Venezuela? What’s up with that?

[petros]

Garbage in, garbage out. Why don’t I just take your exact words from above and throw them into an AI without qualifiers? Just plug in something like:

View attachment 32641
View attachment 32642
Depending on the qualifiers fed into an AI will determine the outcome to the question asked. I just put in your exact words.

If I had qualifiers, I can make Chile come out as the AI’s answer to “which country dominates the world in mining” I’m sure.

Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. Back in North America, with three significant countries making up North America, & many others making up Central and South America…there’s the 800lb gorilla in the room flexing the Monroe Doctrine and threatening its neighbours simultaneously. China is a global player, but it’s not in the neighbourhood directly as a resident of the ‘Western Hemisphere.’
View attachment 32643

Monroe Doctrine - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Tonnage isn't running the show. Period.

 

[Ron in Regina]

Tonnage isn't running the show. Period.

Ok. Saves me from adding qualifiers to show Chile coming out as the AI’s answer to “which country dominates the world in mining” here I guess.

…there’s the 800lb gorilla in the room flexing the Monroe Doctrine and threatening its neighbours simultaneously…

Is this also not relevant? China is a global player, but it’s not in the neighbourhood directly as a resident of the ‘Western Hemisphere.’

Is Canada really ‘running the show’ globally on the mining front? Canada is considered “a” leader in mining diverse minerals sustainably…& that’s not a bad thing, but I don’t think that’s running the show.

 

[petros]

Is Canada really ‘running the show’ globally on the mining front? Canada is considered “a” leader in mining diverse minerals sustainably…& that’s not a bad thing, but I don’t think that’s running the show.

We're are to mining as to what Switzerland is to banking.

 

[Ron in Regina]

We're are to mining as to what Switzerland is to banking.

So we own the ground, but not the contents in the ground? As far as sovereignty goes I guess, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is signalling that the U.S. will leave Venezuela’s authoritarian regime in place for the time being, so long as it complies with Washington’s demands to crack down on drug trafficking and make changes to its oil industry.

A day after the U.S. attacked the South American country and captured its leader, it remained unclear both how exactly Venezuela would be run and what U.S. President Donald Trump’s dramatic turn toward foreign interventionism would mean for his America First administration.

U.S. will leave Venezuelan regime in place as long as it complies with Washington, Rubio says — The Globe and Mail

Trump administration wants Venezuela to crack down on drug trafficking and make changes to its oil industry

apple.news

But Mr. Rubio suggested that a “transition to democracy” for Venezuela – or a role for its opposition leaders – would have to wait, and that he would instead deal with President Nicolás Maduro’s subordinates, who appear to remain in control in Caracas.

In a major snub, Trump said opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, didn’t have the support to run the country…as Trump publicly voted her off the non-island. You’re Fired Marie!

“We are dealing with the immediate reality. The immediate reality is that unfortunately, and sadly, but unfortunately, the vast majority of the opposition is no longer present inside of Venezuela,” he said on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. “We have short-term things that have to be addressed right away.”

He warned, however, that Venezuela’s leaders would have to follow orders from the U.S. “No more drug trafficking,” he said. “And no more using the oil industry to enrich all our adversaries” instead of Venezuelans or the U.S. decided upon by…?

…because sovereignty.

Venezuelans wonder who’s in charge as Trump and Maduro’s successor contradict each other

U.S. President suggested Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as president of Venezuela, but no ceremony was broadcast

www.theglobeandmail.com

At least Venezuela’s newest president (a few days ago she was the vice president) wasn’t sworn in from an American military base in Panama. Delcy Rodríguez, who is next in the presidential line of succession, served as Maduro’s vice president since 2018, overseeing much of Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy as well as its feared intelligence service.

On Saturday, Venezuela’s high court ordered her to assume the role of interim president.

“She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump told reporters of Rodríguez, who faced U.S. sanctions during Trump’s first administration for her role in undermining Venezuelan democracy.

Minutes later, in an appearance on state television surrounded by military brass, Rodríguez called for Maduro’s return from U.S. custody, describing his capture as “barbaric” and a “kidnapping,” and saying Maduro is the country’s only president.

Venezuelan VP denounces Maduro's arrest as 'kidnapping' despite Trump's transition claims

Venezuela's vice-president condemned Nicolás Maduro’s capture and demanded his return, signaling defiance the U.S. push for a transition of power.

nationalpost.com

The view in part is that if the democratic opposition were to gain power, it would require U.S. military protection from domestic threats, both from the officials in the former Maduro regime and the paramilitaries and drug cartels that control large parts of Venezuelan territory, particularly its jungles and border regions…but the oil companies? They’ll be fine.

 

[petros]

So we own the ground, but not the contents in the ground? As far as sovereignty goes I guess, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is signalling that the U.S. will leave Venezuela’s authoritarian regime in place for the time being, so long as it complies with Washington’s demands to crack down on drug trafficking and make changes to its oil industry.
View attachment 32647
A day after the U.S. attacked the South American country and captured its leader, it remained unclear both how exactly Venezuela would be run and what U.S. President Donald Trump’s dramatic turn toward foreign interventionism would mean for his America First administration.

U.S. will leave Venezuelan regime in place as long as it complies with Washington, Rubio says — The Globe and Mail

Trump administration wants Venezuela to crack down on drug trafficking and make changes to its oil industry

apple.news

But Mr. Rubio suggested that a “transition to democracy” for Venezuela – or a role for its opposition leaders – would have to wait, and that he would instead deal with President Nicolás Maduro’s subordinates, who appear to remain in control in Caracas.
View attachment 32648
In a major snub, Trump said opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, didn’t have the support to run the country…as Trump publicly voted her off the non-island. You’re Fired Marie!
View attachment 32652
“We are dealing with the immediate reality. The immediate reality is that unfortunately, and sadly, but unfortunately, the vast majority of the opposition is no longer present inside of Venezuela,” he said on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. “We have short-term things that have to be addressed right away.”
View attachment 32649
He warned, however, that Venezuela’s leaders would have to follow orders from the U.S. “No more drug trafficking,” he said. “And no more using the oil industry to enrich all our adversaries” instead of Venezuelans or the U.S. decided upon by…?
View attachment 32650
…because sovereignty.

Venezuelans wonder who’s in charge as Trump and Maduro’s successor contradict each other

U.S. President suggested Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as president of Venezuela, but no ceremony was broadcast

www.theglobeandmail.com

At least Venezuela’s newest president (a few days ago she was the vice president) wasn’t sworn in from an American military base in Panama. Delcy Rodríguez, who is next in the presidential line of succession, served as Maduro’s vice president since 2018, overseeing much of Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy as well as its feared intelligence service.

On Saturday, Venezuela’s high court ordered her to assume the role of interim president.
View attachment 32651
“She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump told reporters of Rodríguez, who faced U.S. sanctions during Trump’s first administration for her role in undermining Venezuelan democracy.
View attachment 32653
Minutes later, in an appearance on state television surrounded by military brass, Rodríguez called for Maduro’s return from U.S. custody, describing his capture as “barbaric” and a “kidnapping,” and saying Maduro is the country’s only president.

Venezuelan VP denounces Maduro's arrest as 'kidnapping' despite Trump's transition claims

Venezuela's vice-president condemned Nicolás Maduro’s capture and demanded his return, signaling defiance the U.S. push for a transition of power.

nationalpost.com

The view in part is that if the democratic opposition were to gain power, it would require U.S. military protection from domestic threats, both from the officials in the former Maduro regime and the paramilitaries and drug cartels that control large parts of Venezuelan territory, particularly its jungles and border regions…but the oil companies? They’ll be fine.

Does Switzerland own the all the money?

Wait 10 minutes and the wind will blow from the other side of Trump's ass after lawyers chew him out.

 

[petros]

Plotting the next freak off... #standupcomedy #venezuela #shorts

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

We have tix.

 

[petros]

Venezuela moves to cut oil output due to US export embargo​

By Marianna Parraga
January 4, 20261:42 PM PSTUpdated 4 hours ago

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA has begun cutting crude production because it is running out of storage capacity due to an ongoing U.S. oil blockade that has reduced exports to zero, piling more pressure on an interim government trying to hang on to power in the face of U.S. threats of more military action.

Caracas is in political crisis under an interim government after President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured by U.S. forces on Saturday. The OPEC country's oil exports, its main source of revenue, are now at a standstill following a U.S. blockade on tankers under sanctions and the seizure of two oil cargoes last month.

Chevron's (CVX.N), opens new tab cargoes bound for the U.S. had been an exception, continuing to move, because the company has a license from Washington for its operations. But even those have stopped since Thursday, shipping data showed on Sunday.

As part of his announcement of Maduro's detention and a government transition overseen by the U.S., President Donald Trump said on Saturday that an "oil embargo" on the country was in full force.

PDVSA's move includes shutting down oilfields or well clusters as onshore stocks mount and the company runs out of diluents to blend Venezuela's heavy crude for shipment.

The company requested output cuts to joint ventures including China National Petroleum Corporation's (CNPC) Petrolera Sinovensa, Chevron's Petropiar and Petroboscan and Petromonagas, the sources said. Petromangas, previously operated by PDVSA and Russian state-run Roszarubezhneft, is being run solely by PDVSA.

PDVSA and CNPC did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Chevron said on Sunday it continues to operate "in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations," without providing details.
Workers at Sinovensa on Sunday were preparing to disconnect up to 10 well clusters at PDVSA's request, one of the sources said, after an over-accumulation of extra heavy crude and a diluents shortage. However, the wells could be quickly reconnected in the future, the person added.

A portion of Sinovensa's oil output is typically delivered to China as debt service payment. But two China-flagged supertankers that were approaching Venezuela to load oil stopped at the end of December, LSEG shipping data showed.

At Petromonagas, workers began reducing output late last week until diluent supplies through pipeline resume, another source said.

On its side, Chevron has not cut product output yet as it has some room to keep storing, particularly at Petropiar, and tankers have not stopped loading. However, its vessels have not left the country's waters since Thursday and storage capacity is limited at Petroboscan, which could ultimately lead to cuts, another source said.

 

[Ron in Regina]

In a telephone interview this morning, President Donald Trump issued a not-so-veiled threat against the new Venezuelan leader, Delcy Rodríguez, saying that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” referring to Nicolás Maduro, now residing in a New York City jail cell.

Trump made clear that he would not stand for Rodríguez’s defiant rejection of the armed U.S. intervention that resulted in Maduro’s capture?

During our call, Trump, who had just arrived at his golf club in West Palm Beach Adjacent, was in evident good spirits, and reaffirmed to me that Venezuela may not be the last country subject to American intervention. In his speech hours after invading Venezuela, he did directly threaten Cuba and Mexico and Columbia.


“We do need Greenland, absolutely,” he said, describing the island—a part of Denmark, a NATO ally—as “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.” And in discussing Venezuela’s future, he signaled a clear shift away from his previous distaste for regime change and nation building, rejecting the concerns of many in his MAGA base. “You know, rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now. Can’t get any worse,” he said?

The severe tone he took with Rodríguez contrasted with the praise he had offered her yesterday, hours after U.S.-military forces attacked Caracas and captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, for criminal prosecution. Trump said in a news conference after the attack that Rodríguez had privately indicated a willingness to work with the United States, which Trump declared would temporarily “run” her country.

“She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” he said yesterday…Rodríguez rejected that suggestion moments later, declaring that the country is “ready to defend our natural resources” and that the nation’s defense counsel remained prepared to carry out the policies of Maduro, whose return she demanded. “We shall never be a colony ever again,” she said.

The prospect of Maduro’s government continuing to resist the U.S. raised the risk of a protracted fight for control of Venezuela that would require increased U.S.-military involvement and even occupation. Trump yesterday signaled his willingness to order a second wave of military actions in Venezuela, should he deem it necessary.

(Maduro is no prize either)

Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader With a Fate Worse Than Maduro’s — The Atlantic

The president told The Atlantic that Delcy Rodríguez needs to comply with U.S. wishes—or else.

apple.news

 

[Ron in Regina]

During our call, Trump, who had just arrived at his golf club in West Palm Beach Adjacent, was in evident good spirits, and reaffirmed to me that Venezuela may not be the last country subject to American intervention. In his speech hours after invading Venezuela, he did directly threaten Cuba and Mexico and Columbia.

'We need Greenland': Trump repeats threat to annex Danish territory — BBC News

The US president has repeatedly said he wants the island to become a part of the US.

apple.news

Venezuela acting president seeks US govt collaboration — Reuters

Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez invited the U.S. government to collaborate on an agenda of cooperation, in a statement on social media that struck a conciliatory tone following the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

apple.news

" If I lived in Havana, and I was in the government, I'd be concerned - at least a little bit," Rubio said. In July last year, Trump signed a memorandum imposing tighter restrictions on Cuba, reversing moves by his predecessor Joe Biden easing pressure on the Caribbean island nation.

Thirty-two Cubans killed during US attack on Venezuela — BBC News

Cuba's president said military and intelligence operatives were providing protection to captured leader Nicolás Maduro.

apple.news

The winner of the Nobel peace prize appears to have been sidelined by the US after the removal of President Maduro and her whereabouts are unknown.

Where is María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader? — The Times and The Sunday Times

María Corina Machado, the international figurehead of the Venezuelan opposition who collected the Nobel peace prize last month, has so far been reduced to a peripheral role after the US intervention in her country on Saturday. President Trump appeared to dismiss the prospect of involving her in...

apple.news

Trump says U.S. is 'in charge' of Venezuela and warns interim leader to cooperate — NBC News

The president's comments aboard Air Force One contrasted with the diplomatic tone of Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez, who extended an invitation to work with the U.S.

apple.news

Trump push to politicize US military ‘reminiscent of Stalin’, top general warns — Guardian US

Maj Gen Paul Eaton says US president’s effort to bend military to his will could have dire long-term consequences

apple.news

'Deeply shocked': World leaders react to US attack on Venezuela — BBC News

There has been a mixed reaction to a large-scale strike on Venezuela and Maduro's capture by the US.

apple.news

“It’s very, very delicately composed” to not be “overtly critical of Trump,” he added – suggesting Carney may be doing damage control against jeopardizing trade negotiations with his American counterpart. You saw Carney and other European leaders react very carefully in that respect.”

What analysts say about Carney’s statement on Venezuela — CTV News

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a “Venezuelan-led transition process” away from what he called the criminal regime of President Nicolás Maduro in a 5 p.m. Saturday post on X.

apple.news

Describing the successful military operation Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced another overarching reason. Trump, he said, was “deadly serious about reestablishing American deterrent and dominance in the Western Hemisphere.”

In November, the White House published what it called a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine — a 19th-century document asserting America’s hemispheric dominance — that promised to “restore American ‘preeminence’ in the Western Hemisphere.”

Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, the Venezuelan president of the Washington Office on Latin America, said she could only make sense of Saturday’s stunning events in the context of the new document.

“The idea that you can take the most powerful man in the country and then see him surrendered to U.S. troops sends a very powerful message across Latin America that the U.S. is willing to go through with its threats,” she said. “They’re not saying they’re going to work through alliances; they’re saying they're going to impose their will through any means, including military power.”

Trump, she noted, didn’t mention Venezuelan democracy once in his speech Saturday, and the White House hasn’t signaled that it wishes to replace Maduro with either Edmundo González, the apparent winner of the 2024 election, or María Corina Machado, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and leader of the country’s opposition movement.

Renata Segura, director of the Latin America and the Caribbean program at the International Crisis Group, said she was particularly worried about what could befall Venezuela if various factions begin vying for power.

The view in part is that if the democratic opposition were to gain power, it would require U.S. military protection from domestic threats, both from the officials in the former Maduro regime and the paramilitaries and drug cartels that control large parts of Venezuelan territory, particularly its jungles and border regions…but the oil companies? They’ll be fine.

“It’s very clear they have not really thought through what could happen next after removing Maduro,” Segura said. “And that’s very disturbing.”

Confusion reigns in Caracas after Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces — The Washington Post

In the aftermath of U.S. strikes and the capture of Maduro, Venezuelans are struggling to understand what just happened — and what might come next.

apple.news

Kelly McParland: Trump is about to find out toppling Maduro was the easy part — National Post

Regime change is messy business and the Americans have a bad track record

apple.news

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

My money's on California.