This'll go over your head Paul but the US is now a nett exporter of oil and therefore logically (sorry to use words you don't understand) they don't need Venezuelan oil.

But the Venezuelan people do and they need the benefits of the money the oil could bring. But they've been deprived of that for two decades now due to the utter failures of their communist leadership who are much more interested in running their narco-terrorist business than providing welfare for their people.

Once the US gets the Venezuelan oil industry back up to seed, the Venezuelans could return to being the richest people in Central America as they were before the communists took over.

"I never mentioned China".
No but as the unofficial spokesman for the CCP, you are required to always come out on the side of the tyrants and against democracy.

A bit off topic, but as the Chinese spokesman.... early last year you were all doom and gloom because Trump put tariffs on the Australian meat industry. Now China has put tariffs on the Australian meat industry, but I suspect we'll only hear crickets

mhaze,

Nobody here is defending Maduro or denying Venezuela’s collapse. That part isn’t in dispute.

The disagreement is narrower: what evidence do you have that US-led regime change in Venezuela will plausibly improve democratic outcomes, given the historical record of similar interventions?

Not intentions. Not moral character. Outcomes.

Thanks John,

You are absolutely correct Maduro is a dog, but there are plenty of Maduro' in this world, just that this ones country has lots of oil.

Trumpster, of course America can sell oil, lots of it, at a very high price. Makes good "cents" for America to sell its oil, while stealing Venezuela's oil. Trump will have hi and his cronies, family members etc fingers in the Venezuelan pie in no time.

The wealth of the worlds mega rich capitalist increased by billions yesterday when the stock value of their shares in American oil companies increased by 4%. How much did the wealth of the poverty stricken Venezuelans increase by at the same time? NOT BY A SINGLE BOLIVAR, YEP,ZILCH, ZERO, NOUGHT, NOTHING!

Trumpster, how many shares have you got in those billionaire American oil companies, I suspect NONE! You would be a great believer in the trickle down effect. The mega rich get richer, and they employee the likes of you to clear their blocked toilets etc. How wonderful for you.

"what evidence do you have that US-led regime change in Venezuela will plausibly improve democratic outcomes"

What evidence do I have that something in the future will happen? Seriously? You've always struggled with the concept of informed extrapolation.

Its highly unlikely that whatever the political situation in Venezuela eventually becomes, that it'll be a western style democracy. To have a western style democracy, you need western style institutions... and they don't. But they will have a system that obviates against young girls being gaoled and forced into prostitution to eat. Or 25% of the country forced to leave.

I loved this... (translated from the original Spanish) ...
"If international law can't prevent me from being tortured in a cell at the Helicoide, but it does protect Maduro so he can torture me in the Helicoide, international law does nothing for me, but its f$$king me over".

"How much did the wealth of the poverty stricken Venezuelans increase by"

So Paul remains silent for decades about the way his communist heroes have been improvising the Venezuelan, then complains that Trump hasn't fixed it within 24 hours.

Trumpster,

Your man Trump managed to add billions to the wealth of himself and his capitalist cronies in 24 hours, why nothing for the Venezuelans?
So, its okay for the fat cats and powerful pedos to make billions in 24 hours but nothing for the peasants? YOU ARE A CLASSIC!