Spooky

https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2026/01/china-venezuela-taiwan-trump-security?lang=en Thought this was a good analysis of China's reaction to the Venezuela operation.

How much can we trust official US data these days?

Obviously I am not a fan of Maduro or the regime in VZ. But you haven't even changed the regime and set the country on a better course. Your actions will probably just lead to further destabilization.

But it is your war - the US was heavily involved in setting up Ukraine as an independent nation. How many billions have you spent there? Why not finish what you started? It is in the US interest to do so. There is a lot of speculation that the CIA was involved in the Maidan revolution....

Got it so VZ at the same moment is an urgent threat but also not a threat. The cognitive dissonance is insane. They don’t have to attack the US if the US companies are in VZ getting that oil Mr smarty pants. If you are going to change VZ for the better just fucking commit to it and do it properly or you will just open up another can of worms.

Honestly it's true. I just want peace and prosperity for my American friends and the world. Sadly I expect we will need to live through some dangerous times.

Fair enough. I hope there are no hard feelings. It is easy to get animated.

Hey you're the one that is calling me a hypocrite. My positions and views have remained the same. I don't think what the US is doing is in the best interest of the US' long run security and prosperity and by extension the rest of the world. I miss the old version of the US that I grew up with. It wasn't perfect but at least it was trying to make a better world. Let's look at some of the Republican flip flops: 1. We care about the debt and deficit -> Nope! Let's blow out the deficit with the Big Beautiful Bill! 2. We don't want to be involved in foreign "forever wars" and entanglements. America First! -> Nope, that was a lie. 3. We want to eliminate USAID and focus on the well being of Americans at home -> Nah forget helping Americans, that's socialism. 4. Hunter Biden's laptop! -> We're cool with Trump's children enriching themselves on an unprecedented scale and directing foreign policy even though they are not part of the government. Cool! I could go on.

How am I being the hypocrite? You modern republicans are the biggest hypocrites I have ever seen.

Deflecting from what? All trump wants is optics and quick wins.

Is this really the number one strategic priority for the US right now? If it wanted to the US could put its might behind Ukraine and put pressure on Russia to end the war. All the pressure is being put on Ukraine, Russia has not given up a thing. Or maybe you could pivot to the Pacific theatre like you claimed you were going to do? Back Japan and Taiwan and deter China from taking Taiwan by force like they have stated they aim to do by 2027. Or maybe try and build a real lasting peace in Gaza? I mean you provided all the ordinance for Israel to flatten it. Or maybe reaffirm commitment to NATO to put an end to Russia's hybrid warfare in Europe? Or maybe help to end the civil war in Sudan? Yes, this is what the world needs, another confrontation that has very little strategic importance.

What outrage is warranted? Hardly the same as military intervention and capturing the leader of the country. Whatever happens in VZ now, the US owns the outcome. You break it you buy it.

This is just the beginning. The US just committed an act of war against VZ combining intelligence, land, air, space and cyber elements. What you think they are magically now going to give you their oil? How are you going to secure US oil investments in the region? It feels like we are living in Orwell's 1984 where there is just constant war / military spending / bombing ad nauseam.

Israel talking about striking Iran again to stop their nuclear program... going to be doing this until the end of time. Why did the US rip up the nuclear agreement they had in place again? Oh right... cause they hate Obama.

Agree. It is the MAGA that are doing the cartwheels. They don't have any principles or policies they won't flip on.

Getting the same vibes:

Seems like some republicans agree with me: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-approval-rating-republicans-second-term-low-11318183 Trump's approval rating reaches a second term low among republicans.

Also, I have skimmed through parts of this document and it is, frankly, disturbing. I wish the US would come back to reality.

What about what Trump said on the campaign trail? What about all the Americans which are tired of "forever wars"? What about making people's lives better at home? What about all the concern about the debt / deficit?

Looks like the isolationism and ending wars was a lie - I'm sure a lot of voters feel betrayed. This was a big part of his platform.

Exactly. Once they have all these fancy toys the incentive will be to use them. It's like the man with the hammer, everything looks like a nail. We have already been down this road and seen where it goes...

Sorry US taxpayers.

US withdraws support for 66 UN organizations: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-suspends-us-support-for-international-organizations-9.7037333 UN security counsel met without the US. UN is dead.

. It's funny because Trump is looking more and more like a RHINO republican president of old, not a populist. Big tax cut for the rich? Check. Deposing dictators in Latin America? Check. Bombing countries in the middle east? Hell ya .... it's big Bush or Reagan energy!

This is such a made up crisis for the purpose of pursuing regime change.... oh and that sweet sweet oil!