This morning I woke to claims that the U. S. had invaded Venezuela, captured its president, and flown him out of the country.
I don’t know much more about it. The primary source seems to be a Truth Social post from President Trump. Here is its text:
The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
The statement is notable both for its scale and for the absence of any corroboration.
The only source for it is, apparently, President Trump’s post. Assuming it’s true, I oppose such extrajudicial action. It would be illegal under international law, immoral, and a strategic mistake, substituting spectacle for policy.
I doubt it will solve much, because Venezuela’s collapse is institutional and social, not personal. Unless it is President Trump’s intention to rule Venezuela from Mar-a-Lago, the problem there is not a single individual or even a regime.
In that regard it is similar to Burma, Iran, Russia, and China or any other state whose problems are embedded in durable institutions rather than removable leaders. We cannot solve our foreign policy problems with military force. We need to learn, even uncomfortably, to live with them without pretending every problem has a kinetic solution.
Update
The Associated Press has confirmed the strikes with photographs taken by onsite photographers. Meanwhile, although I was getting a haircut when it took place, President Trump has given a press conference in which he repeated the statements from his Truth Social post above, said the U. S. would “run” Venezuela until a peaceful transition could take place, and that U. S. oil companies would work to restore Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
I wonder if he’s aware of how bad our track record on those last two things have been.
So, what’s next? How do we “run” Venezuela?
… We cannot solve our foreign policy problems with military force. We need to learn, even uncomfortably, to live with them without pretending every problem has a kinetic solution.
Pass the bong, please.
Regime decapitation is relatively easy. “Running” a country is harder. Repairing it may be impossible.
I would add something I’ve said before. The U. S. does not have the culture or will to “run” other countries let alone repair them.