When LBJ convinced the US Congress to almost unanimously endorse the Tonkin Gulf Resolution he promised that our objectives were limited and that he did not want a wider war. Ten years and 50,000+ dead American GIs later the last Americans were evacuated by helicopter from Saigon rooftops.
In his book "Just and Unjust Wars" Michael Walzer writes: “Those who begin wars rarely control or even foresee their consequences. The initial injustice of aggression is almost always compounded by the unpredictable cruelties that follow from it… Aggression opens the gates of hell.”
The Trump regime has just opened the gates of hell.
This is a new level of horror as of Trump gets angry, he'll lash out with the military. It removes my hope that someone in the military would stop Trump from launching nukes
And there is this -- Trump did not mention Venezuela at all his first term -- but I am sure I am not the only one who noticed that within days of Trump and Pam "Legally Blondie" announcing that the Epstein files would not be released, and that they were after all a "Democrat hoax," the boat strikes campaign abruptly started, with accompanying videos proudly enhanced by numerous memes, and the anti-Maduro rhetoric suddenly appeared? It's not all just about oil. And no, you cannot trust the generals and admirals to say "No." Two admirals resigned, but they did it to get out of the way of the impending disaster and start drawing retirement pay, without having to pay the price for standing their ground or most importantly, denouncing what was happening once they had resigned. So, you see, they can have it all ways, and still be consultants to CNN and get lecture seats at the universities, nice jobs with the defense contractor industry complex, etc. And they escape from having to testify before any Congressional committee or DoD or any other investigation. It's good to serve the "King." And they're not the first to pull the disappearing act, and collect all that retirement pay and favorable press...
Is it known which military commanders gave these orders? What does this shameful lunacy say about the military's loyalty to either their oaths or to the king?
The clown in chief just really screwed our country and our citizens (again); this is NO PLAN!! As someone famous once said "Read my lips- NO PLAN!" This will go the way everything trump touches goes- directly into the big shitter!! We not only are heading into a recession, not only lossed affordable health care, not only have seen valuable parts of our communities deported, not only have no employment for those young men and women coming out of colleges, not only have thugs roaming our streets, not only has our clown in chief pardoning notorious drug dealers - like Juan Orlando Hernández, a convicted drug trafficker tied to massive cocaine shipments, not only destabilized all the countries in the western hemisphere, not only turned our backs on our longtime trusted allies, not only destroyed our White House, he has put us into a never-ending money drain running another country - just so he can add to his enrichment!!!!
I went back today and began to re-educate myself on our past wars and maybe lesser invasions also when my son brought up the fact that many other wars did not have Congressional approval. (He is not a Trump supporter at all, but he made a good point here.) This is true with the Korean War under Truman for certain. Without getting into all the details, what we saw is a combination of Congessional approval outright, and areas that the Constitution was not really adhered to and we went into gray areas of having international approvals and Congress later funding unauthorized wars. I was looking at Panama when George HW invaded with hours notice to Congress - and that seems to have been ok in the end partly because the American people were in favor of it and it was successful.
Now here we are with a totally lawless Trump who did not bother to even tell Congress until post event, and waited hours on Saturday to address the American people.
We did not fall suddenly to where we are and it seems the public has become accustomed to these types of things. Even Obama with Egypt and Libya did not have approval, which surprised me.
We need to rid ourselves of Trump and also get back to and strengthen Article I, Sec 8, Clause 11. The War Powers Act did not seem to help and I do not know what needs to be done. But one thing for sure, nation building does not work, and we have to stop it.
One has to wonder if this foolish move by Trump even considered the fact that China loaned Venezuela cash for their oil.
"A new U.S. Postal Service policy...will reflect when a piece of mail is processed, not when it’s dropped off at the post office..."
" the Supreme Court is considering a case that could end “grace periods” for late-arriving ballots, which would lead to even more being thrown out on technicalities."
2026 is bringing changes that will affect our vote getting counted. Democrats and Republicans will be equally impacted. Republican-lead states, and possibly the Chief Justice will put up obstacles to make it more difficult to vote. Let's stay mindful, know the new rules and be sure you vote early so Republicans and the courts cannot find cause to dismiss your vote.
When I went to the anti war demonstration yesterday in Monterey CA I spoke to many people who had demonstrated against prior wars too- along the lines of who thought we would be doing this again? But I noticed more young people. There were several from the Gaza demonstrations in Salinas. They said they felt a lot of hostility in the more conservative agriculture town and were happy to be well received with waves and honks. There was also a young( in his 20’s) member of the local Democratic Committee who was speaking of mentors and thinking of running in the future. I just was on the edge of this conversation but it made my heart glad.
I'm curious to know what the Grifter-In-Chief anticipates to be the financial gain to him, his family, and billionaire supporters/oil companies. He never does anything if there isn't anything in it for him.
This is an enlightening article about Venezuelan oil. May be that they've bought a pig in a poke. Wikipedia: "Starting in the 19th century, this idiom was explained as a confidence trick where a farmer would substitute a cat for a suckling pig when bringing it to market."
Excellent analysis, but one quibble. I do not believe an arrest warrant is necessary because there was already an indictment. There also is no question that Maduro is subject to prosecution in the US for terrorism and drug trafficking charges with intended US victims.
In agreement with Robert's assessment of the situation. But considering analyst, Shankar Narayan's thoughts is it fair to say the situation is a bit more involved?
Would very much like to hear what Robert and other people who have commented think about this perspective:
By the way, since when is it against US law for someone in a foreign country, especially the president or Prime Minister of that country, to possess machine guns? This is one of the charges in the indictment of maduro. Would someone please explain the legal rationale for that charge to even be made much less prosecuted?
These photos are inspiring. Thank you for including them in your newsletter!
When LBJ convinced the US Congress to almost unanimously endorse the Tonkin Gulf Resolution he promised that our objectives were limited and that he did not want a wider war. Ten years and 50,000+ dead American GIs later the last Americans were evacuated by helicopter from Saigon rooftops.
In his book "Just and Unjust Wars" Michael Walzer writes: “Those who begin wars rarely control or even foresee their consequences. The initial injustice of aggression is almost always compounded by the unpredictable cruelties that follow from it… Aggression opens the gates of hell.”
The Trump regime has just opened the gates of hell.
This is a new level of horror as of Trump gets angry, he'll lash out with the military. It removes my hope that someone in the military would stop Trump from launching nukes
And there is this -- Trump did not mention Venezuela at all his first term -- but I am sure I am not the only one who noticed that within days of Trump and Pam "Legally Blondie" announcing that the Epstein files would not be released, and that they were after all a "Democrat hoax," the boat strikes campaign abruptly started, with accompanying videos proudly enhanced by numerous memes, and the anti-Maduro rhetoric suddenly appeared? It's not all just about oil. And no, you cannot trust the generals and admirals to say "No." Two admirals resigned, but they did it to get out of the way of the impending disaster and start drawing retirement pay, without having to pay the price for standing their ground or most importantly, denouncing what was happening once they had resigned. So, you see, they can have it all ways, and still be consultants to CNN and get lecture seats at the universities, nice jobs with the defense contractor industry complex, etc. And they escape from having to testify before any Congressional committee or DoD or any other investigation. It's good to serve the "King." And they're not the first to pull the disappearing act, and collect all that retirement pay and favorable press...
Is it known which military commanders gave these orders? What does this shameful lunacy say about the military's loyalty to either their oaths or to the king?
The clown in chief just really screwed our country and our citizens (again); this is NO PLAN!! As someone famous once said "Read my lips- NO PLAN!" This will go the way everything trump touches goes- directly into the big shitter!! We not only are heading into a recession, not only lossed affordable health care, not only have seen valuable parts of our communities deported, not only have no employment for those young men and women coming out of colleges, not only have thugs roaming our streets, not only has our clown in chief pardoning notorious drug dealers - like Juan Orlando Hernández, a convicted drug trafficker tied to massive cocaine shipments, not only destabilized all the countries in the western hemisphere, not only turned our backs on our longtime trusted allies, not only destroyed our White House, he has put us into a never-ending money drain running another country - just so he can add to his enrichment!!!!
Fabulous crop of protests following Trump's illegal invasion and kidnapping of the president of Venezuela. In VERY cold temperatures!!
As for taking over Venezuelan oil, be careful what you wish for. Note comments about the world glut of oil. Heard this morning, it's selling at $50/bbl. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelan-oil-industry-worlds-largest-reserves-decaying-infrastructure-2026-01-03/
I went back today and began to re-educate myself on our past wars and maybe lesser invasions also when my son brought up the fact that many other wars did not have Congressional approval. (He is not a Trump supporter at all, but he made a good point here.) This is true with the Korean War under Truman for certain. Without getting into all the details, what we saw is a combination of Congessional approval outright, and areas that the Constitution was not really adhered to and we went into gray areas of having international approvals and Congress later funding unauthorized wars. I was looking at Panama when George HW invaded with hours notice to Congress - and that seems to have been ok in the end partly because the American people were in favor of it and it was successful.
Now here we are with a totally lawless Trump who did not bother to even tell Congress until post event, and waited hours on Saturday to address the American people.
We did not fall suddenly to where we are and it seems the public has become accustomed to these types of things. Even Obama with Egypt and Libya did not have approval, which surprised me.
We need to rid ourselves of Trump and also get back to and strengthen Article I, Sec 8, Clause 11. The War Powers Act did not seem to help and I do not know what needs to be done. But one thing for sure, nation building does not work, and we have to stop it.
One has to wonder if this foolish move by Trump even considered the fact that China loaned Venezuela cash for their oil.
The difference between Hitler and Trump is Hitler wasn't a draft dodger!
On another topic:
"A new U.S. Postal Service policy...will reflect when a piece of mail is processed, not when it’s dropped off at the post office..."
" the Supreme Court is considering a case that could end “grace periods” for late-arriving ballots, which would lead to even more being thrown out on technicalities."
2026 is bringing changes that will affect our vote getting counted. Democrats and Republicans will be equally impacted. Republican-lead states, and possibly the Chief Justice will put up obstacles to make it more difficult to vote. Let's stay mindful, know the new rules and be sure you vote early so Republicans and the courts cannot find cause to dismiss your vote.
When I went to the anti war demonstration yesterday in Monterey CA I spoke to many people who had demonstrated against prior wars too- along the lines of who thought we would be doing this again? But I noticed more young people. There were several from the Gaza demonstrations in Salinas. They said they felt a lot of hostility in the more conservative agriculture town and were happy to be well received with waves and honks. There was also a young( in his 20’s) member of the local Democratic Committee who was speaking of mentors and thinking of running in the future. I just was on the edge of this conversation but it made my heart glad.
I'm curious to know what the Grifter-In-Chief anticipates to be the financial gain to him, his family, and billionaire supporters/oil companies. He never does anything if there isn't anything in it for him.
This is an enlightening article about Venezuelan oil. May be that they've bought a pig in a poke. Wikipedia: "Starting in the 19th century, this idiom was explained as a confidence trick where a farmer would substitute a cat for a suckling pig when bringing it to market."
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelan-oil-industry-worlds-largest-reserves-decaying-infrastructure-2026-01-03/
Excellent analysis, but one quibble. I do not believe an arrest warrant is necessary because there was already an indictment. There also is no question that Maduro is subject to prosecution in the US for terrorism and drug trafficking charges with intended US victims.
Here's a good article from JustSecurity.org, if no one else has posted it. https://www.justsecurity.org/127981/international-law-venezuela-maduro/
In agreement with Robert's assessment of the situation. But considering analyst, Shankar Narayan's thoughts is it fair to say the situation is a bit more involved?
Would very much like to hear what Robert and other people who have commented think about this perspective:
https://open.substack.com/pub/shankarnarayan/p/why-europe-and-canada-closed-ranks?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Thank you.
By the way, since when is it against US law for someone in a foreign country, especially the president or Prime Minister of that country, to possess machine guns? This is one of the charges in the indictment of maduro. Would someone please explain the legal rationale for that charge to even be made much less prosecuted?
They made it up?