Rick Scott calls for US military intervention in Venezuela. [View all]

[Eugene]

Scott wrote this op-ed in today's Washington Post

Rick Scott: U.S. military action in Venezuela may become a necessity

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/rick-scott-us-military-action-in-venezuela-may-become-a-necessity/2019/05/09/0d49a480-72a9-11e9-9f06-5fc2ee80027a_story.html

-snip-

But, as I said, it is not the United States’ job to send our young men and women into harm’s way to right all of the world’s wrongs. So even if you conclude that the above list of facts does not justify the intervention of the United States, there is a massive and far-reaching problem I haven’t mentioned yet: our own self-interest.

Venezuela is in our hemisphere. Russian troops are already in Venezuela.

Do you think it would be in our national interest to allow the Russians — or the Cubans, the Iranians or Chinese — to install military bases there? Naval ports? Should we allow Hezbollah to roam free?

-snip-

Scott cites the Monroe Doctrine, saying that foreign bad actors must not be allowed to colonize the Americas. He concludes, "I respect those who are cautious about the dangers of military intervention. I am generally among them. But it’s time to also acknowledge that inaction can be an equally dangerous course, if not more so."

See also: Rick Scott wants the U.S. Navy to block Cuba and Venezuela’s oil trade (Miami Herald)