WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country.

The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela.

Asked during an event in the Oval Office on Wednesday why he had authorized the CIA to take action in Venezuela, Trump affirmed he had made the move.

“I authorized for two reasons, really,” Trump replied. “No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America,” he said. “And the other thing, the drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea.”

  • NutWrench@lemmy.ml
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    1 day ago

    Trump (more likely Miller) is trying to start a war with Venezuela to seize their oil. By randomly killing fisherman and getting Americans in Venezuela killed as “spies” it lets him have his “Remember the Maine” moment.

    • vfreire85@lemmy.ml
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      21 hours ago

      Not only that. Trump wants a war to call it his war. Like every US president needs one, the industrial military complex demands one. On top of that he’s a baboon who likes to brag about being the alphest male in the world.

    • ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one
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      1 day ago

      I think Miller really just hates anyone not white. For Stevie, it’s all about killing brown people. I imagine the other ghouls in the administration do want Venezuela’s oil.