Well it didn't take long for old Uncle Sam to flex his muscles. After getting in shape by murdering Venezuelans in boats, he decided it was time to strike a blow for 'freedom' and attacked the South American country, kidnapping its president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife to face 'justice' in the United States.
The legal authority for the strike — and whether Trump consulted Congress beforehand — was not immediately clear. The stunning, lightning-fast American military action, which plucked a nation’s sitting leader from office, echoed the U.S. invasion of Panama that led to the surrender and seizure of its leader, Manuel Antonio Noriega, in 1990 — exactly 36 years ago Saturday.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York.
Team Trump is exultant, if the wormlike VP. is to be believed.
Vice President JD Vance said in a statement on X: “The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.
Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation.”
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau says the military action and seizure of Maduro marks “a new dawn for Venezuela,” saying that “the tyrant is gone.”
He posted on X hours after the strike. His boss, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reposted a post from July that said Maduro “is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government.”
World reaction to the attack is less enthusiastic.
“The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint.”
— Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for “de-escalation and responsibility. International Law and the principles of the United Nations Charter must be respected,” Sánchez wrote on X.
— Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it is “extremely alarmed” and called for “immediate clarification,” according to a statement posted Saturday on the ministry’s Telegram channel. The ministry said such actions, if confirmed, would constitute “an unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of an independent state.”
— British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. was not involved in the U.S. operation in Venezuela and that he would seek more information from Trump.
As they say, there is more to come, with Trump scheduling a news conference later this morning from his gilded Florida compound. In the meantime, no doubt there is some solace to be found for those who crave consistency in these troubled times: 2026 is already showing that might still makes right, eh?
UPDATE: Well, this is certainly reassuring news, eh?
The United States will run Venezuela following a "large-scale strike" early Saturday that ultimately resulted in the U.S. capturing the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife, U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday.
The United States will lead Venezuela until a "proper transition can take place," he said during a news conference.
As well, there is this:
Asked about the future of Venezuela’s oil industry, Trump replied: “We’re gonna be very strongly involved in it. That’s all. What can I say? We have the greatest oil companies in the world – the biggest, the greatest, and we’re going to be very much involved in it.”
Capitalism and fascism. Could there be anything finer?
Ah good. The USA has just declared war on another country. Vietnam, Iraq, and Afganistan worked out well.
ReplyDeleteI hope PM Carney is checking his security precautions.
I guess that country is just filled with cock-eyed optimists, Anon.
DeleteI just saw your update. So, as suspected, the US is going to loot Venezuela.
ReplyDeleteI think Venezuela has a population of a bit over 30 million and is next door to Columbia where the FARC has been fighting US sponsored governments for 50+ years. Remind me to put all my retirement funds into US-Venezuelan oil firms.
I may well be wrong but does it not sometimes happen that people gang up on the biggest bully on the block and beat the $%#$# out of him?
If i have this correct, the USA is currently fighting and losing a proxy war in Ukraine, supporting genocide in Gaza, apparently thinking of another go at Iran (the 12 Day War went so well), and making threatening noises to China about Taiwan as well as annoying the blazes out of former close trade partners and allies like Canada and Mexico.
What could go wrong? Hubris seems too weak a term.
I'm not sure what the best term is to describe America's behaviour these days, Anon. Psychopathic, depraved, insatiably insane - none seem to do justice to the times.
DeleteThis will put a dent into Daniel Smiths tarsands!
ReplyDeleteTB
Excellent point, TB. They may have no choice but to secede to the U.S., eh?
DeleteOil companies have no allegiance they will buy from the lowest cost supplier.
ReplyDeleteUnder USA rule Venezuela could be the cheapest source of crude oil the world has seen in many years.
I suspect a crash in oil prices as the OPEC countries react to the USA occupation of Venezuela.
I suspect a crash in world stability as a consequence?
TB
Agreed, TB. And we won't even talk about the ongoing and willful destruction of the environment, aka., climate change which, I am told, is a hoax.
DeleteClimate change is definitely a hoax! Total fabrication!
ReplyDeleteWanna buy a bridge? Only used by a little old lady driving to church on Sunday. I also may have some lovely cottage land just north of Hwy 7 in Eastern Ontario. Bring your own waders.
Returning to my native city of Kingston after 30+ years and finding the winter climate totally different is just an odd fact, nothing to do with climate change.
I don't mean we have palm trees but the difference over even the last 15-20 years are often remarked on by local friends and colleagues. Having lived here long before and then moved back, I see the differences even more sharply.
Come to think of it, a palm tree or two would be nice. Nothing like a fresh date or two after breakfast to help start the day.
Here in Southern Ontario, we are having a winter reminiscent of decades ago, Anon. Unfortunately, given their lack of capacity for nuance, such a winter emboldens the deniers, not understanding that extreme variability is a hallmark feature of climate change.
DeleteThen again, I could be totally wrong. Who am I to question the Great and Mighty Oz south of the border whose astute analysis has proclaimed climate change a hoax?
Here in Southern Ontario, we are having a winter reminiscent of decades ago, Anon.
DeleteIs this good or bad? I lived in London many years ago and remember lovely winters plus the one where I had a friend trapped in a Tim Horton's for 8 hours because it was too dangerous to drive the next 2 km to work. And he was an OPP officer!
I can only hope that having a punishing winter means that less deer ticks survive to plague us next summer, Anon.
Delete