Compass Points - Crisis Erupts
Venezuela hit by two earthquakes.
Compass Points - Crisis Erupts
Venezuela hit by two earthquakes.
June 26, 2026
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When is an earthquake like an outbreak of war?
Many news outlets are reporting on the two terrible earthquakes that have hit Venezuela.
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In cities across northern Venezuela, neighbors helped each other dig through rubble to search for loved ones, after back-to-back earthquakes killed at least 589 people and left thousands injured.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the new toll early Friday, surrounded by government and military officials as she welcomed the arrival of rescue crews from all over the world.
“We are going to rescue the people who are trapped,” she said. “We are working tirelessly on this task.”
She said the state of La Guaira has been hardest hit by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck Wednesday evening, noting that it has been militarized as crews search for survivors and distribute food and water.
The number of casualties is expected to climb with thousands reported missing and frantic rescue efforts continuing.
-- Weather Channel
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The damage from the twin earthquakes has forced the closure of the damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport, according to Venezuela’s Health Ministry. The US has pledged $150mil in aid and the US Navy is surging warships, including the USS Fort Lauderdale with US Marines on board.
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PUERTO RICO -- The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has officially assumed the mission as the premier tactical force-in-readiness within the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility. Operating under the designation of Littoral Combat Force-24, the command offers tactical options via an agile Marine Air-Ground Task Force of over 1,300 Marines and Sailors to the theater. Commanded by U.S. Marine Corps Col. Ryan Lynch, LCF-24 is directly nested under Joint Force Maritime Component Command and Joint Task Force 84-2 to support Operation Southern Spear.
“The Marines and Sailors of LCF-24 are postured to execute all prescribed mission sets directed by our higher echelons of leadership; to deter the threats facing our hemisphere today,” said Col. Lynch. “Through our transition with the 22nd MEU, we have seamlessly assumed the watch. Our posture is active, our forces are integrated, and we are committed to standing as the regional security partner of choice.”
. . . A Purpose-Built Force for the Littorals Distinct from a standard Amphibious Ready Group/MEU deployment, LCF-24 is a purpose-built MAGTF engineered for distributed operations. The force maximizes its rapid littoral maneuver capabilities by operating from both shore-based nodes and amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale, which is exclusively aligned to support the MAGTF’s mission.
-- Marines.mil
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If the Marine 24th MEU “has officially assumed the mission as the premier tactical force-in-readiness within the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility” why has the deployed Marine unit been re-named “Littoral Combat Force-24”?
The reason is lack of amphibious ships. The 24th MEU needs three amphibious ships to embark its entire air, ground, logistics unit. With only the USS Fort Lauderdale available to embark Marines -- instead of the normal three amphibious ships -- only a portion of the 24th MEU can embark. The rest of the 24th MEU is stuck on various land bases, including Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico.
When a crisis erupts anywhere in the world, the US needs to have a forward deployed Marine MAGTF nearby that can quickly arrive to deter, assist, rescue, strike, and fight. Just as often happens in an outbreak of war, the local airport in Venezuela has been damaged and closed. The US cannot fly in forces. US Marines onboard Navy amphibious ships do not need local airports and do not need permission from local governments. US Marines arrive with a flexible air, ground, logistics unit that can jump in and help with a variety of missions. If the crisis expands, Marines on scene can be augmented with another Marine MAGTF on amphibious ships and can be supported by maritime pre-positioning ships.
When Marines on amphibious ships arrive to any crisis, anywhere around the globe, US allies are reassured, while adversaries are deterred. Marines can arrive quickly with the combat capabilities to help an ally and can arrive just as quickly with the combat capabilities to do harm to an adversary. Compass Points salutes the Marines and sailors onboard the USS Fort Lauderdale who even now are on the ground in Venezuela, digging through rubble, trying to rescue those trapped under the debris. When Marines conduct humanitarian operations and when Marines conduct combat operations, the world sees both the compassion and the power of the United States.
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Marines.mil - 05/29/2026
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Assumes the Watch as Littoral Combat Force-24, Advancing Operation Southern Spear in USSOUTHCOM AOR
By Capt. Shawn Doublet 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
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Weather Channel - 06/25/2026
Venezuela death toll surges to nearly 600; thousands more missing and injured after twin earthquakes
Casualties from Wednesday’s back-to-back earthquakes are expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue. Here’s the latest.
https://weather.com/2026/06/25/news/venezuela-earthquakes-cause-widespread-damage-caracas
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The bottom line is this. Insufficient Amphibious Shipping available to respond to a disaster at the very moment when such support could be critical in the relationship between Venezuela’s people and the US. One of the most valuable assets in an event of this nature are helicopters. Any of those?
Hospital ships? Para drops from USAF and other aircraft?
In the early1960’s there was a major earthquake in the former Yugoslavia. The first and most massive response came from US aircraft out of Germany and Italy dropping humanitarian aid via parachutes, tent cities built for the homeless, food, medical facilities. Europe took note of US capability and intent. Support from the USSR was zero.
Above and beyond the humanitarian effort was the realization of the citizens of Yugoslavia who further distanced themselves from the USSR and started leaning west. One more poker chip in the Cold War.
Humanitarian relief by US military forces is diplomacy at its very best. It is best executed from forward bases and shipping. Both areas we have neglected and dispensed with to our great detriment. Some things are just more versatile than short range, shore based missile batteries.
The US Navy needs 60 Amphibious ships and six hospital ships. How can Viking Cruise lines build 100 ships in ten years that are not significantly different than Hospital ships with modifications? The versatility of an 1100 Marine BLT cannot be replicated. I guess it is all too hard to understand.
1991 was the time Our Mighty Amphibious/Expeditionary Corps had 6 permanent MEUs 3 on each coast, 2 were forward deployed, 2 were in training, 2 in recover with Air Contingency BLT if task, . WE WERE THE NATION’S ANYTIME ANYWHERE ANY MISSION FORCE. LOOK AT US NOW….FORCE DISASTER HAS DESTROYED US! WE MUST LIKE THE IMMORTAL PHOENIX BE BORN AGAIN ALWAYS DEPLOYED TO PROJECT POWER FROM THE SEA. NEVER ARE WE A DEFENSIVE FORCE …MARINES MUST ALWAYS BE AS OFFENSIVE AS HELL!