BTW I don't kjnow much about VZ. I do not have time to learn. If I wanted to learn I would seek out different sources. I do not trust the US govt or the MSM. I believe everything bad about Maduro because it rings true and is not hard to believe. Sounds like a typical socialist in Latin America. I have no problem believing that the VZ govt seized foreign assets.
I can see where neighboring countries would want to intervene because the crap is spilling outside of VZ borders. IMO the US state dept has destabilized too much of the world already. I don't want them to make things worse. I hope the VZ military takes over for a while when things get even worse.
One week after the MSM started talking abot the 'Russian collusion' I was surprised they were still talking about it. They still are years later. They are nuts.
I like doc because he brings a different point of view. I don't have to buy into all of it.
If Doc wanted to discuss, provide evidence, and engage in genuine and sincere debate, I suspect his point of view would be more appreciated. Instead he ignores the challenges to his arguments, calls names, and generally seems to be here to America bash first, and to discuss issues seriously second, if at all. You are in some ways echoing his point of view, but no one has much to say back because you offer it as genuine sentiment, provided links to watch and are consistent in supporting your view, and we see the truth in it..
I don't think anyone here is saying America was always right in every action and in every place, and in every occasion we have interacted with a foreign government - nor do I think anyone here is suggesting that our government can be trusted. But we also don't have the full picture, CIA briefings or classified information. World politics is a law of the jungle game - and yes, smaller powers are used and abused by larger powers as pawns. I don't blame any smaller nation for resenting American ( or Russian, or Chinese, or European....) interference in their affairs or in the affairs of their neighbors ( especially when they bear the brunt of the consequences)
International politics a world of crappy choices, and the right or moral choice may simply not be on the table , or it is the the imperfect information in the briefings make it seem it isn't, or the perception of risk pushes toward immoral actions to mitigate disaster. But I think we can safely assume we are instigating immoral actions to protect our perceived interests in the world all of the time, and that the other powers are doing the same. I have talked personally to quite a few special forces and ex-special forces men and women who can confirm this. They always say "I can't tell you what was done, but you don't know half of the sh*t that is going on in the world, and its probably best you don't." And most of the time the special forces executing such missions don't have the big picture either. There is no accountability , and humans in that environment and under such constraints eventually abuse their power in they ways they can justify to themselves. So yes, the United States does unfair, immoral and bad sh*t overseas, and nations that take offense.. are probably doing the same and playing this faux veneer of international community to their best advantage in the media and to the masses.
I certainly wouldn't support a US Military adventure in Venezuela given what I know, nor do I even think Sanctions are a very good idea, but to some degree the Russian and Chinese involvement are pushing those hands. Doc is right that the petro-dollar is what is keeping the US afloat, and therefore controlling trade in oil and the currency paid for it is key to keeping that going. It is what allows the United States to export much of the inflation it is creating via borrowing (and another reason for the ill will. The United States has abused its position with the reserve currency and therefore deserves to loose it to other hands)
Maybe China or Russia will provide a better alternative in time, or maybe it all fails at once. It will be easier for everyone if they succeed in setting up an alternate global trade system before the US Collapse, but I am sure the "kick the can" politicians in the United States don't see it that way. What is certain is that there are forces trying to kill Western Civilization and most of all , its emphasis on the individual, and those forces have infiltrated every level of our society and, in fact, most societies in general.