Response to a Friend’s Facebook page/post.
Friend’s Post: “America needs heavy crude oil to keep its refineries running. Venezuela produces it. Do the math.”
THESE facts: The U.S. is the world's top oil producer. Yet 60+ percent of Canada's oil exports go to the U.S. The #2 and #3 importers are Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Add 83 more countries that import oil to the U.S. America is the #3 top oil exporter, behind Saudi Arabia and Russia. Meanwhile, 80+ percent of Venezuelan oil is shipped to China.
Mr Trump would have regime-changed Maduro in 2019 when the tempest was hot in Caracas. China wasn't buying oil from state-owned PDVSA that much then. Instead, Nic and Don negotiated to bring U.S. oil giants back to Venezuela that Chavez/Maduro kicked out. From that point, Chevron et al were back out there. But it is China that bought the most oil, which allowed the country's economy to recover a bit. Note that Chavez/Maduro sank Venezuela's economy to a record low then.
Meanwhile, Trump wants the head honchos of Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles. But the prolonged drama has started to worry China, especially after Trump stopped an oil tanker, days before the “capture” of Mr Maduro. So China (with Russia) mediated days ago. News two or three days before the “grab” was that Nicanor seemed poised to talk with U.S. emissaries about drug trafficking. But obviously it failed. So!
But I repeat: China was concerned with the delay of oil shipments. I don't think The D will take the Venezuelan strongman without China's approval. Trump would have easily erased Maduro in 2019. 🇺🇸☮️🇻🇪
Legal or illegal?
LET me be pragmatic-old rather than legal-cool. This: The U.S. Constitution requires Congress authorization to declare war etcetera but POTUSes have historically used their power as commander-in-chief to initiate military actions and interventions without explicit, formal congressional approval. Ergo: <>Congress has the power to declare war and authorize the use of military action. <>The President or Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has the authority to order and direct troops. <>The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the prez to notify Congress within 48 hours; forces cannot remain for more than 60 days; potential 30-day withdrawal period. Refer to the "Banana Wars" era and Cold War years.
Examples: 1953 coup in Iran and 1954 coup in Guatemala. In recent decades, refer to post-9/11 hits (many!) Must we go back to the pre-1800s? Or during U.S. expansionism years (onto 1912). Must we debate all invasions, regime changes, sponsored coups etcetera? What about CIA black-ops that aren't even "reported."
Here's a popular one: Black Hawk Down in Somalia (Operation Gothic Serpent) meant to take out Mohamed Farrah Aidid, or the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993? No Congress okay. The official death number is over 300 but human rights organizations say over 1,000 (in just one day, as famously depicted in the 2001 movie). I can cite more.
Let's cut to the chase: Majority of U.S. military operations abroad are illegal. Or to me, all wars are illegal. All U.S. interventions or meddling are illegal. But since this is Donald Trump, everything is simply illegal. LOL! 🇺🇸☮️🇻🇪
