If this leader was able to get to Norway-

shouldn't she be appearing at the White House with POTUS Trump where he states she will be installed as the next legitimate leader in Caracas?

what am I missing here?

I think you are missing the part about how the president of the United States doesn't get to just install a new "legitimate leader" of a foreign county.

that is bad@#$@

there is a documentary on Netflix now just dropped called "MARINES"

that is literally what the series is mostly about-

qualifying for CERTEX on the USS Green Bay and the USS America

and practicing rope drops onto commercial vessels!

wow.

LMCane said:

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BillYeoman said:

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I fully support Trump's actions whatever they turn out to be in Venezuela

Don't be surprised if duly elected Venezuelans kick out Maduro with their own people. And with the backing of the United States military.

This is great Trump.

And welcome to the newbies who just started following Venezuela

---

if the main opposition leader was able to be smuggled to Norway-

that must mean the USA is assisting her and working with her.

what do we do with the oil tankers? have we even declared an embargo or a blockade?

---

Yes on CBS this morning it said with outside help and said former US Special forces got her out. She went to get the Nobel Peace prize. She said she is looking forward to being installed soon as the legitimate president. This is how it is always done for all the people saying she should be at the White House steps. Trump has enough on his plate with doing mental threats against Maduro. He is trying his best to not start an all out war. He works like this.

EFR said:

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I think you are missing the part about how the president of the United States doesn't get to just install a new "legitimate leader" of a foreign county.

---

Yep that is not what happens in real life.

EFR said:

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I think you are missing the part about how the president of the United States doesn't get to just install a new "legitimate leader" of a foreign county.

---

I think you are missing the part known as "attending history class or being able to use Google"

The United States invaded Panama in mid-December 1989=

during the presidency of George H. W. Bush.

The purpose of the invasion was to depose the de facto ruler of Panama, General Manuel Noriega,

who was wanted by U.S. authorities for racketeering and drug trafficking.

The operation, codenamed Operation Just Cause, concluded in late January 1990

with the surrender of Noriega.The Panama Defense Forces (PDF) were dissolved, and President-elect Guillermo Endara was sworn into office.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g990exxq4o

How the operation happened to get the lady to Norway.

Stressboy said:

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Wars will be fought and new colonies established to gain access to resources as the old legacy fields dry up and the only growth will be in shale and new off shore exploration.

---

As opposed to...space oil? Yes, new production will come from either offshore or onshore sources.

well you don't read about an operation such as this every day!

pray for Maria Mochado

Tremendo lo que revela el Wall Street Journal de la extracción de María Corina Machado:

- Fue monitoreado en tiempo real por la Casa Blanca.

- El bote de María Corina estuvo 3 horas a la deriva, en un mar picado, porque el GPS se había caído al agua.

- Un veterano de EEUU,… pic.twitter.com/IKcw8MrPnB

— Orlando Avendaño (@OrlvndoA) December 12, 2025

Like the Nissan guy in the cello case (or similar).

Hasn't there been several instances recently of retired US special forces doing mercenary work in Venezuela?

Good for her. Hopefully things go quickly regarding deposing Maduro.

Old McDonald said:

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it's astounding how sloppy the trump admin has been with manufacturing justification for military conflict with venezuela without straying from the "no new wars" ethos that helped get them elected. it's basically a retread of the neocon iraq hawk playbook from the 00s.

even trump the dove isn't immune to the irresistible temptation for a little foreign regime change.

---

I'm so old, I remember when Senator Joe Biden wasn't demented and advocated for striking narco terrorists.

Resurfaced video of Biden in 1989 calling for the US government to strike drug-trafficking cartel boats.pic.twitter.com/IewqdfLyZY

— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) December 12, 2025

Maduro and his Russian and Iranian buddies are going to have a tough time exporting oil and narcotics!

Hopefully there are plans to protect the donkeys in Aruba should hostilities escalate.

I'm going to assume she is not going back into Venezuela? If she does, she has some balls.

ClickClack said:

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Stressboy said:

---

Wars will be fought and new colonies established to gain access to resources as the old legacy fields dry up and the only growth will be in shale and new off shore exploration.

---

As opposed to...space oil? Yes, new production will come from either offshore or onshore sources.

---

Haha! My point it that people will fight to take those new fields just like that did at the end of the 19th century. What goes around comes around.

The Fall Guy said:

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EFR said:

---

I think you are missing the part about how the president of the United States doesn't get to just install a new "legitimate leader" of a foreign county.

---

Yep that is not what happens in real life.

---

Correct. That's what we have the CIA for.

While the U.S. has accused Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking cartel -

a charge he denies, oil money is far more important to the Venezuelan leader, his inner circle and the country itself.

Crude sales have long represented more than 90% of Venezuela's export income, and close Maduro allies have faced accusations of skimming from billions in annual oil revenues.

More tanker seizuresor even just the threatcreates an escalating series of crises, forcing Venezuela to deeply discount its oil to its handful of buyers, including China, and spend more of its dwindling foreign reserves to stop spiraling inflation.

Underscoring the danger: the tanker seized on Wednesday was carrying roughly $80 million of oil, equivalent to about 5% of what Venezuela spends monthly on imported goods, raising the prospect of shortages.

U.S. officials said Wednesday there would be more ship seizures in a new effort to force Maduro from power, an effort that has involved a massive military buildup in the Caribbean, deadly strikes on alleged drug boats and threats of bombing Venezuela. President Trump has said Maduro's "days are numbered," though he hasn't publicly committed to a next course of action.

The drug boat strikes were just to get Maduro's attention. Seizing the tankers will strip Maduro of his ability to maintain power through corruption, cutting off the cash distribution that keeps people loyal to the dictator. The oil on the one tanker seized by the US Navy would have brought $80 million in revenues to Maduro's regime, and one economist tells the WSJ that Trump could force an economic collapse by seizing one tanker a month.

Even without another seizure, the message has been sent:

Even if the U.S. doesn't regularly seize more tankers, the threat has already paralyzed tanker traffic in and out of Venezuela. On Thursday, there were about a dozen such ships outside Venezuela's main oil port waiting to dock, but none had moved in to load crude. Normally, the port would be buzzing, with at least 10 tankers moving in to load or conducting ship-to-ship transfers.

A Venezuelan port official said employees around the country are calling in sick or skipping work as tensions with the U.S. escalate.

Posting this here since we have a lot of O&G experts on the boards. Curious to hear their takes on this guys take. FWIW I think reading this just as an oil play is narrow minded, but one could call it an added perk.

A US fighter jet has just crossed the rubicon, entering Venezuelan mainland airspace.

Is it time? 👀 https://t.co/E6lVk5TJd5

— Anthony (@anthonycabassa) December 13, 2025

Congress will of course fail to do anything to reign in the executive. They talk like a declaration is needed. They are worse than the NCAA.

To fly an airplane somewhere?

May be jumping the gun to take an unknown Twitter claiming to be tracking a US fighter jet engaging in a mission of some sorts.

I've seen a couple movies and read a book or two but it's typically not how information is shared.

Now, if it's legit then so what. If Trump believes he is alleviating a threat to the United States and its citizens, then he is acting within his constitutional authority to protect us.

How about a "thanks for protecting me and my family President Trump"?

shiftyandquick said:

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Congress will of course fail to do anything to reign in the executive. They talk like a declaration is needed. They are worse than the NCAA.

---

That's not how this works

flown-the-coop said:

---

To fly an airplane somewhere?

May be jumping the gun to take an unknown Twitter claiming to be tracking a US fighter jet engaging in a mission of some sorts.

I've seen a couple movies and read a book or two but it's typically not how information is shared.

Now, if it's legit then so what. If Trump believes he is alleviating a threat to the United States and its citizens, then he is acting within his constitutional authority to protect us.

How about a "thanks for protecting me and my family President Trump"?

---

if he is going to war, he should ask for authorization from Congress. There is no emergency here.

And Republicans in Congress are publicly stating as such, and are also stating that they are mystified why war would be justified.

shiftyandquick said:

---

flown-the-coop said:

---

To fly an airplane somewhere?

May be jumping the gun to take an unknown Twitter claiming to be tracking a US fighter jet engaging in a mission of some sorts.

I've seen a couple movies and read a book or two but it's typically not how information is shared.

Now, if it's legit then so what. If Trump believes he is alleviating a threat to the United States and its citizens, then he is acting within his constitutional authority to protect us.

How about a "thanks for protecting me and my family President Trump"?

---

if he is going to war, he should ask for authorization from Congress. There is no emergency here.

And Republicans in Congress are publicly stating as such, and are also stating that they are mystified why war would be justified.

---

Ask Congress to declare war on Venezuela? The last time the United States Congress declared war was World War 2.

I think a lot of people will be seriously disappointed about what will happen in Venezuela.

Even Republicans in Congress who take money from Maduro, China and Qatar.

Smart strategy. You never have to go to war with Venezuela if you simply stop these boats. Situation will take care of itself.

It's the same thing we could do to Iran. Bomb their oil refineries that are sitting ducks out on the water and they are finished.

Exactly. As someone who believes Congress should actually declare war if we are going to get involved somewhere, it's a pipe dream. We will never declare war again unless we are actually invaded by a foreign military.

It's also amusing to watch leftists cry about us not declaring war when the action is something they don't agree with while ignoring the action they are gung ho about.

LMCane said:

---

While the U.S. has accused Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking cartel -

a charge he denies, oil money is far more important to the Venezuelan leader, his inner circle and the country itself.

Crude sales have long represented more than 90% of Venezuela's export income, and close Maduro allies have faced accusations of skimming from billions in annual oil revenues.

More tanker seizuresor even just the threatcreates an escalating series of crises, forcing Venezuela to deeply discount its oil to its handful of buyers, including China, and spend more of its dwindling foreign reserves to stop spiraling inflation.

Underscoring the danger: the tanker seized on Wednesday was carrying roughly $80 million of oil, equivalent to about 5% of what Venezuela spends monthly on imported goods, raising the prospect of shortages.

U.S. officials said Wednesday there would be more ship seizures in a new effort to force Maduro from power, an effort that has involved a massive military buildup in the Caribbean, deadly strikes on alleged drug boats and threats of bombing Venezuela. President Trump has said Maduro's "days are numbered," though he hasn't publicly committed to a next course of action.

The drug boat strikes were just to get Maduro's attention. Seizing the tankers will strip Maduro of his ability to maintain power through corruption, cutting off the cash distribution that keeps people loyal to the dictator. The oil on the one tanker seized by the US Navy would have brought $80 million in revenues to Maduro's regime, and one economist tells the WSJ that Trump could force an economic collapse by seizing one tanker a month.

Even without another seizure, the message has been sent:

Even if the U.S. doesn't regularly seize more tankers, the threat has already paralyzed tanker traffic in and out of Venezuela. On Thursday, there were about a dozen such ships outside Venezuela's main oil port waiting to dock, but none had moved in to load crude. Normally, the port would be buzzing, with at least 10 tankers moving in to load or conducting ship-to-ship transfers.

A Venezuelan port official said employees around the country are calling in sick or skipping work as tensions with the U.S. escalate.

---

That is a very good summation

Trump has said the US will start striking land in Venezuela

— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) December 15, 2025

It's going to shut down the government/cartel oil cash flow in a hurry, imho.

CONFIRMED: Several sanctions-violating VLCC supertankers that aren't on any official sanctions lists are making u-turns in the Indian and Atlantic oceans instead of proceeding to #Venezuela. #OOTT #Tankers pic.twitter.com/jDF0PLgP1O

— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) December 15, 2025

This should collapse VZ pretty quickly.

On Dec. 15, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/IQfCVvUpau

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 16, 2025

Seems there is some assurance the issues of survivors has been rendered… moot. That's going to obliterate the lefts talking point.

LMCane said:

---

well you don't read about an operation such as this every day!

pray for Maria Mochado

Tremendo lo que revela el Wall Street Journal de la extracción de María Corina Machado:

- Fue monitoreado en tiempo real por la Casa Blanca.

- El bote de María Corina estuvo 3 horas a la deriva, en un mar picado, porque el GPS se había caído al agua.

- Un veterano de EEUU,… pic.twitter.com/IKcw8MrPnB

— Orlando Avendaño (@OrlvndoA) December 12, 2025

---

I'm thinking Salma Hayek, but Eva Longoria also likely has a shot.

BREAKING: Pete Hegseth shuts it down — the strike footage is NOT being released for the time being.

The Secretary of War confirmed the classified video of U.S. strikes on Venezuelan narco-traffickers will stay sealed, despite mounting pressure to make it public.

HEGSETH: “In… pic.twitter.com/r4PiNigzHt

— Overton (@overton_news) December 16, 2025

pic.twitter.com/QS8Whosuml

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 16, 2025

Appears to be go time