Radiorum

Oh great, another bunch of d*ckhead men deciding what women need. Tell me, how many women were interviewed to come up with all this wisdom? Oh, but you know better than them....

This calls to mind a conversation we had in my family. The point being that Trump is not atypical - that he is very much the typical autocrat - and they litter history - the only atypical thing is that an autocrat assumed power in the USA

Machado is in a very precarious position. She understands very well that in order to work with Trump, you have to appeal to his ego. Her goal is to have the legitimate winners of the Venezuelan election take office - a goal that Trump has already dismissed. Her goal is to alleviate the poverty and repression in her home country, something that is not on Trump's plate. All he wants is access to the oil.

I use Trump's own words and actions. I don't mean to cause fear, but present reality, which Trump supporters do not live in. There are videos of Trump and Lindsey Graham in the article linked below. Listen to their own words. In the 1st video, Graham says, "You just wait for Cuba ... their days are numbered ... I hope in '26, in our backyard, we're going to have the allies in this country, doing business with America." In the 2nd video, when Trump is asked whether he would demand that Rodriquez allow opposition to return, Trump replies, "We haven't gotten to that yet. Right now what we want to do is fix the oil, fix up the country, bring the country back, then have elections." In the 4th video, when Trump is asked what he needs for Rodriquez, he answers, "Total access to the oil." "We Just Want the Oil"

For someone who has made Trump a god, you sure understand very little about him

It's a well-established fact. Where have you been? While speaking about his ambitions to rebuild Venezuelan infrastructure, which he called "old" and "rotted," Trump said he'll get the oil flowing and will sell it to several countries... Trump also said his government's involvement in Venezuela "won't cost us a penny" because the United States would be reimbursed from the "money coming out of the ground," referring to Venezuela's oil reserves. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-maduro-venezuela-strikes-9.7032572

then why do they keep saying it? Venezuela is a warning shot to the rest of the western hemisphere. Here's what Trump had to say about Greenland, Mexico and Columbia - Making clear to other nations a heavy price will be paid if one dares to stand in his way, only a day after the invasion of Venezuela, he reiterated his position on Greenland, making clear the Arctic gateway’s sovereignty too is in doubt. He stated: “We need Greenland. … It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” he said. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.” Not stopping there, he responded to criticism levied by the leaders of Mexico and Colombia, warning that their respective countries could be next, saying, “Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he’s not going to be doing it very long.” When pressed by a reporter whether those comments meant there could be an “operation” in Colombia in the future, Trump responded: “Sounds good to me.” Turning his attention to his southern neighbour, he said: “Mexico has to get their act together, because they’re pouring through Mexico, and we’re going to have to do something,” referring to drugs. Sovereignty means nothing to Trump.... Equally meaningless are land borders or even proximity (Canada). Once material advantages that benefited national and regional economies are now seen as assets to be devoured by the mightiest. Mark Carney knows this all too well. The prime minister is acutely aware that congeniality and conviviality are no match for ego, greed, and dominance. For once the threat materializes, much like Maduro, no world leader, no economic engine, no military apparatus will rear its head to stand with Canadians or Greenlanders to ward off the Trump onslaught. You make the mistake of thinking that Trump is rational in his strategies. You say that like Trump has the interests of the Venezuelan people in mind. If Trump wanted what was best for Venezuela, he would install the duly-elected democratic opposition. But in a stunning display of egocentrism, he puts his megalomaniac needs first. According to reporting from the Washington Post, Trump is not installing the legally-elected Machado because she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize instead of giving it to him - The day before, Trump had effectively dismissed the prospects of Venezuela’s democratic opposition, including Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, whose stand-in candidate, Edmundo González, won more than two-thirds of the vote in an election last year that saw Maduro refuse to leave office. “It’d be very tough for her to be the leader,” Trump said when asked about Machado on Saturday, adding that she “doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country.” […] Two people close to the White House said the president’s lack of interest in boosting Machado, despite her recent efforts to flatter Trump, stemmed from her decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, an award the president has openly coveted Although Machado ultimately said she was dedicating the award to Trump, her acceptance of the prize was an “ultimate sin,” said one of the people. “If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” this person said. You mean colony. Do you think the Venezuelan people want to be a colony of the USA?

it was Trump's press conference transcript He is going to take over Venezuela's oil industry.

That was the total objective of the operation. Get the oil. Do you in your wildest imagination think Trump as any plan about how Venezuela is now to be governed? Governance is nothing but an irritation to him. (At home, he lets Vought, Miller and Hegseth take care of that). Trump's only concern is his own self-enrichment. There is no plan for Venezuela! Here's part of the transcript from Trump's news conference showing that is true - https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-press-conference-venezuela-maduro-january-3-2026/ Question 00:35:40-00:35:49 (9 sec) No Signal (0) What is the mechanism by which you're gonna run the country. Are you gonna designate US officials to coordinate? Donald Trump 00:35:49-00:35:51 (3 sec) No StressLens Yes. Question 00:35:51-00:35:53 (2 sec) No StressLens Can you just unpack that? Donald Trump 00:35:53-00:36:05 (12 sec) Weak (1.324) It's all being, it's all being done right now. We're designating people. We're talking to people. We're designating, uh, various people, and we're gonna let you know who those people are. Question 00:36:05-00:36:13 (7 sec) No StressLens Mr. President, what's the group you mentioned that would run Venezuela? Donald Trump 00:36:13-00:36:31 (18 sec) No Signal (0.882) Well, it's largely going to be for a period of time, uh, the people that are standing right behind me. We're gonna be running it. We're gonna be bringing it back. It's a, it's a dead, you know, I talk about a dead country. A year and a half ago, we were a dead country. Now, we're the hottest country anywhere in the world. Donald Trump 00:36:31-00:36:45 (14 sec) No Signal (0.804) We're a country doing better than any country, anywhere in the world. And, uh, it required leadership. Venezuela has a lot of bad people in there, a lot of bad people that shouldn't be leading. We're not gonna take a chance that one of those people take over for Maduro. So, uh, you can look at, and, and others. Donald Trump 00:36:45-00:37:01 (16 sec) No Signal (0.972) We have fantastic people, including people in the military. So we're gonna have a group of people running it until such time as it can be put back on track, make a lot of money for the people, and give people a great way of life, and also reimbursement for people in our country that were forced out of Venezuela.

The Trump administration has no clear policy for what should come next. there is no plan in place beyond 'get the oil' "But the assumption that forcefully overthrowing the current government will lead to a smooth transition to democracy is dangerous," he said. "Venezuela is full of armed groups that would resist the regime's collapse and undermine any effort to restore the rule of law. Generals currently loyal to Maduro might install an even more repressive leader. "Without a viable strategy for what comes after the government falls, ousting Maduro could lead to even greater repression and hardship for Venezuelans." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-04/venezuela-operation-us-blatant-disregard-international-law/106197628

It's somewhat difficult to have a conversation with someone who is not living in reality. No-one disagreed that Maduro had to go. But there are ways of doing this that don't violate international law. When George W. Bush set out to invade Iraq, he brought the case for war to the United Nations and was seen as acting within the larger obligations of international law. He pushed for support from Western allies to create the impression of an international consensus. Trump prefers the United States acts like a rogue state. And, if you think he did this for the Venezuelan people, just wait and see who he really did this for.

He has targeted the work of the International Criminal Court over its investigations into war crimes in Gaza. He has betrayed Ukraine time and time again while justifying the illegal Russian invasion. He has threatened NATO allies, Canada, and Greenland. And by invading Venezuela, Trump is declaring war on the United Nations. In the case of Venezuela, Trump and his minions have made a mockery of the laws of the sea and warfare. The blockade was deemed by UN human rights experts to have no legitimacy. It was considered equal to “an armed attack” because no credible justification was given and no Security Council vote took place. Trump claimed the Venezuelans had stolen American oil – a ridiculous claim. Similar ridiculous claims were made for the boats being hunted on the high seas. These strikes represented murder on the high seas. At least 83 people were killed, including those who were deliberately targeted after their boats were destroyed. This represented clear violations of the law. Then they shifted from killing supposed drug dealers to seizing oil tankers. Some US lawmakers even suggested legalizing high-seas piracy to advance their goals. This represents a move into banditry by a nuclear-backed nation. https://charlieangus.substack.com/p/venezuela-the-lesson-for-canada Force must be the last resort, not the first. But you know Trump – shoot first, ask questions later. He requested $1 billion dollars from his oil and gas donors and promised great returns. That’s what this amounts to. We’ve got gangsters in charge – Trump, Putin, Xi Pinjing, Netanyahu – who completely disregard human rights and international law. What has happened in Venezuela puts Canada on alert.

Trump is making a deliberate attack on international law and order, undermining it every step of the way

The day after USA took Venezuela, this is what Trump said to Fox news - "We have to do it again. We can do it again, too. Nobody can stop us. There's nobody that has the capability that we have." https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTF5r13EXTR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Trump is going to use the excuse of drugs to go into other countries. Since he has captured Maduro, he has threatened Mexico, Cuba and Columbia Trump, who also had strong words for the leaders of Colombia and Cuba, said the attack on Venezuela wasn’t meant to be a warning for Mexico, but said “something’s going to have to be done” about the cartel-run country. “We’re very friendly with her, she’s a good woman,” Trump told Fox & Friends Saturday. “But the cartels are running Mexico — she’s not running Mexico.” Sheinbaum said Mexico “strongly condemns and rejects” US military action in Venezuela and urged the US to end “all acts of aggression against the Venezuelan government and people,” in a statement released Saturday. Trump also doubled down on his warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. “He has cocaine mills, he has factories where he makes cocaine. And yeah, I think I stick by my first statement: He’s making cocaine,” Trump said of Petro. “They’re sending it to the United States. So he does have to watch his ass,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago shortly after slamming Maduro as a “narco-terrorist.” The warning came weeks after Trump branded Petro a “troublemaker” and said he “better watch it.” Petro has been repeatedly posting criticisms online of the US operation in Venezuela. Trump also labeled Cuba – which relies on Venezuelan oil and furnished Maduro with security guards – and its president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, a “failing nation.” “Cuba, as you know, is not doing very well right now. That system has not been a very good one for Cuba. The people there have suffered for many, many years, and I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation right now. “It’s very similar in the sense that we want to help the people in Cuba, but we want to also help the people that were forced out of Cuba and living in this country.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a former Florida senator and Cuba hawk, called the communist Cuban regime a “disaster” run by “incompetent senile men.” https://nypost.com/2026/01/03/world-news/trump-issues-chilling-warning-to-colombia-cuba-after-us-strikes-venezuela-captures-maduro-he-does-have-to-watch-his-a/

Here are the questions to ask: Do you believe the U.S. should be able to kidnap the leaders of other sovereign countries? If this is considered acceptable, what stops other powerful nations from doing the same? What precedent does this set for international law, global stability, and civilian safety?

So clearly Putin sacrificed it for the higher purpose

Zelenksyy's comment on the news about Maduro - "Well, what can I say? ... If it's possible to deal with dictators like that, then the United States of America knows what to do next." https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTD8L_0AWJ-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

In George Orwell’s 1984, the author envisaged a world carved up between three superpowers, Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. What we find in the story: Officially the three superpowers were permanently at war, with all three constantly forming new alliances, and breaking them, and changing sides. But in reality, as Big Brother’s representative O’Brien finally explains to Winston Smith, the ostensible war was a sham. Each and all the superpowers’ leaders were interested only in power and in personal aggrandisement; and they perceived, as despots have done throughout all history, that the easy the way to keep their own unruly populations in check was to be at war, or to be seen to be at war, so that the people felt obliged to unite against a common enemy. How prescient was Orwell in describing our modern-day reality, where these three powers – Trump’s USA, Putin’s Russia, and Xi Jinping’s China – vie for power? Will they work together to carve the world up into three spheres of power and influence – three sections of colonies controlled by the three super-powers? What does Trump mean in invoking the Monroe Doctrine as a “Trump Corollary” in a pledge of “potent restoration of American power and priorities” to the Western hemisphere? What does he mean when he says, “We’re going to run the place.” Trump has stated that he wants to take over Canada and Greenland. Now, he’s got Venezuela. Who is next? According to one analysis: Trump appears unperturbed by stronger Chinese and Russian spheres of influence – as long as he has a domain to match Xi Jinping’s and Vladimir Putin’s. Does Trump want the entire Western hemisphere?

The tanker is controlled by Nigeria-based management company Thomarose Global Ventures LTD and owned by a firm linked to Artemov, The ship — known as Adisa in 2022 — is among the vessels controlled by sanctioned Russian oil magnate Viktor Artemov, the Treasury said in a statement. At the time, the Treasury said Artemov transported Iranian oil using an expansive network of ships that were often registered in obscure ways with the intention of skirting U.S. restrictions on Iranian petroleum exports. *** It didn't cost Putin a thing.

This is a copy of something I posted in the Maduro thread, that might provide some insight in this thread. Trump’s support of Putin and Russia is starting to make sense. Trump would give Ukraine to Putin, and in return Putin would give Venezuela to Trump. Venezuela is Russia's most important trading and military ally in Latin America. Russia recognized Nicolás Maduro as the president of Venezuela, instead of Juan Guaidó This was a case of “You keep out of my face, I’ll keep out of yours.” Putin gets his prize in Europe, and Trump gets trillions of dollars in oil. You think it is a coincidence that Trump sent warships into the Caribbean one day after his meeting with Putin in Anchorage? According to the Congressional testimony in 2019 of Fiona Hill, this kind of deal was on the table during the first Trump Administration

According to the Congressional testimony in 2019 of Fiona Hill, this kind of deal was on the table during the first Trump Administration So much for Trump's bold claim that the Ukraine-Russia war would have never happened on his watch.

I couldn't find anything substantiating this. What I did find was Venezuelan tankers under Russian protection Can you please provide your source?

Trump’s support of Putin and Russia is starting to make sense. Trump would give Ukraine to Putin, and in return Putin would give Venezuela to Trump. Venezuela is Russia's most important trading and military ally in Latin America. Russia recognized Nicolás Maduro as the president of Venezuela, instead of Juan Guaidó This was a case of “You keep out of my face, I’ll keep out of yours.” Putin gets his prize in Europe, and Trump gets trillions of dollars in oil. You think it is a coincidence that Trump sent warships into the Caribbean one day after his meeting with Putin in Anchorage?

Trump did not only pursue legal channels. Trump refused to return the boxes of documents.