Banana Republic Newsflash

[Sigma_Orionis]

If this were any other U.S. administration I would say it was a disinformation campaign intended to make the Maduro regime even more unstable. But, I don't think the current set of clowns have that type of smarts.

Agreed, specially after this: Venezuela crisis: President Maduro admits secret talks with US

[Sigma_Orionis]

And then there's this:

Four Signs Trump’s Venezuela Strategy Is Backfiring

[Sigma_Orionis]

Hard to read, probably because it was translated from Spanish to English and the original author has that tendency (which we whose first language is romance based all have) to use three 5$ words when one 50c word will do. But, it raises an interesting point about how we in Bananaland view negotiations of any kind.

Yet, I disagree. At this point, negotiation is pointless. Regardless of sectarianism or ideology. Maduro and his boys know pretty well that IF they let up, they'll end up like Mussolini OR, if they're pretty lucky, like Noriega.

[SciFiFisher]

They are holding the tail of the Tiger and they don't dare hang on, and they don't dare let go.

[grapes]

Hard to read, probably because it was translated from Spanish to English and the original author has that tendency (which we whose first language is romance based all have) to use three 5$ words when one 50c word will do. But, it raises an interesting point about how we in Bananaland view negotiations of any kind.

Or, you know, a good roll of forty nickels

Look at the damage Trump does with em

Yet, I disagree. At this point, negotiation is pointless. Regardless of sectarianism or ideology. Maduro and his boys know pretty well that IF they let up, they'll end up like Mussolini OR, if they're pretty lucky, like Noriega.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Look at the damage Trump does with em

Yet, I disagree. At this point, negotiation is pointless. Regardless of sectarianism or ideology. Maduro and his boys know pretty well that IF they let up, they'll end up like Mussolini OR, if they're pretty lucky, like Noriega.

Trump is the most "Venezuelan" negotiator I've ever seen outside of Venezuela

[Sigma_Orionis]

Despite the fact that he has made quite a stinker about Maduro. I never quite trusted Marco Rubio. As for Trump, well, I think I've made my opinion of him and foreign policy well known. This just confirms my opinion of both of them.
Trump: Bolton 'was holding me back' on Venezuela

Lately there have been some rumors that Maduro decided not to go to the UN this year, because he's afraid Padrino and/or Numero Dos will take over and kick him out of power. What is certain is that Maduro is not going to the UN. And that we're out of the news cycle again. Had to dig to find Trump's tweet in English. However, it was widely published in news media around the region.

[SciFiFisher]

I have this image of a small dog sitting between the feet of a much larger dog while taunting a very large cat. The small dog is Trump of course.

[Sigma_Orionis]

I have this image of a small dog sitting between the feet of a much larger dog while taunting a very large cat. The small dog is Trump of course.

Trump is desperate for a Foreign Policy "win". AND, he needs Florida's 29 electoral votes badly. So badly, he's reportedly willing to make an exception on his Nativist agenda for its sake Although, I'm sure he'll think it over twice, because the Dems beat him to the punch on that one. The House of Representatives passed a bill during July granting Venezuelans TPS status.. It's sitting on the Senate right now.

[Sigma_Orionis]

How John Bolton Botched Venezuela

Yeah, Bolton is a moron. Trump is an even bigger one. No, they had no plan B. Because they figured that a bit of huffin' n puffin' would scare the shit out of Maduro. And it even could have worked if it were not for the Cubans told Maduro to go kissy-kissy with the Russkies. Something someone like Bolton (or your State Department) should have foreseen. But this guy's solution is unworkable. Why? I'm sure that as the crisis deepens in Cuba, Raul Castro would dump Maduro in a jiffy in exchange for some sanctions lifted off Cuba or some economic assistance. Yet, if Trump were to do that, he'd lose Florida. Something he can't afford. So, I doubt pretty much it will work.

[SciFiFisher]

How John Bolton Botched Venezuela

Yeah, Bolton is a moron. Trump is an even bigger one. No, they had no plan B. Because they figured that a bit of huffin' n puffin' would scare the shit out of Maduro. And it even could have worked if it were not for the Cubans told Maduro to go kissy-kissy with the Russkies. Something someone like Bolton (or your State Department) should have foreseen. But this guy's solution is unworkable. Why? I'm sure that as the crisis deepens in Cuba, Raul Castro would dump Maduro in a jiffy in exchange for some sanctions lifted off Cuba or some economic assistance. Yet, if Trump were to do that, he'd lose Florida. Something he can't afford. So, I doubt pretty much it will work.

I am not sure how accurate it was but I saw a news story that reported there a large number of Russian troops in Venezuela supporting Maduro also.

[Sigma_Orionis]

How John Bolton Botched Venezuela

Yeah, Bolton is a moron. Trump is an even bigger one. No, they had no plan B. Because they figured that a bit of huffin' n puffin' would scare the shit out of Maduro. And it even could have worked if it were not for the Cubans told Maduro to go kissy-kissy with the Russkies. Something someone like Bolton (or your State Department) should have foreseen. But this guy's solution is unworkable. Why? I'm sure that as the crisis deepens in Cuba, Raul Castro would dump Maduro in a jiffy in exchange for some sanctions lifted off Cuba or some economic assistance. Yet, if Trump were to do that, he'd lose Florida. Something he can't afford. So, I doubt pretty much it will work.

I am not sure how accurate it was but I saw a news story that reported there a large number of Russian troops in Venezuela supporting Maduro also.

Supposedly, the bulk of the Russian Military personnel that we have around here are working on servicing several weapon systems bought from the Russkies (like for example S-300 missiles that are deployed near the Guri Dam). I don't think Putin is willing to spend much money or resources backing Maduro. Just enough of them to be a torn on the side of the US basically. SUPPOSEDLY, there are a lot more Cubans than Russians around here.

[Sigma_Orionis]

I don't like the looks of this at all

Trouble in the Lima Group

[SciFiFisher]

I don't like the looks of this at all

Trouble in the Lima Group

That is not good news.

[Sigma_Orionis]

No it's not. I was afraid that something like this would happen. The way it looks, Maduro is going to stay in power for a while.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Haven't posted in a while because it looks like this is the new normal. We're out of the news cycle and Maduro's unofficial relaxing of foreign exchange controls has bought him some time. He's obviously not going away.

At this cost As I said before, the government seems to be abandoning everyone outside of Caracas.

[geonuc]

What does it mean for the government to abandon the rest of the country? In one sense, might that be a good thing for those living outside Caracas?

[SciFiFisher]

What does it mean for the government to abandon the rest of the country? In one sense, might that be a good thing for those living outside Caracas?

Not if the people who fill the power vacuum decide to set themselves up as tinpot warlords. A central government usually acts to keep things running cohesively. Things like tax collection, public services, law enforcement, public schools, and etc all wind up falling apart.

[Sigma_Orionis]

What does it mean for the government to abandon the rest of the country? In one sense, might that be a good thing for those living outside Caracas?

Not if the people who fill the power vacuum decide to set themselves up as tinpot warlords. A central government usually acts to keep things running cohesively. Things like tax collection, public services, law enforcement, public schools, and etc all wind up falling apart.

Exactly.

[code monkey]

just remember this - no matter how lofty the stated goals of a political movement, the thugs will take over.

[Sigma_Orionis]

just remember this - no matter how lofty the stated goals of a political movement, the thugs will take over.

... if you let them.