# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/61 "2026-01-03T13:26:44Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Said _sotto voce_: “We need to get back to the time when the US could depose South American rulers at will to further its ends. If we get rid of Maduro, we get oil.” No sotto voce. The quiet part has been out loud for a long time now. > **[Trump’s claims to Venezuelan oil are part of broader ‘resource imperialism’,...](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/24/trump-venezuela-oil-resource-imperialism)** > > Critics compare offensive to Iraq war, citing familiar mix of regime-change rhetoric, security pretexts and oil interests ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/62 "2026-01-03T13:38:24Z")
The NYT quotes Pam Bondi’ social media posts (it is in the live updated breaking news, makes no sense to link because it changes constantly): > It appears, based on Attorney General Pam Bondi’s social media post that Nicolás Maduro has been charged in a new indictment. The existing charges filed in March 2020 do not include his wife, Cilia Flores. The earlier indictment, filed under seal, contained four counts, charging Maduro and five others with narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and conspiracy to possess machine guns. Can somebody explain the last two indictment points to me? Does a government leader, the president of a sovereign country, not have the right to posses machine guns? Why would it be a conspiracy if he did? And what about the second amendment? I know it does not apply in Venezuela, they have their own laws, but still. Is this the legal equivalent of blowing a raspberry? ---
**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 3, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/63 "2026-01-03T13:40:55Z")
_“The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must”_ –The Melian Dialogue by Thucydides Also, won’t it be awkward when – based on **[recent precedent](https://www.factcheck.org/2025/12/examining-trumps-pardon-of-former-honduran-president-convicted-of-trafficking-drugs-to-u-s/)** – Trump realizes that he simply _must_ grant Maduro a Pardon? He wouldn’t want to be viewed as logically inconsistent (or insane), right? Right?? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/64 "2026-01-03T13:49:32Z")
I’m not sure it matters, but it appears this move is supported by the Venezuelan people. Is there anyone from Venezuela on here would would comment and confirm or deny the population’s general feeling about this? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/65 "2026-01-03T13:52:40Z")
I’ve seen far too many reporters use _unprecedented_. So on January 3, 1990 the US captured **Manuel Noriega**. Not likely a coincidence this occurred on the same date. * * * * * * Weird that one despot did this to another. * * * * * * Someone mentioned US being throw out of the UN. Can’t happen, won’t happen. Nations have done worse without being thrown out. Please see Russia currently. * * * * * * Does this in any way help María Corina Machado or her party take control from the current ruling party: **United Socialist Party of Venezuela**? * * * * * * If this is about oil why do it now with oil prices so low? Seems odd. * * * * * * Is Columbia going to make a move? It seems unlikely, but I’ve seen a few comments like that. ---
**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 3, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/66 "2026-01-03T13:59:03Z")
Just to add … Whenever people would assume that invading Iraq was about _cheap_ oil, I’d remind them that consolidating supply or control of a commodity _seldom_ (never?) results in lower prices for the consumer. Whether or not one believes that this is unambiguously “about oil,” it would be silly to assume that we’re _not_ after it, regardless, and [**their stores are said to be vast**](https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/factbox-venezuela-s-oil-wealth-reserves-output-and-exports/3778476). Trump solicited a billion in campaign fund$ from the Big Oil Execs; allegedly, **[he got about half that](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/23/big-oil-445m-trump-congress)** – no petty cash haul. Also, like the recent **[German bank caper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Gelsenkirchen_heist)**, once you’re juxtaposed to your **[resource-wealthy neighbor](https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/guyanas-oil-wealth-drives-tensions-venezuela)**, it becomes a simple matter of “Kill, Baby, Kill!” followed by “Drill, Baby, Drill!” ETA: @What_Exit I hadn’t read your post while I was typing mine, so … my comments weren’t in any way addressed to you. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/67 "2026-01-03T13:59:14Z")
This is a dangerous slippery slope here: of course some people in Venezuela would like to get rid of Maduro and his regime, and the last elections were rigged. Here is an article quoting the vice-president of the Canary Island - Venezuela Union (in Spanish): > **[El vicepresidente de la Unión Canario-venezolana: "Hay una mezcla de...](https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/internacional/vicepresidente-union-canario-venezolana-hay-mezcla-preocupacion-pueda-salir-manos-aires-libertad_1_12882958.html)** > > Cree que Venezuela está "oprimida" e insiste en que un tercio de la población venezolana está en el exterior. "Son personas que no quería salir en su mayoría" > There is a mixture of concern that this could get out of hand, but also a sense of freedom. But claiming that you are liberating an oppressed population was the justification used by Hitler in the Sudeten, by Putin in Ukraine, by Mussolini in Libya, by Putin again in Georgia, by Nixon in Chile, once again by Putin in Chechnia… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/68 "2026-01-03T14:00:06Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Can somebody explain the last two indictment points to me? Does a government leader, the president of a sovereign country, not have the right to posses machine guns? Why would it be a conspiracy if he did? The other charges appear to assert that Maduro was engaged in drug smuggling into the US. If the conspiracy to possess machine guns was related to criminal actions in the United States, the argument would be that his status as head of state does not allow him to commit criminal acts in the US. ---
**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 3, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/69 "2026-01-03T14:03:49Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > But claiming that you are liberating an oppressed population was the justification used by Hitler in the Sudeten, by Putin in Ukraine, by Mussolini in Libya, by Putin again in Georgia, by Nixon in Chile, once again by Putin in Chechnia… I think it would be akin to falling apart because somebody has taken your daughter’s fourth-grade class hostage, and then hearing that there’s a rescue afoot – only to find out that the rescue effort is being led by Jeffrey Epstein. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/70 "2026-01-03T14:04:37Z")
It is not whether it is up to him to hold elections or not, it is whether anyone will physically stop him. For the last damn time: _Laws and regulations do NOT enforce themselves._ ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/71 "2026-01-03T14:07:36Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > If this is about oil why do it now with oil prices so low? Seems odd. It’s about oil in the sense that recently, 90% of Venezuela’s oil exports had been to China. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/72 "2026-01-03T14:08:21Z")
Moderating: > [@Czarcasm](#): > > It is not whether it is up to him to hold elections or not, it is whether anyone will physically stop him. > For the last damn time: _Laws and regulations do NOT enforce themselves._ This is really off topic. Let’s talk about the military action here. If you want to talk about broad political connections in the US, i suggest a new thread, possibly in P&E or the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/73 "2026-01-03T14:25:09Z")
Argentina president Javier Milei celebrated the capture of Maduro and his wife on social media, posting on X, “liberty advances, ¡Viva la libertad, carajo!” ---
**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 3, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/74 "2026-01-03T14:36:57Z")
POTUS was just on Fox & Friends over the phone. Did not make it any clearer, kept digressing then when they’d try to refocus would come back to reaffirming the statement already issued just in more words. Did say Maduro was flown to the USS Iwo Jima and “will be headed for New York where they’re indicted.” SJU airport reports suspension of US commercial flights for 24 hrs. My suspicion is that is where he’ll be (or already was) relayed to be put on a flight to CONUS. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/75 "2026-01-03T15:02:29Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > If this is about oil why do it now with oil prices so low? Seems odd. Does it need to be about low oil prices or just having the oil? Trump made “agreements” with Intel, US Steel and Nvidia with US joint ownership or kickbacks from their sales. Why not seize massive oil fields and allow companies to exploit them so long as 10% goes to the Trump Government Slush Fund? “We have bravely reclaimed the oil fields the Venezuelan government stole from you! All that’s left now is for you to sign this agreement…” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/76 "2026-01-03T15:06:36Z")
What’s odd to me is how seemingly easy it was to snatch the Maduros. Could it have been a negotiated surrender? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/77 "2026-01-03T15:12:37Z")
I can’t imagine Maduros agreed to it. But his rule is not without internal controversy in Venezuela. I could believe there were people in the Venezuela government, military, even among the equivalent of the secret service, who were recruited to help. ---
**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 3, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/78 "2026-01-03T15:13:54Z")
The only political norm left is presidents waiting until Friday night to do something that won’t be popular with the American people. I hope we all still remember how appauling this is on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/79 "2026-01-03T15:17:54Z")
I think there’s a decent chance other people close to power offered him up if that’s what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/80 "2026-01-03T15:24:20Z")
Well, then they better hop on a plane out of the country quick. This isn’t an occupation. If there were such obvious betrayals then it would be sniffed out by the Venezuelans in the next few days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296.md?page=5)