You folks would be the experts, WRT what’s going on now (1/3/2026).
MHO: These problems are NOT the U.S.’s to solve.
Even if these problems were in the USA’s rightful area of action, which they are not, there is zero chance the US’s current criminal regime could do the right thing for the right reason.
They are actively doing the wrong thing for the worst of reasons.
Not to mention the stated rationale for this attack (and the previous murders at sea) is utter nonsense. It cannot be because Maduro is involved with sending drugs to the United States. If that were the case, then Trump would not have pardoned the former president of Honduras, Hernandez.
Maybe @Frodo?
Dude, that’s saying someone from Spain could be from Poland, except that Poland is about half as far from Spain (2,714 km) than Argentina from Venezuela ( 4,764 km ) 
Ah, Argentina. Sorry about that! As an American, I thought, “from South America.” Just like as a New Yorker, Westchester and Buffalo are all “upstate.”
On the other hand, if you want a view on what happens to a South American country when its head of government is overthrown by a military coup for the benefit of right-wing corporatists…
I have some friends who are Venezuelan. I am not. This is what one of them thought.
I am friendly with a young and educated Venezuelan man - who is ecstatic at this development, calling it “one of the best days of his life”. He loved seeing the picture of Maduro in cuffs and thought he would never see justice.
He is not a fan of Trump or right-wingers in general. His view was nine million people (his correction when I said 7.7m) left Venezuela since they were starving and persecuted. He felt 90% of Venezuelans might support the US action removing Maduro, and that oil corruption ruined a country wealthy “when they just had coffee and chocolate”.
He felt the Venezuelan army would remain loyal to the government for now. He said soldiers were often forced to commit war crimes so superior officers could document their “loyalty” and have something compromising to assure it. And he was less concerned Trump did not contact the opposition, saying most were out of the country and without military support or boots on the ground, Trump involving them at this stage would be unhelpful. He liked the opposition more than subordinate members of the dictatorship, and was worried this remained intact.
I am not in a position to judge these matters, and opinions will differ, especially in other countries in The Americas. But many Venezuelans are celebrating, despite many concerns and much uncertainty.
Thanks for this. One data point, sure, but a helpful one, IMHO.
It is worth pointing out the average Venezuelan is said to have lost 25 pounds due to the relative unavailability of food over the last few years.
My friend also claimed that in major cities, any older men over the age of sixty seen walking around might be press-ganged into joining a militia, a poorly equipped army reserve. This seems to have been largely to keep tabs on people and so Maduro could dissuade potential invaders by saying he had a militia of four million people. I have not seen this in any of the stories about recent events.
Thanks for your feedback @Dr_Paprika .
Here is another view.