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The Insanity of the Venezuelan Boat Strikes

Let’s be very clear, I have been very critical of President Trump and Pete Hegseth’s attacks on small boats off the coast of Venezuela. The Trump administration has claimed that the so called narco-terrorists, who are Tren de Aragua gang members, are piloting these small boats and ferrying drugs, specifically fentanyl into the United States.

First of all, Venezuela doesn’t even produce fentanyl, and I mean ‘zero” fentanyl. Secondly, since U.S. shores are over 2,700 miles from Venezuela, these small boats would have to refuel maybe 100 times at least to make it to U.S. shores, which would make the trip virtually impossible. You wouldn’t be able to carry enough fuel let alone have room for drugs. To put it in perspective, 2700 miles is roughly the width of the continental United States.

To date, there have been 22 boat strikes killing a total of 83 people. The Trump administration has provided zero evidence that these boats are carrying drugs, nor have they identified any of the victims, even though they claim that they know exactly who is on these boats and what they are carrying.

We really don’t know who they are killing. I guess President Trump can murder anybody he considers a drug courier. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has claimed that several of the victims have actually been innocent victims or fishermen, but we’ll never really know for sure because of the absence of evidence from the administration, and the victims and any potential evidence is being blown up.

These attacks are total insanity, but what makes it even worse, it never was about drugs, it has always been about the oil. That is the only thing that makes sense.

Admiral Bradley Thrown Under The Bus

There has been an ongoing debate within congress as to whether the Venezuelan boat attacks are legal per U.S. law, and for that matter international law. Well, the September 2nd boat attack, which has just recently come to light has somewhat changed the landscape. After the initial attack killed several occupants, there were two survivors clinging to the boat. Someone gave the order to “kill them all”. So, there was a second attack that eliminated the two survivors. The two survivors were helpless and not a threat to anyone. THE SECOND ATTACK WAS A WAR CRIME.

Secretaty of War Pete Hegseth stated at a cabinet meeting that he watched the initial boat attack, but he miraculously had to go to a meeting for the second strike, and it was all Admiral Frank Bradley’s responsibility, even though he supports his senior officer.

Pete Hegseth must think we are “Boo Boo the Fool”. If he sat there during the initial attack, he sat there to see the attack that finished them off because we all know that Hegseth is a cowboy and would relish it. Hegseth didn’t have to miraculously leave to go to a meeting at that critical moment. He probably gave the order to finish off the survivors, so they trot out Admiral Hegseth as a scapegoat while feigning support for him and protecting Hegseth in the process. Additionally, I think the culpability is even deeper because I believe Trump is up to his eyeballs in his involvement. There needs to be an investigation by congress to get to the bottom of it because something smells.

Why is everybody passing the buck? Well, the killing of helpless and non-threatening enemy combatants could be considered a capital offense. At a very minimum, it could put you in prison.

Admiral Bradley, do not fall on your sword for these guys, save yourself!

It’s All About The Oil

To make it very clear, this assault by the US Navy on Venezuelan boats in the name of combatting narco-terrorism is purely a scam to intimidate President Nicolas Maduro and the Tren de Aragua gang. Trump has sent an entire aircraft carrier strike force (a formation that includes an aircraft carrier, an air wing, and a variety of escort ships including cruisers, destroyers and submarines) to accomplish this task. I wonder if Trump would send a carrier strike force off the coast of Los Angeles is he became upset with Mayor Karen Bass and the Crips?

Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world at 303 billion barrels as of 2023, when in comparison, the US has 55 billion barrels in oil reserves. Venezuela has 6 times more oil reserves than the US. In my opinion, Donald Trump and US oil companies have been salivating on getting their hands on Venezuelans oil reserves, and Trump probably has a compact with those companies under the table to make securing Venezuela’s oil reserves for US companies a reality. The only problem is that Venezuelan oil reserves belong to the Venezuelan people. You can’t just take it!

All opinions herein are solely the opinions of Herb Booker and hbooker2.com. Comments are welcome and can be sent to hbooker2@yahoo.com, or at the bottom of this page.