Venezuelan group known as Cartel of the Suns designated as terrorist organization despite doubts over its existence

Venezuelan group known as Cartel of the Suns designated as terrorist organization despite doubts over its existence

Venezuela’s government has accused the US of peddling “ridiculous hogwash” about its supposed role in sponsoring “narco-terrorism” as Washington continued to turn up the heat on Nicolás Maduro’s regime and leftwing European politicians warned South America faced being plunged into “a torrent of bloodshed”.

On Monday, the Trump administration officially designated a Venezuelan group known as the “Cartel de los Soles” (the Cartel of the Suns) a terrorist organization – despite widespread doubts over its actual existence.

The move was the latest chapter in a four-month US pressure campaign, officially designed to combat South American drug traffickers but which many suspect is a pretext to overthrow Maduro who Trump tried, but failed, to topple during his first term.

  • camdog2000@ttrpg.networkEnglish
    6·
    9 hours ago

    If they want to stand a chance against the US, they need to learn to fight like the Vietnamese and Afghans.

    Good luck to them.

    • perestroika@slrpnk.netEnglish
      3·
      3 hours ago

      If they had something to fight for, I think they would.

      In reality, they have Maduro (who has suppressed a popular uprising against himself, and likely didn’t win the last elections) and 20% of inflation per month.

      If the US does attack, predictably, only hardcore fans of Maduro will oppose. But the force that Trump has sent is not capable of occupying Venezuela, only striking it and incapacitating the government.

      But an attack is an attack - if Trump does order an attack, I have free real estate to sell him… in the Hague, because international agression is prohibited.

      Personal suspicion: maybe in Alaska, one man told another: “you can get Ukraine” - “and you can get Venezuela”. One of the men may think he’ll get Caracas in 3 days and will be met with flowers. The other guy may hope that Caracas looks like Kyiv, which he’s been “getting” already for 3 years. But I doubt if Caracas looks like that.

      Regardless of what will happen, the story about narco-terrorism is hot air. Smuggling is not war. Smugglers can and should be arrested, not bombed with drones. If this becomes a cause for war, then war will be based on fiction and lies.

    • tomiant@piefed.socialEnglish
      7·
      8 hours ago

      They already do.

      Great news everybody, we can start another 20 year war against jungle insurgents that we will lose.

      • myrmidexEnglish
        2·
        7 hours ago

        Can’t wait for all the new drugs and kick-ass soundtrack.