# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/101 "2026-01-03T17:19:28Z")
“We are going to run the country.” Yeah, let’s see how THAT goes. I apologize to all non-Americans. Yesterday I would not have believed I could be som much more embarrassed about my country. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/102 "2026-01-03T17:19:31Z")
How is this nightmare occupation to be funded? Who is going to go down there to “run the country”? Will will send American military to “occupy”? Dear gawd this is more than I can stomach at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/103 "2026-01-03T17:22:46Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Trump has no even strained argument of constitutionality. But he does have a Congress that doesn’t care that their powers have been completely usurped and a SCOTUS that ignores the constitution as it suits Trump the vast majority of the time. > > I won’t cry for Maduro Venezuela (and understand most of Venezuela is unlikely to). Seriously. More bothered by the thumbing our nose at international law. I am most bothered though by the bringing Imperial Presidency to a new level. I agree w/ your reasoning, and throw in another “problem” I am seeing creep up: Pragmatic handwaving/other-way-looking of unconstitutional action, b/c it turned out right/perfect. IOW: It seems to be unpopular in the states to oppose this Chuck-Norris-Stunt ™, b/c it worked. I’d expect a lot more opposition, had it not worked, 8 helis shot down and 60 navy-seals dead or hostages. The mere fact that the hollywood-outcome of an illegal action makes the action less-illegal (in practical terms), has a quality of its own and says a lot of how the US is run today. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/104 "2026-01-03T17:25:13Z")
Moderating: As this thread is all about politics, it is moved to P&E. Please respond in accordance with P&E rules. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/105 "2026-01-03T17:30:31Z")
He just said Rubio and Hegseth will be “running Venezuela with a team.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/106 "2026-01-03T17:31:04Z")
Okay–now that it’s in P&E, this might be the best place to ask the questions I’m wondering about: 1. What’s the evidence that Maduro is significantly involved in the illegal drug trade? 2. What’s the evidence that Maduro is significantly involved in any terrorist organization? I’d prefer serious answers before snarky ones. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/107 "2026-01-03T17:34:21Z")
Trump’s suggestion that Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, would help the United States run the country was stunning because it came just as Venezuelan state television was playing a clip of her denouncing the U.S. military operation. — NY Times ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/108 "2026-01-03T17:35:05Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What’s the evidence that Maduro is significantly involved in the illegal drug trade? I retract snark. I don’t know how much has been released so far. There was an indictment, so at least as much as required to pass a true bill on a ham sandwich. But indictment proceedings are not always public record, so we probably don’t have insight from that. At earliest, we might get some information when the pre-trial processes begin, I think. ---
**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, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/109 "2026-01-03T17:36:04Z")
As Stalin and Hitler both demonstrated, show trials just need an outraged prosecutor. Evidence is not required. ---
**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, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/110 "2026-01-03T17:39:32Z")
Would you feel any better if I told you that the answer to two of your questions is likely Elon Musk? > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > As Stalin and Hitler both demonstrated, show trials just need an outraged prosecutor. Evidence is not required. They were not the only ones. A certain McCarthy learned a lot from their methods. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/111 "2026-01-03T17:42:59Z")
All right, here’s an interesting background article on the allegations (not in the indictment, but in general) : > **[What is Cartel de los Soles, which the US is labelling a terrorist organisation?](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8j4ye5x0mo)** > > The US says it is headed by Venezuela's president and other senior politicians, but some analysts say it does not even exist. Short answer: there’s no such thing as a formal organization called “Cartel de los Soles,” but rather it’s a journalistic shorthand for widespread corruption in government leaders. It sounds really unlikely that Maduro was actively involved in drug smuggling, but likely that he turned a blind eye to it and made life a lot easier for smugglers. ---
**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, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/112 "2026-01-03T17:44:49Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > > As Stalin and Hitler both demonstrated, show trials just need an outraged prosecutor. Evidence is not required. > > They were not the only ones. A certain McCarthy learned a lot from their methods. I take your comment, but McCarthy ran Senate hearings, not trials. Lives and careers were destroyed, but no-one was executed or jailed as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/113 "2026-01-03T17:45:00Z")
> [@Jihi](#): > > He just said Rubio and Hegseth will be “running Venezuela with a team.” [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51DDXH0LhtL.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51DDXH0LhtL.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/114 "2026-01-03T17:46:33Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yoy4_h7Pb3M/hqdefault.jpg "Top Men") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoy4_h7Pb3M&t=5s) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/115 "2026-01-03T17:50:38Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Okay–now that it’s in P&E, this might be the best place to ask the questions I’m wondering about: > > 1. What’s the evidence that Maduro is significantly involved in the illegal drug trade? > 2. What’s the evidence that Maduro is significantly involved in any terrorist organization? > > I’d prefer serious answers before snarky ones. yes and yes … (just one of many case studies) fwiw: they sent a V. army hit-team to Santiago, Chile to kill a former military guy (google Ronald Ojeda, Chile) … Here the gist: _Case summary Kidnapping (21 February 2024): Ojeda was taken from his flat in Independencia (Santiago) by individuals disguised as Chilean police officers (PDI). Discovery (1 March 2024): His body was found in a suitcase buried under a concrete structure in a camp in the commune of Maipú. Victim profile: Ojeda was a former Venezuelan lieutenant with political refugee status in Chile, having escaped from a military prison in Venezuela in 2017._ _In March 2025, Chile brought the case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of the evidence of human rights violations and transnational persecution by the Venezuelan regime._ ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/116 "2026-01-03T17:57:39Z")
Re running Venezuela, I have no idea what that means but do recall Harry Belafonte: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jBd0YqO_-2I/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/jBd0YqO_-2I?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDjBd0YqO_-2I > [@](#): > > Matilda, Matilda, Matilda > She take me money and run Venezuela In this case, it is Trump who took my tax money. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/117 "2026-01-03T17:57:54Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Maybe Maduro does need to be out of power. This ain’t the way to do it. No doubt Maduro is awful. Almost certainly stole an election and all-around bad guy. But yeah, this ain’t the way to fix that. Not by a long shot. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/118 "2026-01-03T17:59:18Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > b/c it turned out right/perfect. A bit early to make that assessment. I suspect the “running Venezuela” rhetoric will quickly go the way of making Gaza in the Riveria of the Middle East, but any attempt to actually do that is … not likely to turn out right/perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/119 "2026-01-03T18:32:52Z")
I was referring to ousting Maduro - midnight action … that was pretty much a best case scenario (for all (well… all but Maduro)) … no dead ´muricans, few if any dead civils, the guy is alive (so no martyr legends), projecting US-force … and it took no longer than a Taylor Swift concert. Could have easily turned into a 40 ‘murican hostages like Teheran 79 … crippling Trump. Also, V’s armed forces must be pretty red-faced … but I guess that is the (implicit) cost of such levels of corruption (as soon as a friend-of-a-friend gets a job, instead of the best person, things go down pretty fast … ---
**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, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296/120 "2026-01-03T18:38:38Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > Also, V’s armed forces must be pretty red-faced … but I guess that is the (implicit) cost of such levels of corruption … I agree that corruption is inherently dysfunctional, but that does not bode well for the future of the US armed forces either. Which maybe will turn out to be a good thing, if their future aims are against decency, democracy and the people\* in general. We shall see. \* The people like in: We the people [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-currently-attacking-caracas-venezuela-has-captured-maduro/1026296.md?page=7)