Did the USA do good to seize a Venezuelan oil tanker?

[DennisPTate]

Has the Trump administration did the people of Venezuela a favour by seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker?

I personally believe that Maduro is no better than Adolf Hitler or Stalin or Mao or any other criminal who rises to a place of political power.

Maduro must be toppled so I believe that the Trump administration has done the people of Venezuela a favour by taking away a lot of Maduro's supply of cash, [which could easily force him to flee from Venezuela]?

US forces have intercepted and seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that marks a serious escalation of tensions between the two countries.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. State oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA and Venezuela’s oil and information ministries didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.

The seizure may make it much harder for Venezuela to export its oil, as other shippers are now likely to be more reluctant to load its cargoes. Most Venezuelan oil goes to China, usually through intermediaries, at steep discounts owing to sanctions risk.

The Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom it has accused of presiding over a narcotrafficking operation. The Pentagon has conducted more than 20 strikes against purported drug-trafficking vessels in waters near Venezuela and Colombia, killing more than 80 suspects. President Donald Trump has suggested numerous times that the US could strike on land and that Maduro’s “days are numbered.”

https://archive.is/r9kYb#selection-2029.0-2029.440

 

[JGalt]

Yes, now grab more tankers. Cut the socialist world off from Venezuelan oil, and cut Maduro off from funding his illegal regime.

If for nothing else, do it for the environment. Do it to prevent climate change. The black goo they produce is the most sulfur-laden eco-unfriendly oil being produced in the world today.

 

[DGS49]

It is not a Venezuelan tanker. It actually has no national registration, so it is an outlaw vessel. Any sovereign force is authorized under international law to confiscate it. The most significant aspect of this is that it harms Maduro's regime a bit.

 

[Crepitus]

It's straight up piracy.

 

[Norm Paperman]

Has the Trump administration did the people of Venezuela a favour by seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker?

I personally believe that Maduro is no better than Adolf Hitler or Stalin or Mao or any other criminal who rises to a place of political power.

Maduro must be toppled so I believe that the Trump administration has done the people of Venezuela a favour by taking away a lot of Maduro's supply of cash, [which could easily force him to flee from Venezuela]?

It is no more lawful than all the people the US has murdered in the boats they keep blowing up, and then going back for seconds to make sure everyone is dead.

If there is any justice left in the world there will be a lot of people facing war crime trials soon.

 

[frigidweirdo]

Has the Trump administration did the people of Venezuela a favour by seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker?

I personally believe that Maduro is no better than Adolf Hitler or Stalin or Mao or any other criminal who rises to a place of political power.

Maduro must be toppled so I believe that the Trump administration has done the people of Venezuela a favour by taking away a lot of Maduro's supply of cash, [which could easily force him to flee from Venezuela]?

So any person who has risen to a "place of political power" should be toppled? That's ALL GOVERNMENTS IN THE WORLD.

 

[Yarddog]

It's straight up piracy.

By all means defend the guy!
Of course you would fail to see why cutting off his money, which is his only power is a good thing.
You would like him to continue. Ever wonder why those drug boats keep coming out of Venezuela even when they are getting bombed?
Thats maduro getting his cut as well. Why do you dfend such a scum bag?

Venezuela’s National Guard linked to killings, torture and repression, UN probe finds

Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) has been implicated in a decade-long pattern of killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and sexual violence targeting protesters and opponents of President Nicolás Maduro, according to a new report from UN-appointed investigators on Thursday.

news.un.org

Under Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela has experienced a severe economic collapse, democratic erosion, humanitarian crisis, and increased authoritarianism, marked by widespread corruption, human rights abuses, political repression, mismanagement of state oil resources, and dependency on allies like Russia, China, and Iran, leading to mass emigration and international sanctions.

Economic Devastation

• Hyperinflation & Collapse: The economy has shrunk dramatically (over 80% GDP loss), with hyperinflation making basic goods unaffordable.
• Oil Industry Decline: State control and mismanagement of the oil giant PDVSA led to massive production drops, despite holding the world's largest reserves.
• Corruption: Billions were embezzled through corrupt food programs (CLAP), drug trafficking, and illicit gold removal, enriching cronies while the nation suffered.

Democratic Erosion & Authoritarianism

• Undermined Institutions: Maduro systematically dismantled democratic bodies, rigged elections, and established rubber-stamp assemblies.
• Political Persecution: The regime arbitrarily jails, tortures, and forcibly disappears political opponents, journalists, and activists.
• Human Rights Abuses: Reports from the UN and others document extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence used to control dissent.

Humanitarian Crisis & Social Control

• Basic Services Collapse: The economy's collapse crippled essential services, creating a massive humanitarian crisis.
• Food as a Weapon: The government uses food distribution as a tool for social control, rewarding supporters and punishing opponents.
• Rise of Gangs: The state allegedly partnered with armed groups like Tren de Aragua, allowing them to grow powerful and operate with impunity.

International Isolation & Conflict

• Sanctions: The U.S. and others imposed sanctions targeting the regime's finances, oil sector, and key individuals, including Maduro himself (charged with narco-terrorism).
• Foreign Alliances: Maduro relies on allies like Cuba, Russia, Iran, and China for political and economic survival.
• Strained Relations: Actions like blocking aid at Colombia's border and detaining foreign nationals strained international ties.

 

[DennisPTate]

So any person who has risen to a "place of political power" should be toppled? That's ALL GOVERNMENTS IN THE WORLD.

No, only if they are criminals like Maduro..... or Stalin.... or Hitler.... or Mao!

 

[DennisPTate]

By all means defend the guy!
Of course you would fail to see why cutting off his money, which is his only power is a good thing.
You would like him to continue. Ever wonder why those drug boats keep coming out of Venezuela even when they are getting bombed?
Thats maduro getting his cut as well. Why do you dfend such a scum bag?

Venezuela’s National Guard linked to killings, torture and repression, UN probe finds

Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) has been implicated in a decade-long pattern of killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and sexual violence targeting protesters and opponents of President Nicolás Maduro, according to a new report from UN-appointed investigators on Thursday.

news.un.org

Under Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela has experienced a severe economic collapse, democratic erosion, humanitarian crisis, and increased authoritarianism, marked by widespread corruption, human rights abuses, political repression, mismanagement of state oil resources, and dependency on allies like Russia, China, and Iran, leading to mass emigration and international sanctions.

Economic Devastation

• Hyperinflation & Collapse: The economy has shrunk dramatically (over 80% GDP loss), with hyperinflation making basic goods unaffordable.
• Oil Industry Decline: State control and mismanagement of the oil giant PDVSA led to massive production drops, despite holding the world's largest reserves.
• Corruption: Billions were embezzled through corrupt food programs (CLAP), drug trafficking, and illicit gold removal, enriching cronies while the nation suffered.

Democratic Erosion & Authoritarianism

• Undermined Institutions: Maduro systematically dismantled democratic bodies, rigged elections, and established rubber-stamp assemblies.
• Political Persecution: The regime arbitrarily jails, tortures, and forcibly disappears political opponents, journalists, and activists.
• Human Rights Abuses: Reports from the UN and others document extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence used to control dissent.

Humanitarian Crisis & Social Control

• Basic Services Collapse: The economy's collapse crippled essential services, creating a massive humanitarian crisis.
• Food as a Weapon: The government uses food distribution as a tool for social control, rewarding supporters and punishing opponents.
• Rise of Gangs: The state allegedly partnered with armed groups like Tren de Aragua, allowing them to grow powerful and operate with impunity.

International Isolation & Conflict

• Sanctions: The U.S. and others imposed sanctions targeting the regime's finances, oil sector, and key individuals, including Maduro himself (charged with narco-terrorism).
• Foreign Alliances: Maduro relies on allies like Cuba, Russia, Iran, and China for political and economic survival.
• Strained Relations: Actions like blocking aid at Colombia's border and detaining foreign nationals strained international ties.

Your post is extremely informative. My wife keeps me up to date on events in South America and for a decade or so now she has been hoping that the USA would topple Maduro.

 

[yidnar]

It's straight up piracy.

defending a commie who stole an election eh ?

 

[yidnar]

It's straight up piracy.

funny how Dems scream "muh democracy" and in the same breath stand with Maduro who lost the last election in a landslide but is still the leader of Venezuela... commies gonna stick together ..

 

[cnm]

Has the Trump administration did the people of Venezuela a favour by seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker?

I personally believe that Maduro is no better than Adolf Hitler or Stalin or Mao or any other criminal who rises to a place of political power.

Maduro must be toppled so I believe that the Trump administration has done the people of Venezuela a favour by taking away a lot of Maduro's supply of cash, [which could easily force him to flee from Venezuela]?

Saddam and Iraq agree with you.

Shock and Awe suited them.

We can only hope Venezuela's infrastructure is so lucky.

 

[frigidweirdo]

No, only if they are criminals like Maduro..... or Stalin.... or Hitler.... or Mao!

But Trump is an actual criminal.

He's going out there and killing people too.

And why is Maduro like Stalin or Hitler?

 

[DennisPTate]

But Trump is an actual criminal.

He's going out there and killing people too.

And why is Maduro like Stalin or Hitler?

Maduro is also a lot like Saddam, but at least he never attempted to force Venezuelan nuclear physicists to develop a nuclear weapon for him.

 

[frigidweirdo]

Your post is extremely informative. My wife keeps me up to date on events in South America and for a decade or so now she has been hoping that the USA would topple Maduro.

The problem is that the US is doing all kind of bad things too. I don't like Maduro, but if the US had their way, Venezuela would just be a lap dog for the US, selling oil cheaply.

Why do you think the US hates Maduro?

Because Venezuela is OPEC. The US invaded Iraq in 2003 (OPEC), bombed Libya in 2011 (OPEC), sanctions against Iran (along with many threats of invasion) and heavy sanctions against Iran and Venezeula.

Do not see the media attacking Venezuela as them caring for the people. They just want cheaper oil.

 

[cnm]

Under Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela has experienced a severe economic collapse, democratic erosion, humanitarian crisis, and increased authoritarianism, marked by widespread corruption, human rights abuses, political repression, mismanagement of state oil resources, and dependency on allies like Russia, China, and Iran, leading to mass emigration and international sanctions.

Would that have anything to do with the sanctions the expansionist US government has placed on Venezuela?

 

[frigidweirdo]

Maduro is also a lot like Saddam, but at least he never attempted to force Venezuelan nuclear physicists to develop a nuclear weapon for him.

How is he "a lot like Saddam"? Don't just keep comparing him to leaders the US didn't like. Actually tell me why.

 

[cnm]

No, only if they are criminals like Maduro..... or Stalin.... or Hitler.... or Mao!

Or felons like Chump, I agree.

 

[cnm]

Maduro is also a lot like Saddam, but at least he never attempted to force Venezuelan nuclear physicists to develop a nuclear weapon for him.

So what? It's none of the USA's business. Has it asserted sovereignty over Central and South America, as a matter of curiosity?

 

[Mack The Finger]

It is no more lawful than all the people the US has murdered in the boats they keep blowing up, and then going back for seconds to make sure everyone is dead.

You're a hack !

ObamaChrist killed civilians to but the purple hairs remailed quite.

In an extraordinary admission, Attorney General Eric Holder has told Congress that U.S. drone strikes since 2009 have killed four Americans — three of whom were “not specifically targeted.”

For all the effort that the Obama administration has gone to in asserting that its drones only kill the people that the administration intends to kill, Holder wrote in a letter today to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that Samir Khan, 16-year-old Abdulrahman Awlaki and Jude Kenan Mohammad were “not specifically targeted by the United States.”