And here we go. Looks like we're gonna actually make a run at Venezuela. Trump is my guy but I can't support this shit...

 

🧵 U.S. Military Force Buildup Locations in the Caribbean.

Since late August, the U.S. military has deployed ~10,000 troops in the Caribbean:

~5,000 on eight Navy warships — including 2,200 Marines with fighter jets — and ~5,000 at Puerto Rico air bases with F-35s, MQ-9… pic.twitter.com/vCfFcnls73

— Vanguard Intel Group 🛡 (@vanguardintel) October 17, 2025

And this from Zero Hedge

In the irony of the day, please note Trump Authorizes CIA Covert Operations in Venezuela

President Trump has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert action in Venezuela, while also floating the idea of land strikes, in a broadening campaign against alleged drug trafficking.

“I authorized for two reasons,” Trump said Wednesday at the White House, alleging Venezuelan leaders have “emptied their prisons into the United States of America” and “we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela.”

The authorization enables the CIA to operate clandestinely in the country and potentially take action against Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, his government and drug traffickers, according to an administration official. Covert action, which is authorized in what is known as a presidential finding, can involve a range of secret activities including paramilitary and lethal operations meant to influence political, economic or military conditions in foreign countries.

Sorry to say this but if Biden had announced a "covert operation" I'd be shouting from the rooftops.  

So I'M SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS ON THIS SHIT!  Who in their right mind announces a COVERT OPERATION!!! 

A bit more from Zero Hedge.

The New York Times reports Head of the U.S. Military’s Southern Command Is Stepping Down

The officer, Adm. Alvin Holsey, is leaving his job as head of the U.S. Southern Command, which oversees all operations in Central and South America, even as the Pentagon has rapidly built up some 10,000 forces in the region in what it says is a major counterdrug and counterterrorism mission.

It was unclear why Admiral Holsey is suddenly departing, less than a year into what is typically a three-year job, and in the midst of the biggest operation in his 37-year career. But one current and one former U.S. official, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters, said that Admiral Holsey had raised concerns about the mission and the attacks on the alleged drug boats.

“Prior to Trump, I can’t think of a combatant commander who left his or her post early, ever,” said Representative Adam Smith of Washington, the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.

A flag officer assigned to the "supposed" backwater of the Southern Command suddenly finds his command at the center of US foreign policy?  Any request he makes MUST BE FOLLOWED?  He has a chance to be in history books for leading a successful campaign against the enemies of the US and he suddenly bows out?

Something is off here.

But the bigger thing?  

Trump is boasting about ending around 8 (if I remember correctly) small wars.  That all gets erased if he has miscalculated and gotten us into a clusterfuck in our own backyard.

I personally don't buy the narco terrorist angle either.  There are better ways to get at this problem that don't involve stationing thousands of forces and making public announcements.

THE ONLY THING I CAN FIGURE IS THIS IS SOME KINDA COUNTERPLAY TO AN UNKNOWN CHINESE MOVE IN THE REGION.

Right or wrong on that account the Trump administration is gonna have to come up with a better rationale for military intervention.