President Putin has made a tactical blunder in sending 100 troops to Venezuela. The implication of military escalation as a possibility where U.S. forces would directly encounter Russian soldiers in battle is offensive to sensibilities, not to mention the long standing principle of the Monroe Doctrine*. It is practically an invitation for regime change in Moscow.
It was a tactical blunder because the conclusion of the Mueller investigation into Russian collusion to elect President Trump meant that the President would have better opportunity to start to end sanctions on Russia. President Trump recently reversed some sanctions imposed on North Korea. President Putin should withdraw his military component in Venezuela directly. To do otherwise would influence the 2020 election to favor a saber-rattling Democratic hawk as used to exist who is willing to intervene in Venezuela to fight Russians and anti-democracy forces.
One hundred Spetznatz (special forces) can work a lot of mischief in Venezuela. They can act as enforcers that have no hidden allegiance to the Democracy forces, they can act as hit-men to liquidate Democracy cadre, and they can train and lead socialist-communist elements into jungle and urban war. President Putin has enfiladed his own true sentiments regarding political philosophy in trying to prop up a neo-communist regime that represses its people. President Putin may put on the black-eye patch and enter speak like a pirate contests after the Venezuela intervention.
With the very loud and offensive Russian presence in Venezuela to support the battle against democracy in that nation there is little chance or opportunity for Americans to recognize any Russian claims on the Ukraine- even if they are somewhat justified. With the deployment of Russian soldiers to Venezuela it is likely that any progress toward a settlement in favor of Russia such as recognizing a Dnepr demarcation line will end. The Ukraine probably will receive support for all of their claims on land filched away from Russia during the Yeltsin era. Instead war planning for Venezuela and Russia may occur to select politicians and soldiers.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics/russian-air-force-planes-land-in-venezuela-carrying-troops-reports-idUSKCN1R50NB
*The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 opposed European colonization in the western hemisphere. Military force was used to enforce the doctrine. Today the new application of the doctrine is to not allow eastern hemispheric military activity in the west.
The
Eastern hemisphere has wars all the time throughout its history. That
hasn't changed, and keeping the eastern militaries from causing
mischief, war and death in the west is a worthwhile use of the Monroe
Doctrine that Russia violated recently in sending 100 troops to
Venezuela.
The
western hemispheric nation just don't have as many wars or repressive
regimes as the eastern hemisphere. That is because all of the nations
of the west left the structural problems of the east, except for
imperialism and colonialism, in founding anew in the west. The very
distance from the structural problems of the east and its millennial
old problems enabled revolution from those regimes. Simon Bolivar,
George Washington and others led the way to creating new nations that
had thrown off their colonial regressors. Russia has been one of the
prime violators of the new Monroe Doctrine in the western hemisphere
with its history of communist political philosophy and military
support for that delusional neo-utopian vision.
Russian
President Vladimir Putin has been given super-powers constitutionally
to administer Russian foreign policy. He lawfully has the power to
veto any decision by the Russian government that he deems wrong and
injurious to Russia. Yet what if the problem causing injury to Russia
is himself? Therein is a serious flaw in the new Russian
constitution.
President
Putin fundamentally misunderstands the history of the western
hemisphere and its progress in liberating itself from the corruption,
class and racial supremacy and pervasive evils of the eastern
hemisphere. Jesus Christ was the primary good that existed in that
hemisphere and he recognized the worldliness as satanic. President
Putin needn't export that satanism to the west and believe he is
doing anything besides gangsterism.
Perhaps
President Putin was merely sending troops to guard shipments of gold
and assets that President Maduro would like to send to Russia before
he leaves office. In that case the Monroe Doctrine wasn't violated in
spirit even if in practice. However it appears that President Putin
is simply trying to prop up Karl Marx's corrupt follower and secure
itself some turf in the western hemisphere in the bargain. That is a
blunder.
China
did not violate the spirit of the new Monroe Doctrine principal when
it bought control of the Panama Canal. Economic investment is fair
dinkum. That was not a military invasion, even if it made the U.S.A.
appear somewhat confused or dense regarding its own opportunity to
engage the Panamanians with a new contract they would be satisfied
with. Maybe the President should have sent George Steinbrenner as his
special envoy to negotiate.