JumpCrisscross 2 hours ago

Do we have another war in post-WWII history where a credible theory for its genesis is a leader trying to distract from a scandal?

Closest I can come to is the Falklands War.

  • kimixa an hour ago

    Depends on how you define "war", but the initial invasion of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and Israel's strikes on Iran this year may count - both were closely aligned to rising domestic pressure on the leaders at the time.

    • JumpCrisscross 19 minutes ago

      > the initial invasion of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and Israel's strikes on Iran this year may count - both were closely aligned to rising domestic pressure on the leaders at the time

      I don't know enough about what prefaced Putin's moves into Crimea and Ukraine larger. I'd describe Israel's recent wars as being closer to a WWI-esque powderkeg strike inasmuch as without the October 7 attack, none of this would have happened (when and how it did).

      What's unique, here, is that it's practically entirely domestic elements which are driving Trump into Venezuela. I can think of historical examples. But they're all from the 19th century or classical history.

  • mc32 an hour ago

    Do you mean Maduro threatening to invade Guyana? I think that's just saber rattling neither the US nor his southern cone neighbors, even the socialists, would allow it.

    • Refreeze5224 25 minutes ago

      He means the opposite, Trump threatening Venezuela because he needs a distraction from his presence in the Epstein files.