Nobel Peace Prize 2025: María Corina Machado

I understand your frustration. But you may want to avoid a foreign interference/invasion more than a bad regime. The former is arguably worse than the latter, though there are exceptions.

It’s been over 25 years since these thugs took power. I don’t care if one country or a coalition of countries gets rid of them. I would actually welcome foreign intervention at this point.

I feel like "bad regime" is blatantly downplaying the seriousness of it.

No it isn't at all. Venezuela and South America need Foreign forces to stop the Venezuela cartel.

Like Afghanistan? Or Germany after WWII? You talk of these 'Foreign forces' as some sort of benevolent power liberating people from tyranny for charity. Wait till they stay back to extract payment for their 'efforts'. We have watched decade and decades of this moral grandstanding destroy weaker nations. And need I remind you how much these 'foreign forces' are responsible for creating the hellish conditions in South America though their interference in the first place? It's just replacement of one tyrant with another. Another that brings in weapons and troops from outside the country.

I fully understand what you mean.

But just so you picture it: things are so dire there after 25 years that people would even cheer at any country intervening.

So let’s pause for a moment and think: what is the best alternative? Keep enduring the regime like the Cubans have been doing for double the time we have? That’s also a depressing outlook.

I'm not very familiar with the situation in Venezuela. But the 'bad regime' is just a generic phrase that was not intended to convey the seriousness in any sense. However, what I can claim is that you totally ignored the seriousness of a foreign interference and invasion. Yes - a dictatorship is not a good situation at all anywhere in the world. But what good is it for a nation if one horrible regime is to be replaced by another? Do you know how many atrocities western militaries have inflicted in countries that they invaded in the name of liberating them? Many of them compete with the local tyrants on how cruel they can get. You wont learn much about it because the western media doesn't seem to care. Ask the people of countries that suffered western military invasion instead. I'm not sure you realize how much people outside the west resent the 'services rendered' in their countries. It's a long running trope around the world that if there is a serious conflict in any part of the world, it's sure to have the hand of one of two western powers in it. Yet, the western population pat themselves in the back for the virtues of freedom and equality. There are even those who are still proud of their colonial past, believing that they enriched their colonies somehow. Meanwhile, don't forget the depth of xenophobia and racism of the current regime that's virtue signalling with the intent to invade Venezuela.

> That’s also a depressing outlook.

Of course it is. I'm not denying or downplaying how bad it is. These situations are scary as hell. They're not supposed to happen. And it must change. Venezuela deserves peace. But now imagine the alternative you're thinking of.

To start with, who was responsible for the political turmoil in South America for much of its history? Imagine another invasion. Do you expect them to withdraw as soon as the current Venezuelan regime has fallen? The regime that's virtue signalling now has a history of proudly brandishing their xenophobia and racism. What do you think life will be like under a remote controlled rule by them? There are plenty of examples around the world for how that will end. Is that the change you wish for?

> what is the best alternative?

The best alternative is for the native population to bring about change without foreign interference. But honestly, I have no clue if that's practical at all. I don't know any other solutions either. The people must decide for themselves as to how to resolve this. All I'm saying is that you must be careful about the intentions of anyone who steps in offering help. I sincerely wish that the Venezuelans win peace. Good Luck!

Imagine looking at Iraq and saying, "yeah, that's what I want for my country."

There are many ways to intervene and pressure other than a full blown invasion.

Thanks mate, that’s what the people have been trying for many years but it’s an uphill battle when they have the all the repressive means and the population does not.