Author | Lightnews

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 9h

Even if that were the case, frankly especially if that were the case, guess which government has been sheltering and supporting the ELN for years? Chavez-Maduro.

Y'all should look up the events of 1985 apropos the Palace of Justice in Bogota. Colombian civil-military relations is a strange world.

Everybody Knows @rdmpress.com · 9h

Isn't the Colombian military engaging the ELN in combat along the Venezuelan border? Strange to call it kidnapping.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 9h

Sorry to say that what Colombia's Pres. Petro says in the realm of security, including intelligence sharing with the U.S., will be partially obeyed or ignored by his armed forces and intel agencies.

FYI: ELN rebels in a department bordering Venezuela kidnapped 5 Colombian soldiers 72 hours ago.

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Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee

Pensar a História @pensarhistoria.bsky.social · 11h

Há 50 anos, Angola proclamava sua independência de Portugal, após ser submetida a mais de quatro séculos de domínio colonial. A Guerra de Independência angolana durou 13 anos e teve um alto custo humano. Contamos essa história no @operamundi.bsky.social

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operamundi.uol.com.br/pensar-a-his...

Pensar a História: 50 anos da Independência de Angola

País conquistou independência após mais de quatro séculos de colonialismo e uma luta armada de 13 anos contra Portugal

operamundi.uol.com.br

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 11h

In strategy, the enemy has say. The U.S. is using compellence, which requires time to extract concessions. Maduro is using the potential self-destruction of Venezuela to negate the use of time. The longer we wait, the worse the post-transition conflict. Then we acquiesce to Maduro. It's evil genius.

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 11h

Everyday the U.S. waits, the more small arms the Maduro regime distributes to the Bolivarian militia and Colectivos, and heavy weapons to the proper military. This creates an immense potential for post-transition violence.

The Trump admin needs to either put up or shut up fast.

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 13h

I'm not worried Maduro's militias in Venezuela will resist U.S. forces. I'm worried they can keep their weapons after Maduro leaves. The army can fragment. While ELN, FARC, Colectivos, and Narcos remain. It's not Maduro's exit that's the problem: it's the day after. He knows and is leveraging it.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 11h

Everyday the U.S. waits, the more small arms the Maduro regime distributes to the Bolivarian militia and Colectivos, and heavy weapons to the proper military. This creates an immense potential for post-transition violence.

The Trump admin needs to either put up or shut up fast.

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 13h

I'm not worried Maduro's militias in Venezuela will resist U.S. forces. I'm worried they can keep their weapons after Maduro leaves. The army can fragment. While ELN, FARC, Colectivos, and Narcos remain. It's not Maduro's exit that's the problem: it's the day after. He knows and is leveraging it.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 13h

I'm not worried Maduro's militias in Venezuela will resist U.S. forces. I'm worried they can keep their weapons after Maduro leaves. The army can fragment. While ELN, FARC, Colectivos, and Narcos remain. It's not Maduro's exit that's the problem: it's the day after. He knows and is leveraging it.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 14h

It seems more complex than mentioned in that post and certainly less heroic than claimed.

x.com/charliecopel...

Charlie Copeland on X: "@FrankChodorov “Me thinks the woman doth protest too much.” I was President of ISI during the 4 years (2016-2020) before Burtka. Before that paid role, I served as Board Treasurer and partnered with Long, who was then the President, in eliminating $8M in debt brought on by his predecessor. The" / X

@FrankChodorov “Me thinks the woman doth protest too much.” I was President of ISI during the 4 years (2016-2020) before Burtka. Before that paid role, I served as Board Treasurer and partnered with Long, who was then the President, in eliminating $8M in debt brought on by his predecessor. The

x.com

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 16h

The USS Gerald Ford is now under the authority of SOUTHCOM.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

U.S. aircraft carrier nears Latin America as Venezuela tensions simmer

The USS Gerald R. Ford joins a sprawling buildup that has fueled speculation the Trump administration intends to dramatically escalate its antidrug campaign.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

Apropos of nothing at all:

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

LL Bean flannel pajama set with a coordinated dressing gown and slippers. You're welcome!

Anna O. Law @unlawfulentries.bsky.social · 1d

Ever since the American Political Science Association annual convention main hotel in 2014 was evacuated at 2AM because of a fire, now when I buy new pajamas, I think about whether it would be appropriate to greet the public in the outfit. An arsonist was setting small fires in the hotel stairwells

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

Dude, men looking for beards don't get honey trapped by beautiful women.

a man with a beard and sunglasses is sitting at a table in a classroom .

ALT: a man with a beard and sunglasses is sitting at a table in a classroom .

media.tenor.com

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

David Portnoy faced an antisemitic attack by a student at my previous place of employment. I am sadly disappointed, but not entirely surprised.

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

Baie dankie!

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

Venezuela's Chavez-Maduro regime has been using the Colombian insurgent groups for revenues and leverage in Colombian politics for years.

The brunt of the insurgency is borne by the Colombian military. Pres. Petro knows this well when he makes pro-Maduro statements.
insightcrime.org/es/noticias-...

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

There is a Civil-Military disjuncture in Colombia over Venezuela that's becoming increasingly clear. E.g., 5 Colombian soldiers were kidnapped by ELN insurgents on 9 November in the Arauca Department bordering Venezuela.

www.eltiempo.com/colombia/otr...

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

The core problem with thinking that Colombian Pres. Petro represents Colombian opinion is that Colombia signed an air surveillance agreement with Guyana in August 2025 that overtly targets drug traffickers but implicitly Venezuela, too.

thedefensepost.com/2025/08/27/g...

Guyana, Colombia Sign Defense Pact to Boost Joint Airspace Surveillance

Guyana and Colombia have signed a defense agreement to expand their joint aerial surveillance cooperation.

thedefensepost.com

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

A penny for your thoughts.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

I am now pretty much sure that the U.S. will carry out operations in Venezuela if Maduro doesn't exit. Reopening an airbase in Puerto Rico and an Aircraft Carrier strike group located between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, not to mention other assets, are extremely costly signals otherwise.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

A few months ago, I wrote this primer for the U.S. Foreign Area Officers' in-house journal on what Venezuela is attempting with Guyana, international players (UK, France, Canada, and Brazil), and avenues for leveraging defense and security cooperation.

faoajournal.substack.com/p/resolving-...

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

It's always been performative for a certain set.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

Many of you don't know this, but India--a long time importer of Venezuelan oil and member of BRICS--transferred 2 license produced Dornier 228 STOL aircraft to Guyana for use by the Guyana Defence Force in 2024.

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

Many folks are reading the Venezuela crisis without knowing what has transpired in the Caribbean since 2023. From changes in leadership in Brazil and Colombia, a stolen election in Venezuela, and annexation threats against Guyana. It's a new reality there with new players like UK, France and Canada.

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

Many folks are reading the Venezuela crisis without knowing what has transpired in the Caribbean since 2023. From changes in leadership in Brazil and Colombia, a stolen election in Venezuela, and annexation threats against Guyana. It's a new reality there with new players like UK, France and Canada.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

www.upi.com/Top_News/Wor...

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

It is important to note France and UK have defense cooperation arrangements (UK) and agreements (France) with Guyana. UK also has defense obligations for Trinidad and Tobago (and other states) and a base in Belize. Thus, possible U.S. action against Venezuela has their help or tacit agreement, too.

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Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 1d

The number of U.S. aircraft in its El Salvador base Comalapa has also been increased:

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...

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