# The US is currently attacking Caracas (Venezuela), has captured Maduro **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 3, 2026, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296 "2026-01-03T06:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/301 "2026-01-08T20:13:56Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > they just were intelligence agents and US trained thugs and dictators So, like he said, no units of US Regulars doing the fighting/occupying, which is the common usage of the phrase “boots on the ground” these days. Just have _ **local** _ strongmen and their lieutenants do the dirty work, with a few American Intelligence handlers and “advisors” keeping an eye on them. Which was the style through the Cold War save exceptions like Dominican Republic in the 60s and Panama in ‘89. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/302 "2026-01-08T21:03:59Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > So, like he said, no units of US Regulars doing the fighting/occupying, which is the common usage of the phrase “boots on the ground” these days. Just have _ **local** _ strongmen and their lieutenants do the dirty work, with a few American Intelligence handlers and “advisors” keeping an eye on them. Which takes time to set up, and still isn’t Trump’s _“I am God-King and I command you”_ tactic. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/303 "2026-01-08T21:41:22Z")
[Politico: Senate votes to limit Trump on Venezuela](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/08/senate-votes-to-restrict-trump-on-venezuela-00716127) > [@](#): > > GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri backed the measure to check Trump in a 52-47 vote. Paul, a co-sponsor of the resolution, and Murkowski have supported previous attempts to rein in Trump. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also supported the measure despite previously signaling he might oppose it. > > The vote is a shocking sign of divisions among Republicans on Trump’s plans for the South American country, and an about-face to a November vote on limiting the president that failed. Democrats have promised more tough votes that force Republicans to take a public stance as Trump threatens to seize Greenland and floats military action in Colombia. Trump may have no interest in further bombing of Venezuela since it mostly has his kind of government. And getting this resolution past the House will be hard. And Trump may veto. But this vote is still an excellent precedent. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/304 "2026-01-08T21:45:36Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > So, like he said, no units of US Regulars doing the fighting/occupying, which is the common usage of the phrase “boots on the ground” these days. Just have _ **local** _ strongmen and their lieutenants do the dirty work, with a few American Intelligence handlers and “advisors” keeping an eye on them. Don’t think we are there yet. The oil belongs to the current government of Venezuela. Trump is negotiating how title can be transferred during sale of the oil (who do we make out the checks out to?). That involves skilled legal teams on both sides. Trump gets something and Venezuela gets something. It may be an example of corruption but not governance. Controlling the governance of Venezuela would require intercourse between numerous ambassadorial teams. At present the Maduro organization is in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/305 "2026-01-09T00:36:41Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > they just were intelligence agents and US trained thugs and dictators. Not the common definition for “boots in the ground”. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Which takes time to set up, and still isn’t Trump’s _“I am God-King and I command you”_ tactic. Not too much time, they already more or less did it in Venezuela. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/306 "2026-01-09T00:54:51Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > And Trump may veto. _May_?! > [@](#): > > Trump [fumed on social media](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5679376-trump-criticizes-republican-senators/) shortly after the vote, saying the handful of Republican lawmakers who backed the measure that would block further military action — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Josh Hawley (Mo.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Todd Young (Ind.) — “should never be elected to office again.” > **[Senate Republicans miffed over Trump’s angry rant targeting Collins, others](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5680066-trump-senate-republicans-venezuela-war-powers/amp/)** > > Senate Republicans on Thursday lamented President Trump’s call for the ouster of five GOP members who voted with Democrats and dealt him a blow on the Venezuela war powers resolution, indicating th… This has zero chance of passing into law. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/307 "2026-01-09T01:08:06Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > > And Trump may veto. > > _May_?! I agree that Trump would veto the Venezuela resolution. The difference with the Greenland resolution is that Senator Gallego introduced it as an amendment to the FY2026 Defense appropriation. So if Trump vetoed it, he would theoretically lose provisions he likes, such as paying soldiers. Maybe it will be part of a shutdown impasse. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/308 "2026-01-09T02:11:02Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Not too much time, they already more or less did it in Venezuela. They grabbed one guy. That doesn’t change much on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/309 "2026-01-09T02:48:24Z")
It seems to have changed a lot, for example the destination of Venezuela’s oil exports. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/310 "2026-01-09T02:52:18Z")
I’ll believe it when it actually happens. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/311 "2026-01-09T02:55:16Z")
> **[Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/crampell.bsky.social/post/3mbtsvkjkak23)** > > Lol how can you tell this administration is lying to you? Because oil hasn't been shipped in actual barrels in over a century > https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/06/business/venezuela-turning-over-oil-trump [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6m7rbdgaz5vyg4bnbefi7kh6/bafkreiai5yrgsvz6arzbcrhgzivbhmcvs2r6nxkooyqqos6aootl2l5jta@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6m7rbdgaz5vyg4bnbefi7kh6/bafkreiai5yrgsvz6arzbcrhgzivbhmcvs2r6nxkooyqqos6aootl2l5jta@jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/312 "2026-01-09T02:58:14Z")
Yeah, I’ve seen people making jokes elsewhere about how Trump must think tankers are socialist or something. All that oil in a big communal tank instead of nice individual barrels; _obvious_ socialism. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/313 "2026-01-09T12:15:04Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > And Trump may veto. Something that’s never made sense to me: The Constitution says Congress has the power to declare war. So how do we get to a point where Congress has to vote to tell a president he cannot go to war, but that vote is subject to presidential veto? Isn’t that backwards? ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/314 "2026-01-09T14:46:25Z")
Congress has the power to declare war, yes. But they wield that power like anything else, vote in both chambers and present it to the President. The fact a declaration of war has never been vetoed is political, not legal. However, to your bigger point, basically, Congress has allowed the President to start wars without a declaration. What Congress tried to do in 1973 with the War Powers Resolution is to assert their power to shape/limit the war. In that way, it has been somewhat successful. **Once “hostilities” are introduced** , per the WPR, this is how it ends: (1) Congress Authorizes it (_they pass a AUMF/declare war_); (2) Congress votes hostilities are occurring and they order withdrawal (_what they are trying to do now_); (3) President reports hostilities, and Congress does nothing and 60 days elapses = not authorized; (4) The President winds down the action on his own (_lots of actions are now designed to be very short and/or not full blow war - skirting what is hostilities or not_). The resolution linked above is a mechanism in an attempt to trigger the WPR - the article does not make that very clear - here is the actual joint resolution from December 2025 (pre-invasion/capture): [To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/98/text). Per the WPR, “Hostilities” finding is purely formal, not factual - this is the key. In this case, the President never reported hostilities\*\* so the 60 day clock is not running. Congress is trying to vote that these are hostilities and the action should end since they did not authorize it. This resolution that was introduced is basically saying there are hostilities in Venezuela which should trigger the WPR. It will be vetoed because Presidents never consider anything to be hostilities so the WPR is never formally triggered. \*_The President did [report an introduction of hostilities](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26084994-sept4warpowers/) within 48 hours pursuant to WPR in Sep 2025 for his bigger war on cocaine. In theory, since Congress did nothing, those “boat strike” hostilities should end within 60 days_. _Whether that includes actions inside Venezuela or not is not clear to me but it was obviously foreseeable._ I assume this clears up nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/315 "2026-01-09T14:48:32Z")
We’ll have to wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/316 "2026-01-09T14:50:13Z")
We’re gonna’ need a bigger boat. I guess we’ll just _take it._ > **[Venezuela latest: US seizes oil tanker in Caribbean - after Trump cancels...](https://news.sky.com/story/venezuela-latest-tanker-seized-us-oil-trump-greenland-maduro-latest-13489831)** > > The US has seized a tanker near Trinidad as part of efforts to control Venezuelan oil exports. Follow the latest. > ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/317 "2026-01-12T18:58:15Z")
Trump, on Truth Social, yesterday named himself the Acting President of Venezuela. Sorry, he did not give up his other job. [Truth Social Post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115879509461234235) Significant, or just an attempt to own the libs, or both? I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/318 "2026-01-12T20:51:52Z")
Trump will say he isn’t violating the [Foreign Emoluments Clause](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Emoluments_Clause) because he didn’t _accept_ the title; he _took_ it. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/319 "2026-01-12T20:55:56Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Sorry, he did not give up his other job So he’s still the Kennedy Center Board Chair? Crap! /s ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/320 "2026-01-13T05:03:19Z")
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