Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Run the Country’ After Capture of Maduro.
ABC News reports US Captures Maduro, Carries Out ‘Large Scale Strike’ in Venezuela: Trump
President Donald Trump said the U.S. “successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela” and said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were “captured and flown out of the Country.”
The announcement on Trump’s social media platform came shortly before 4:30 a.m. Saturday a few hours after several explosions were heard in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas, witnesses said, and photos and videos showed plumes of smoke and a large fireball in the night sky.
Trump said the operation was carried out in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement. Members of Congress said the military, which sources included the elite Delta Force, was in place to support that law enforcement operation.
“I spoke with Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio this morning. He did share that we did have wounded personnel, but no killed, but that is never guaranteed in advance,” Cotton said on Fox News.
‘Speed and Violence’
The president went into more detail about the operation later in an interview with Fox News, saying the attack was something nobody else could have done, and “extremely complex” executed with “speed and violence.”
“The whole maneuver, the landings, the number of aircraft which were massive number, the number of helicopters, the different type of helicopters, different type of fighter jets, we had a fighter jet for every possible situation,” he said in the phone interview.
“And really they just broke in, and they broke into places that were not really able to be, broke into, you know, steel doors that was were put there for just this reason, and they got taken out in a matter of seconds,” he added.
Alleged ‘Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy’
Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts” on a slew of charges in New York, including “narco-terrorism conspiracy” and “cocaine importation conspiracy” as well as weapons charges. Maduro has faced the charges in New York for years.
A federal indictment against Maduro, and his family was unsealed Saturday, saying he was “at the forefront” of a narco-terrorism conspiracy that imported tons of cocaine into the United States.
Maduro was taken by helicopter to the US Iwo Jima and would be transported to New York, according to Trump.
One person told ABC News that Trump had given the green light to capture Maduro several days ago and troops were ready to strike on Christmas Day, but were delayed due to military airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS. Subsequent opportunities were postponed partly due to weather, the person said.
‘No further action’ anticipated
Republican Sen. Mike Lee, of Utah, said in a post on X that he spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the phone about the actions being taken in Venezuela after initially asking “what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego, of Arizona, blasted Trump’s move, calling it the “second unjustified war in my life time” in a post on X. “This war is illegal, it’s embarrassing that we went from the world cop to the world bully in less than one year. There is no reason for us to be at war with Venezuela.”
US Will Run the Country
The New York Times reports Venezuela Live Updates: Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Run the Country’ After Capture of Maduro
President Trump said the United States would “run” Venezuela “until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” following the U.S. military operation that captured the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife.
Trump referred to a “partnership” between Venezuela and the United States, which he said would make Venezuelans “rich, independent and safe.” Of course, this was a partnership accomplished by a government overthrow.
“We are going to run the country until such time that we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said, suggesting an occupation.
What Is the Legal Case Against Maduro?
The Wall Street Journal asks What Is the Legal Case Against Maduro?
Some Venezuela experts believe that prosecutors will have a difficult time proving Nicolas Maduro’s drug involvement. He is accused of leading a group called the Cartel of the Suns.
“Legally, the biggest problem they will have is to demonstrate in a court that the Cartel of the Suns exists, and that he commands it,” said Brian Naranjo, a former senior U.S. diplomat who served in Venezuela.
Unlike some other drug-trafficking organizations, the Cartel of the Suns isn’t a hierarchical cartel but rather a diffuse network mostly made up of military officers, said Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.
U.S. prosecutors trace Venezuela’s drug-trafficking connections to the presidency of the late Hugo Chávez, who ordered generals to provide weapons to a now-defunct guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. That group signed a peace treaty with Colombia’s government and disarmed in 2016, but renegade FARC members have now joined other drug trafficking organizations.
President Trump said the U.S. is going to run Venezuela until there can be “a safe, proper and judicious transition” following the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife early Saturday morning.
“We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind,” Trump said, speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club. “We’re not going to let that happen.”
Fortunate Son
Trump Posts Video of the Strike. The tune is Creedence Clearwater Revival “Fortunate Son”.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115832049332877712
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” is a powerful protest song criticizing the class inequality and social injustice of the Vietnam War draft, highlighting how the wealthy and powerful used their influence to avoid service while working-class sons fought and died. Written by John Fogerty, it expresses outrage that “some folks are born with silver spoons in hand,” sending others to war while their own children get deferments, making it a timeless anthem against privilege and corruption.
Key Themes & Meanings:
- Class Warfare: The song isn’t strictly anti-war but anti-class system, exposing how the rich dictated wars while the poor paid the ultimate price.
- Draft Dodging: Lyrics like “It ain’t me, it ain’t me / I ain’t no millionaire’s son” directly address the unfairness of the draft, where privilege meant avoiding combat.
- Abuse of Power: Fogerty points to political elites (“senators,” “millionaires”) whose sons were shielded from the conflict they helped create.
- Social Injustice: It taps into broader themes of inequality, with the powerful benefiting while the marginalized serve.
Context & Legacy:
- Vietnam War Era: Written during the height of the war, it resonated with the counterculture’s opposition to the conflict and militarism.
- Iconic Status: Its message of privilege vs. sacrifice cemented its status as a symbol of protest, famously used in films like Forrest Gump.
- Timeless Relevance: The song remains powerful because its themes of wealth disparity and political power’s influence on ordinary lives still resonate today.
Fortunate Son analysis by Google AI.
Getting the Oil – Live Comment Updates
“We are going to get the oil the way it should be,” said Trump in a press conference.
“The country will largely be run by the people standing behind me.” [Marco Rubio was standing behind Trump.] NYT Addition: Some of the advisers standing behind him include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Trump put no time limit on the American occupation. It would be up to the United States to decide when to return the country to Venezuelan control. And then he turned to oil, saying that American companies would fix the infrastructure, “and start making money for the country.”
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground if we have to have” them, Trump said. This is the opposite of what his administration has repeatedly said its posture is.
“We are in the oil business and we will be selling it.”
“We will have the greatest oil companies in the world going in.”
“It won’t cost us anything because of the money coming out of the ground.”
Oil will be used to repay the US for damages said Trump.
“I’m not thrilled with Putin. He’s killing too many people.”
“It’s all a deal. Life is a big deal.”
Question of the Day
How long will this keep US minds off inflation, housing, deportations, food, and jobs?
Addendum
Illegal Possession of Machine Guns
A New First
Tulsi Call Home
It All Worked Out So Well Last Time
Who Knew?
Obama Is Desperate
Article posted with permission from Mish Shedlock
