Understanding the US - Again

[S_Madhukar]

Looking at Vlad residences being struck, at what point will our Vlad be the target. Since Grump is unwilling to concede is he still going to act Nobel or will he be the ultimate dirty ? Uncle Eleven gets no such special attention only New Year gifts ? To an extent we are ready to be equally dirty as seen in BD but trying to see how many fires will Grump light before he calls it quits

[drnayar]

Looking at Vlad residences being struck, at what point will our Vlad be the target. Since Grump is unwilling to concede is he still going to act Nobel or will he be the ultimate dirty ? Uncle Eleven gets no such special attention only New Year gifts ? To an extent we are ready to be equally dirty as seen in BD but trying to see how many fires will Grump light before he calls it quits

Grump wants Nobel. He will use military/sanctions to threaten. And use CIA to do actual dirty job of regime change.

[Tanaji]

Speaking of peace Nobel, orange man has just invaded Venezuela. American Chinook choppers are flying over the capital.

How is this any different than Putin invading Ukraine?

[ricky_v]

The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrum ... 767897167

there's a simple way to ensure that this does not happen to You, unprincipled leader... simply ensure that you sign over the mineral / farming rights of your country away to designated organisations

is this the beginning of the great carving?? this time, our leaders must not be guided by mawkish sentiments and bhaichara, grab however much land you feel necessary for the future and requirements.. the global rules based order is a mute spectator

[Tanaji]

The rules based order really never existed: it was rules for the world so that there could be order for the West.

[drnayar]

The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrum ... 767897167

there's a simple way to ensure that this does not happen to You, unprincipled leader... simply ensure that you sign over the mineral / farming rights of your country away to designated organisations

is this the beginning of the great carving?? this time, our leaders must not be guided by mawkish sentiments and bhaichara, grab however much land you feel necessary for the future and requirements.. the global rules based order is a mute spectator

Russia and other countries should be ready to use their tactical nukes. Now if Venezuela had a few...

[SRajesh]

^^^All sorts of rumours flying around!!
But as usual OM will claim huge victory.
Eyeran Ayotulla maybe having some sleepless nights
Following all those colourful Spring Regimes changes in Arab and certain Non-Arab world, Unkil now thinking of Direct Action Days!!

[uddu]

https://x.com/RShivshankar/status/20073 ... hivshankar
Chaos in Venezuela after President Maduro has been captured (abducted) by U.S. forces. Regime change by Trump administration in the works. Chilling to think that there is an ecosystem here in India that is welcoming U.S. Lawmakers meddling in India's internal affairs.

[drnayar]

https://x.com/RShivshankar/status/20073 ... hivshankar
Chaos in Venezuela after President Maduro has been captured (abducted) by U.S. forces. Regime change by Trump administration in the works. Chilling to think that there is an ecosystem here in India that is welcoming U.S. Lawmakers meddling in India's internal affairs.

The capital defences need to be fortified and any sort of "farmer protests" culled in the very beginning. Now without the lure of H1B the babudom needs to think how earnestly they can nation build ! Every country has its share of jaichands willing to sell out their mother land and their children's futures. Indians do not have any serious long term alternatives other than their own country.Always wise to keep that in mind.

[drnayar]

^^^All sorts of rumours flying around!!
But as usual OM will claim huge victory.
Eyeran Ayotulla maybe having some sleepless nights
Following all those colourful Spring Regimes changes in Arab and certain Non-Arab world, Unkil now thinking of Direct Action Days!!

Well that applies to less technologically advanced smaller countries [ after venezuela, next likely in Africa ] ., for big countries there is always sanctions [ india ] and CIA operations for regime change [ going on in Russia ]

[uddu]

https://x.com/ARanganathan72/status/2007399034726867337
@ARanganathan72
BREAKING: The United States Geological Survey announces the discovery of massive oil reserves in Pakistan’s Sulaiman Fold-Thrust Belt to the tune of 340 billion barrels, making it pip Venezuela’s 303 billion barrels.

[drnayar]

^^^All sorts of rumours flying around!!
But as usual OM will claim huge victory.
Eyeran Ayotulla maybe having some sleepless nights
Following all those colourful Spring Regimes changes in Arab and certain Non-Arab world, Unkil now thinking of Direct Action Days!!

Iran is likely to go nuclear asap !

[drnayar]

https://x.com/ARanganathan72/status/2007399034726867337
@ARanganathan72
BREAKING: The United States Geological Survey announces the discovery of massive oil reserves in Pakistan’s Sulaiman Fold-Thrust Belt to the tune of 340 billion barrels, making it pip Venezuela’s 303 billion barrels.

like this comment " At this rate of 'discoveries,' by next week they’ll find a hidden vibranium mine in Lahore and a portal to Wakanda."

[chanakyaa]

Seeing some social media videos/photos of some bombs dropped in Caracas and helicopter flying. Venezuela may not be big in terms of armed forces, but it is not a small country either. Few hundred soldiers of a foreign country can’t simply walk over to the presidential palace and arrest the president of the country. Unless, unless lots and lots of $$s have been supplied/moved in advance to buy opposition, armed forces, judiciary etc. where are the armed forces? Are they simply asked/warned in advance to stay on the sideline just like in Syria? A negotiated exit?

[SRajesh]

Some channels quoting 'negotiated surrender'
Dont know that means
Maybe a euphemism for: sell out by the Army!! or Second string leadership.
All depends on what happens in the next 48-72 hrs!!
Will the Chief of Army and the Defence Minister agree for a peaceful transition of power and hold elections??
Will the Nobel lady be allowed to stand for elections and win!!
And lastly what happens to all that Venezualan Black Gold, meaning who controls the output and the sales??
And will it really improve the lives of 30 million.
And some anal cysts are claiming that this unilateral US actions smacks of : Onward Christian Soldier theme and OM has unleashed regime change to save all them Xtian Souls!!
EU is now caught in the headlights . How will they react??
And what is the message to Zelensky the Clown and the rest of EU??
And what happens to the Pukraine Peace Plan!!!
And lastly any spill over to Eyeran and MiddleEast
Bibi I am sure will be watching with interest.

[wig]

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/ve ... CBS%20News

Maduro captured by Army's Delta Force, sources say
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured early Saturday morning by members of Delta Force, the U.S. military's top special mission unit, U.S. officials told CBS News.

[uddu]

https://x.com/HindolSengupta/status/2007393838537830538
@HindolSengupta
Venezuela is a lesson for the rest of the world. Just in case anybody had forgotten what the world is all about. Anyone who gives lectures on pacifism and ‘Gandhigiri’ etc in India should look and learn.

[A_Gupta]

https://x.com/ARanganathan72/status/2007399034726867337
@ARanganathan72
BREAKING: The United States Geological Survey announces the discovery of massive oil reserves in Pakistan’s Sulaiman Fold-Thrust Belt to the tune of 340 billion barrels, making it pip Venezuela’s 303 billion barrels.

Regime change to follow?

[vijayk]

https://x.com/ARanganathan72/status/2007399034726867337
@ARanganathan72
BREAKING: The United States Geological Survey announces the discovery of massive oil reserves in Pakistan’s Sulaiman Fold-Thrust Belt to the tune of 340 billion barrels, making it pip Venezuela’s 303 billion barrels.

Regime change to follow?

This is just a prank

[A_Gupta]

Mexico "strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by the armed forces of the United States of America against targets on the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

[A_Gupta]

Condemnations: Spain, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Cuba, Iran, Russia, France
Liberty advances: Argentina
Concern: European Union

[drnayar]

i suppose now Putin is free to lob a tactical nuke on top of baniansky !!

[A_Gupta]

CPI-M:

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Stop US Aggression on Venezuela

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the blatant act of U.S. aggression on Venezuela by bombing various sites in the country.

For the last few weeks the U.S. has mobilised its military and naval forces around Venezuela in order to enforce regime change. This is the real face of the U.S. National Security Strategy 2025, announced in the first week of December 2025. The concentration of U.S. forces in the Western Hemisphere and open declaration of its intent to bring the entire region under its control represent the Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

The CPI(M) demands an immediate end to U.S. aggression and withdrawal of all its troops from the Caribbean Sea. Latin America should be declared a zone of peace and the U.S. should not be allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign countries.

The UN Security Council should pass a Resolution condemning the U.S. aggression. International pressure must be mounted on the U.S. to immediately stop its aggression on Venezuela.

[chetak]

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/ve ... CBS%20News

Maduro captured by Army's Delta Force, sources say
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured early Saturday morning by members of Delta Force, the U.S. military's top special mission unit, U.S. officials told CBS News.

Wig saab,


no caption required

[A_Gupta]

It is the oil, as expected.

US is going to be strongly involved in Venezuela's oil industry, says Trump
https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026 ... says-trump

The United States is going to be "very strongly involved" in Venezuela's oil industry in the wake of the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump told Fox News on Saturday.

"We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest, the greatest, and we're going to be very much involved in it," he said. — REUTERS

[vera_k]

i suppose now Putin is free to lob a tactical nuke on top of baniansky !!

Putin tried to capture the Ukraine leadership early on via that drive to Kiev in 2022. The current situation is because that failed.

Ukraine and Venezuela look to be similarly sized countries in terms of population. The US could get bogged down in a war here if the Venezuelan regime gets external support.

[drnayar]

CIA source inside Maduro's government aided US operation

A CIA source within Venezuela’s government assisted the United States in tracking Nicolás Maduro’s location ahead of his capture, CBS News reported.

The involvement of the source was first disclosed by The New York Times. According to the report, the human source was part of a broader intelligence effort that also relied on overhead surveillance and signals intelligence. The operation followed months of detailed planning and coordination between the CIA and the US department of defense.

CIA director John Ratcliffe has previously said the agency would place a renewed focus on recruiting human intelligence sources, though it remains unclear when this particular source was recruited. The US government has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wor ... 319848.cms

[pravula]

It is the oil, as expected.

US is going to be strongly involved in Venezuela's oil industry, says Trump
https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026 ... says-trump

The United States is going to be "very strongly involved" in Venezuela's oil industry in the wake of the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump told Fox News on Saturday.

"We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest, the greatest, and we're going to be very much involved in it," he said. — REUTERS

It opens up options for US imho. Decouple RU and EU by using Venezuela's oil or/and Iran's next even if Iraq's oil export is impacted.

[SRajesh]

Listening to OM and Rubio:
It was an operation to extradite persons indicted by US law courts
Congress not informed because it leaks : this is OM’d words live press conference
Wow so henceforth US army can SERVE AND ENFORCE US court subpoenas and indictments
Welcome to Orangeverse!!

[SRajesh]

I think there will subpoenas for Indian Ministers in due course and noise raised for Venezuela type extradition!!

[A_Gupta]

AI tells me: "Indian refineries are technically equipped for Venezuelan heavy crude, making it a desirable, cost-effective, and strategically important option when trade conditions permit.....Indian refineries, especially complex ones like Jamnagar (RIL), Paradip, and IOCL's facilities, are well-suited to process Venezuela's heavy, dense crude, which offers higher refining margins, leading to significant imports when sanctions ease, with players like IOCL, HPCL-Mittal Energy, and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) actively seeking it, despite geopolitical risks."

AI also tells me: U.S. refineries, particularly complex ones along the Gulf Coast, the Midwest, and in California, are designed to process heavy, sour Venezuelan crude, with key examples being Citgo's refineries (Corpus Christi, Lake Charles, Lemont) and facilities run by companies like Chevron, Valero, and PBF Energy, which benefit greatly from this compatible, dense oil. These specialized refineries are built for the exact type of crude Venezuela produces, making it an ideal, efficient feed for their operations, though sanctions have historically limited this flow.

[A_Gupta]

Listening to OM and Rubio:
It was an operation to extradite persons indicted by US law courts
Congress not informed because it leaks : this is OM’d words live press conference
Wow so henceforth US army can SERVE AND ENFORCE US court subpoenas and indictments
Welcome to Orangeverse!!

The law is ambiguous, and in any case, there is no US or international authority that can stymie OM.

In the Case Concerning the Arrest Warrant of 11 April 2000 (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Belgium) [2002] ICJ 1, the ICJ reaffirmed the principle of immunity of the head of state and other high officials. The Court stated: ‘in international law it is firmly established that […] certain holders of high-ranking offices, such as the head of state, head of government and minister of foreign affairs, enjoy immunities from jurisdiction in other states, both civil and criminal’.

The UK House of Lords came to a very different conclusion than the ICJ in regard to the actions by General Pinochet in Chile, finding that the nature of the acts (mass murders, torture, disappearances) could not logically be considered as official acts, and therefore Pinochet was not entitled to immunity in the courts of UK.

[A_Gupta]

AI tells me:

Foreign heads of state do enjoy broad immunity from U.S. criminal and civil jurisdiction while in office — but here’s the key point that often surprises people:

Where is this immunity found in U.S. law?

It is NOT codified in any U.S. statute.

Unlike the immunity of foreign states (which is codified in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1602–1611), head‑of‑state immunity is not written into the U.S. Code.

Instead, it comes from:

- Customary international law
- The Executive Branch’s authority over foreign affairs
- Judicial deference to the State Department’s determinations
- The Diplomatic Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 254a et seq.), which governs diplomats but not heads of state

Courts consistently hold that the State Department decides whether a foreign head of state or government is immune, and courts treat that determination as binding.

This is why you won’t find a statute titled “Head of State Immunity” — it’s a doctrine recognized through practice, not legislation.

[SRajesh]

^^ Whoever heads the State Department or heads the US government decides who he or she or it grants immunity to whom!!
No wonder butchers are feted in White House
Blood cables are buried for decades
When a LeLi occupies WH what then??

[A_Gupta]

I am with Retd Lt Gen. Shankar here - no point in moralizing about this - treat it like a earthquake or tsunami or some such, and just enumerate the possible effects on India, and if any are negative, how to ameliorate that.

[A_Gupta]

^^ Whoever heads the State Department or heads the US government decides who he or she or it grants immunity to whom!!
No wonder butchers are feted in White House
Blood cables are buried for decades
When a LeLi occupies WH what then??

"Rule of law" means more that there are definite procedures for everything; and less that they make any sense.

[Rudradev]

If you compare the US empire to the Mughal empire, there's no doubt the guy in charge now is Orange-zeb.

[Amber G.]

Condemnations: Spain, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Cuba, Iran, Russia, France
Liberty advances: Argentina
Concern: European Union

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu congratulates US President Trump for capturing Nicolás Maduro

"Congratulations, President Trump for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers."

[Cain Marko]

Condemnations: Spain, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Cuba, Iran, Russia, France
Liberty advances: Argentina
Concern: European Union

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu congratulates US President Trump for capturing Nicolás Maduro

"Congratulations, President Trump for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers."

Nothing from China yet? Seems ominous...

[A_Gupta]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wor ... 327715.cms

or

https://x.com/ashajadeja325/status/2007 ... 327715.cms

Asha Jadeja Motwani
@ashajadeja325

Russian military equipment of Venezuela crumbled in seconds in front of American military. Hope India is watching -). We would be wise to know which side of our bread is buttered, who are our powerful friends and who are not.

Indian Americans: 5,000,000
Indian Russians : 5