What the fook is this picture? a blown transformer that has been vandalized? This picture shows no apparent damage from a missile strike, just like the total photoshop job from a couple of weeks ago where bomb craters in the desert were overlaid onto a military base. Where is the wreckage and debris?
Venezuela's oil production has disappeared into the sunset and the price is in the shiiter even if they could produce any and what little they can produce is just being given as payment to china and the ruskies for its debts. So they are turning more and more to drug sales to survive, which has been going on on steroids for years but it is getting to be their only source of revenue. And yes, cutting off or tightening the noose on his last source of revenue will probably topple the regime and by indicting him his only places to flee will be Cuba and Bolivia and the U.S. will probably seize or freeze all his funds and villas in Spain and give them to Spain for their cooperation. Thank you Spain, your check is in the mail. I know that cutting down on the drug trafficking into the country will result in fewer American deaths and you don't like that but Allah has given you the coronavirus so you have that to be happy about. So thank you Mr. Barr. And keep getting that Florida vote out by going after Maduro. Much appreciated.
It is the Manuel Noriega playbook without the CIA involvement. Bush invaded Panama for same rationale so wonder if there is an election saving invasion of venezuela coming...Panama they had a treat to rely on so this will be much trickier and Maduro has no link to the U.S. But accusing them of drug dealing is the easiest way to get a justification (just like with Noriega).
I doubt that the U.S would invade because the collapse of the regime is still on track just taking longer because we do not plan to intervene but just cutting off sources of funding and revenue month by month. Without doubt- though- we are funding, supporting, arming, providing intelligence to defectors and opposition forces positioned in Colombia and Brazil. Don't doubt for a minute though that we have real evidence of his drug and drug cartel operations and connections. We have squeezed many of his buddies who have defected. The next one to be squeezed is his Intelligence/Spy Chief who defected a year or more ago and has been in Spain. Two weeks ago Spain agreed to extradite him - I am sure we made them an offer they could not refuse. So he is on his way back. He is on the outs with Maduro but he is also in legal trouble with the Americans. A beautiful combination. I am sure a deal can be made. And his intelligence chief knows more about what the regime was and is involved in than God himself. We can work a deal though. And yes, he knows how it worked out for Noriega. I think he is still alive or not in a prison in Kansas or something. We can work something better out for the Spy Chief. If he wants. If he doesnt, then bye-bye.
Funny thing is cocaine for personal use is legal in Colombia, police can't arrest for under a gram. I have yet to meet a drug addict here beyond the poor homeless bastards who sniff glue. Students mess about with it for sexy time I"m told but they grow out of it. Grow up America.
I can't see us invading Venezuela. Its a pretty low priority. The other guy is a damned socialist too. Its a left-left issue. They are sitting on large oil reserves but its heavy crude with high sulfur content. Most of the refineries that are setup to process heavy crude are in the United States. Its inescapable.