Mulvaney won't rule out military action in Venezuela

[KY_EnviroGuy]

38. K&R, you speak truth.

We have indeed heard it all before, for me beginning with Vietnam and many since. It always starts with flag waving and talk about democracy and freedom, and talk of what an easy job it will be and native people welcoming us with flowers, hugs and kisses.

Then, it winds up being a never-ending quagmire after scores of everyday people are killed or displaced along with costing the US Treasury trillions. In addition, if the US or Russia is involved, invariably the cities are bombed into rubble.

From what I've read, Venezuela is a social, political and economic train-wreck whose people are extremely divided and on the verge of a civil war. If we go in, then we have to chose a side (apparently already have) and there could be lots of bloodshed. That could evolve into guerrilla warfare on steroids. I suspect that most of the regime's secret police and much of the military will remain loyal. Regardless, there would be experienced military personnel operating on both sides.

Neither Trump or Putin can solve the decades of ruin in Venezuela and I think we agree the motive of both is to control their natural resources and not free the people to do their will.

There needs to be an international mechanism in place for hitting a huge "reset" button for nations that are in total chaos and consumed by corruption. Unfortunately, human greed and selfishness dictates that this can't happen because, for example in this case the two sides could never sit down, be humble and submit to any outside higher power.