Venezuela 2025

[JohnH]

The best way to know would be to capture the boats, show what is on board, and try the people on the boat in court so we can hear the evidence.

Under what jurisdiction do you propose engaging in police activity down there?

[Bootstrap]

Do you still maintain that the boat in the video was just a small open skiff with a single small outboard engine?

I think a peñero is, by definition, a small, open skiff.

https://dle.rae.es/pe%C3%B1ero

peñero
Definición

m. Ven. Bote pesquero de nueve metros y medio de eslora, sin cabina y de forma más fina en la proa, lo que le proporciona rapidez.

“A fishing boat nine and a half meters long, without a cabin, and with a narrower bow, which gives it speed.”

But they do vary in length.

Does anyone know of high-quality images or videos that would show us the number of engines on the boats that were struck?

What is your source for the claim that narcotrafficking boats normally have weapons on display?

I don't have statistics on that. But a lot of news reports indicate that drug smugglers the Coast Guard catches are armed, especially when they’re carrying high-value loads.

Do you know of high-value drug cargoes on boats that were NOT armed?

[Bootstrap]

The best way to know would be to capture the boats, show what is on board, and try the people on the boat in court so we can hear the evidence.

Under what jurisdiction do you propose engaging in police activity down there?

You're right, we don't even have jurisdiction.

We do not have legal jurisdiction to be policing them, and we are not at war. So ... killing these people isn't the greatest idea.

[Soloist]

The best way to know would be to capture the boats, show what is on board, and try the people on the boat in court so we can hear the evidence.

Under what jurisdiction do you propose engaging in police activity down there?

You're right, we don't even have jurisdiction.

We do not have legal jurisdiction to be policing them, and we are not at war. So ... killing these people isn't the greatest idea.

This is why someone came up with a great idea to tail them and then… wow… grab the tender that collects all the drugs before depositing it in our soil.

[Bootstrap]

This is why someone came up with a great idea to tail them and then… wow… grab the tender that collects all the drugs before depositing it in our soil.

If I understand you correctly, someone said this: Instead of trying to police or kill people outside our jurisdiction, we should follow them and intercept the transport vehicle that’s carrying the drugs before it gets into our territory.

Did I understand correctly? But it also sounds like you do not think that is a good idea ("someone came up with a great idea"). What would you propose instead?

[Soloist]

This is why someone came up with a great idea to tail them and then… wow… grab the tender that collects all the drugs before depositing it in our soil.

If I understand you correctly, someone said this: Instead of trying to police or kill people outside our jurisdiction, we should follow them and intercept the transport vehicle that’s carrying the drugs before it gets into our territory.

Did I understand correctly? But it also sounds like you do not think that is a good idea ("someone came up with a great idea"). What would you propose instead?

Do you understand how these drug runners work?
They use the small boats to haul to a large larger fishing vessel that then brings it in. So they generally can get it done outside of the sight of the Coast Guard in international water under the cover of the fishing vessel.
You tail the small boat, to get the big boat.
I was being sarcastic because we’re just making them change their methods and we’re scooping up or rather should I say killing some small fish that may or may not even be small fish.

[ken_sylvania]

Do you still maintain that the boat in the video was just a small open skiff with a single small outboard engine?

I think a peñero is, by definition, a small, open skiff.

https://dle.rae.es/pe%C3%B1ero

peñero
Definición

m. Ven. Bote pesquero de nueve metros y medio de eslora, sin cabina y de forma más fina en la proa, lo que le proporciona rapidez.

“A fishing boat nine and a half meters long, without a cabin, and with a narrower bow, which gives it speed.”

But they do vary in length.

A "skiff", according to Cambridge dictionary, is "a small, light boat for rowing or sailing, usually used by only one person. According to Merriam-Webster, it is "any of various small boats, especially a flat-bottomed rowboat. That means a "skiff" by definition is a relatively small boat. If any skiff is a small boat, then a large skiff is a small boat and a small skiff must be even smaller. So basically a rowboat size.

Maybe you think differently. If in your mind a 39' boat is a "small skiff", what would constitute a "medium-sized skiff"? And then what size would you consider a "large skiff."

Does anyone know of high-quality images or videos that would show us the number of engines on the boats that were struck?

AI Bootstrap claimed that the boats shown in the strike videos have only "one small outboard engine." Now you seem to be implying that there's no high-quality images or videos that would show the number of engines on the boats that were struck. So what, you just made that claim up?

I haven't watched the videos of the strikes, but the one picture I saw was of a boat with three outboard engines. Also in the AP story that I quoted the fishermen interviewed certainly seemed to recognize what the boat was and that it had multiple high-powered engines.

Oh, one other question? If there are no high-quality images sufficient to show the number of engines, how in the world are you able to tell that there are no hidden compartments or modifications?

What is your source for the claim that narcotrafficking boats normally have weapons on display?

I don't have statistics on that. But a lot of news reports indicate that drug smugglers the Coast Guard catches are armed, especially when they’re carrying high-value loads.

Do you know of high-value drug cargoes on boats that were NOT armed?

AI Bootstrap made the claim - it's up to you to prove it. If you're giving the lack of weapons on display as proof that these boats aren't being used for drug trafficking, then you ought to have something to back up your claim. Lack of visible weapons doesn't in any way mean no weapons on board.

What I'm hearing from you is that you posted this AI generated list without taking time to make sure it's accurate. And THAT, my friend, is why I think you would be better off not using AI.

[Bootstrap]

A "skiff", according to Cambridge dictionary, is "a small, light boat for rowing or sailing, usually used by only one person. According to Merriam-Webster, it is "any of various small boats, especially a flat-bottomed rowboat. That means a "skiff" by definition is a relatively small boat. If any skiff is a small boat, then a large skiff is a small boat and a small skiff must be even smaller. So basically a rowboat size.

Maybe you think differently. If in your mind a 39' boat is a "small skiff", what would constitute a "medium-sized skiff"? And then what size would you consider a "large skiff."

A Carolina Skiff can be up to 25 feet or so:

https://carolinaskiff.com/models/

A Boston Whaler Skiff can be up to 42 feet:

https://www.bostonwhaler.com/boat-model ... CAQAvD_BwE

But that's above the typical size:

https://maritimepage.com/what-is-a-skif ... to-skiffs/

Skiff boats are small and lightweight vessels that are perfect for fishing in shallow waters. They range in size from 17-25 feet and weigh around 1,500 pounds. Due to their lightweight, they do not need a powerful motor and can save a lot of fuel compared to other larger boats.

Here is a buyer's guide to skiffs:

https://www.boattrader.com/research/skiff-boats-guide

They all have a small, lightweight hull, work in shallow water, they are open boats without a cabin, narrow for their length, and have a flat or semi-v bottom. They are typically powered by outboards, and are not designed for the open seas. They are designed for small crews.

What is your source for the claim that narcotrafficking boats normally have weapons on display?

I don't have statistics on that. But a lot of news reports indicate that drug smugglers the Coast Guard catches are armed, especially when they’re carrying high-value loads.

Do you know of high-value drug cargoes on boats that were NOT armed?

AI Bootstrap made the claim - it's up to you to prove it.

Actually, no. The reports I have remember for seized drug boats talk about armed crews, I have seen images of them over the years, and this is based on my recollection.

So I repeat my question: in my memory, these drug raids involve armed crews if there are large amounts of weapons. Anyone have evidence on that question? I think other people also post based on their recollection of events.

What I'm hearing from you is that you posted this AI generated list without taking time to make sure it's accurate. And THAT, my friend, is why I think you would be better off not using AI.

I think I did take time before creating it and after creating it to check its accuracy. Like other people, I am sometimes wrong, with or without the help of AI. But I do think I know what a skiff is, and I do have memories of armed crews on drug boats that are seized.

[JohnH]

I would like to propose that the loads for fishing are significantly bigger and heavier than drugs.

As far as I can tell, there is almost no fishing done out of Venezuela anymore either.

[ken_sylvania]

A "skiff", according to Cambridge dictionary, is "a small, light boat for rowing or sailing, usually used by only one person. According to Merriam-Webster, it is "any of various small boats, especially a flat-bottomed rowboat. That means a "skiff" by definition is a relatively small boat. If any skiff is a small boat, then a large skiff is a small boat and a small skiff must be even smaller. So basically a rowboat size.

Maybe you think differently. If in your mind a 39' boat is a "small skiff", what would constitute a "medium-sized skiff"? And then what size would you consider a "large skiff."

A Carolina Skiff can be up to 25 feet or so:

https://carolinaskiff.com/models/

A Boston Whaler Skiff can be up to 42 feet:

https://www.bostonwhaler.com/boat-model ... CAQAvD_BwE

But that's above the typical size:

So if a 42' skiff is above the typical size, it's not accurate to call a 39' skiff a "small" skiff. That would be a "large" skiff.

https://maritimepage.com/what-is-a-skif ... to-skiffs/

Skiff boats are small and lightweight vessels that are perfect for fishing in shallow waters. They range in size from 17-25 feet and weigh around 1,500 pounds. Due to their lightweight, they do not need a powerful motor and can save a lot of fuel compared to other larger boats.

Here is a buyer's guide to skiffs:

https://www.boattrader.com/research/skiff-boats-guide

They all have a small, lightweight hull, work in shallow water, they are open boats without a cabin, narrow for their length, and have a flat or semi-v bottom. They are typically powered by outboards, and are not designed for the open seas. They are designed for small crews.

I don't have statistics on that. But a lot of news reports indicate that drug smugglers the Coast Guard catches are armed, especially when they’re carrying high-value loads.

Do you know of high-value drug cargoes on boats that were NOT armed?

AI Bootstrap made the claim - it's up to you to prove it.

Actually, no. The reports I have remember for seized drug boats talk about armed crews, I have seen images of them over the years, and this is based on my recollection.

So I repeat my question: in my memory, these drug raids involve armed crews if there are large amounts of weapons. Anyone have evidence on that question? I think other people also post based on their recollection of events.

Well, yea. If there are large amounts of weapons, that kind of is an armed crew, right?

For reference, here is a photo of a drug boat being intercepted. Notice all the shotguns, automatic rifles, and machine guns.

What I'm hearing from you is that you posted this AI generated list without taking time to make sure it's accurate. And THAT, my friend, is why I think you would be better off not using AI.

I think I did take time before creating it and after creating it to check its accuracy. Like other people, I am sometimes wrong, with or without the help of AI. But I do think I know what a skiff is, and I do have memories of armed crews on drug boats that are seized.

You probably do know what a skiff is - I never disputed that. And if you know what a skiff is, you know that a 39' skiff is not a "small" skiff.

Here's a link to another picture of one of the boats that was destroyed. not a small skiff with a single small outboard motor

And look, here's another. The single small outboard motor appears as three large motors, apparently due to the less than ideal conditions for photography.