Trump doesn’t care about legalities. 
Air Space Above and Surrounding Venezuela Closed
Truth Social: To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
The Washington Post reports Trump says airlines should consider Venezuelan airspace closed That’s a free link.
President Donald Trump on Saturday said that commercial airlines should consider Venezuelan airspace closed, increasing pressure on the country’s leadership after weeks of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas and the growing threat of a U.S. attack against the country.
Though Trump does not have the legal authority to close the airspace over another country, such a move is sometimes a first step ahead of airstrikes. His declaration follows a massive buildup of U.S. military forces in the region in recent weeks, as Trump has ramped up threats against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. And it is likely to disrupt the lives of Venezuelan citizens and the mountainous country’s economy.
The Trump administration has alleged that Maduro and his top security officials are the leaders of a drug cartel that is sending narcotics to the United States. The administration designated the so-called Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday, possibly giving the Pentagon a legal justification to launch strikes against Venezuelan government targets. But the group is neither a formal organization nor a cartel.
U.S. military aircraft are already “almost constantly” conducting patrols in the international airspace near Venezuela as part of the increased presence and counternarcotics operations, a U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The official referred questions about whether those tactics are changing, to include overflights of Venezuela’s airspace, to the White House.
A White House threat about airspace closure might be enough to prompt commercial airlines to halt flights over Venezuela, a nation of 28 million people.AI Icon
Actually enforcing a no-fly zone would require an extensive military campaign and a significant commitment of resources. A handful of commercial flights continued above Venezuela midday Saturday, hours after Trump’s post.
The U.S. has about 15,000 troops in the region spread across about a dozen other warships in the Caribbean and support forces in Puerto Rico. It’s the largest military buildup there in decades.
Trump has been ambiguous about whether he plans to strike inside Venezuela, even as he has increased pressure on Maduro.
“If we can save lives, if you can do things the easy way, that’s fine. And if we have to do it the hard way, that’s fine too,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday.
Hegseth Says Kill Them All
Also note Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
The longer the U.S. surveillance aircraft followed the boat, the more confident intelligence analysts watching from command centers became that the 11 people on board were ferrying drugs.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a spoken directive, according to two people with direct knowledge of the operation. “The order was to kill everybody,” one of them said.
A missile screamed off the Trinidad coast, striking the vessel and igniting a blaze from bow to stern. For minutes, commanders watched the boat burning on a live drone feed. As the smoke cleared, they got a jolt: Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck.
Hegseth’s order, which has not been previously reported, adds another dimension to the campaign against suspected drug traffickers. Some current and former U.S. officials and law-of-war experts have said that the Pentagon’s lethal campaign — which has killed more than 80 people to date — is unlawful and may expose those most directly involved to future prosecution.
Because there is no legitimate war between the two sides, killing any ofthe men in the boats “amounts to murder,” said Todd Huntley, a former military lawyer who advised Special Operations forces for seven years at the height of the U.S. counterterrorism campaign.
Even if the U.S. were at war with the traffickers, an order to kill all the boat’s occupants if they were no longer able to fight “would in essence be an order to show no quarter, which would be a war crime,” said Huntley, now director of the national security law program at Georgetown Law.
Attack Imminent?
Two days ago, Trump suggested land strikes against Venezuela could be imminent. “The land is easier. That’s going to start very soon. We warned them, stop sending poison into our country.”
Comments from Thanksgiving remarks at Mar-a-Lago via the Wall Street Journal.
Trump to Pardon former Honduran president convicted of drug-trafficking
Please note Trump says he will pardon former Honduran president serving sentence in drug-trafficking case
One has to wonder how much Juan Orlando Hernandez funneled to Trump’s campaign.
Did Congress Declare War on Venezuela?
The answer is no. But closing the airspace is an act of war.
The Trump Administration does not give a damn about the law. Nor do his mindless minions, until it impacts them directly.
Numerous Illegal Actions
Trump is gearing up for an illegal strike on Venezuela, has threatened bombing Mexico drug cartels, has threatened Nigeria, and would not even rule out taking Greenland by force to secure rare earth minerals.
If Trump loses the House in the midterms, he will be impeached for a third time. And there will be a strong case for it. However, the third impeachment will be symbolic because the Senate won’t convict.
Meanwhile, those who respect the law are sickened by Trump’s total disregard of it.
I am pleased to see Senator Rand Paul take a stand on Trump’s warmongering and tariffs.
Rand Paul Right on Venezuela, Right on Tariffs
September 3, 2025: A Strange Transformation of the Tea Party to Big Gov’t and Huge Spending
The term RINO no longer makes any sense at all.
November 28, 2025: Trump Doubles Down on Idiotic Idea of Using Tariffs to Replace Income Tax
Once again, Trump says tariffs can replace the income tax.
November 29, 2025: We Pay the Tariffs Anecdotes, Lost Sales and Going Bankrupt
“We are just in business to pay off our tariff debt.”
Finally, please see my September 2, 2025 post: Gold Surges Above $3,600 to New Record High Despite a Rising Dollar
Gold does not believe the Fed is under control, Congress is under control, budget deficits are under control, and Trump is under control.
And neither do I.
Reader: “We just took off the gloves. That changes things.”
Mish: Won’t change a damn thing other than the following.
So if you think these illegal operations will be anything other than counterproductive, then you can’t think.
Reader: “And in case you haven’t noticed, what Trump is doing to trying to ensure China’s influence in the Western hemisphere is significantly curtailed. It’s very, very important that we achieve this goal.”
Mish: What a Fing hoot. Trump drove Canada closer to China, India closer to China and Russia, and much of South America closer to China.
Africa similar success coming up.
As is the case with all of your empty opposing solutions to your Anti-Trump economic policy posts, feel free to give us the Mish solution for solving the Drug epidemic once & for all in the USA.
Trump has no economic policy, no drug policy and no foreign policy – just the demented output of an enfeebled and senile old stroke victim. He’s surrounded himself with lickspittles, crooks, useful idiots and maniacs – those people will all be ruined eventually. I look forward to the truth and reconciliation commission in 5 years.
Look, I rip Trump all the time. I’ll be almost as happy as Mish, when he leaves office in Jan 2029.
Until then, I’m WAY more pleased with Trump’s handling of the economy than Biden’s. I recognize that his tariffs, although far from implemented coherently, have a long-term goal of changing how the US trades with the world. Specifically, one of Trump’s primary economic goals is to push the US towards manufacturing more strategic goods, so we’re less reliant on China which is a fantastic goal.
Apparently, Trump’s drug policy is to push up the price of illegal drugs. He’s also supposedly gotten Xi to do something about China’s fentanyl connections with MX. We’ll know in the next 6-9 months, if this was a real commitment. I won’t hold my breath, that’s for sure.
Trump is on the verge of ending the Ukraine-Russia war. He’s caused massive damage to Iran’s nuclear program and Iran appears to be opening up to negotiating. He supported Israel in their efforts to destroy Hamas. I’m sure there’s very little of this that you find good, but I would challenge you to outline Biden’s success in these three areas.
Are you out of your mind?
Trump is losing the Ukrainian war outright, alienating our NATO Allies and gifting Putin the territory he wants, without any restitution for the destruction and death he caused.
Iran was not a threat and is not a threat beyond having oil that Trump wants to exploit.
Trump supported the Israeli religious genocide against the Palestinians.
Now Trump wants to invade Venezuela and steal its oil on a false pretense?
Trump also wants to invade Nigeria and steal its oil based on a religious pretext.
Trump threatened and alienated Canada, Greenland and a host of other nations.
If Trump wanted to harm our nations reputation as a peacekeeper and trustworthy trading partner, this is exactly how to go about it.
Who does Trump work for? Putin? Israel? Big Oil? Qatar?
– Trump is losing the Ukrainian war outright.
> Not Trumps war to lose or win for that matter. He simply wants Peace.
– alienating our NATO Allies.
> The Nuclear Goons licking there collective chops, GOOD!
– and gifting Putin the territory he wants, without any restitution for the destruction and death he caused.
> He deserves, as it was earned through the continued war By Ukraine, and theirAllies (US Incl. with $). What was Russia supposed to do, just give Ukraine Russia, Not!
– Iran was not a threat
> Correct, Not any longer!
– Trump supported the Israeli religious genocide against the Palestinians.
> No, Trump Supported Our Ally in Israel, Much like Israel Supports The U.S. in The Middle-east.
– Now Trump wants to invade Venezuela.
> No, Trump wants to stop the “Illegal Drug Trade” from Reaching America.
– Trump also wants to invade Nigeria.
> No, Trump wants to help stop the Genocide.
– Trump threatened and alienated Canada, and Greenland.
> No, Trump engaged with them, they listened, and we shall see down the line if it goes beyond discussion or not, I think longer term it just might.
– If Trump wanted to harm our nations reputation as a peacekeeper.
> Then Trump would have to STOP HIS Peace Plan Initiatives around The Globe!! Always having been a Peace over War Individual, I can see why Trump strives so hard for Peace throughout the World…
Trump simply wants peace. Now THAT is a hoot
Lies.
Iran kicked out the IAEA nuclear inspectors for good.
IAEA nuclear inspectors do inspect nuclear facilities in the US, although not all facilities are inspected and access is voluntary. Under a 1980 agreement, the US provides the IAEA with a list of eligible facilities for inspection, and the IAEA selects a limited number from this list for safeguards inspections.
Hmmm, seems to me what is good for the goose……..
Voluntary…but not for the Persians.
They don’t need to be there any longer, so nothing to see.
Let’s fast forward a few decades, and see what happens then?
With ASI on the way humanity may not have a few decades.
> Now Trump wants to invade Venezuela and steal its oil on a false pretense?
Just happen to re-read Coleman’s “Committee of the 300” (1980ies).’
Trump doesn’t want anything. He’s just carrying out orders.
To quote Coleman (this is from the stripped down version from the CIA website):
“These people on the Committee ORDERED President Wilson to go to war against Germany in the First World War; this Committee ordered Roosevelt to engineer the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor with the object of getting the United States into the Second World War.
These people, this Committee, ordered this nation to war in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. The plain truth is that the United States has fought in 5 wars this century for and on behalf of the infamous Committee of 300. It seems that, apart from just a few, no one has stopped to ask, “WHY ARE WE FIGHTING THESE WARS?” The big drum of “patriotism,” martial music and waving flags and yellow ribbons, it seems, caused a great nation to become bereft of its senses.
Of all the things that could possibly have any effect on drug epidemic, attacking Venezuela is on the same level as outlawing the color chartreuse.
Don’t give Trump any ideas..I am fond of chartreuse.
FYI – Trump hasn’t attacked VZ (yet). He’s blowing up drug boats in international waters. Remind us what Biden did to help lessen the drug epidemic? Open borders that made easier to get drugs into the US certainly isn’t a crowning achievement.
It’s impossible to stop these capitalistic entrepreneurs from selling there products to willing American buyers without very strict and very through inspections of all packages large and small coming into our country. If through inspections were preformed it would slow the importation process so much that American corporations would stop supporting politicians with donations (bribes) upsetting our elected government.
So importing the drugs that Americans so desperately want and will pay any amount to get, will never stop.
– It’s impossible to stop these capitalistic entrepreneurs from selling their products to willing American buyers.
> Impossible absolutely, but ways to put a really gooddent into things. It would impose accountability in the Parents/Caregivers and much stricter penalties on the Seller’s just for starters. I’m talking real change, and it would work better than what we have today, which is basically nothing at all…
– American corporations would stop supporting politicians with donations (bribes) upsetting our elected government.
> That’s an entirely different issue that needs much more light shone upon it, and much harsher penalties for the offenders that would start surfacing overnight…
– So importing the drugs that Americans so desperately want and will pay any amount to get, will never stop.
> Will they ALL be willing to lose freedom, choices, life outside? Make Life More Uncomfortable with drugs, but Even Much, Much, More Uncomfortable with a 10 year sentence for selling, and a 5 year for buying. Get a few hundred put away, splash it on every bus in the Nation, and every school system in the Country, put up Billboards with the Faces Of Those Caught!!! Mention Parents, Friend’s, and even Acquaintances. People would stop hanging with them, talking, or being exposed near people like them, the dealers would dry up in no time facing long sentences.
NOT advocating all of these points, but simply pointing out that “IF” The Country Wanted It Stopped, IT COULD BE by an extremely large amount overnight…
Basically it’s all been tried with little effect.
Federal Mandatory Minimum Penalties
The severity of federal drug sentences depends heavily on the type and quantity of the controlled substance involved, the defendant’s criminal history, and any aggravating circumstances, such as the involvement of firearms or serious harm to others.
Key scenarios that trigger a mandatory life sentence include:
For a first-time, high-level federal drug trafficking offense that does not involve death or serious injury, the mandatory minimum is 10 years, with a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment. If death or serious bodily injury results from a first offense, the mandatory minimum is 20 years, with a maximum of life imprisonment.
I don’t know what the solution is but I do know YOU are frequently violating the community guidelines and Mish has my vote to ban you from this forum. Your frequent posts advocating for violence and the death of cartels I think qualifies for the first bullet on the list.
https://mishtalk.com/community-guidelines/
The following are some basic rules if you choose to participate:
Wow! I must really hurt your feelings. Sorry about that.
Like any red-blooded American, I am glad Trump is using the military to take out narco terrorists. If Mish wants to ban me for hurting your feelings while also calling for “declared terrorists” to be killed, then so be it.
I’m sure we’ll have our answer soon from Mish. He’s the boss.
you can’t just declare anyone one you decide is a “narco terrorist” even if you could show a tiny bit of proof they are drug running how do you just tag on terrorist? They are “terrorizing” americans with party drugs that americans pay top dollar for. If that’s your definition then terrorist is a meaningless terms. Like me saying you are are terrorizing this forum with your shit-takes. POSTER TERRORIST!
That last rule is my least favorite.
/sarc
I looked at lots of documentaries on the fentanyl drug crisis that’s been going on for several years now following the previous opioid crisis. It’s a symptom of a collapsed economy that provides no hope for the bottom rung.
Kensington Philadelphia is a literal hellscape dystopian nightmare and it used to be a decent middle class area up until the 1980s. Same with much of the rust belt that used to have jobs that paid a decent wage.
Instead of any economic improvement for the lower third to half of society in the last 40+ years, there’s been regression. This is true in all Western countries, with the UK even worse than the US.
You tell me what the solution is. 40 years ago is about when Reagan and Thatcher came to power.
Easy: fight the loneliness epidemic, and reduce poverty. Drugs used recreationally are not a problem. Drugs that are used to numb the pain and feeling of hopelessness are.
Unfortunately the Drugs that numb the pain and make you feel hopeless, are the Drugs the Medical Industry issues You For Free at Taxpayers Expense of course.
The ones for recreation are too expensive, and have a Tax too. Unfortunately most can’t grow there own…
The solution would be our dissolution because we don’t have a (drug) problem: we ARE the problem.
First of all, (((America))) is not fighting drugs. It’s common knowledge that CIA(=MOSSAD) funds itself by dealing in drugs.
So this Venezuela aggression thing is about domination, blood lust and oil theft only.
Merry Christmas!
Soon you’ll lose your job for acknowledging anything remotely Christian in this (((country))).
There are almost zero “Christians” in the US that actually follow the reported teaching of Jesus Christ. I think people actually following the real teachings of Christ would be welcome anywhere, even in the USA.
Ben, legalize all drugs and provide treatment for addicts, that’s the solution. Are you dense on purpose?
Do nothing.
Decriminalize drugs
Both better than the path Trump is on.
The path we are on is a 100% proven failure for decades. What about that do you fail to understand.
Until Americans stop actively wanting to be crack whores, the drug epidemic will never end. Japan and South Korea don’t have to blow up drug boats because there’s no market in those countries.
I doubt price of drugs would rise https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/trump-pardon-honduras-hernandez-drugs
One of the most important tenants of Libertarianism is the freedom to make, sell and use illegal drugs without restriction. They see the nefarious effect of illegal drugs on individuals and society as none of their business. Basically they don’t give a fuck.
That’s false. Libertarians don’t believe it is OK, for example, to sell or give drugs to children or the mentally disabled, or to build a meth lab in an apartment that pollutes the air for others in the apartment complex.
Libertarians believe in individual freedom. If an adult wants to buy and personally use drugs in a way that doesn’t interfere with the rights of other people, they should be free to do so.
Libertarians DON’T believe that people deserve to be summarily executed if someone in government believes they are transporting illegal drugs. Recall beer and wine were illegal drugs during prohibition.
I still think he’s bluffing but you can’t predict the moves of a nut.
Regarding aggression in Venezuela. Maduro came to power because of wealth disparity. The nation with the largest oil reserves on earth failed to find a way for its lower classes to participate and spiraled into social unrest, economic and military weakness. The sharks are circling and it looks like Iran, Iraq and a host of other exploitable nations, Venezuela will become the next nation to see war befall its populace because it is resource rich but politically weak.
The entitled barbarians are at the door. Ethics be damned! We want your oil and we are going to take it!
Wealth disparity in America keeps growing and suburban America is not prepared for any disruption of basic foodstuffs.
Gardening skills anyone?
The whole idea of solving the drug problem by disrupting the supply is seriously flawed. In our society, if there is a demand for a product, by hook or crook a supply will follow to meet the demand. We have national proof of this with prohibition that lasted quick because it flat did not work. Trump escalating his tough stance on the supply side will do nothing to help, only create a whack a mole situation. We need to address the demand side. We did not kill the tobacco problem, but it was seriously curtailed via education of its deleterious effects, removing its social acceptance and banning its use virtually every publicly building.
Please vote on whether or not you believe that ordering the Navy to make War on Venezuela is a illegal order.
I’m voting thumbs up, i.e. it is illegal.
I pray some Admiral has the courage to say so.
how can any MAGA still support this guy?? he claims to care about drugs, blowing up boats off of Venezuela while pardoning Hondura’s president who was convicted of aiding drug cartels??
Their self identity is wrapped up in being MAGA. They need to believe they’re the wise ones, and not the ones gullible enough to fall for a second rate con man.
First of all, (((America))) is not fighting drugs. It’s common knowledge that CIA(=MOSSAD) funds itself by dealing in drugs.
So this Venezuela aggression thing is about domination and blood lust only.
Merry Christmas!
Soon you’ll lose your job for acknowledging anything remotely Christian in this (((country))).
Duplicate erased
The problem is that Americans want their drugs. Blowing up a few boats isn’t going to make any difference.
Given the fact that XI and Putin have met with Maduro and pledged their support and protection to Venezuela. It is easy to contemplate that Trumps attacks will trigger a proxy war against US oil interests and other targets similar to the US’s Ukranian proxy war where drones supplied by the US are used to attack Russian oil and military infrastructure.
Just as there were not WMD’s in Iraq or Nuclear weapons in Iran, it is unlikely that Trump is telling the truth about Venezuela. However just like Iraq, Venezuela has massive oil reserves. Isn’t Trump also threatening Nigeria, Canada and a myriad of other oil producing nations?
When the tables turn on Trump and Americans start dying and oil infrastructure is damaged by proxy attacks in response to Trumps illegal aggression, whose fault will that be?
What will oil prices be with a proxy war going on in the gulf of Mexico?
Is this the Black Swan event that pops the AI bubble?
Another war another loss,,,,, you’d think we’d learn, Really, President bone spurs should not be allowed within 1000 feet of a member of the military, it’s an insult.
Whenever the economy is about to crash, law enforcement becomes a lawless entity unto itself, your foreign policy has blown up, and your sordidly sick moral history becomes exposed, the best press diversion is to start a war. I would say Trump is shouting his presidency is a near total failure via his need for starting a war.
Thanks for being consistent
Former National Security Council chief of staff Fred Fleit said:
“I think when we hear about land strikes, the president’s thinking of hitting drug labs and facilities that are transporting these weapons, including some military sites. But I don’t think the president has any intention of sending in ground troops. We’re not going to invade Venezuela. Under [former President Joe] Biden, being a narco-terrorist was a great career path. Not so much anymore.”
Re-elect cruel people, you get horrible results outside and inside the country.
Big consolation to small business: Trump only bankrupts you.
Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, estimated at over 303 billion barrels.
Venezuela has the largest number of narco-terrorists riding around in fishing boats.
Funny how that works.
Meanwhile https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/trump-pardon-honduras-hernandez-drugs
Pure Speculation
Russia gets Ukraine
China gets Taiwan
USA gets Venezuela
Could be the deal of the century, I might add.
ASI gets it all!
Congress abrogated their responsibilities and this is the result. War at the whim of one man is outrageous. Ask yourselves if this is what we want to be as a nation. If we wish to effectively stop drugs then hit the dealers and hit them hard here on our soil. If drug dealing is deemed a national destructive incursion, then make it a capital crime within our borders.
> Congress abrogated their responsibilities and this is the result.
Voters too, because they keep voting for the uniparty and don’t organise locally.
I live in TN first congressional district along with over 700,000 of my fellow citizens. Unless I give my congress person huge gobs of money do you think she would even know who I am, what I think, or care about me and my one vote?
If Congress truly represented the people there would be many more congresspersons maybe as many as 6,000 to equitably serve the public. That would be one representative for every 55,000 citizens still a large contingency.
It’s been called the War on Drugs for decades, so personally I don’t have a problem with the SoW saying “Kill them all”. Now, once the boat has been disabled, I’d expect the Navy to pick up any survivors & send them back to VZ like they’ve done previously.
I agree with Doug. Trump has taken off the gloves, so everyone has to adjust. The cartels are adjusting & the media & Dems have to adjust. Keep up the Trump bashing & taking the side of terrorist drug cartels.
As for closing the air space of VZ, we did the same thing Iraq & Afghanistan.
A slight problem…drug dealing is not a capital offense. Yes, if one kills another in the process of drug dealing, they can be convicted of murder under the felony-murder rule, but if they were just transporting drugs…not a capital offense. I am sure some believe drug dealing should be a capital offense but it is currently not, so why are alleged Venezuelan drug dealers being killed, while U.S. based drug dealers get a trial and prison sentence?
And, we have to seriously question whether the 11 people on the 39′ recreational boat were all drug dealers. Not a typical drug boat, nor a typical use of cargo space.
Trump wants Venezuela’s oil. That’s the real story.
Sadly, you are correct.
Larry Johnson at SONAR21.com has analyzed the drug boats and made a strong case that it is highly unlikely they were carrying drugs.
https://sonar21.com/the-trump-administrations-claims-regarding-cocaine-and-fentanyl-trafficking-from-venezuela-doesnt-make-sense/
Right, LJ who hates Trump has better intel than the DoW / NSA.
Yeah, right, TD. Keep trying, feel free to send the families of these dead terrorists some UBI.
Even if the boats were transporting drugs (which we have no evidence for other than the word of our government), it wasn’t fentanyl (which is what is responsible for the drug deaths in the US) and given the size of the boats, they weren’t capable of making it to the US. So there is no reason a sane person could give for summarily killing those men.
So letting gobs of cocaine into the US isn’t a problem?
Now that’s outstanding logic.
FYI – the boats land somewhere along the MX coast for the final X miles trip into the USA, unless they go boom BTW.
What rock do you live under? This has been going on in some manner or other for years. Drug importation will continue until Americans will no longer pay for illegal drugs or drugs are legalized. One thing the libertarians are correct about.
But there is a reason to arrest, try and punish, if convicted, our entire chain of command and control.
Meanwhile https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/trump-pardon-honduras-hernandez-drugs
ROTFLMAO! Jennifer, Trump & Hegseth, as much as you’re deluding yourself, are NOT blowing up recreational boats that don’t have drugs on them. There are TONs of eyeballs looking at the much better images than we see, including SAT to cover something like you’re gleefully speculating.
These strikes are happening in international waters where terrorists don’t have Miranda rights.
You literally couldn’t be more off base. Keep up the FUD!
You remind me of the ‘60’s when people watched “The FBI” and thought the government was the good guys. Just the facts, ma’am. “International waters” doesn’t mean “Free Murder Zone”. If these boats were full of drugs why couldn’t the Almighty USA interdict them? This has nothing to do with drugs. It’s about Trump trying to get a win somewhere and placating Narco Marco the neocon. The “narco terrorist” bullshit is just to provide a half-assed excuse – that Maduro is the leader of the “Cartel de los Soles” – a made-up cartel that doesn’t exist.
Also Maduro is “giving uranium to Hezbollah”. lol. You could not make this shit up.
I do believe our current President, VP, Dow Sec, DHS Sec, AG, et al are good guys. They make mistakes, of course, but I do think they have America’s best interest at heart, unlike Joe Biden.
Cartel of the Suns – Wikipedia
This sure doesn’t look made up. Again, this is a general term that applies to all sorts of illegal activities going on within VZ. Therefore, it makes complete sense that Maduro is involved at a very high level. To think otherwise, is crazy.
“Experts… do not consider it an actual cartel” – from your cited source
I handled that in my explanation, broski. It’s just a generic term used to describe all of the illegal activities including drug related by all sorts of people including the military that goes on in VZ.
Personally, I’m not going to quibble about the term not describing a specific, organized group like the Sinaloa’s in MX.
But feel free to do so yourself. You’re really good at taking up for bad guys like Hamas with all your antisemitism.
He’s what they call a useful fool. His posts read better if you block him.
Trump wants to distract from his Epstein days.
I have an alternative you. When you commit an offense on the territory your are managed by the police everything outside is to be ruled by the millitary.
But the truth is https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/trump-pardon-honduras-hernandez-drugs
trump will do anything to distract the media from his pedophilia.
It is my understanding that the SCOTUS ruled that the president cannot be prosecuted for a crime if committed as an official duty.
In that case it is my sincere hope that if trump attacks Venezuela they send drones to kill the stupid son of a bitch.
If Hegseth ordered the murder of defenseless persons hanging onto the wreckage of a boat we blew up he should be tried for murder, convicted and executed. Likewise for the military personnel that followed those unlawful orders, they had to know better. American cannot become Nazi Germany or modern day Israel for that matter.
It can’t be called a “war on drugs” because wars end.
Ben,
Let us know when you send your military age sons, daughter, nephews, and nieces. They can stand shoulder to shoulder with Baron Trump and the children of any government officials that support waging war. Until then, bloviate away.
I heard Baron had inherited bone spurs from his father and so could not serve.
Not even sure it s about drugs because https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/trump-pardon-honduras-hernandez-drugs
This is a problem with no solution. The demand is there, and it will be fulfilled. Americans will get their feel goods along with their wings and NFL
Didn’t your mommy tell you MULTIPLE WRONGS NEVER ADD UP TO EVEN ONE RIGHT
Oh the irony. Claiming that all the illegal stuff you do is to fight drugs, and then pardon the drug trafficking ex president of Honduras. We know the Maga crowd will rationalize this, but I am still curious to see how they will attempt that. I guess another whataboutbidenism?
The mistake here is thinking that Trump is a man of principle. There is no principle he wouldn’t sell his family and friends for.
What about the poor fish being exposed to fentanyl from the sunk boats?
Don’t worry – there’s no fentanyl on them. The fish are safe.
I’ve read that it’s cocaine (when there’s anything on a boat).
MAGA is a cult. wha they believe is what Trump says that minute. There’s no need to rationalize, which implies some overarching governing principle or ideology or premise. the governing principle, premise is that Trump is always right, even if he completely changes his mind 180.
Americans have no control over their government. America is the bully of the planet…I’m sadly American, but I never root for the bully…even back in grade school. One day the bill will come due for America…it seems like it’s close…Trump is the bright orange notice of America’s downfall. It’s not all of Trumps fault but he is speeding things up, this is a democrat and republican exercise and ultimately falls back on the American people for electing idiots.
idiots electing idiots
“One day the bill will come due for America”
One day the bill may come due for all humanity and the collector will be ASI.
Americans have no control over their government. America is the bully of the planet…I’m sadly American, but I never root for the bully…even back in grade school. One day the bill will come due for America…it seems like it’s close…Trump is the bright orange notice of America’s downfall. It’s not Trumps fault, this is a democrat and republican exercise and ultimately falls back on the American people for electing idiots.
And there was thinking the armed forces weren’t to follow any illegal orders. Silly me.
Unfortunately Rand Paul is not the man his father was but occasionally he rises to the occasion. Trump is an evil despot cursed by God and hated by men.
Well at least now we know where the next round of hordes of refugees are going to come from, it’s Venezuela. Let me play this out for everyone.
Have fun with it all guys, but for those that already know what’s coming and want something different, got exit strategy?
Invade the world, invite the world.
Is Jerry Reinsdorf in the market for a shortstop?
Meanwhile https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/trump-pardon-honduras-hernandez-drugs
Obamacare on Steroids AND a new war of choice! What else will SantaPig bring us?
Hands off Venezuela!
Instead of
“We’re going to win so much. You’re going to get tired of winning. You’ll say, ‘Please, Mr. President, we can’t take it anymore, we’re winning too much!’ And I’ll say, ‘No, we’re going to keep winning, we’re never going to stop.’”
TACO is losing. Losing after losing.
The worst is Epstein crisis. Very damaging. Attention deflection is needed.
Venezuela is easy target. Easy scapegoat.
It seems easy target but its not. Trump and US have to pay the heavy price later.
I hate people who make drugs. I hate people who transport drugs. I hate people who sell drugs and I hate people who do drugs. We have to win what this time is our Opium Wars.
I’m sorry.
War against drug has been going on for over 50 years in US started by Nixon and still not winning.
The problem is money.
If you have money/ rich, drug will come whatever obstacles there are.
Even death sentence in SE Asia doesn’t stop drug trafficking.
We just took off the gloves. That changes things.
Of course not. The drugs will always be traded as long as rich people (I.e. most americans to most of the world) will pay for them. You will cause a new wave of immigration in the region though with a war, further destabilising it. Just the environment for drug lords to thrive in. But that is thinking ahead, which is something trump will never ever do.
There will always be crime but getting rid of the police will make crime much much worse.
Not really, the average police officer on the streets of America creates crime out of thin air.
Back the blue until they do you…. sucker.
It changes nothing. If you hit 20% of the boats its a business cost like increased aluminum tariffs. That will be payed by their customers who given their addiction to drugs tend to be price takers.
The only thing that changes is Doug78 has a higher chance of getting his car window smashed for 3.42 worth of change because when it comes to drug cartel customers you are their source of income.
It doesn’t stop at boats. It encompasses everything.
Agreed. Trump has officially declared Maduro & Cartel de los Soles terrorists. He now has a lot more leeway with carrying out military strikes against them. Presidents have always used the military outside of declarations of war by Congress, so this isn’t some new precedent. Far, far, far from it, in fact.
Someone needs to start a web site that tracks the street price of cocaine in the USA.
Cartel de los Soles. Right. It’s founding documents are, I’m sure, right next to those WMDs we never found in Iraq. Obviously buried right next to the corpses of the Kuwaiti premie babies that Iraqi soldiers were ripping out of incubators in 1989.
Just because Bush / Chaney / Powell / Cond Aliza lied to us about the WMP doesn’t mean Trump is lying to us about the drug boats.
It’s like you think Cartel de los Soles isn’t a drug cartel. WTH?
According to the BBC, “questions have been raised as to whether Cartel de los Soles actually exists”. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8j4ye5x0mo
The current street price for one gram of cocaine in the U.S. typically ranges from $60 to $200, with an average price often cited around $120 to $160. Prices vary significantly based on location, purity, and supply.
Google AI has you covered.
Not for the better. The entire world may unite against us and they would be correct to do so. How about trump gets his wish and the entire world stops ALL trade with the US?
“We just took off the gloves. That changes things.”
Won’t change a damn thing other than the following.
So if you think these illegal operations will be anything other than counterproductive, then you can’t think.
They will only be deemed illegal once the Dem’s take back the House & impeach Trump. And everyone knows how fair, above-board adjudicated those situations are.
As for more crime, it’s a good thing that Patel is about to release that the 2025 homicide rate is the lowest in modern history, so we have a good baseline for your conjecture.
Make sure you don’t dodge my question above about the Mish solution to solving drug addiction in the USA once & for all.
For the worse. Not for the better. Peace is right; the war on drugs doesn’t work.
It’s a massive, stupid failure… like catnip for this guy.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/trump-pardon-honduras-hernandez-drugs
You can’t call it a WAR, wars end.
You hate people that don’t worship DaddyPig.
Worried El Trumpedo?
Worried I won’t be able to eat all this bacon after the slaughter.
Do you hate people, like presidents, that pardon drug kingpins too?
https://www.rawstory.com/alternet-posts/trump-pardon-kingpin/
It’s interesting to see the tools and fools who think Venezuela is about drugs when it’s all about oil.
You haven’t left the country yet? You have been talking about it for so long I would have expected you to have left by now.
what if I have left? what’s it to you? I read that France is going to start taxing double dipping socialists and end the free ride. You might need an exit strategy yourself. No one likes socialist parasites anymore.
But I love your boomer style of deflecting and never answering the question.
Try saying something interesting and maybe I will but probably not.
I’m no tool or fool. If the US can bring down Maduro without a land invasion, then so be it. I’d love to see US oil producers help develop all of that oil. Granted, getting a stable government up & running in VZ is a big step, but it would greatly benefit the average VZ person. And in case you haven’t noticed, what Trump is doing to trying to ensure China’s influence in the Western hemisphere is significantly curtailed. It’s very, very important that we achieve this goal.
“And in case you haven’t noticed, what Trump is doing to trying to ensure China’s influence in the Western hemisphere is significantly curtailed. It’s very, very important that we achieve this goal.”
What a Fing hoot. Trump drove Canada closer to China, India closer to China and Russia, and much of South America closer to China.
Africa similar success coming up.
Canada has zero influence over the security of the western hemisphere. India is already part of BRICS, so they have long since made their choice. But trust me, India & China will still be fighting hand-to-hand in the Galwan Valley. No worries!
And as I’ve said many times of late, CA & MX are waiting to see how SCOTUS rules on Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. Get back with us once China replaces the USA as the biggest trading partner to CA.
But you already know that, so you’re just Trumping up a nothing-burger. Pun intended.
I m seeing this as nogication of empire like it happned 150 years ago. Russia is free to do what it wants in Europe, China is free to do what it wants in the pacific (like taking Taiwan among any other) and in exchange thr United States is let free to do what it want in the Americas.
You’re Binkey, the Astroturfing Clown
I have not idea what that means and could care less but since you enjoy hurling insults, here you go. This one is much easier to unpack.
And you’re a closet pedophile who secretly worships Trump.
Wow. Ben. What happened to you? You are turning into a dumb f*ck cultist like Doug. Very disappointing to see you promoting violence here.
I told you this guy was full of shit weeks ago, stop wasting time on him
lol! Gotcha!
We succeeded so well in Afghanistan and Iraq that the people of Venezuela should welcome us with open arms. Just like the good folks in those other countries did.
It may also be about Epstein… a twofer.
I agreed with you until the end. Trump needs to follow the law, as despicable as drugs are; the rule of law is supreme.
10 months ago during Hegseth’s confirmation….
Slotkin: Do you believe there is such a thing as an illegal order? Something the president could ask you to do that violates the constitution?
Hegseth: Anyone of any party could give an illegal order.
Slotkin: Will you stand in the breach if Trump does?
Hegseth: I reject the premise
When you are a self proclaimed king and no one has the guts to challenge you, then the carnage and disruptions will continue unabated and increase in intensity.
Time to realize that the change of the meaning of the word Freedom and domination from the Roman Republic during the age of enlightment was wrong after all.
The original meaning of Libertas is someone who has no Master even if said Master let you do what you want (so not a slave considering high ranking slaves like professors could use slaves). So politically the opposite of Libertas wasn t restriction but regnum (kingship) and dominatio (tyranny).
People might had been less likely to accept a single ruler if it was the case.
Though wrong. The word domination (from dominatio) come from dominus, the translation of the word Master of a slave.
Venezuela may challenge him. How do you attack a force greater than your own? Kill the command and control, today’s drones make that much easier.
General Wesley Clark talked about the planned overthrow of 7 countries in 5 years, in the wake of 9/11. The government doesn’t let legal get in the way. We have no idea what the government is doing in secret, interfering in other countries.
If only Dumbya had tried to eat a bigger pretzel…
Trump needs a way to refocus public attention from rising prices, tariff nonsense, Epstein files, big ball room, etc. Attacking Venezuela is a way to do it.
History repeats itself and the minions just shrug.
Update: there is no actual NOTAM closing the airspace. Trump appears to think he can decree it closed on Twitter!
Get someone in there feeding Call of Duty footage to him, whispering about how awesome everyone thinks he is for such a masterstroke, and he’ll forget about it all by Monday. Many lives will be saved.
Perfect, they could do it in the situation room. Give trump a uniform with lot and lots of colorful metals and continually shout YES SIR at his every whim. They could keep him in there in perpetuity telling him it’s unsafe to go topside, “what next sir”, “oh that’s brilliant sir”. No sir those McDonald’s are from our own restaurant right here in the white house, no one can go outside.
This is terrorism. Nation-scale terrorism.
Muslims don’t run D.C. Who will anti-Muslim bigots blame?
Who’s downvoting? Adherents to other religions? Or faiths like Deniality and Denialism?
Par for the course. What will they do if commercial airlines still fly into Caracas? Shoot them down? Dear lord this is insane.
Escort them away. Commercial airline companies usually want to avoid problems so they will stop flying there because frankly they saw in 2014 can happen when an airline flies in a war zone.
MH17. Yes, that one will go a long way to turning away commercial airline flight in & out of VZ.
The US shot down an Iranian passenger jet with almost 300 civilian souls aboard and in Iranian airspace during Ronnie Raygun’s Administration and never issued an apology.
The precedent has been already set.
We formally apologized and gave financial compensation to the families.
No, the US has never formally apologized.
The financial payment was a result of a lawsuit.
Per AI:
The United States has not formally apologized for shooting down Iran Air Flight 655 on July 3, 1988, which killed all 290 people on board. While President Ronald Reagan expressed “deep regret” over the loss of life and described the incident as a “terrible human tragedy,” the U.S. government has never issued a formal apology or admitted legal liability.
Then-Vice President George H. W. Bush, who was running for president at the time, further emphasized this stance by stating, “I’ll never apologize for the United States of America, ever; I don’t care what the facts are”. The U.S. maintained that the shootdown was a mistake, claiming the crew of the USS Vincennes misidentified the civilian Airbus A300 as an attacking Iranian F-14 fighter jet during a period of heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf.
In 1996, the U.S. settled a case brought by Iran at the International Court of Justice by agreeing to pay $131.8 million, including $61.8 million in compensation to the families of the victims, but this was done on an ex gratia basis without admission of fault. Some crew members of the USS Vincennes received awards for their actions, including the captain, who was awarded the Legion of Merit, further underscoring the absence of official contrition.
Yay! So they used the money to bring their family members back to life? Were thoughts and prayers also provided?
The US never apologized.
And they gave the captain a medal!
details here: https://safeairspace.net/venezuela/
Did Congress declare war on Venezuela? When was the last time Congress declared war on any country?
Congress rarely declares war. We are no longer in the 18th or 19th century when those conventions held sway. Even back then there were many undeclared wars.
Polk only used undeclared wars for real estate acquisition and development.
Is it a game with Putin to force him to accept 28-point plan? Why Venezuela? Venezuela supports Cuba and Nicaragua. And Venezuelan oil is a good collateral for the US which has too much uncovered liabilities. Striking many birds with one stone. Not a bad idea in geopolitical chessboard game. The tactics is simple – scare fishermen, cause lack of food. Close the airspace, no tourists, no parishable goods can arrive. Block the ports in next step. Provoke Venezuelan army to do something stupid or manufacture Tonkin-like accident and bomb them back to stone age. Why would anybody on the Earth sign anything with Trump? He violates agreements, laws, Constitution. And after the auto-pen story all signatures of Trump II and all coming president will have just the value of the ink used for them. When you look at all Pentagon’s procurement disasters it is easy to imagine that there will be a time in the future when the US won’t be able to stand to China and Russia and diplomacy will not be an option because Trump will have destroyed it and any trust in acts of US presidents too. The price will be high – rearm (dismantle the wellfare state, risk turning 1/2 of the US into a zombie ghetto and ending like Soviet Union) or fade away a la Great Britain. It worries me because Europe without the US will be a mess.
Europe is a mess with the US. Arguably because of the US.
To J_Schneider: Europe is already a mess.
To Sentient: Europe is a mess because of Europe. They are always a mess, cobbled together with the loosest impossible-to-react form of fictitious cohesion. Italy couldn’t control the influx. Spain can’t stop the reinvasion from the south. UK and its freedom-of-speech history destroyed by, well, you know. Sweden let in problems. Hungary distances itself from the rest. Poland wants to mix it up with Russian and any country pro-Russia. Germany still vendor-financing the lot. Swiss convenient neutrality continually profiting. French can’t even secure the Louvre. They all want to support Ukraine but only via tools to leverage the US to support them in pepetutity. Europe is a mess as this blog has repeatedly demonstrated with their one-size-fits-Germany currency union and their clumsy non-monetary EU, leave the U.S. blame out of it. Usually we deserve it but not this time.
Try this on for size Bill:
US couldn’t control the influx. US can’t stop the reinvasion from the south. US and its freedom-of-speech history destroyed by, well, you know. US let in problems. US distances itself from the rest. US wants to mix it up with Russian and any country pro-Russia. US still vendor-financing the lot. US convenient neutrality continually profiting. US can’t even secure D.C. They all want to support Ukraine but only via tools to leverage the US to support them in pepetutity. US is a mess as this blog has repeatedly demonstrated with their one-size-fits-Fed banker and their clumsy politics,…..Usually we deserve it but not this time.
If you think that’s a sign of a downfall, how about the cooling system failure at the CME data center in Aurora Illinois in the middle of the thin trading day @ 24 deg F on Friday, when silver trading was halted twice? No HVAC guys to be found out there – or something else?
US can’t stop the reinvasion from the south.
Well, that’s certainly true when you have a brain dead president.
Trump on other hand did it in under 30 days.
Have you left yet? You didn’t answer Doug.
I agree Europe is mess because of its wrong decisions. You repeat some of the stuff I wrote in previous comments. I didn’t blame the US for European problems in my comment you attacked.
Sorry, wrong. I am saying that Europe will be bigger mess without the US. I am not anti-american, read the post again please. I am just saying that some stuff Trump does is at the expense of the future. That’s it.
I think the Donald needs to dye his hair. Its looking quite white these days.
According to FlightAware there are still commercial flights heading to/from Caracas:
SVFM Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Airbase Airport (SVFM) – FlightAware
Looking like a big, fat fail from TACO!
Honestly you’re watching the death of a world power this year. Nobody’s going to want to touch us with a ten foot pole, and if we can’t right our wrongs soon it’ll stay that way. Nobody in 1988 could have foreseen Russia today, and I’m afraid it’ll be similar here.
Adam Taggert did a segment on this with an expert on the topic. Bottom line is that Venezuela is not really a producer of drugs but a distribution point. The dealers are using the army bases for basically warehousing and shipping. The top military brass are benefiting from this financially naturally and as a result are keeping Maduro in power. Stopping this obviously we’ll have no effect on the drug trade. I think if Trumps threatening actions lead to Maduro resigning it would be a good start. The real problem is what replaces him. The female politician in hiding would be a good replacement I forgot her name but How likely is it that she would succeed him successfully. Generally when we engage in regime change it turns to s***. Attacking Venezuela without Congressional approval obviously is illegal but that doesn’t seem to stop any president for some reason I don’t know why they get away with this s***
Grow up
What does Trump care about drugs when he will pardon the Honduran leader directly convicted of drug smuggling
…Trump says he will pardon ex-Honduras president convicted of drug traffickingJuan Orlando Hernández was sentenced in the US to 45 years behind bars for conspiring to smuggle cocaine.
I saw it. Taggert gets good people to come talk. He likes Reno.
Think about this: If trump was president of Venezuela would he hesitate to be the top drug dealer in South America?
>> The real problem is what replaces him.
How did you move past Trump’s multiple homicides already, economic attacks (by multiple POTUS during past 30 years, not just trump) that continue impoverishing millions, and trump’s further threats? Those aren’t bigger immediate “real” problems?
Instead you think “choosing a replacement” is the “real” problem?
And you already accepted Trump’s choice to impose on Venezuela?
…
Think about these things some more, would you? It’s never to late to change.
Seriously get some help. Nothing I stated is relevant to your ignorant bloviatingBS