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" primarR

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John Batchelor

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🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 10 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.

1926 HCMS VANCOUVER

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is CBS Eye on the World.
0:08.5	Here's John Batchelor.
0:12.1	This is CBS, I on the world.
0:14.6	I'm John Batchel.
0:15.7	I welcome General Blaine Holt,
0:17.0	the United States Air Force, retired,
0:19.1	to help me understand what we're seeing through a glass
0:21.8	darkly off the coast of Venezuela, between Venezuela and Puerto Rico, the gathering of a fleet
0:27.7	that I have described gingerly as ready to take on the planet Mars. And yet, the Gerald Ford,
0:34.3	the supercarrier, super, supercarrier, and its escorts, a flotilla of Arlie Burke
0:41.3	destroyers read battleships loaded up with cruise missiles. In addition to that, there's a marine
0:47.4	expeditionary unit associated with a smaller aircraft carrier, and then there are Air Force elements based out of Roosevelt
0:56.0	Rhodes in Puerto Rico. That's an old Navy base stretching back to the 19th century, the Caribbean.
1:04.2	However, it's been revived as the center of what is building to be a sizable force to take on
1:10.5	the Maduro regime in Caracas. In addition,
1:14.0	their F-35s mentioned, there have been flyovers of B-2s and B-52s. Blaine, a very good evening to you. Thank you.
1:21.3	Roosevelt Rhodes is the headquarters. You know it very well. The reports say that they've revived it.
1:29.3	What is it look like and what is reviving mean? Is it all those aircraft? Are they gathered at Roosevelt Roads or are they
1:34.7	just coming by to say hello? Good evening to you. Good evening. Yes, affectionately known as
1:40.1	Rosie Rhodes to us. We still fly airlifters all the time, in and out of there, resupply, humanitarian
1:48.1	assistance for hurricane reliefs.
1:50.4	But when they say revive, what they mean now is instead of a few C-17s and a dog name Rex,
	...

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