Overnight, the US military escorted Federal law enforcement into Caracas, Venezuela, to arrest Nicolás Maduro. By all accounts, the effort (mission) was flawless. As to the constitutionality, there will be questions. Maduro has had an arrest warrant out for years, so using the military to protect law enforcement, to collect him, in a foreign nation, while straining credibility, will do a few things.
First, Democrats will defend Maduro, a violent communist dictator (el president’ for life) and his hobbies (narco-terrorism). Maduro is credibly linked to using the open Biden-Harris border to infiltrate the US with “military-aged men,” and drug and human trafficking gangs.
Libertarians will be right to squawk over the particulars, but you can’t say the optics aren’t top-heavy with benefits. The US walked into a foreign nation friendly with China and Russia and walked out with its figurehead communist president (and his wife) so he could face trial for crimes against the United States.
Balls!
How big? Pretty big, and Mr. Trump will be speaking to the nation shortly to explain what happened, how it happened, why, and why he thinks it was justified, legal, and not extra-constitutional, but whatever narrative mill wins that debate, every country on earth can’t help but take notice.
This guy got a set, and he isn’t fooling around.
Reports of civilian casualties are likely false but will be amplified by the commies and their allies, which include local Dems. The US would target military infrastructure and is alleged to have disabled local air defense before the attempted “arrest.” Keep an open mind, though. Details matter as does the law.
Unfortunately for his critics, President Trump sits on solid legal precedent. In December, 1989, the U.S. military (under Bush I) invaded and occupied Panama, eventually nabbing dictator Manuel Noriega for drug trafficking and other crimes.
And?
First, whichever side you come down on, you must credit Trump for one thing: He doesn’t do forever wars. The kinetic phases of the Iranian nuclear strike and this Venezuelan decapitation were both completed within hours.
Second, once again we see a massive operation that obviously took enormous logistics and involved tons of folks, but— no leaks. It was peak operational discipline.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were indicted in the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced early on Jan. 3.
“Nicolás Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States,” Bondi said on X. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
You can watch the live stream below (here’s the page link if you want to go there yourself).
