Predicting the Future of Venezuela

"One more such victory and we shall be utterly ruined."

-Pyrrhus of Epirus, a Greek general and originator of the term Pyrrhic victory

With Maduro apparently captured and Trump saying that the US will run the country into their cab ve a sade transition of power, the operation appears to be a short-term military success. They will probably be able to impose the pro-oligarch opposition in charge. and get lots of cheap oil.

Job done.

Or not.

I cannot see the Venezuelan people being happy with what amounts to more or less direct colonial occupation. If this plan is to 'succeed' it is going to need a near-permanent US military presence. That will cost America a lot of money and even further antagonise the locals. Even if the government forces can be quickly beaten (which seems unclear as of now) then there will be constant discord, guerrilla conflict and acts of terrorism. Not to mention, potential regional instability.

However powerful the US military is, you can't subjugate people by direct colonialism anymore. It doesn't work. That failed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would like to know from Trump supporters why they think this time will be different.

This isn't America First. It's cosplaying the British Empire on behalf of US oligarchs and paying for that with money and other people's blood.

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beckyromero · 36-40, F

This isn't Iraq and it isn't Afghanistan.

This is a home invasion and grand theft.

June 1, 2004

MARK SMITH, Associated Press:

Mr. President, can I ask about one of the things that the new prime minister in Iraq has said about your administration? He said that many of the postwar problems in Iraq have been from lack of proper planning; that America bears direct responsibility for that. How do you answer that?

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:

I would answer him that, you know, we had a plan in place. We succeeded in making sure that the oil flow continues, so that he as prime minister has now got roughly 2.5 million barrels a day of Iraqi oil for the benefit of the Iraqi people -- that there wasn't major disruptions of food, so that people didn't starve. In other words, we were very successful in certain things. But there is no question that the security situation on the ground is hard and tough, and my comment to him was, we will be flexible and wise and work with him to continue to secure Iraq; that our mission is his mission, which is to get to elections so the country can be a free country.

January 3, 2025

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

"They stole our oil. They took it over like it was nothing."

When asked how controlling Venezuela’s energy supply could impact relations with China, Russia and Iran.

"We’ll be selling large amounts of oil to other countries. We’re in the oil business. We’re going to sell it to them."