Say you're living in a failed state

[Felya]

Venezuela used to be filthy rich. The socialists ran the country into the ground.

Socialism doesn’t cause a dictator to steal all of the country’s wealth. That’s authoritarianism... socialism had nothing to do with Venezuela, since the exact same thing would happen under capitalism, if the authoritarians chose to take their profits.

- - - Updated - - -

I think that's a myth.

Invading costs huge amounts of money. If you were to take that money and bought oil with it, you'd have oil for decades.

Trump campaigned on bombing the shit out of them and giving their oil to Exxon. Trump’s original Secretary of State was a former Exxon CEO. The fact that US produced the most oil is irrelevant, since greed has no limits.

[Independent voter]

Trump campaigned on bombing the shit out of them and giving their oil to Exxon. Trump’s original Secretary of State was a former Exxon CEO. The fact that US produced the most oil is irrelevant, since greed has no limits.

First time I've heard about that. Trump was big on staying out of military entanglements and bring the troops home.

[Breccia]

Would you mind terribly if someone were to send in the marines and stabilize your country for a few months?

Invading another country is not the first move. There are plenty of other options, including the UN, that should be explored first.

If the leader of the country invites the help, that's different.

- - - Updated - - -

Trump was big on staying out of military entanglements and bring the troops home.

And you believed him?

[jeezusisacasual]

Are you serious? America is the number one producer of oil in the world, beating out Saudi Arabia and Russia. Why would we invade over oil?

Then only push sanctions against their oil production to avoid harming the citizenry. Pushing allies to stop the inflows of Medical supplies. This is mostly due to them not allowing outside influence over their most prosperous national asset. Sancations are economic warfare plain and simple, its to cause the nation to destabilize. But also because China wants to use Venezuela as a port of entry to North/South America. That is the real threat here and will continue to be and we all know that if Human rights was the thing then there are far worse Central American / South American nations they would be spreading freedom to.

[DocSavageFan]

<snip>

General Chavez, the guy who founded the socialist regime, his daughter is worth $3 billion dollars. That could buy a lot of medicine. Why isn't she buying medicine? How about all the corrupt generals with their billions, why aren't they buying medicine?

Again, sanctions are the last step before invading.

Under socialism...all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. I remember when liberals openly fawned over Chavez...until reality popped their ideological bubble that is.

[draynay]

Would you mind terribly if someone were to send in the marines and stabilize your country for a few months?

Ask Somalia what happens once the marines leave.

[Wyrt]

You're hungry all the time. The water system has failed so you have to get your water out of the river and it needs to be boiled, but there's no electricity or gas so you use a wood fire. The police no longer function so you get robbed and your women get raped. Run away inflation has made your money worthless. Millions of your countrymen have fled the country and are now refugees in neighboring countries. If you try to protest, pro-regime thugs beat and kill you.

Would you mind terribly if someone were to send in the marines and stabilize your country for a few months?

Historically it's been the opposite. The US is generally the one to cause societal breakdown and dictatorships in foreign countries. Either through direct military conflict, sanctions, or support for terrorists.

I think South Korea is the 1 exception where US involvement didn't make things worse.

[Independent voter]

Historically it's been the opposite. The US is generally the one to cause societal breakdown and dictatorships in foreign countries. Either through direct military conflict, sanctions, or support for terrorists.

I think South Korea is the 1 exception where US involvement didn't make things worse.

Germany, South Korea, Japan.

A lot of the places we intervened in where horrible places to start and we left them stabilized. It's not our fault they remained horrible places.

[Wyrt]

Germany, South Korea, Japan.

A lot of the places we intervened in where horrible places to start and we left them stabilized. It's not our fault they remained horrible places.

A lot of places we intervened in were democracies and we overthrew the democracy and installed a dictator.

[Jastall]

Would you mind terribly if someone were to send in the marines and stabilize your country for a few months?

When was the last time this ever worked, exactly?

[Orange Joe]

First time I've heard about that. Trump was big on staying out of military entanglements and bring the troops home.

You are joking right? He has been wanting a war with Iran from the start.

[Ghostpanther]

Under socialism...all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. I remember when liberals openly fawned over Chavez...until reality popped their ideological bubble that is.

So true. The US Cubans are pretty strong against socialism because it hits them where their roots are. This is one of the reasons why the Republicans did well in the last election in Florida. Winning both a Senator and Governor races.

[Independent voter]

A lot of places we intervened in were democracies and we overthrew the democracy and installed a dictator.

A lot would be what? 7? Name 7 places where we installed a dictator. I can think of 2.

Another positive case is Panama. General Manuel Noriega staged a coup and overthrew the democratically elected Panamanian government. Since the Panama Canal was involved we invaded and arrested him, and restored the democracry.

[Wyrt]

A lot would be what? 7? Name 7 places where we installed a dictator. I can think of 2.

Another positive case is Panama. General Manuel Noriega staged a coup and overthrew the democratically elected Panamanian government. Since the Panama Canal was involved we invaded and arrested him, and restored the democracry.

Chile, Honduras, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria, Guatemala, and Brazil. There's 7 for you. There are more.

[Adam Jensen]

Not at all. And it is what should be done to stop such. Marshall law can be the correct solution in some cases.

Worked out every single time it's been done.

And by "worked out" I mean "failed miserably."

Mogudishu comes to mind.

[Independent voter]

Chile, Honduras, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria, Guatemala, and Brazil. There's 7 for you. There are more.

Syria? How do you figure Syria?

We didn't want Chile or Brazil to become another Cuba and fall under the Soviet influence.


Iran is interesting because Eisenhower changed his mind and sent orders to our operative, it was only 1 guy, in Iran to stop. But all communications passed through the British and they didn't relay the message. Why? Because Britain owned the oil fields in Iran. It wanted the current leader out because he wanted to nationalize the oil wells. The British company that ran the Iranian oil fields? BP.

[Calfredd]

Syria? How do you figure Syria?

We didn't want Chile or Brazil to become another Cuba and fall under the Soviet influence

Considering how they are now, maybe the Soviets would have been the better option.

[Ghostpanther]

Worked out every single time it's been done.

And by "worked out" I mean "failed miserably."

Mogudishu comes to mind.

Not familiar with that case. But I am of the Civil War here in the states. We sent hundreds of thousands of troops to restore lawful order/laws on several states.

[Wyrt]

Syria? How do you figure Syria?

We didn't want Chile or Brazil to become another Cuba and fall under the Soviet influence.


Iran is interesting because Eisenhower changed his mind and sent orders to our operative, it was only 1 guy, in Iran to stop. But all communications passed through the British and they didn't relay the message. Why? Because Britain owned the oil fields in Iran. It wanted the current leader out because he wanted to nationalize the oil wells. The British company that ran the Iranian oil fields? BP.

1949 in Syria, then some failed coup attempts in the 1950s.

[Independent voter]

1949 in Syria, then some failed coup attempts in the 1950s.

So why are you still an American citizen if you hate us that much? Why haven't you immigrated?

You're a Bernie guy aren't you?