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jscalzi@threads.net ("John Scalzi") wrote:

Seems relevant today

RE: https://www.threads.com/@jscalzi/post/DNyp1vEZJeg

Boosted by NfNitLoop ("Cody Casterline 🏳️‍🌈"):
oneunderscore__@threads.net ("Ben Collins") wrote:

From this month's The Onion.

NfNitLoop ("Cody Casterline 🏳️‍🌈") wrote:

If Trump thinks a country (allegedly) sending drugs to your shores rises to the level of “terrorism” and justifies kidnapping that country’s president, perhaps he should be wary of threatening worse to his neighbors who know where he lives.

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

because history does not matter to fools:

“Asked during a visit to Canada last week whether Mr. Noriega’s capture might serve as a kind of model for the Trump administration’s current planning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio deflected, saying he had been in high school at the time.”

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

“Maintaining order across the country would be a huge task, especially without the full allegiance of heavily pro-Maduro security forces.

A 1994 U.S. military mission in Haiti that deposed a military junta and stabilized the country required some 25,000 personnel. Venezuela is about 33 times larger than Haiti, or roughly twice the size of California.

The 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, a country less than one-tenth the size of Venezuela, involved about 27,000 U.S. forces.”

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

the Black Sea has proven to be a good proving ground for uncrewed sea-attack vehicles.

“…fighters who belong to neighboring Colombia’s National Liberation Army, or ELN, are based in jungles along the border. The group has pledged to defend Maduro’s government and to fight any foreign forces in the region; its arsenal includes explosive devices and some armed drones.”

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

Pentagon ran a “war game to assess what the Venezuelan strongman’s fall might unleash.

The results showed that chaos and violence were likely to erupt within Venezuela, as military units, rival political factions and even jungle-based guerrilla groups jockeyed for control of the oil-rich country.”

surPRISE

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/us/politics/venezuela-maduro-fallout-trump.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.BlA.Vryy.wKuYboVEDnJE&smid=nytcore-ios-share

NfNitLoop ("Cody Casterline 🏳️‍🌈") wrote:

5 days ago Russian news was making a big deal about Ukraine targeting Putin’s residence with drones. (Whether or not that is true.) I had this to say then, which seems relevant today:

Boosted by jwz:
donmoyn.bsky.social@bsky.brid.gy ("Don Moynihan") wrote:

Expect to see a lot of this classic Onion headline, from 23 years ago, over the coming weeks.

Boosted by jwz:
Ttubretep@mstdn.social ("Ziggy Sawdust") wrote:

Alessandro Biffignandi

Boosted by jwz:
mhoye wrote:

A reminder, that no US military operation of any scale has involved a declaration of war since 1942.

Boosted by jwz:
infobeautiful@vis.social ("Information Is Beautiful") wrote:

Oil

Boosted by jwz:
erinys.uwu.lgbt@bsky.brid.gy ("progesterin") wrote:

hey remember when a bunch of middle-aged drunk korean lawmakers climbed the locked gates to the national assembly to hold an emergency session after the president gave illegal orders to the military, all of which ended with said president being sentenced to prison

Boosted by jwz:
Gustodon@mas.to ("Ω 🌍 Gus Posey") wrote:

Kamala Harris wouldn't be invading other countries and kidnapping their leaders so people would stop asking if she had sex with an underage girl.

#USPol

Boosted by jwz:
docpop ("Doctor M. Popular") wrote:

Standing at the corner of Guerrero and Cesar Chavez counting Waymos in the rain. Totally normal stuff.
I counted 28 Waymos in ten minutes (10-10:10am). It’s hard to tell, but most appeared to be unoccupied. I only saw 2 passengers.

Boosted by jwz:
nocontexttrek ("Star Trek Minus Context") wrote:

#StarTrek

pzmyers@freethought.online ("pzmyers 🕷") wrote:

Just babblng about change.

https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2026/01/03/stuff-is-changing-everywhere/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4KN168DxGE

Boosted by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
IveyJanette ("Ivey Janette McClelland") wrote:

@lawyersgunsnmoney @draft_resistance_news @_L1vY_ I had family who were drafted and fought in Vietnam. Including both of my stepfathers. They weren't the same after they came home. Some of my neighbors came home in body bags and caskets. They couldn't get deferments like Trump and his fake bone spurs. His senile ass should be the first to be drafted.

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

Happy Birthday to Steven Stills. Your music helped me to survive the 70s with a shred of sanity...

jscalzi@threads.net ("John Scalzi") wrote:

I'm sure this will be handled with the same competence as this administration handles everything else it's ever done

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/venezuela-explosions-caracas-intl-hnk-01-03-26?post-id=cmjyjdicr00003b6q4uv9mv1y

Boosted by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
evan@cosocial.ca ("Evan Prodromou") wrote:

Military action against a sovereign state is illegal under the UN charter. There are two exceptions: self-defense, and UN Security Council approval.

Heads of state have personal immunity while in office from prosecution in foreign courts.

This attack is a serious breakdown of international norms.

UPDATE: edgelord replies not welcome, thanks.

Boosted by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
th@v.st ("Trammell Hudson") wrote:

I always get stuck at this part. There must be an easier way.

Boosted by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Lazarou ("Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈") wrote:

Thanks to today's political leaders in the West our Children will be conscripted into WWIII, all so the Oligarchs can rule in Hell.

But it won't be their kids getting shot at, it will be ours.

Remember this folks, if you're ever in their company and feel the social pressure to be nice and cordial to such useless fuckers.

#WWIII #UKPOL #UKPOLITICS

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

in a speech to the Italian Chamber of Deputies on 3 JAN 1925, 101 years ago today, Benito Mussolini announced he was taking dictatorial powers. it seems somehow fitting that Herr Trump would announce the seizure of a nearby country today.

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

[END TODAY IN HISTORY RUN]

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

Today in History: Steven Stills is born in Dallas, 1945

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

Today in History: Revolution Day in Upper Volta

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

Today in History: New Year's Holiday in Scotland

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

Today in History: Margaret Thatcher becomes the longest-serving British

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

Today in History: Benito Mussolini announces he is taking dictatorial powers