• assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Here’s a question. Have you actually spoken to anyone of Venezuelan heritage about the situation there? Because someone I worked closely with at my old job had told us about what was going on, and he loathed Maduro and said Guaido was the rightful president.

      Machado can have uncomfortable ties to Republicans and Netanyahu, and Maduro can still be an unrightful president. This isn’t a binary. It’s rarely a binary, in fact. The USSR was pretty bad. The US is pretty bad. When the two had competing operations during the Cold War, was one bad and one good? Or were they both bad?

      The opposite of bad isn’t always good. Sometimes it can also be bad – even a greater evil.

      • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Argument from Anecdote, irrelevant.

        Yes, both sides can be bad. But one is a recognized government, while the other is treasonous opposition to that government with foreign interference. If a government is not allowed to have sovereign independence internationally, then it destabilizes global relations and threatens world peace. If it’s wrong when Russia or China does it, then it’s wrong when America does it.

        Sanctioning Venezuela and destabilizing the government punishes the people needlessly. The people suffering migrate and strain resources in other countries. All so a few billionaires can profit from the pillaging of these regions.

    • Saik0@lemmy.saik0.com
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      5 months ago

      Weird you failed to address why a military asset wouldn’t be participating in Russia’s current “special operations” and instead is in another country clear across the world…

      But somehow you think it’s odd that politicians are meeting with politicians. Which is not only a common occurrence, but I would actually call my politicians incompetent if they didn’t do.

      You realize this is a completely different ball game right? You would expect leaders to be talking to each other. You wouldn’t expect military assets somewhere that they aren’t active in.

      The correct answer is that we don’t know if it’s actually Russian military. This is rumor at best. But your brain is so wired by whoever indoctrinated you to believe that Russia can’t do any bad you can’t even think straight.

      • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        You wouldn’t expect military assets somewhere that they aren’t active in.

        Like María Machado, an unelected civilian, meeting with American politicians? Like how she entered an alliance with Likud?

        • Saik0@lemmy.saik0.com
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          5 months ago

          Venezuelan Opposition Presidential Candidate María Corina Machado

          This is how you described them. They are a politician then… Yes, you would expect them to meet with and converse with other politicians.

          Please explain why a possible Russian MILITARY asset would be in Venezuela. Please explain how these are the same.

          • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            Was she a presidential candidate in 2005 when she met with Bush?

            Maduro is the elected president (disputed or not). The government is allowed to form partnerships and have diplomatic relationships with foreign governments. It’s treasonous for citizens of a nation to enter monetary and political agreements with foreign governments opposed to their country of residence.

      • DeLacue@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Allow me to address a question the pro-Russian guy keeps dodging; Wagner is no longer participating in the Ukraine war. I don’t know the full details but after their mutiny, they were sent back to Africa and other foreign countries far from Russia and have been working to shore up Russian-friendly dictatorships and regimes. But they have been kept well away from Ukraine and Russia ever since. Part of what they’ve been doing is selling and advertising their services as consultants and support to keep people in power. This helps Russia build influence which is something it desperately needs right now. Wagner being in Venezuela would not be strange. It would mean the guy who is yelling about the CIA trying to overthrow him has accepted Russian help. In fact considering how active Wagner has been in involving themselves anywhere where they can get a foothold it’d be weird if Wagner weren’t in Venezuela.

        • Saik0@lemmy.saik0.com
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          5 months ago

          they were sent back to Africa

          Right… Where Russia was attempting to sell “Russian Protection”… I could understand them being there. But there’s no ties to south America as far as I’m aware. Though admittedly, I haven’t looked to keep myself up to date there.

          This helps Russia build influence which is something it desperately needs right now.

          They need it even more after what’s happening in Mali… I don’t think any South American country would take to kindly to Russia at this point.

          It would mean the guy who is yelling about the CIA trying to overthrow him has accepted Russian help.

          Eh, I’d buy it… but my arguments weren’t a point that it’s impossible… But that the other guy couldn’t keep his head straight for 3 seconds to actually bring a cogent point. It’s just frothing at the mouth “Russia good, USA bad”, “See these politicians doing their jobs‽ Stop looking at the military assets.”