53: US Military Operations off Venezuela and the War in Ukraine. General Blaine Holt (United States Air Force retired) analyzes the significant US military buildup off Venezuela, headquartered at Roosevelt Roads, describing it as a "war-winning force" primari

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🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 8 minutes

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Summary

US Military Operations off Venezuela and the War in Ukraine. General Blaine Holt (United States Air Force retired) analyzes the significant US military buildup off Venezuela, headquartered at Roosevelt Roads, describing it as a "war-winning force" primarily targeting cartels and sending a global message of American might. He suggests that operations will likely use commando-style tactics rather than a full occupation, potentially leveraging historical events like the Bay of Pigs as cover for unconventional approaches. The conversation pivots to Ukraine, where Russia is effectively using new glide bombs and missiles, having shifted to a wartime mobilization economy. Holt notes the profound erosion of Ukraine's infrastructure and the demoralizing lack of manpower. He argues innovative, inexpensive defenses, such as Reaper drones with Sidewinders or lasers, are needed, as current air defense economics are unsustainable.
1917 USS WYOMING

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is CBSI on the world.
0:06.4	I'm John Batch for visiting with General Blaine Holt,
0:08.6	United States Air Force, retired.
0:10.6	I ask him to comment on a weapon that the F.T. is featuring this morning.
0:14.4	I talked about it yesterday with FD's John Hardy.
0:18.5	It's a bomb.
0:19.3	It's a conventional bomb up to 500 kilograms of warhead that is launched
0:26.3	as a glide weapon from an aircraft over the Black Sea and is claiming an ability to reach
0:33.2	100 kilometers or more before it strikes its target. That is not entirely outside of air defense zones for the Ukraine forces,
0:42.1	but the FTA adds that Ukraine forces are low on air defense missiles and radar and systems in
0:51.9	general.
0:52.3	Now, the bomb that can go the farthest is jet propelled, not conventionally propelled.
0:58.5	And that might cut down the warhead.
1:00.6	But still, this is a much bigger warhead that can be delivered by the drones that are attacking constantly.
1:07.9	The Ukrainians have a success rate against the drones that are truly impressive,
1:12.8	although it's not what it used to be. I'm told the missiles that the Russians have been using are
1:18.0	expensive. These bombs are not. Blaine, do you regard this adaptation by the Russian forces
1:24.7	to be one effective and too significant. Thank you.
1:30.5	Thank you. It is significant because the Russians now have started to close down lines of
1:36.9	communication, and it looks now that they're going to try to shut this war down on military
1:42.7	terms where they basically impose terms. And if you recall, the start shut this war down on military terms where they basically imposed terms.
1:45.6	And if you recall, the start of this war, Russia went to a wartime mobilization economy,
	...

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