We need a Venezuela thread

[Horace]

I'm looking into it. Been making calls all afternoon.

[Mik]

My generals are not saying.

[Doctor Phibes]

I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you.

(Obviously, I'm exaggerating here. I wouldn't actually kill you. My people would do it.)

[kluurs]

Venezuela will be our 52nd state

[Axtremus]

@kluurs said in We need a Venezuela thread:

Venezuela will be our 52nd state

Wait ... what happened to Canada and Greenland?

[jon-nyc]

So the evidence that they’re running drugs is sufficient to kill them but not strong enough to secure a conviction.

Got it.

[Horace]

What's the theory here, that the Trump admin is blowing up random boats for the spectacle and marketing of it?

Under the obviously fanciful and completely impossible scenario that they had compelling evidence that it was a drug boat, is there any chance that the next most reasonable move after scooping up survivors, was to ship them back to their home country?

Just an exercise in steel manning - I will stipulate for the sake of this discussion that everything the Trump administration does is random, evil, and stupid.

[jon-nyc]

The theory, which has no intelligent detractors, is that the administration’s position that anyone in these boats is an ‘unlawful combatant’, would not survive contact with a court of law.

[Horace]

@jon-nyc said in We need a Venezuela thread:

The theory, which has no intelligent detractors, is that the administration’s position that anyone in these boats is an ‘unlawful combatant’, would not survive contact with a court of law.

That's not the theory I asked for.

[jon-nyc]

Sorry the theory you asked for is wrong. I gave you the correct theory instead.

[Mik]

It's not reasonable to believe the strikes would be ordered without sufficient evidence of drug activity. It just isn't. Whether that is deemed legal is a murkier question entirely, but one must stay aligned with one's tribe, right?

As to repatriating them, I think it better to send them home and spread the word that the easy money train has gone off the tracks.

[Horace]

@jon-nyc said in We need a Venezuela thread:

Sorry the theory you asked for is wrong. I gave you the correct theory instead.

Let me try again. What is the theory of the motivation of the Trump admin to be sinking these boats?

[jon-nyc]

I have no idea but was charitably granting that their stated reason is the actual reason. I can’t be sure though. There seems to be more going on between the US and Venezuela than meets the eye, hence the thread.

[Horace]

@Mik said in We need a Venezuela thread:

It's not reasonable to believe the strikes would be ordered without sufficient evidence of drug activity. It just isn't. Whether that is deemed legal is a murkier question entirely, but one must stay aligned with one's tribe, right?

As to repatriating them, I think it better to send them home and spread the word that the easy money train has gone off the tracks.

Seems reasonable. The message is sent regardless of what happens to the survivors.

[Mik]

We don't need the expense of incarcerating them here. I rather doubt they'll be engaging in future voyages.

[Horace]

@jon-nyc said in We need a Venezuela thread:

I have no idea but was charitably granting that their stated reason is the actual reason. I can’t be sure though. There seems to be more going on between the US and Venezuela than meets the eye, hence the thread.

I think a government can act on intelligence in international drug trafficking matters, that they don't want to process through domestic courts of law, when there's little to nothing to be gained by doing so.

[89th]

@jon-nyc said in We need a Venezuela thread:

The theory, which has no intelligent detractors, is that the administration’s position that anyone in these boats is an ‘unlawful combatant’, would not survive contact with a court of law.

I don't think survival is the point, amirite

Honestly I'm still surprised Trump didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize.