Venezuela has accused Donald Trump of making a "colonialist threat" after he said the airspace around the country should be considered closed.
The country's foreign ministry called Trump's comments "another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people".
The US does not legally have the authority to close another country's airspace, but Trump's online post could lead to travel uncertainty and deter airlines from operating there.
141 Comments
someguy3@lemmy.world · 90 pts · 248d
The post above this was:
Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works · 29 pts · 248d
If the prediction markets weren't all owned by Trump and his cronies I would bet that boots go on the ground whatever day they are supposed to turn over the files.
paraphrand@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 248d
I’m ignorant of the culture and structure of these markets still.
Would the market have to set up a bet for this? Can you propose it? How would it work?
despoticruin@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 248d
It's unregulated bookies. You would be better off betting a stranger in a pub.
Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 247d
Its like 90% timing of politics too. So since they are all either owner by Trump and his inner circle or are friends with them they can just call Trump up to delay or accelerate something a day of the odds get too lopsided.
gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 247d
It's fully regulated to bet on politics of other countries, we don't all live in the USA
gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 247d
There's Bookmakers, who are professionals responsible for estimating likelihood of events using maths
But they can become corrupted, or simply told "you're not allowed to accept bets on this subject, ever, or lose your license"
SabinStargem@lemmy.today · -1 pts · 247d
Sounds familiar.
gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 247d
Ew, AI slop
SabinStargem@lemmy.today · -1 pts · 247d
You DO know that Asimov's Foundation series has been around for at least 70 years now, giving humans plenty of time to make fancy posters and cover art?
Bluntly, your type of "Ew, AI slop", is dumb and disingenuous. It became an excuse to hate stuff, no matter the merits, context, or source.
gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 247d
Yes I'm aware the book series is from the 50s, it's excellent.
But the image is AI slop. It's very clear of that. Have a look at the letters around the edge, they blur and artefact in a way no human would do, and the same generic overly rendered hair that they always have in AI slop.
I'm on about the ugly-ass image, which is very very clearly made by AI.
Another telltale sign is inconsistent level of detail, stuff like a heavily rendered background element right next to a loosely rendered foreground element, something humans would never do.
VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 247d
If you don't see it, I dunno what to tell you.
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 14 pts · 248d
he using nixons method, go to war with drugs/vietnam, in order distract from his political problems, its a time honored tradition amongst conservatives.
frisbird@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 247d
Nixon's war on drugs was for voter disenfranchisement, not distraction.
The war in Vietnam was for the US's absolutely rabid anti-communism and racist yellow peril
xenomor@lemmy.world · 69 pts · 248d
I’m old enough to remember when trump would pretend to be opposed to foreign military adventures. He literally built his political career on shitting on the neocons that launched us into illegal wars like what we did in Iraq.
Akasazh@feddit.nl · 15 pts · 248d
Im certain the nobel commitee is currently scrambling how to not give him an award without triggering an international incident.
And the actions surrounding Venzuela kinda prove that Trump is willing to go to war to receive his peace price.
wheezy@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 248d
You're not wrong. But what is missing is all the cult building that he did since them. He built his entire political career on mentioning things other politicians refused to mention and then gaining loyalty for it. While, at the same time, literally doing nothing about any of the popular ideas he mentioned.
DupaCycki@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 246d
Remember when he was against running for president and even joining the political scene entirely?
PoorYorick@lemmy.world · 51 pts · 248d
Just so it's clear, Venezuela has ample oil, and holds one of the world's top ten supplies of fresh water.
Jarix@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 248d
Didn't they also heavily develop a lithium extraction industry in the last decade or so?
demonsword@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 245d
no, that was Bolivia
Jarix@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 245d
Much thanks for the correction
Gammelfisch@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 247d
Does the Swiss based Nestle want the water for their plastic bottles?
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 248d
i think they have 2nd highest amount of oil/gas deposit outside of the ME.
mirshafie@europe.pub · 3 pts · 247d
Actually they have the largest proven oil reserve in the world, although it is a composition that needs more processing to turn into fuel. Which may make it unique for precursors for certain plastics, pharmaceuticals or advanced materials.
Top estimated reserves are:
As for gas reserves, it's
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 247d
thats why the oil barrons want it,
LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world · 37 pts · 248d
What's even the thought there, you shot boats claiming they had drugs on them, are they claiming every plane is also carrying drugs? Why wouldn't they just intercept them at the runway in the U.S. to sieze the drugs if any of it was drugs coming to the U.S. supposedly?
frongt@lemmy.zip · 63 pts · 248d
Because it was never about drugs.
thejml@sh.itjust.works · 21 pts · 248d
Well, it definitely wasn't about the friends we made along the way. We're actively trying to backstab each and every one.
Randomgal@lemmy.ca · 18 pts · 248d
I'm sure you'll figure it out when they start 'finding drugs' on their domestic enemies.
lettruthout@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 248d
Agreed. And why not just intercept the boats too? More proof that it wasn’t about the drugs.
Witchfire@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 248d
They're trying to put all the fish in one barrel. They're doing a similar tactic with trans people in the US by fucking with passports
ashughes@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 247d
Precursor to an invasion. It’s basically a warning to the rest of the world: all flights going to, from, or through Venezuelan air space would do well to divert around it because soon that air space is going to be a war zone.
edgemaster72@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 248d
Gotta justify $850 billion military budget somehow, plus Donny and Petey get a hate boner blowing up brown people
TechAnon@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 246d
He's showing he's trying to be a real threat. Now they're sending in the military to scare Venezuela into a good deal for resources or else.
It won't work. Internally, Congress is already calling out the illegality of attacking the boats. Congress won't allow a war and has already figured this out enough to tell the military to not follow illegal orders. It's still a sticky situation, but Venezuela's best move is to warn people and wait it out.
x00z@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 246d
They have answered that question and they said that "the drugs" in those planes is still in transit between other countries. So the planes and boats are not directly going to the US but indirectly.
Allegedly.
plyth@feddit.org · -7 pts · 248d
There will be airfights and Trump is minimizing civilian casualities.
LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 248d
Airfights? You mean an invasion by the United States trying to wage a massacre on a sovereign nation for nothing other than trying to rob the working class and give money to the rich?
He couldn't give a fuck about civilians. He's a murderer, a rapist, a fraud, and he prays on the misfortuned
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 247d
Hahaha. Right.
As he literally murders civilians in international waters
random_character_a@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 248d
Oh, Mr Nobel peace prize is just grouchy.
ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 246d
Mrs. Nobel peace prize is inviting him in with open arms, so he might as well get the next one
Asfalttikyntaja@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 247d
Sooo.. Venezuela might be the 51st state in the USA soon?
ininewcrow@lemmy.ca · 29 pts · 248d
Has a different meaning to everyone when you change the country names
frongt@lemmy.zip · 30 pts · 248d
I don't think it does.
takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 14 pts · 248d
To me it doesn't. It is still bad. At least with China and Taiwan we know what they want, with Venezuela it is just speculation. Nobody believes it is drugs.
My speculation is that he isn't planning to invade and this is to push Venezuela and other Latin American countries to develop closer relationship with Russia. He did it with Iran, China, India and others.
CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 248d
We know what they want in Venezuela too. It's their oil reserves.
Tja@programming.dev · 6 pts · 248d
Speculation? Let me speculate it's the same reason as Iraq 2, Iraq 1, Iran (Shah)...
takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 247d
I'm saying that previously at least there was some official reason given. This time they don't even bother with it.
jumjummy@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 248d
It’s also to reduce Russia’s influence in South America.
takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 247d
Doesn't look like that https://foxbaltimore.com/news/nation-world/us-venezuela-tensions-rise-as-maduro-vows-defiance-with-russian-chinese-support-air-force-one-caribben-tren-de-aragua
black_flag@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 248d
Honestly this comment is just so confusing and baffling I'm just dumbfounded. What on earth do you mean? The relationship between China and taiwan is nothing like the relationship between the US and Venezuela
Edit: even if it was...why would it just be presumed to be cool that China close the airspace around Taiwan? Wtf
shalafi@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 248d
That's rather the point? See how ridiculous is sounds in a different context?
Tabula_stercore@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 248d
If the usa invades sovereign and peaceful Venezuela there should be sanctions and retribution, the same way as Russia invading Ukraine. What is missing in the current situation is condemning the usa the same way as when China talks about Taiwan; two standards.
black_flag@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 247d
I feel like I get it now. Of course it's bad that the us does this. It seemed so obvious I didn't think that would be the point
InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 247d
A lot of people on Lemmy have an issue with holding that two things can be wrong at the same time.
Jarix@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 248d
Henry Rollins would be shaking his head at your lack of understanding
HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 248d
Just ml and hexbear on that one
vga@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 248d
Perhaps go with the original.
Russia illegally annexes Crimea.
ayyy@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 247d
Israel colonizes Gaza.
flandish@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 248d
Why? Venezuela is not a portion of the USA. This is straight US invasion. Like Zionists inventing “Israel” and invading Palestine.
HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 248d
Taiwan has never been ruled by the PRC though
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 247d
But was historically part of China prior to the formation of the CCP.
So it's still different than US/Venezuela
frisbird@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 247d
Sorry, that's just now how politics works anywhere. Do you consider with political party "ruled" which states or cities or islands in the US? When the Confederacy seceded from the Union did that suddenly mean they were no longer legitimately part of the US?
Taiwan was part of China, there was a civil war. The losers of the war retreated to Taiwan, and then the US and UK sent warships to block the victors from bringing the losers to justice. Taiwan at that point was still part of China, the country, but now had its own fascist government prosecuting the White Terror and killing hundreds of thousands of people while the US and UK protected them, and then integrated them into the global economy. At no point did Taiwan secede, at no point did the concept of the nation of China have its borders redrawn, nor did the nation of China declare a separation between the island the mainland.
Hell, even the fascist mass murderers on Taiwan said it - there is only one China and Taiwan is an island province of that country. And world leaders agree that's the case.
flandish@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 248d
and alaska was never part of the 13 colonies. so?
vga@sopuli.xyz · 0 pts · 248d
So you mean it's exactly like China and Taiwan?
freeman@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 248d
Taiwan claims sovereignty over mainland China, I doubt Venezuela does the same with the US.
vga@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 247d
I don't think it actually does claim that.
frisbird@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 247d
The Taiwan government today is relying on strategic ambiguity, neither saying it is an independent country nor saying it is part of China. However, the KMT which prosecuted the White Terror under the protection of US and UK warships claimed the mainland for decades.
flandish@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 248d
How? Taiwan is China.
vga@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 247d
That is true, Taiwan is the real China. But I don't think we were arguing about names of countries here.
flandish@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 247d
China is the real china, taiwan being an offshoot of an exile. but yeah. no nations should exist to begin with anyway.
frisbird@lemmy.ml · -1 pts · 247d
Taiwan is a province of China.
T00l_shed@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 247d
You mean mainland Taiwan?
frisbird@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 247d
Historical revisionism at its finest. Next you'll be telling me Puerto Rico isn't a colony, Korea has always been partitioned, and Hawaii doesn't have a king.
myfunnyaccountname@lemmy.zip · 24 pts · 247d
Don’t worry everyone. Some democrat will post a very safe and polite tweet soon.
guyoverthere123@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 247d
They write a sternly worded letter.
umbrella@lemmy.ml · 22 pts · 248d
Crackhappy@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 248d
It be
caoimhinr@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 248d
It do
MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 248d
It so
nfamwap@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 247d
It am
RedFrank24@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 247d
I mean it's basically just declaring war. It's the US acting unilaterally to attack a foreign nation for no reason at all. Granted that's nothing new, but at least with Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush got permission from Congress through the Iraq Resolution (and the AUMF Against Terrorists Act in Afghanistan's case) before he actually invaded. I get the feeling Trump isn't even going to ask, he's just going to attack Venezuela, get dragged into a war, and die.
Then again, Obama attacked Libya without congressional approval, and while Congress could have done something about it, they didn't.
bookmeat@lemmynsfw.com · 7 pts · 247d
They have oil. That's the reason.
RedFrank24@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 247d
It's not even good oil though! It's hard to refine.
bookmeat@lemmynsfw.com · 2 pts · 246d
Baby don't care. Baby, drill!
MrMakabar@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 246d
But the US has a lot of refineries on the Texan coast, which are designed to refine Venezuelan oil. Canadian crude can not be easily supplied, due to KeystoneXL having been blocked and Mexican crude is just not enough to run those refineries at capacity.
theuniqueone@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 13 pts · 248d
Accurate and undeniable.
ms_lane@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 248d
Wouldn't 'Imperialist' be more accurate than 'Colonist' though?
I don't think Trump wants a new American Colony in Venezuela, he just wants their resources and (unpaid) labor.
gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 247d
It's close enough geographically that I wouldn't be surprised if there's an attempt to FREEDOM them into being the 51st State
DupaCycki@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 246d
So basically an unofficial colony?
Tehbaz@lemmy.wtf · 10 pts · 247d
He's desperate to use anything he can to declare martial law, either by triggering mass anti-war protests or simply using the war as an excuse to suspend elections.
_Nico198X_@europe.pub · 10 pts · 247d
why not do something useful like ATTACK RUSSIA!
fucking traitors.
kandoh@reddthat.com · 9 pts · 247d
Thr anti-war candidate, according to the nyt and wapo opinion sections
some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 246d
War = Peace
Ilixtze@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 247d
Fuck this nazi shit country of the united christofascist goat fucking america
CleoCommunist@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 247d
It Is a colonialist threat
vga@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 248d
Well, this is the new world order now. This is what Russia drove the world into: it's now ok for larger countries to just annex (parts of) smaller countries.
If other nations don't like it, just hang on to it until enough people forget that you didn't own it in the first place.
filister@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 248d
Pretty much what is happening in the Middle East right now too. And mind you if Venezuela didn't have oil, the US wouldn't care at all.
_Nico198X_@europe.pub · 1 pts · 247d
Russia has oil. Why not fucking conquer them and save Ukraine while he's at it? he'd be a world hero.
vga@sopuli.xyz · 0 pts · 247d
Yeah, and also that one (at least the latest escalation) happened after Russia normalized it. Also a possibility that Russia made it happen to make people get distracted from Ukraine.
Bakkoda@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 247d
Except that's only true if you just ignore history. Which is something you seem pretty hell-bent on doing so.
AppleTea@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 247d
Please tell me you are younger than the TSA
theacharnian@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 247d
Russia is a genocidal gangster petro-state, led by a criminal wanted by the ICC, that should be kicked out of Ukraine, but credit where credit is due: the most recent era of great power military adventurism started when the US ignored the UN and international law to invade Iraq in 2003. So if we want to talk about who drove the world in this shit, the answer is clearly the USA.
mirshafie@europe.pub · 4 pts · 247d
Imagine a world where the USA, after 9/11, took up Iran's offer to negotiate with Afghanistan in order to extradite Osama bin Laden and dismantle al Qaeda. (Iran together with Pakistan were positioned to succeed at this, and practically begged the USA to let them do so.)
Imagine Osama bin Laden goes to the Hague and is tried for his crimes. He goes to prison, no death penalty and no martyrdom, to rot away while the world gets on without him.
Imagine no black sites, no Guantanamo Bay. No Iraq war, and therefore no Daesh. No Afghanistan war, and therefore no opiates epidemic.
Imagine how Russia and the Middle East might have evolved in such a climate. Where would Europe be today, in that timeline? Would democracies across the globe have progressed, instead of backslide?
theacharnian@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 246d
Best kind of Portlandia vibes.
AppleTea@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 247d
Back when this kicked off, Putin even cited a bunch of laws the UN drafted to justify the Iraq invasion.
ayyy@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 247d
Israel is a fan of this method as well.
Gammelfisch@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 247d
Every single fucking MAGAt, including Barron, should be lining up at the US Army recruiting offices signing up for 11 Bravo.
AppleTea@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 247d
And every single liberal should be protesting this in all the ways they've been saying Russian civilians ought to.
Doomsider@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 247d
If I were you, I would get out of Venezuela! - Our President.
Then shuts down their airspace and starts blowing up boats.
No escape from the christofascist murderers.
AniZaeger@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 247d
Just wait 'til Trump sets his eyes on Colombia and Panama. There's a reason he's unilaterally renamed that gulf...
thethunderwolf@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 247d
what the fuck
SpiceDealer@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 247d
Iraq War: Arepas Edition
Adderbox76@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 246d
It's not a colonialist threat. It's effectively an act of war.
DupaCycki@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 246d
Russia conducts special military operations, while the US is fighting terrorism. It's all the same. Except our media outlets - in the case of my country, mostly American - will only speak about one of the two. Let's do our best to spread the word more or less evenly.
All empires will fall. They have to. Otherwise there's no future for humanity.
Adderbox76@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 246d
I'm hoping that the chain-of-command is so broken because of the bumblefucks in charge at the top that Venezuela actually gets some good licks in ala Ukraine to Russia.
I know its doubtful, but a man can dream.
richardmtanguay@lemmings.world · 1 pts · 247d
Maybe we could liberate a certain modeling agency based there and nothing else. Besides, I'm sure the women in this country would rejoice if that were to happen. ;-)