Maduro says Venezuela ready to respond to US military presence in the Caribbean

[groundloop]

Source: AP News

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday said his country was at “maximum preparedness” and ready to respond if attacked by forces that the United States government has deployed to the Caribbean.

His comments during a news conference come as the U.S. government this week is set to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. The U.S. has not signaled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed. Still, Maduro’s government has responded by deploying troops along its coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

“In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela,” Maduro said of the deployment, which he characterized as “an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat.”

He said he would constitutionally declare a “republic in arms” if the U.S. attacked Venezuela. He did not elaborate.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-destroyers-maduro-drug-cartels-e9dcca3aa04f61d7262919b1d21e1964

[PatSeg]

1. It sure feels like Trump is just itching

to start a war. The draft-dodger seems to want to be a wartime president much like his mentor Putin. Bullies just love starting conflicts and Trump is obsessed with the show of strength that tanks, planes, ships, and troops represent.

[Bayard]

2. A war against Venezuela,

A country that has a fraction of our military resources. Yes, a wartime president title is his goal. He is an egotistical bully, at home and abroad.

[PatSeg]

3. And of course

he still has his eye on Greenland, but Venezuela has brown people.

[Erda]

4. Don't know if it's his eye

Or those behind the scenes in his administration.

I don't think he is calling the shots anymore.

[PatSeg]

5. I get that feeling frequently

The on-camera bluster is Trump, but I don't see him having the energy, time, or focus to do all the crap that is happening right now. At best, he is just signing off on it. It has been quite obvious that he has been signing executive orders without a clue as to what is in them.

[Bayard]

7. He's not writing any of this stuff

Too many big words. Not even the posts anymore. I'm thinking Stephen Miller and autopen.

Remember the original Star Trek episode with the Nazi's?

[PatSeg]

8. Too many words, plus too many complicated ideas

for his brain. It is really scary to think of all those behind the scenes who are busy reshaping America. This didn't happen overnight. It has obviously been planned for a long time. These people were ready to go on day one. Just the rapid expansion of ICE must have been in the works for quite awhile.

[Angleae]

6. Respond with what?

Their military has 24 fighters, 1 frigate, and a few patrol boats.