US Intervention in Venezuela

There was talk on the TV news tonight about the need for the United States to intervene militarily in Venezuela.  While it is true that the Venezuelan people are suffering, that Nicolás Maduro Moros is a brutal dictator, that the Cubans are propping Maduro up, and that the Russian Republic and Hamas are using the crisis in Venezuela to get a permanent base of operations in the Western Hemisphere, I am against US military intervention there.

There is no consensus among Venezuela’s neighbors supporting a unilateral American military action there.  Even more, there has been no offer of troops or financial support from Venezuela’s more conservative neighbors; countries like Brazil, Argentina, or Columbia.

Tensions between the US and Russia are already high, and Vladimir Putin has done some saber rattling about his willingness to replay the Cuban missile crisis.  If that is what is necessary to prevent further Russian intrusion into Latin America … fine.  However, let’s not go there unless we have to.  We were one misstep away from a nuclear holocaust the last time.  Next time humanity might not be so lucky.

To me, an even more serious concern is whether our troops would have the full and unconditional support of the US Congress if we send them into Venezuela.  Today, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution to deny President Trump National Emergency Funds to build a wall on the border with Mexico.  They did it in spite of the fact that the United States is being invaded along that border.  They set aside the national security of the country because they oppose President Trump.  Indications are that the US Senate will approve the resolution.  In this kind of political atmosphere, there is no reason to believe that Congress would not undermine any military effort we might undertake in Venezuela.  They threw away the sacrifice of over 50,000 Americans killed in action in Viet Nam, and the bloodsucking parasites will do it again.

Although Hamas has infiltrated the Venezuelan refugees making their way here through Central America and Mexico, the United States has not been directly attacked militarily.  If President Trump chooses to send troops to assuage the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis (to get rid of Maduro), he should seek congressional approval.  Troops should not be sent unless Congress nearly unanimously approves it, and unless the wording includes language to the effect that the president is authorized to do whatever it takes to resolve the matter in our favor and ensure that the people of Venezuela can freely elect whomever they chose to lead them.

Whatever it takes would have to include kicking the Cubans out. We must also make it impossible for the Russians and Hamas to conduct operations there.  Whatever it takes means using whatever level of force is needed to do that; with the understanding that it could result in an escalation of hostilities beyond the scope of the current crisis.

US military intervention must only take place at the request of the interim Venezuelan government. It would be best if we can also enlist the cooperation of Venezuela’s neighbors.  The UN is useless, and we do not need them.

Here is what I vehemently oppose.  I never again want to see American service men and women get shot at unless the US Government and people are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES resolve the situation in their favor.  I am sick of half-baked schemes that cost the lives of our military personnel for nothing.  I don’t want to hear a lot of crap about rules of engagement.  I want our troops to be free to find, fix, close with and destroy the enemy ... and then to get out.  I don’t want any more lingering involvements as “peacekeepers” or “nation builders.”  The deterrent we leave behind after we clean up somebody-else’s mess should be, “Screw it up again and we will be back.  Then it will go even worse for you.”

Only under the above conditions would I reluctantly agree to a US military intervention in Venezuela.