USA

Trump is forcing us to confront the world as it really is. That’s a good thing

The ignominious capture of Nicolás Maduro proves, if nothing else, that America no longer bothers with pretences.

It wasn’t always so. Back in the autumn of 2002, the US military machine was gearing up to invade Iraq and destroy Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Yet instead of sending his forces into action as rapidly as possible, George W Bush chose to place the case for war before the United Nations General Assembly, promising on Sept 12 2002 to “work with the UN Security Council for the necessary resolutions”.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

The Conservative and Liberal responses to Venezuela reflect vastly different foreign-policy outlooks

The Liberals and Conservatives offered completely different responses to the Trump administration’s abduction of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.

Those responses reflect the worldview of each party. For Conservatives, foreign policy is rooted in values; for Liberals, in interests.

On Saturday morning, not long after word arrived that American special forces had captured and abducted Mr. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre issued a statement on X. “Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narcoterrorist and socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, who should live out his days in prison.”

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Canadian Politics", USA, Venezuela

Trump, Maduro, and What’s Next

Five dimensional chess? Or is it six?

The usual suspect have, in fact, gone from “No Kings” to complaining that Trump has somehow violated international law. This is true only to the extent that “international law” means “a wish-fulfillment tool for the Left.” Which is its chief use now.

But what Trump did is basically indistinguishable — except for being much swifter and cheaper — than what George H.W. Bush did with Manuel Noriega, the “President” of Panama (not recognized as such by the United States due to election fraud) just as Maduro was the “President” of Venezuela, but not recognized as such by the United States (and other countries) due to election fraud.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

“Experts” say Canada should co-ordinate Western Hemisphere response to Maduro’s ouster

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OTTAWA – Foreign policy experts say Ottawa should reach out to nations threatened by the United States to co-ordinate a response to the Trump administration’s actions against Venezuela.

The U.S. shocked the world this weekend when it captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid that followed months of airstrikes on Venezuelan boats Washington said were trafficking drugs.

Max Cameron, a professor at the University of British Columbia who studies the politics of Latin America, says this could be the first step in Washington’s deployment of its new national security strategy, which calls for the U.S. to exert more control over North and South America.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela, WTF?

‘I’m a prisoner of war’ – In the room for Maduro’s dramatic court hearing

The sound of clanking leg shackles could be heard moments before Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro walked into the door of a New York City courtroom for the first time.

He then told packed rows of reporters and the public that he had just been “kidnapped”.

Minutes after his entrance, the Judge Alvin Hellerstein asked Maduro to confirm his identity so the proceedings could start.

More … I saw how Maduro was humbled in court

Venezuela’s ‘kidnapped’ ex-president tried to put on a defiant front as he was heckled at Manhattan hearing

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

Canadian energy stocks tumble after U.S. incursion in Venezuela

North American oil prices climbed by more than one per cent on Monday following the upheaval in Venezuela over the weekend, while stock prices of some large Canadian oil and gas companies have fallen.

A barrel of West Texas Intermediate, the North American benchmark, was trading about 1.5 per cent higher by midday, up nearly $1 to just over $58 US. Prices remain relatively cheap and are about $15 lower than compared to one year ago.

Meanwhile, several Canadian oil and gas companies are taking a hit to their stock price. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s energy index was down about 4.5 per cent by midday Monday.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

‘This changes everything’: Here’s how Canada could be impacted by the U.S.’ abduction of Maduro

After the U.S. abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military-raid, there was simultaneous celebration and global outcry.

While many Venezuelans praised the capture of a man widely considered to be an authoritarian ruler — who is being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity — protesters around the world also denounced the U.S.’s assault.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

Cuba in a Panic

Few people are more upset about Nicolás Maduro’s arrest than the descendants of the Fidel Castro regime in Cuba. (Well, except for maybe the Democrats in Congress and other white leftists in the United States.)

Current Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has come out swinging against the Donald Trump administration’s recent actions both in person and on social media. But while he talks a good game about “imperialism,” his demeanor is anything but tough. The man is obviously terrified, and rightfully so.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCuba, USA, Venezuela

Eric Ham: Canada beware, Trump’s Venezuela invasion is a clear warning shot

WASHINGTON – A surprise pre-dawn raid on a sovereign country was the opening salvo by an American strongman hellbent on bringing the world’s most resource-rich nations under U.S. control.

In 2025, Donald Trump tested the reach of his authority, faced down the system of checks and balances and dared the world to push back. Meeting no resistance, the twice-impeached commander-in-chief orchestrated his fait accompli, stealing the world’s largest oil reserves with nary an outcry from the international community.

I think Canada will split apart frankly and given the way we’ve been abused by the Liberal Government this past decade that’s not really such a bad thing.

So long as Trump deports the migrants I’m good.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Canada - USA Tariff Wars", Canada, Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, USA

‘Our minerals could be used to annex us’: why Canada doesn’t want US mining

The Outaouais region on the western edge of Quebec is home to thousands of lakes, vast forests and extensive wetlands. It is also the setting of a swathe of wooded land known as La Petite-Nation, which, although not far from the cities of Montreal and Ottawa, remains relatively untouched.

That, however, is to change with the arrival of a controversial graphite mine with financing from the Pentagon.

Lomiko Metals, a company based in British Columbia, is planning to build an open-air graphite mine in La Petite-Nation. Once operational, the mine will produce 100,000 tonnes of graphite for 15 years.

Warning Guardian ahead.

My neck of the woods.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA

Tim Walz, Democrats’ 2024 VP candidate, won’t run for a third term as Minnesota governor

ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats’ 2024 candidate for vice president, is ending his bid for a third term as governor less than four months after launching a reelection campaign.

Walz said in a statement Monday that he believes he would have won another term but decided “that I can’t give a political campaign my all” after what he described as an “extraordinarily difficult year for our state.”

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Islamophobia", Islam, Islam and violence, Islamization of the West, USA

Thirty-two Cubans killed during US attack on Venezuela

The Cuban government has said 32 of its nationals were killed during the US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

It said the dead were members of its armed forces and intelligence agencies, with two days of national mourning declared.

A short statement did not elaborate on the role of the Cubans in Venezuela, but the two governments are long-standing allies, with Cuba providing security support in exchange for oil.

Justin Trudeau was unavailable for comment.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCuba, USA, Venezuela

Can Maduro’s trusted lieutenant now work for Trump?

Many of those who tuned in to US President Donald Trump’s news conference on Saturday were probably hoping to hear dramatic details of how US forces seized Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, in a pre-dawn raid.

But arguably a more surprising moment came when Trump announced that now that Maduro was in custody, the US would “run” Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition”.

In another unexpected development, he added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been speaking to Maduro’s Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, who he said was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again”.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

After US Venezuela Operation, Poilievre Says Canada in ‘Weakened’ Position Without More Oil Pipelines to Tidewater

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the Liberal government’s oil tanker ban, which led to the cancellation of a pipeline that would have transported Alberta oil to British Columbia for international markets, has put Canada in a “weakened and dependent” position.

Poilievre’s remarks came shortly after the United States announced on Jan. 3 that it had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will run Venezuela until a peaceful transition of power is completed, adding that it will be heavily involved in the nation’s oil industry.

Bonus Gilmore h/t all who sent this in

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

Canadian woman charged with illegally crossing into U.S., kicking border agent’s face

A Canadian woman has been charged in the United States with crossing into Washington state and kicking a border agent in the face.

The accused is facing one count each of assault on a federal officer and improper entry after the incident Tuesday.

In U.S. district court documents, the FBI alleges the woman was denied entry at the Peace Arch border crossing, south of Surrey, B.C., because she had a marijuana vape pen.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, WTF?