Netherlands, U.S. agree on use of Curacao as possible aid hub for Venezuela

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

MARCH 15, 2019 / 3:57 PM / UPDATED 8 HOURS AGO
2 MIN READ

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Netherlands and the United States reached an agreement on Friday to use facilities on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao for possible distribution of aid to nearby Venezuela, Curacao’s prime minister said.

The island will only be used for civilian operations to deliver aid, such as food and medicines, to Venezuela if the Venezuelan government explicitly allows it, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said last month.

Curacao Prime Minister Eugene Ruggenaath said on Twitter the United States and the Netherlands signed an agreement detailing the access and use of facilities in Curacao as a humanitarian hub for aid to Venezuela.

Read more: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-venezuela-usa-netherlands/netherlands-u-s-agree-on-use-of-curacao-as-possible-aid-hub-for-venezuela-idUKKCN1QW2TH?rpc=401&

[sandensea]

1. "Aid hub" as in the way Reagan used Honduras as an "aid hub" for Nicaragua

If these cave people are going to invade another country, they could at least come up with an original thought.

Thanks for posting this, Judi. As the campaign season draws closer, I fully expect Cheeto to stage a 'Grenada' of his own.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Denying himself power over the people of Venezuela is beyond Trump.

It offers too much he can use to shore up his image with his twisted base.

Invasion, the sacrifice of brown-skinned people to make himself appear powerful among criminally insane supporters, throwing out a host of clumsy, outlandish lies as justification is more than he can deny himself. He can create so much suffering, confusion, lasting long into the future, from the safety of the very structure, the White House, which he deems not nearly grand enough for him.

It's overwhelmingly sad considering how much suffering he can create in the life of innocent people. Everything is easy without a conscience for him.

So sad in realizing your expectations are undoubtedly correct.

[sandensea]

5. +1

That's definitely one of the biggest differences between Dem and GOPee presidents:

Every Republican president since Reagan in '83, as you know, has basically turned invading relatively defenseless, majority-colored countries into their main re-election campaign strategy.

All the more so when a lot of oil is involved!

The Bushes, of course, were the worst - but this one isn't far behind.

[Devil Child]

6. +1 sandensea! n/t

[sandensea]

7. Thanks!

It is what it is.

I just hope the Pentagon can stand up to Cheeto on this one.

"No, Mr. President. As good as that may sound to you, we're not creating a wave of new casualties or PTSD cases, and killing a million brown people, just so you can boost your own re-election chances."

[PufPuf23]

2. The US military SoCom established a FOL base on Curacao in 2000

and has a contract with the Dutch (who handle foreign affairs for the Dutch Antilles) extending to 2021.

Some articles:

http://curacaochronicle.com/local/fol-until-2021-in-curacao-and-aruba/

https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/main/fol-curacao-helps-to-seize-five-tonnes-coke/

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/curacao.htm

https://www.12af.acc.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/319233/curacaoaruba-forward-operating-locations/

[Judi Lynn]

3. So George W. Bush & Donald Rumsfeld decided they needed to put a "lily pad" base in Curacao

the year after Chavez was inaugurated in Feb. 1999.

It's hard not to notice the timing.

Thank you for thinking of sharing this material on this move from the Southern Command.

It was also during George W. Bush's administration they also decided he needed to bring out the 4th fleet from mothballs after a long retirement:

The US Fourth Fleet: Focus on Latin America

. . .

he Fourth Fleet was reactivated in 2008, during the presidency of George W. Bush, as a way of monitoring possible threats coming from the anti-US sentiment fueled by the then president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez.

https://www.unav.edu/web/global-affairs/detalle/-/blogs/the-us-fourth-fleet-focus-on-latin-america

Learning about Curacao absolutely sheds a lot of light.

Thank you.

[Devil Child]

8. Bolton & Abram's fake aid hub

To provide steady fake aid convoys to get burned by fake grassroots protesters. This will produce more media coverage to support the more direct intervention goal. I'm highly skeptical of the claim that the island will only be used for "civilian operations to deliver aid, such as food and medicines..."

[littlemissmartypants]

9. I'm so tired of being lied to. nt