You do realize you can't compare Portugal to the US, right ? Portugal is comparative to Indiana or Maine.

In fact, I believe Portugal is one of the best comparisons between the US and Europe. The population is concentrated in the coastal metropolitan area. There's a lot of immigration from South America and connections to South America through colonial history. There are numerous smuggling routes into the country from South America and Africa. And these measures work despite the open borders and freedom of residence within the EU.

A good read is "confessions of an economic hitman"
by John Perkins.

He was involved in alot of this and spells out how the US did this stuff.

To believe that the US is "total innocent" is burying your head in the sand.

Great book!!

A must read

Was actually going to mention it in the over priced beef thread,,,,, in regards to recent events in Argentina

It’s to bad more Canadians haven’t read that book

'The US has announced the deployment of its troops to Trinidad and Tobago for alleged extraordinary military exercise'


Just of the coast of Venezuela.

'U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth orders deployment of Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group to SOUTHCOM area'

We that elected Trump did so because the last whoever was running things was going to destroy our country with unbridled, illegal immigration that's prevalent in Europe.
Along with the illegals walking across our border were drugs in their historical numbers that he also said had to stop.

My partner in business had a boy that died from these drugs, A boy you would never think being he was raised right but somehow got caught up in it. Anyhow, I'm not naive enough to think this can be completely eliminated but hopeful for other families that these drugs get scarce enough it saves a significant number of our kids.

As for resources, been fighting for them since man figured out what they were but I'm not totally convinced that is this President's reason. Change of regime for sure but not a take over of the country.

War Secretary? I Thought this got changed?

Well at least the military wasn't ordered to kill some family guy loading water into his car by the previous imbeciles.

Next we will hear is we killed a boat with a father just trying to make a living fishing and supporting his poor Venezuelan family.

I did notvote for someone so they could give billions to another country like Argentinia we already do that with Israel.

For what it’s worth, “we” the people are cannon fodder for politicians who can’t say no to war related money going to their districts. WE the people get our parts blown off unless politician’s kids are on the firing line losing theirs. Money and resources speak the words politicians understand. It’s hard to believe lifetime politicians represent us when their whole working lives are spent looking for deep-pocket donations.

This has nothing to do with preserving the honor of America. Violating the sovereignty of Venezuela has nothing to do with us. It’s just a political attempt to gain resource favor…at the cost of American lives.

"Next we will hear is we killed a boat with a father just trying to make a living fishing and supporting his poor Venezuelan family."

That's been done already....maybe a fisherman is crewing, but he ain't fishing....You see those 3 big engines on the back? No fisherman can afford one of those.

Exactly.

Fishermen would stop when ordered to too. They wouldn't run like the drug dealers do.

Keith

Next time I’m fishing in the Caribbean,,,,,

I’m going too make sure the guide NEVER drives really fast, north

We have military “groups” whose sole purpose of existence is South America. So yeah, we have forces, known and unknown, everywhere down there. I wouldn’t be surprised if all the boats becoming fish food is the result of boots on the ground intel.

'Venezuela's socialist government claimed Sunday that it captured a group of "CIA-linked mercenaries" allegedly plotting a false-flag attack meant to justify U.S. military intervention in the Caribbean.'

https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/venezuela-cia-caribbean/2025/10/27/id/1232035/

Don’t let the screen door hit ya Manfred.. AI will help with that translation.
No other country, kingdom, regime, dictatorship, peoples etc have put forth the money and DNA in the form of our young people to try and help others worldwide. Whether war, natural disaster, disease, oppression, human rights, this young country stands tall. Those of us who face the threat and those who support from behind do not waiver, nor do they Question every drop of blood and life lost requesting the perfect tribute.

We’re not perfect but we’ve helped one heckuv a lot of people around this globe. Let’s see, which country started the mass slaughter of souls like has never before been seen, WWII? Your people. Ever since you Germans have taken great pains to hang it all on Hitler. Neither he nor a full cabinet of officers pulled that war off, you were all part of it.
Keep rewriting your own past and leave ours alone.

Osky

Osky is correct! I’ve seen some real S-holes in this world while serving in uniform and the amount of assistance Uncle Sam provides is second to none. And I’m proud to have done my small part.