As the Venezuelans endeavor to oust Maduro and give power to Juan Guaidó (who I understand is the lawful leader as of January), do you think the US military should intervene?An MSNBC reporter helpfully pointed out this week that firearms were seized in Venezuela a few years ago, so the people are definitely at a disadvantage, though it seems that they may not be fully without military support. (I doubt the MSNBC talker realized the point they were making here.)I’m torn on this, but probably leaning toward no. I am more neocon-y then most conservatives nowadays, but less so than I used to be. I think both sides have made strong arguments here, and I’m not sure who is right.
No intervention.Money, arms, but no troops. Period________________
And then we can open up their borders
Let the illegals go south for a chang________________
Naval and air blockade. Enforce the Monroe doctrine. Contact opposition members of the military, help them organize, and arm them. But no U.S. troops________________
I was a supporter of Senior Bush the time we got it right. In, do the job, and out. We just can’t seem to do that anymore, so I am NOT for troops. I do believe they need assistance.I am just hoping that a ‘wise’ advisor and a diplomat can work this out. It is beyond my pay gradeI backed Bush Jr. but I was wrong.I am not smart enough to see past my nose at times, we have some leaders in world affairs who are the same. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
Democracy must be from within the borders of a nation, not from outside forces. We have failed at nation building by invasion (even Europe hates us and wants to be socialist), and we are foolish if we think we can change the culture of a nation with with force of arms. Look where we are actively fighting now, and may be fighting into most of the next decade or two. The people of any nation deserve to live under the conditions brought about by the government they voted for or allow to stay in power. Any humanitarian aid is just a feel-good but will prolong the power of those in power.
Exactly. Great post. The only observation I would add is that the Monroe Doctrine compels us to keep powers located outside of the western hemisphere from intervening in western hemispheric nations’ affairs. This is why I advocate a naval and air blockade to give teeth to the Monroe Doctrine. Russian and Chinese military assets must be kept out________________
And that is the gospel my friend, it is the truth. Amazing stepping back, even using hind sight it looks like a , dummy, could read that book. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
I always felt bad for the South Vietnamese, but they were not South Korea. There just were not enough of them that could see past short term corruption to live free long term________________
I always felt bad for the South Vietnamese, but they were not South Korea. There just were not enough of them that could see past short term corruption to live free long term. I view North and South Vietnam, now just Vietnam, as a good example of allowing people to live with the results of the government they choose. Since 1975, Vietnam has outlived the momentum of defeating the Yankee invaders and has lived through the loss of being subsidized by the now defunct USSR, and even fought a short border war with their long time enemy China. Now Americans are being welcomed and investment is being sought. You can not eat being anti-imperialist and live without hunger.My thinking is, instead of building up Afghanistan, we deconstruct all things American there. Roads, schools, airports, dams, communications and hospitals. I read where the dams we built to modernize Afghanistan and provide irrigation for the farmers, has fueled the poppy fields which become opiates. The trafficking of these opiates (especially heroin) funds the Taliban and contributes to the drug problem in the USA.The people in Afghanistan must choice to become a civilized 21st century nation. When we give them the benefits of the developed world, they used them to harm us. The US feeds the people who want to harm us in the hopes they will like us and adopt our culture, and while China is using economic power to control markets, we continue to fight prolonged wars and investing in nation building where there is no firm foundation to build on. Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.â€