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CNN- President Donald Trump was briefed this week on options for military operations inside Venezuela as he continues to mull a path forward in the country, four sources told CNN.
Trump has yet to decide on how to proceed, and he continues to weigh the risks and benefits of launching a scaled-up campaign.
The president has previously voiced reservations about taking military action meant to oust Nicolas Maduro, concerned about whether it would prove effective.
While Wednesday’s briefing included an updated set of options for the president to consider, it did not indicate that he’s closer to making a decision, one of the people said.
Another source familiar with the briefing said the options were similar to those that have been discussed within the Pentagon, and some publicly reported, in recent weeks.
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The target options – which United States Southern Command has stood up planning cells to develop – are part of an operation dubbed “SOUTHERN SPEAR,” according to a senior US official aware of the planning. They were presented by top officials on Trump’s national security team, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.
Hegseth announced the operation on X Thursday night, though he did not reveal details.
“Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM, this mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people. The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it,” Hegseth wrote.
Southern Command had previously announced an operation called Operation Southern Spear in January. An announcement at the time said it would utilize “long-dwell robotic surface vessels, small robotic interceptor boats, and vertical take-off and landing robotic air vessels” to help with counternarcotics operations.
The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on Southern Spear. The White House did not comment on the briefing.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, billed by the US Navy as “the most capable, adaptable, and lethal combat platform in the world,” arrived in the Caribbean this week amid a massive scale-up of US military resources.
Trump has been presented a wide range of options for Venezuela, including air strikes on military or government facilities and drug trafficking routes, or a more direct attempt to take out Maduro. CNN had previously reported that the president was considering plans to target cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes inside Venezuela.
It’s also possible he decides to forgo any action at all. Administration officials told lawmakers last week that the US didn’t have a legal justification that would support attacks against any land targets – though it is possible they could generate one. And Trump recently told CBS’ “60 Minutes” he was not considering strikes inside Venezuela, despite earlier sounding open to the idea.
And the president has, in meetings, seemed wary of ordering actions that could end in failure or put US troops at risk, according to people familiar with the matter.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.
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When you look at this operation and the tremendous power and might the US have in our waters, it makes you think that when this is all over, the consumption and utilization of drugs will be completely eliminated in the US and possibly the world.
The MOB been around since before I came into this world, they ran NY. Yes many of their bosses got taken down, but that didn’t stop them, they still run things. So too will the drug trade, you may take one Drug Cartel down and another one jumps into action, so to me this is just murder on the high seas, while at the same time saying to the world, I have the power and no one can stop me. No one country can stop this trade no matter how powerful they may be.
And with all this Trump still wants us to believe it is all about drug trafficking coming out of Venezuela. Tell that to your dumb supporters who believe everything you tell them. We now know that it has everything to do with control of Venezuelan Oil. Because of your policies you have pushed Venezuela in the hands of China and Russia and they will never let that big economic asset go. You have brought Venezuela to its knees with your sanctions and they have taken shelter by China, Russia and Iran. Many countries are now seeing how bad it is to rely on the USA Dollar. The minute they do not see eye to eye with you, they sanction you and you will lose all your deposits in their banks. You will be remove from the international financial system SWIFT and you cannot pay for goods and services. Cuba has withstand this now for over 60 years. And the world has been looking on and not been able to give Cuba a helping hand. It is therefore remarkable how Cuba has been able to withstand this for so long. And now many more nation are finally understanding the power that this big BULLY called the USA has. It was never about Democracy but just about DOMINATION and CONTROL. They say in a war there are no neutral countries. Everyone has to pick a side. When that day come I will feel sorry for Antigua and Barbuda and other that say they are Friends of ALL and Enemies of NONE. America will not accept that. Its either you are with me or against me they will tell us. I have always believed in the early 60s after WW II that being in the backyard of the USA was the best thing for us. We could depend on their protection and didn’t had to pay for it. But with the way things are going now I wish we were continents away from them. They behave like Tyrants. If you do not do as they say they will take you out. The world has seen many of these nations before. Kingdoms Rise and Kingdoms Fall. This is the age of the American Kingdom. Let us see when it will fall. But one can rest a sure , one day it will fall. Just like all of them in history. The Rasta’s constantly refer to it in songs. Babylon must Fall. It just baffles me that the big thinkers in the USA didn’t see the rise of China coming. They were so focused on their military power that they neglected their economic power. While China became the world economic power, manufacturing goods for the entire world. Everything is made in China these days. Well it leaves now to see how these world powers will settle their difference in Venezuela. Because Venezuela although it doesn’t have the money. It paid for all the arms it needed with their oil. And when you look at what just happened the other day. Venezuela whom they said the people are starving was able to sent tons of goods to Cuba for aid after hurricane Melissa. Where then did these goods come from. And therefore I’ll bet you the bond between Caracas and Havana is so strong that any attack on Caracas will be seen as an attack on Havana. So America better get ready to fight from two fronts. Smart people don’t go into a war where the outcome is uncertain. They should have learned their lessons in the many wars they fought and lost. As recent as the Iraq and Afghanistan war. Both war had them retreating after years of human sacrifices with no end in sight. Israel is learning as we speak. All that bombing and still they cannot guarantee a win. I will quit with the biblical verse of peace that Jesus left us with.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Orange Man is trying to figure out the best way to get rid of dictator Maduro it’s nothing different than when Ronald Reagan was trying to figure out how to get rid of Maurice Bishop in Grenada…It is no different than when George Bush Senior got rid of General Manuel Noriega in Panama..It’s no different than when Barack Obama got rid of Muammar Gaddafi…It’s no different than when John F Kennedy surrounded Cuba because they had Russian Missiles there…..Nicalos Maduro is a dictator who lost the elections and will not give up power the people don’t wan’t him and yes he is working with drug cartels…The main reason is not just the drugs it’s the dictator enabling the trade through benefits while the people live in fear and are leaving because of bad living conditions…..He can’t stay! He will be removed and America does not want their oil….
Example if Hon Gaston Brown was to ever loose his marbles and decided no more elections ever again he is Supreme Ruler of Antigua & Barbuda. The United Kingdom would call and say hey buddy, what u think ya doing? They would give him a time to resign or else they coming down here ASAP…If not USA will handle it……Simple……
Do they think that we are retarded to believe that when this over it will be the end of the drug trade? Ronald Reagan had the best campaign against drugs and yet the drug trade continues. When will they learn that the problem is US citizens love using drugs.
Russia and China waiting like pitbulls, so start anything if you think you bad,. You will see how ORANGE will become the next BLACK
@Carvaa I agree drugs wouldn’t stop being pushed while there is a market America tried with with alcohol and it failed spectacularly, only true solution is to cut out the source of the issue drugs are mostly use to numb people which are experiencing mental issues which is why America have the opioid epidemic since America state is horrible with the financial inequality worst then inequality which caused the french revolution with top with 10% owns 70% of the U.S wealth. Not to mention Trump currently are trying to cut the little safety nets they had which as Medicare and food benefits which will cause 10s of thousands deaths yearly at least.
@less we forget, I’ve quoted Trump many times again and again when he said “we could had all that oil” during his presidential campaign and the crowd cheered, I don’t know if they the masses just forgotten because he stopped saying that or they just support it but be indeed said that publicly on state during a recorded rally which I would happy source once again like I’ve done before.
In response to this world is a messed up place, unlike other communist/ Marxist leader Maurice Bishop to my current knowledge didn’t even get the point where he made a controversial decision and was still very popular outside being a Marxist-leninist using the structure commonly called a one party state after taking power by a coup there isn’t much things that could be used in a negative light, and way very popular during his time credit to many changes to Grenada’s health and education system which lived on after he was murdered, he wasn’t in power long enough to be called a dictator by the mildest use of the word and they use the system works he isn’t the sole leader of the country just the highest representative which wouldn’t be different to the way prime ministers and presidents works. The reason the U.S justify invading Grenada was because they was building an airport which they said can carry a USSR military plane which was unconstitutional since Reagan didn’t go through the proper process to take military action.
Maduro’s election fraud doesn’t justify the U.S invasion and no the U.K wouldn’t really do anything in terms of military action if Gaston said no more elections and the U.S doesn’t out dictators as long they get benefits from it such as Batista’s Cuba, Haiti and past African and Latin America leaders. That’s why there are revolutions and other forms of uprising by the people of the nation which then decide how they should continue. Like Tanzania today are doing through such case America isn’t talking about it.
Also America also need to turn it’s fingers towards themself when call people dictators when they are openly gerrymandering states, openly trying to overturn the presidential term limits, cracking down on freedom of speech such as ending people’s visa which said things about Charle Kirk they don’t like when the whole point of freedom of speech is the government will not take action on individuals for their speech, going after political movements they see as a threat calling them terrorist like the Antifa movement which just means Antifascist which they themself even referred to as a 100 years old going back Germany and his style of using executive bills to push a number policies which skipped it’s correct process which have been judge as unconditional in the court.
@wadad1 maybe the war drugs campaign being focused on low income and mostly black and other minority communities which sent people to sent people jail for items as simple as weed for long sentences, destroyed families and other example of systematic racism would disqualify it from being the “best campaign” if it not working would
Ahhh Youg communist my friend I’m gonna surprise u and say yes u make some good points.. Gold Star for u ⭐… Would love to sit with u one day and debate about topics…. Anyways USA gonna go through with this and the dictator will be gone… Dont worry will mention u under the article when the time comes.. Take care and wishing u a blessed weekend my communist young friend…
Lovely public…lovely comments, I don’t understand why you guys feel so excited to defend dictators. Pure love. All this victimization just because you hate USA.
All of you are pure hypocrites, talk loud that you defend black lives, and bla bla bla..But make silence and turn your eyes far far away for the murdering of Black in the hand of others Black in Africa. THERE is a serious genocides going on against Christians Black group in the hand of Muslims followers Black group. And silence from all. No a flag. No debate in Radio, no debate in Social platforms.
Ahh, but about Palestine was noise like hell. Why, because Israel and USA.
Imagine Black people defending Islamist Arabs,there is not a community more racist than Islamist Arabs, or Islamist in any place they live.
But if tomorrow USA or Israel decides to go Suban to stop the mess, then you guys are going to jump and make noise about it. Hypocrites…Majority of Venezuelans hate and Don want Maduro and their government the hate it and they want to get rid of it, Majority of Cubans hate the government and Castro dynasty that stop us to be free. Why you guys are so passionate about countries that have a huge State allowing only one type of ideology in the society. Everything with the State, noting against the State.
Stop being ignorants
@Smith you should read more about the events in Nigeria before speaking because it’s not a Christian genocide because yes there attacks from boko haram a radical islamic group but they are not focused on Christians as a group they went after everyone they say as not Muslim enough to put it simply even other islamic communities and have attacked predominantly with Muslim victims being 100k to Christian 10k which would be more appropriate to call it a Muslim genocide.
The genocide of Palestine is a world wide issue because it dated back to when south Africa was also an apartied state which been going on for generations and media have open showed what Israel have been doing to Palestine by open recording their war crimes so people really felt hurt seeing people being starved. It being the most talked about right now doesn’t make it more important doesn’t make it more important but the fact that Israel plans to take over all it’s territory make it an urgent issue since they goal is greater Israel a fascist project is compared to nazi Germany plans.
Calling out islamist Arabs is just weird Arabs aren’t just Muslim there are Christian Arab even in Palestine that are getting murdered to. If some people being or even the whole country is racist isn’t really important if they were being genocided or being wronged. Yes black people will defend Palestine one of the biggest defenders was Nelson Mandela and South Africa still continue that today Mandela is till a respected figue in Palestine today in any way one they stopped being killed and have a stable life then you can address social issues.
Taking about one topic doesn’t make others non existent or less important the Sudan genocide is just as important also commited by the US ally the U.A.E but it being the most talked about does makes Less people aware and know about Other issues but in a situation where a country is being bomb with targets being schools and hospitals media talks about when the biggest country is not only support it but also be denying it and has a history of Pro-Israel built in to it’s politic.
Cuba popularity has been falling with evidence of people leaving more numbers than they did before is called by Cuba us deteriorating with all the issues it has which can be linked to the blockage which causes most the shortage they experience which U.N all agree on it’s negative affect it has an affect on human rights being food and medicine shortages and I don’t know how can you argue against a policy which bans ships from entering U.S ports for 180days if they trade with Cuba isn’t affecting the country ability to make money when obviously companies are going to just so the port with most profits. They will/may be policies which that have negative effects but I’m not doing down to that and I don’t really know what your definition of freedom is. You can argue they should losen up it’s ideological commitments for the better meant if it’s people like other countries have done I wouldn’t disagree but depending what party is incharge of America would probably change the conditions with current regime probably outright refuse any cooperation.
Venezuelans hating their government doesn’t give US authority to invade it’s country they are a state which can do things themselves without a mass invasion with would leave the country no doubt worst then when the US leaves like it always has.
The reason I’m so concerned over this is because it literally in our waters it’s not just moral issue it could impact the lives of Caribbean with even Trinidad a CARICOM state openly supporting it and Guyana might be pulled in willing or unwilling with fishermen in that area already affected with radiar jamming and fear of being a victim. So yes this concerning with all the distribution it can cause home here which already isn’t the best for majority of the island.
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