddling in Venezuela. Trump says he believes him. MSNBC commentators are pointing out that Trump just gave Putin the green light to meddle in the 2020 elections. And Venezuela.

[geonuc]

Reading all the learned analysis of the Venezuela situation makes me wonder how any country transitions from autocratic rule to democracy. It can happen - maybe Uruguay is the best example? Or Chile. But how well have things turned out for Egypt after they tossed Mubarak? Or Libya after Qaddafi? Or the US after Trump? Oh, wait, we're still playing that one out.

[Sigma_Orionis]

In the meantime Code Pink shows why they're a pathetic bunch of PSFs...

[Sigma_Orionis]

Trump called Putin today. Putin says he is not meddling in Venezuela. Trump says he believes him. MSNBC commentators are pointing out that Trump just gave Putin the green light to meddle in the 2020 elections. And Venezuela.

That idiot has managed in two years to greatly undermine the credibility built by the US for the last 50 (yes, despite all the fuckups made by previous administrations). In retrospective, the only slightly comparable about face made by the US was the so-called "Nixon Shock" from 1971

[SciFiFisher]

It will take decades to undo what Trump and Co. have done. And truthfully, the world is definitely going to be very different thanks to all the idiots who thought burning down the house was a good idea.

[SciFiFisher]

In the meantime Code Pink shows why they're a pathetic bunch of PSFs...

I'd be willing to let Code Pink folks live in your country for an extended time to see how they really like "socialism" in action.

[Sigma_Orionis]

In the meantime Code Pink shows why they're a pathetic bunch of PSFs...

I'd be willing to let Code Pink folks live in your country for an extended time to see how they really like "socialism" in action.

And I know EXACTLY where to send them...

[Sigma_Orionis]

According to Local Press, some of those useless POSs just got busted. Don't expect me to shed a tear over that.

[Sigma_Orionis]

It will take decades to undo what Trump and Co. have done. And truthfully, the world is definitely going to be very different thanks to all the idiots who thought burning down the house was a good idea.

I strongly suspect that after he's gone A lot of things that were considered "customary" will become law.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Figures

A frustrated Trump questions his administration’s Venezuela strategy

[Sigma_Orionis]

Cuba feeling the love

But less aid from ally Venezuela has also led to shortages of essentials - as has a drop in exports - leaving the Communist-run island struggling to pay for imports.

No, I am not enjoying how "Joe Average" in Cuba has to struggle to find basic goods (and they've been at it a lot longer than us). But, I find it hard to feel any empathy considering that their government has been siphoning of us for decades now.

[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.

Before, I gave you a general answer, Now I have some specifics for you:

2003: National Strike, joined in by a lot of Oil Industry workers. When the strike fails to dislodge Chavez, they were promptly fired and replaced with loyalists.

2007-2009: Chavez cancels all joint ventures with foreign oil companies, seizes their assets and kicks them out of the country.

2014: As the economic crisis gets worse, the government stops paying its bills to oil services companies like Schlumberger that do a lot of the work of extracting oil.

2016: Most oil services company stop working in Venezuela.

2017: Maduro puts the Military in charge of the oil industry,

THAT is how you go from 3 Million barrels a day to less than 750,000

[Sigma_Orionis]

Reading all the learned analysis of the Venezuela situation makes me wonder how any country transitions from autocratic rule to democracy. It can happen - maybe Uruguay is the best example? Or Chile. But how well have things turned out for Egypt after they tossed Mubarak? Or Libya after Qaddafi? Or the US after Trump? Oh, wait, we're still playing that one out.

No idea, although I'd like to think you'll get rid of Trump in 2020 at the latest. As for us, I am more and more convinced that it will take a mercenary army paid for by expats to get rid of Maduro (and yes, I am well aware of how dangerous that is).

[Sigma_Orionis]

Here we go again....

Venezuela crisis: Both sides in Norway for peace talks

[SciFiFisher]

Here we go again....

Venezuela crisis: Both sides in Norway for peace talks

Oh boy! I hope Mr. Guaidó is not pinning his hopes on help from the U.S. In spite of their rhetoric I don't see Trump & Co. as being very likely to send military aid. Of course, if he offered to let Trump build a Trump Tower in Venezuela it might happen.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Actually the talks are being promoted mostly by the EU. At least it's out of Maduro's comfort zone (unlike the 2014 and the 2017 talks). Regarding military aid: if this was October 2020, I'd say there would be a slight chance that Trump might be tempted to do so, to boost his chances in Florida for the election. But, I find that prospect as unlikely as you do.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Nobody seems too hopeful. After all, this is the second sequel