Trump does not have a plan for what is to happen in the White House later today - why should anyone expect he has a plan for Venezuela. Maybe he can build a Trump Tower Caracas?
Best would be to export Trump to Venezuela, and restrict his ability to return to the US.
Oil was and is the only reason for the invasion and capture of Maduro. He next wants Greenland for its minerals. Never mind that it is a country under the protection of Denmark. Not sure who benefits from his actions, the US or more likely Trump’s coffers and those of his friends and family.
The only Venezuelan oil that the big oil companies are interested in are its off shore deposits. Chevron is already there. But the bulk of Venezuelan oil is in inland tar sands. There the situation is quite different. There is a lot of oil but it is difficult and expensive to extract. That coupled with political and low current oil prices meandering that no CEO is going to be willing to expend the necessary cash and manpower. This point has been brought up repeatedly in the mainstream press.
OMG yes Gabe you are indeed a product of Georgetown and the "Don't (because I say so)" plan of (non-) action that academics and bureaucrats thrive on. The entire point is that U.S. academics and bureaucrats should NOT have a plan - the only morally acceptable "plan" is to allow for free and fair elections so the people of Venezuela can themselves decide their future. This was not possible without Trump's action and Maduro's lawful arrest (pretty sound "plan" if you ask me).
Maduro is a bad guy. But the US had no legal authority to go in and kidnap a leader of a sovereign country. The legal way to get him to the US is through extradition or arrest him if he sets foot on US soil. Trump has given Putin, Xi, Un and every other tin pot dictator the “right” to do the same thing. Wonder what you will think when China sends in a team to grab Taiwan’s President?
You're overthinking it. No way in hell to plan what happens in Venezuela. We can't even plan what happens in our own country. Bottom line, Maduro is out. The rest of them better take a hint.
We just saw a nearly unanimous congressional vote on releasing Epstein files because of broad support and buy in. We have plenty we all agree on - just very little that Congress and Trump are willing to do about it.
Please clarify: “A recent CBS News poll, conducted during the boat strikes but before Maduro’s capture, found that 76% of Americans — including 64% of Republicans and 86% of Republicans …”
Why did Trump invade Venezuela and capture Maduro? Because he can. Why has he done all the things he's done as president, despite a lack of plan, reason, logic, evidence, or authorization? Because he can. No one can stop him. At least, no one has tried very hard to.
Trump does not have a plan for what is to happen in the White House later today - why should anyone expect he has a plan for Venezuela. Maybe he can build a Trump Tower Caracas?
Best would be to export Trump to Venezuela, and restrict his ability to return to the US.
Gabe is Back!
Oil was and is the only reason for the invasion and capture of Maduro. He next wants Greenland for its minerals. Never mind that it is a country under the protection of Denmark. Not sure who benefits from his actions, the US or more likely Trump’s coffers and those of his friends and family.
The only Venezuelan oil that the big oil companies are interested in are its off shore deposits. Chevron is already there. But the bulk of Venezuelan oil is in inland tar sands. There the situation is quite different. There is a lot of oil but it is difficult and expensive to extract. That coupled with political and low current oil prices meandering that no CEO is going to be willing to expend the necessary cash and manpower. This point has been brought up repeatedly in the mainstream press.
OMG yes Gabe you are indeed a product of Georgetown and the "Don't (because I say so)" plan of (non-) action that academics and bureaucrats thrive on. The entire point is that U.S. academics and bureaucrats should NOT have a plan - the only morally acceptable "plan" is to allow for free and fair elections so the people of Venezuela can themselves decide their future. This was not possible without Trump's action and Maduro's lawful arrest (pretty sound "plan" if you ask me).
Maduro is a bad guy. But the US had no legal authority to go in and kidnap a leader of a sovereign country. The legal way to get him to the US is through extradition or arrest him if he sets foot on US soil. Trump has given Putin, Xi, Un and every other tin pot dictator the “right” to do the same thing. Wonder what you will think when China sends in a team to grab Taiwan’s President?
The shoot first and ask questions later school of diplomacy, eh?
You're overthinking it. No way in hell to plan what happens in Venezuela. We can't even plan what happens in our own country. Bottom line, Maduro is out. The rest of them better take a hint.
I object to the notion that the operation was “surgical and precise” when 40 Venezuelan citizens were killed. This was a mob hit.
Gabe - Happy New Year and for your always spot-on reporting.
of course bone spur man has a plan-to reorient the world to the new gilded age where the measure of worth is money,money,money
What is the over/under re when Trump will propose a real estate development in Caracas?
Our country is not in a place to have “broad support and buy in” for anything.
We just saw a nearly unanimous congressional vote on releasing Epstein files because of broad support and buy in. We have plenty we all agree on - just very little that Congress and Trump are willing to do about it.
Please clarify: “A recent CBS News poll, conducted during the boat strikes but before Maduro’s capture, found that 76% of Americans — including 64% of Republicans and 86% of Republicans …”
I couldn’t help smiling when I saw your email pop up, this AM. Looking forward to more brilliant reporting in 2026!
Good analysis, Gabe.
Why did Trump invade Venezuela and capture Maduro? Because he can. Why has he done all the things he's done as president, despite a lack of plan, reason, logic, evidence, or authorization? Because he can. No one can stop him. At least, no one has tried very hard to.
How is this different from Putkin invading Ukraine? Trump doesn’t think thru any of his actions,
The shoot from the hip with foreign policy is not wise.