Department of Defense Puts a Blunt on Trump's Comments About Venezuela Military Options

It’s another case of President Trump spitting out volatile rhetoric with no plan to back it up.

On Friday, the president stood before reporters at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, apparently drunk on the praise from his base for threatening war against North Korea, and tossed out a threat against Venezuela, as well.

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You know, because it’s perfectly sane and rational for a world leader to threaten war on multiple fronts, with no provocation and a military that is already stretched out and committed in other areas.

Said Trump:

“Venezuela is not very far away, and the people are suffering and they’re dying,” he continued. “We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option if necessary.”

Trump declined to say whether American troops would lead a possible military effort in Venezuela, saying: “We don’t talk about it.”

“But a military operation, a military option is certainly something that we could pursue,” he said.

Right.

And make no mistake, something needs to be done about Venezuela’s President Maduro and his thuggish regime. I’ve written about it several times here. The people are suffering. They struggle for even the most basic needs, while Maduro and his loyalists enjoy the fat of the land.

Trump, however, has found an out from all his troubles at home by threatening war.

And that may work for him, for awhile, but there still needs to be a plan in place, and congressional approval. He keeps forgetting about that, or maybe he still doesn’t realize how co-equal branches of government work.

Meanwhile, as the man who had his rich daddy buy him five deferments from serving in the military plays toy soldier, those who actually have an idea about the costs of war, the Department of Defense, are putting the cork on Trump’s fork.

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“The Pentagon has not received any orders with regards to Venezuela,” Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said, according to CNN. “The military conducts contingency planning for a variety of situations. If called upon, we are prepared to support … government efforts to protect our national interests and safeguard US citizens.”

“Any insinuations by the Maduro regime that we are planning an invasion are baseless and are designed to distract from his continued efforts to undermine the democratic process and institutions in Venezuela.”

Sanity.

Is there anybody who doesn’t believe that world leaders are whispering behind our backs now, discussing “the United States problem,” and wondering if this great experiment of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has gone off the rails?

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