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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| 'Venezuela to stage war games in warning to Trump |
| 2017-08-26 |
| Ooooooh! How ya gonna pay and feed them, Nick, ya tool? Venezuela kicks off two days of military drills on Saturday in response to US President Donald Trump's threat of military action and newly announced sanctions on the crisis-stricken nation. Trump warned on August 11 that the United States was mulling a range of options against Venezuela, "including a possible military option if necessary." His Vice President Mike Pence later played down the threat, insisting that Washington was prioritizing a diplomatic solution and economic sanctions. National security advisor HR McMaster followed suit, saying "no military actions are anticipated in the near future." But tension only surged again when the White House made good on the sanctions threat on Friday, unveiling its first-ever sanctions to target Venezuela as a whole, rather than just Maduro and his inner circle. |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #11 Well, at least it won't be food fight. |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2017-08-26 23:07 |
| #10 Dunno Rob, but I would guess a fair bit. Most likely when the money started drying up they didn't use their stuff much, but I would bet most of it runs at this point. Trained crews and pilots... not so much. Give it another couple years and they will have half their equipment on the boneyard to be cannibalized for what works. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2017-08-26 16:50 |
| #9 and maybe be just stupid enough to board a US-flag ship. The traditional way for a South American socialist economic collapse to end is the national army revolts and resets the board. Barring that, Venezuela's next best hope is to try running "The Mouse That Roared". |
| Posted by: SteveS 2017-08-26 15:39 |
| #8 Darth -- how much of that is still running? |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2017-08-26 15:05 |
| #7 I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them start harassing shipping, and maybe be just stupid enough to board a US-flag ship. We still have any US flag ships? |
| Posted by: Seeking cure for ignorance 2017-08-26 14:07 |
| #6 Mike they actually do have some good military tech. Bought during the oil haydays in the late 90s. They have Mig-29s, SU-30MKVs, T-72s, a couple subs and a few Italian built frigates. They do have a large paramilitary force as well to keep the civies in line, but also a large (for the region) military force. It would take at least one US Corps, couple air assault divisions and at least to carrier groups to take down Venezuela. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2017-08-26 13:38 |
| #5 ...The Army there is pretty much what Jim Dunnigan calls a 'police army' - far more dangerous (and intended to be used against) their own population, and not much danger to anyone outside walking distance. However... *The Venezuelans have had a h@rdon for decades about the nearby Dutch Caribbean colonies - it's very much a potential Falklands, especially as the Dutch have a very small force defending the place. *I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them start harassing shipping, and maybe be just stupid enough to board a US-flag ship. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2017-08-26 12:04 |
| #4 I'm sure someone will be willing to support them to get at the U.S. (ak Great Satan) by proxy. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2017-08-26 11:50 |
| #3 They seem to be going down the path the NorKs took. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2017-08-26 11:50 |
| #2 What are they gonna do? Row in unison and fire slingshot broadsides until they use up the rest of their budget? |
| Posted by: gorb 2017-08-26 11:40 |
| #1 Hey Julio, el Presidente has ordered War Games. Does he mean the movie or should I get Stratego down out of the closet? |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2017-08-26 11:10 |