Trump is as bent as it comes

[John Stone]

............deploying the Nat Guard to major U.S. cities has about as much to do with crime control as the fast boat attacks have with eliminating drugs into the U.S. 

The Nat Guard is an attempt to normalize the 'look'. 

The swift boat attacks is an attempt at regime change.  

......... I'll be candid ....... I am curious how well Venezuela layered air defense will function if it's deployed.  No one is sure what depth  the criminal element is integrated with the Venez Gov in terms of weapons - that said the ability to track and engage a ground attack with man pad has to be a concern.

Very interesting times. . 

 

This (now) SA offense is like a house of card - all Maduro needs is one shoot down for the the U.S. strategy to collapse ........ and the repercussions would be politically, catastrophic. 

Edited December 3, 2025 by John Stone

[Nationalist]

1 hour ago, John Stone said:

............deploying the Nat Guard to major U.S. cities has about as much to do with crime control as the fast boat attacks have with eliminating drugs into the U.S. 

The Nat Guard is an attempt to normalize the 'look'. 

The swift boat attacks is an attempt at regime change.  

......... I'll be candid ....... I am curious how well Venezuela layered air defense will function if it's deployed.  No one is sure what depth  the criminal element is integrated with the Venez Gov in terms of weapons - that said the ability to track and engage a ground attack with man pad has to be a concern.

Very interesting times. . 

 

This (now) SA offense is like a house of card - all Maduro needs is one shoot down for the the U.S. strategy to collapse ........ and the repercussions would be politically, catastrophic. 

Hmmm...interesting take.

I think having a National Guard presence in cities is a good idea right now. The unfortunate fact is, crime is out of control in these cities. Illegals, weak judgements, sanctuary, all contributing to the rot making cities dangerous. 

 

As for Venezuela, I'm no fan of regime change. But if what's happening reduces the drug problems, then i can deal with it. Maduro is not the elected leader of Venezuela. He has imposed a military dictatorship that is clearly not what their electorate voted for.

Is that any of the USA's bee's-wax? After all the illegals from there and all the drugs...yes...it is now.

But I have an ulterior motive for supporting this military action. I'd rather have the USA fighting with Maduro, than with Putin. Its much safer for the global population and I dont think the USA can fund The Green T-Shirt and fight Maduro.

[Venandi]

There are currently some 8 cartels that are designated as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).

Some (maybe most for all I know) were designated under Trump, however, some of them were also reaffirmed under the Biden administration so in fairness, it's not just "a Trump thing."

The finer points of the law on engaging confirmed terrorists and their integral assets isn't something I have time to research, but logically, if other terrorist infrastructure and assets qualify as targets, why not fast moving mule boats headed to RV points to offload cargo destined for the US? 

I'm not advocating for or against anything BTW, I just think it's a legitimate question. As it stands now, POTUS can authorize strikes against FTOs without congressional approval for self defence, national security reasons or if an emergency is deemed to exist. 

Seems to me that any JAG argument against the strikes would have to clearly establish that the assets and products of those cartels didn't meet that criteria (above) and/or their status as FTOs was invalid.

 

 

 

Edited December 3, 2025 by Venandi

[Legato]

 

[John Stone]

If I was a betting man I'd bet that the U.S. will never be at war with Russia, China nor NK.........  this generation. 

To play the game properly and with strategic skill   you have to think 10-15  years downstream.  

Ur grandkids will be fighting that dustup - 

The West is on a collision course.............. history repeats. 

[robosmith]

2 hours ago, Venandi said:

There are currently some 8 cartels that are designated as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).

Some (maybe most for all I know) were designated under Trump, however, some of them were also reaffirmed under the Biden administration so in fairness, it's not just "a Trump thing."

The finer points of the law on engaging confirmed terrorists and their integral assets isn't something I have time to research, but logically, if other terrorist infrastructure and assets qualify as targets, why not fast moving mule boats headed to RV points to offload cargo destined for the US? 

I'm not advocating for or against anything BTW, I just think it's a legitimate question. As it stands now, POTUS can authorize strikes against FTOs without congressional approval for self defence, national security reasons or if an emergency is deemed to exist. 

Seems to me that any JAG argument against the strikes would have to clearly establish that the assets and products of those cartels didn't meet that criteria (above) and/or their status as FTOs was invalid.

You're WRONG.

Quote

President Biden did not name cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) during his administration. The FTO designation of specific international cartels was executed by the Trump administration in February 2025, following an executive order issued in January of the same year. 

 

[Venandi]

Biden didn't remove any of the existing cartels from the FTO list.

In effect they were

7 hours ago, Venandi said:

reaffirmed under the Biden administration...

and as far as I know, they remain unchanged and in effect to this day. 

As I've said before, the legal aspects aren't my forte. As I see it, the issue is FTO designation and the authority any POTUS to engage under the (3) caveats he has jurisdiction over. 

Not my problem... you decide.

 

Edited December 4, 2025 by Venandi

[robosmith]

5 minutes ago, Venandi said:

Biden didn't remove any of the existing cartels from the FTO list.

In effect they were

and as far as I know, they remain unchanged and in effect to this day. 

 

But you have ZERO evidence for your AFAIK because you didn't even look for ANY.

[Venandi]

Your own reference lists 8 cartels that your country designated as FTOs.

These FTOs have tentacles, proxies, associates and partners... any one of which probably qualifies it as a target because of that association... your POTUS has 3 caveats for engagement without congressional approval. Cool eh?

I have no dog in the fight...

1 hour ago, Venandi said:

Not my problem...

You figure it out...

Edited December 4, 2025 by Venandi

[gatomontes99]

12 hours ago, John Stone said:

............deploying the Nat Guard to major U.S. cities has about as much to do with crime control as the fast boat attacks have with eliminating drugs into the U.S. 

So...everything?

12 hours ago, John Stone said:

The Nat Guard is an attempt to normalize the 'look'. 

The "look" of crime free streets?

12 hours ago, John Stone said:

The swift boat attacks is an attempt at regime change.  

...of the guy that lost an election and arrested his rival so he could keep his international drug ring alive? You are against replacing him? 

[Radiorum]

He's pardoning all the crooked people because he wants the crooked people indebted to him.

[John Stone]

7 hours ago, gatomontes99 said:

So...everything?

The "look" of crime free streets?

...of the guy that lost an election and arrested his rival so he could keep his international drug ring alive? You are against replacing him? 

............ look, it is incredibly naive to believe that the National Guard will have any long term effect on crime in any U.S. city they  are deployed to? 

Maduro - it is not so much I'm against the idea of the people of Venezuela replacing Maduro - it is the idea that people are pissing down my back and telling me it's raining? The swift-boat attack strategy (drugs) is running out of steam - largely due to the SecDef (SecWar)??

 

[Nationalist]

9 hours ago, Radiorum said:

He's pardoning all the crooked people because he wants the crooked people indebted to him.

Thank you for barking out the opinion of your wife.

*giggle*

[gatomontes99]

4 hours ago, John Stone said:

............ look, it is incredibly naive to believe that the National Guard will have any long term effect on crime in any U.S. city they  are deployed to? 

Are you asking me or telling me? 

The NG can and has effected change. Their assistance has led to staggering improvements. These surges work. As far as the future is concerned, that is up to the local police. But, saying the local police won't keep it that way is like saying you won't clean the toilet because you'll just dirty it again. Cleaned up streets are easier to maintain and they prevent crime right now. It is a win/win. 

4 hours ago, John Stone said:

Maduro - it is not so much I'm against the idea of the people of Venezuela replacing Maduro - it is the idea that people are pissing down my back and telling me it's raining? The swift-boat attack strategy (drugs) is running out of steam - largely due to the SecDef (SecWar)??

The people of Venezuela tried to replace Maduro. He pulled a Biden. 

The drug boat strategy is working because trafficking is down over 90%. And yes, that is because of Hegseth. 

[robosmith]

19 hours ago, Venandi said:

Your own reference lists 8 cartels that your country designated as FTOs.

These FTOs have tentacles, proxies, associates and partners... any one of which probably qualifies it as a target because of that association... your POTUS has 3 caveats for engagement without congressional approval. Cool eh?

I have no dog in the fight...

You figure it out...

IOW, ZERO congressional involvement == NOT LEGAL, just like Biden's student loan rescission which died when challenged in  court.

15 hours ago, Radiorum said:

He's pardoning all the crooked people because he wants the crooked people indebted to him.

Like the J6 perpetrators who are now Trump's private Army. 🤮

[robosmith]

6 hours ago, Nationalist said:

Thank you for barking out the opinion of your wife.

*giggle*

Just because ^this is what you do, doesn't mean anyone else does it.

[Radiorum]

6 hours ago, gatomontes99 said:

The drug boat strategy is working because trafficking is down over 90%.

False. Provide your source.

But I will give you a verified statistic - in 2023 (when Biden was president) Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) seized 850% more fentanyl than they did in 2019 (when Trump was president)

The boat strategy would be funny if it did not involve murder. The guys who Trump and Hegseth are blowing up are merely mules making a few bucks. You want to make a dent in trafficking, you gotta hit the kingpins. But instead what Trump does, is he pardons the big guys, like Hernandez. Make it make sense.

 

[User]

1 hour ago, Radiorum said:

But I will give you a verified statistic - in 2023 (when Biden was president) Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) seized 850% more fentanyl than they did in 2019 (when Trump was president)

The stupidity of providing statistics like this without any context is very damning for you.

Do you need me to explain to you why? 

Edited December 4, 2025 by User

[Radiorum]

2 minutes ago, User said:

The stupidity of providing statistics like this without any context is very damning for you.

Do you need me to explain to you why? 

 

if you have a point to make, just make it. Quit being self-righteous. 

[User]

1 minute ago, Radiorum said:

 

if you have a point to make, just make it. Quit being self-righteous. 

LOL, just seeing if you are honest enough to admit what you did here.

I guess not. 

[gatomontes99]

7 hours ago, Radiorum said:

False. Provide your source.

But I will give you a verified statistic - in 2023 (when Biden was president) Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) seized 850% more fentanyl than they did in 2019 (when Trump was president)

The boat strategy would be funny if it did not involve murder. The guys who Trump and Hegseth are blowing up are merely mules making a few bucks. You want to make a dent in trafficking, you gotta hit the kingpins. But instead what Trump does, is he pardons the big guys, like Hernandez. Make it make sense.

 

SecWar is my source. Got someone that knows more? 

[John Stone]

On 12/3/2025 at 11:54 AM, Nationalist said:

Hmmm...interesting take.

I think having a National Guard presence in cities is a good idea right now. The unfortunate fact is, crime is out of control in these cities. Illegals, weak judgements, sanctuary, all contributing to the rot making cities dangerous. 

 

As for Venezuela, I'm no fan of regime change. But if what's happening reduces the drug problems, then i can deal with it. Maduro is not the elected leader of Venezuela. He has imposed a military dictatorship that is clearly not what their electorate voted for.

Is that any of the USA's bee's-wax? After all the illegals from there and all the drugs...yes...it is now.

But I have an ulterior motive for supporting this military action. I'd rather have the USA fighting with Maduro, than with Putin. Its much safer for the global population and I dont think the USA can fund The Green T-Shirt and fight Maduro.

........... compared to .............

[Nationalist]

5 hours ago, John Stone said:

........... compared to .............

Exactly.