Imminent US Strikes Against Venezuelan Government

Peter Zeihan 5 min

Overthrowing the Venezuelan government is easy, but rebuilding it afterward will be messy. Whatever comes next to Venezuela, it's going to be messy.

Chapters

  1. 0:00

    US Military Readiness

    The US is deploying the USS Ford and regional allies to overthrow the Venezuelan government. The Venezuelan military was gutted after democracy returned, leaving it unable to fight effectively.

  2. 1:42

    Chavez's Coup and Equipment

    Hugo Chavez overthrew the government and bought unreliable Russian equipment instead of modernizing. The current leader has been a bus driver, and the military leadership has been removed.

  3. 3:49

    Civilian Weapon Availability

    Hundreds of thousands of AK-47s are in circulation among pro-government gangs. Overthrowing the government is easy, but rebuilding it afterward will be extremely difficult.

Key points

  • 0:00

    The USS Ford is the largest and newest American super carrier deployed to the region.

  • 0:00

    Latin American militaries were deliberately gutted when democracy returned in the 1990s and 2000s.

  • 0:00

    Hugo Chavez overthrew the democratic government and imposed an authoritarian system.

  • 1:42

    Chavez bought unreliable Russian equipment that did not operate when purchased in the 2000s.

  • 1:42

    The current Venezuelan leader has been a bus driver for several years.

  • 1:42

    The Venezuelan military leadership has been gutted and turned into a corruption sieve.

  • 1:42

    US embassy guards would win in a straight-up fight against the Venezuelan military.

  • 3:49

    There are at least 100,000 AK-47s in public circulation with pro-Chavista gangs.

  • 3:49

    Hundreds of thousands of assault rifles are held by a population paid to support the government.

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