Oil blockade on Venezuela pushes Cuba toward collapse

[kan...@aol.com]

https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/u-s-oil-blockade-of-venezuela-pushes-cuba-toward-collapse-75289b5b?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqcJDUTrFgFmQrVO8zwLpr417wcFivXLVyGvgtzjP4RUyrJH77Z6_MouYp8QGBk%3D&gaa_ts=6948bc4a&gaa_sig=quTEqUG_t0TpFj8SR3MwZ21U7AA63p1cgtYfLE3NNnDM8Ow4xEncaB_lRClvVgO-EhWEcLOdI6ufC8wpHud0kw%3D%3D

The law of unintended consequences? Or something that somebody in Trump's orbit actually planned on? 

Doesn't matter. He'll take credit for it anyway. 

Over a million Cubans have left the island. Many are now here in the US. Are they  on the deportation radar? And where do we send them? Cuba is rapidly becoming uninhabitable. 

Trump has too much time left in his term. He can ruin an awful lot other countries.

It's true that Cuba has required support from outside for decades. Russia and Venezuela have been the major contributors. But Venezuelan oil has been crucial. Supplies have decreased for awhile; but now may disappear altogether. Cuban infrastructure is on the verge of collapse, including the electrical grid. 

So we'll be happy for a Commie gov't in our backyard to fail. But what about the 10 million people headed into severe poverty? Part of that poverty can be exported in the form of various diseases. With RFK in charge, are we ready for the importation of diseases that he can't even SPELL? 

This is what happens when you let a bull loose in a china shop. Things get broken. 

Are we headed for another age of colonialism? Or do we just let our neighbors founder? 

[Brian Kegerreis]

Good, maybe the communist dictatorship will fall and Cuba will be free for once. 

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[David Fairchild]

So BKK, do you want the U.S. to blockade and/or seize the property of all communists nations in international water simply because they are communist?

[kan...@aol.com]

Dave, didn't you know that BK would be thrilled that Cuba might dissolve? Maybe we can blockade China and North Korea while we're at it. Might as well make use of those 11-12 aircraft carriers. 

Article on Cuba suggests that 1/4 of the population has emigrated. Other says 1.5 million. In any case, where are they going? Some are coming here. 

But low knowledge people fail to recognize that if Cuba, or some other country that doesn't meet our criteria, fails, it's not the rulers that suffer; it's the people. 

So if Cuba's gov't falls, do we swoop in to help establish a better gov't? Or do just sit by and watch 10+ million people suffer as their country falls into shithole status? Same with Venezuela. While we're at it, how about Paraguay; which is a hotbed of drugs, terrorism, etc, etc? 

Didn't Trump run on the notion of semi-isolation and less involvement in wars, etc? Now he's into nation UNbuilding. 

It will be a great legacy. And who pays for all this? 

At the same we're looking into annexing Greenland. We appear to be marching toward becoming a hegemon. 

[Brian Kegerreis]

No but I have no problem seizing the dark fleet oilers that are used to fund terrorists. And if the side effect is Cubans are liberated from Communism that is just a bonus.

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[kan...@aol.com]

Whoa, Brian. How does shipping oil to CUBA fund terrorism? I thought that happens when Venezuela sends oil to Iran. And how about when they ship it to China? Is that okay?

And applying DF's thinking, why should we intervene in other countries' international trade? 

Sounds to me like you want to prevent Ven from shipping oil ANYWHERE. Then WE can take it all at bargain prices. We can force lower prices because we prevent sale anywhere else. 

This sounds like extreme bullying. We'd be pretty miffed if any other country did this. What if the Chinese tried to do this? They certainly can use oil shipped in from other places. What if THEY put these restrictions on Ven? Maybe they'll try; then we can go to war with China over South American oil. 

As I understand it, Venezuela has the world's LARGEST oil reserves. This is not a trivial matter. 

The oil belongs to Venezuela. But Trump is already saber rattling by claiming that they stole it from us (US). Try to keep an open (but not leaky) mind and see that Trump is laying the groundwork for some serious intervention. By claiming theft and talking about terrorism, he's putting down a marker to justify seizure of another country's resources. 

Wow. 

[B Keg]

I was pretty clear about what I said. 

Be nice, even when you don't want to!

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[kan...@aol.com]

If you were clear, Brian, I wouldn't have asked you anything. We get it; you don't mind if Cuba collapses as a result of all this. But you didn't answer how shipping oil to CUBA stops the funding of terrorists. That requires some explanation. 

The possible missing step is how Cuba PAYS for the oil. But the answer appears that they give Maduro all kinds of help with keeping dissent quieted down. Spying, all that stuff, etc. Finally Cuba has an export that they can sell. 

So Ven sells oil to Cuba; how does that fund terrorists? Cuba isn't a hotbed of terrorism. So if what you're saying is that we plan to embargo ALL of Ven's oil, then that sounds  like a different strategy, one that will cripple Cuba and keep money from whoever. Is that the strategy  that you're okay with? Impoverish Venezuela, ruin Cuba and steal all of the oil in one fell swoop? 

[Brian Kegerreis]

I never said it did. Don't ask me to explain positions I havent taken. This is something you have done since this list began. I don't expect you to atop asking. That would be like asking a pig to stop rolling in the mud. But I won't be answering them.

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[kan...@aol.com]

"No but I have no problem seizing the dark fleet oilers that are used to fund terrorists. And if the side effect is Cubans are liberated from Communism that is just a bonus.:

Brian, these are your words. Nothing confusing here. So I'll use this phrase as a starting point to ask some questions. 

We seize oil tankers leaving Venezuela. We don't want the oil being sold to entities that support terrorism, like Iran. 

So, first question: do we seize tankers headed to Cuba on purpose? 

Second: how do we tell where they're going if still in Venezuela's waters or nearby? Or do we just seize every tanker? 

Third, if we seize tankers headed to Cuba, does that help stop funding to terrorists; or is that a separate action? 

So if we stop tankers headed to Cuba and they are NOT helping fund terrorists, why are we doing it? I can only see that we're trying to screw Cuba too. 

That would no longer be a "bonus' but a purposeful attempt at regime change in Cuba. 

is it okay to promote regime change in Cuba ON PURPOSE, or just as a side effect? 

This is not a pig rolling in mud. It's just a guy trying to get an  explanation for what you think is okay. 

I'm taking my shower now. 

[Brian Kegerreis]

Dark fleet tankers used to fund terrosism. Yes seize them. If the side effect is Cubans are liberated from Communism I call that a bonus. What is unclear about this?

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[kan...@aol.com]

What's unclear is if you want EVERY tanker from Venezuela seized or just the "dark fleet" ones. That's the question.

The next question asks if tankers headed to Cuba are to be seized. And the next question asks how the US intends to tell the difference between 'dark fleet" and permissible ships. These are legitimate issues. I'm guessing that Trump/Hegseth plans to embargo all oil coming from Venezuela and not worry about the "darkness" or the destination. So is THIS acceptable? Shoot first and sort out the guilty from the innocent later. 

No, the U.S. generally prohibits most Venezuelan oil from leaving the country under existing sanctions, with recent escalations under President Trump implementing a full blockade on sanctioned tankers to pressure the Maduro regime, seizing vessels, and claiming seized oil and assets, though specific licenses (like Chevron's) have previously allowed limited operations, reports this news from 2025 show. The Trump administration is currently seizing tankers and enforcing a strict blockade, aiming to stop all sanctioned oil shipments to reclaim assets for the U.S., though this creates humanitarian concerns and economic disruption, 

So here's the answer. We are blocking almost all  oil from leaving Venezuela. That clears  up that part. And the result will include all sorts of fallout, including damage to Cuba. And that could likely cause unforeseen issues, including the fall  of the current gov't. 

On to another issue. Trump claims that the seized oil belongs to the US. That seems to place us in the same category as Somali  pirates. Capture a ship and profit by that action. AAAARRRRR, we be pirates, matey. Making America great one theft at a time. 

[Brian Kegerreis]

I said dark fleet seize them. If a side effect of that is the Cuban people are freed from Communism that's great.  

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[kan...@aol.com]

Got it. So are ships headed to Cuba dark fleet or not?

How does the US Navy tell dark from light?

Still no response from you on this issue. 

As of now, it looks like Trump/Hegseth can't tell dark from light. It's not turkey meat. They're just seizing all ships from Ven. 

So, since you keep giving the same answer, I'll have to infer that you object to the US seizing EVERY vessel coming from Venezuela. I'd just like to hear you say that. 

This discussion isn't about you. It's about the US and our apparently legally iffy seizure of all ships coming from Venezuela; and our opinion that seized oil somehow now belongs to us (US). So far  you seem happy with our actions. Or oblivious; hard to tell. 

[Brian Kegerreis]

Dark fleet crackdown looms as EU states consider stopping suspect ships :: Lloyd's List https://share.google/fuVE5rgzntoPIktM4

Gee I dont know Ken, maybe they just turn the lights off. Or maybe there is a list.....

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[kan...@aol.com]

A list. That helps. Now if you could only answer without the snark. 

What's your favorite quote that we see every day? "Be kind, even if........."

So dark fleet ships have been already identified. That clears that up. 

But still the issue remains: we are blocking essentially ALL tankers coming from Ven. Are they ALL dark fleet; or is Trump using that as an excuse to further his agenda of breaking Ven's gov't? 

He's been known to use a smallish issue as a "nose of the camel in the tent", like his claims about Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc needing US troops. 

This tendency smacks greatly of his authoritarian tendencies. Just sayin'. 

[Brian Kegerreis]

So I finally did just the smallest amount of research and of course Ken is full of shit as usual. 

Only dark fleet tankers are being blockaded from Venuzuala. Only the US Coast Guard is tasked with seizing said vessels and only 2 have been seized so far. 

If Obama had done the exact same thing Ken would be singing the highest praises. 

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[kan...@aol.com]

"A little research" is the key here

The Coast Guard is being backed up by US Navy resources. A little MORE research will show this to be true. The CG does not have the capabilities to do this on their own

I never suggested a number of ships that have been seized. Anyone who can read the news knows how many. But WE are working on #3. 

And, no, I would NOT have approved of any POTUS doing this. Brian has this severe TDS Type II, characterized by imputing to others things not correct and suggesting that POTUS not Trump would get different reviews. 

But I have an idea: let's elect a NOT TRUMP POTUS and see what happens. 

Whoever is responsible for the seizures, CG, Navy CIA, whatever, is flirting with committing piracy. Trump has essentially conjured up justification for this action. Just because Venezuela uses "dark fleet" vessels doesn't tell us where the oil is going. 

A "little" research shows that there 300-600 dark vessels. They are used by Iran, China, North Korea, Russian, and others. Why don't we go after Iran's fleet? They definitely fund terrorism. We've labeled their gov't as a terrorist outfit. And we've put sanctions on Russia. Why not go after THEIR darks. 

No, Trump is not trying to reduce the funding of terrorism. That's a red herring. He's trying to screw with Venezuela, plain and simple. Now, if Trump were seizing Iran's dark fleet, I might be a lot less skeptical of his motives. 

But he's a bully. He goes after weak targets and puffs up the influence that this will have. The influence on funding terrorism will be minimal. The influence on Venezuela will be great. The unintended fallout (Cuba) will be significant. Trump is a bull that carries his own china shop with him. Clueless as to what his actions create. And he leaves up clueless with a series of misdirects and utter lies. 

[kan...@aol.com]

Should read "leaves US clueless". Clumsy fingers. 

[Brian Kegerreis]

Oh a third tanker has been seized. 

Yes the CG does sometimes launch helicopters from Navy vessels since they do not have their on aircraft carriers. If that is your crybaby issue here is a tissue. 

So now suddenly you want to start seizing other dark fleet terrorist funding sanction avoiding vessels? Just never talk about whattaboutism.

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[kan...@aol.com]

Oh boy, Brian. You must have listened to Trump's Christmas greetings. Nasty,, stupid, etc

I'm not happier or sadder that the USN is involved. It's just a matter of getting facts right. 

You said, "only the CG is tasked.......". I said that they need help from the USN. No whining; no hankies, just reality. 

And I did NOT suggest that we go after other dark fleet ships that work for nations that we sanction (Russian/Iran). What I said was that Trump was being duplicitous going after JUST Venezuela's ships, that there are a LOT of other dark ships out there that deal with nations that clearly deal with terrorism. 

Boy, you need some serious remedial reading comprehension. I can give you the schedule for Sesame Street if you like. 

But better is to ask if you don't understand something. That's better than TDS-ing and assuming (and attacking) things that you're misconstruing. 

[B Keg]

The USN is not involved in the seizure. They may or may not offer a landing pad for the Coasties Helicopters and may some fuel. The CG does the seizing on their own. Only the CG is tasked with the mission. You did suggest we go after others with your whattaboutism. I guess since you can't cure all the wounds on a patient you don't cure any of them?

Be nice, even when you don't want to!

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[kan...@aol.com]

Sesame Street is on at 4:00. 

I said, "Why not go after THEIR darks". Direct quote of my post. I wasn't suggesting a strategy. 

As for wounds, I don't put Bandaids on gunshot victims. Going after three ships when there are 3-600 out there isn't affecting the  problem. It's just showmanship for Trump/Noem/Hegseth. They get to tell MAGA and other low knowledge folks what a great job they're doing. But really all that he's doing is going after the leader of one nation. 

If I did the medical equivalent of that I'd be fired, sued and de-licensed. And my patient would be DEAD. 

That's Trump.