Source: Orange County Register
by Patrik S Ward & Abigail R Hall
“In the early hours of January 3, U.S. forces entered and carried out strikes in Venezuela, removing Nicolas Maduro from power. The operation was swift, decisive, and framed as a necessary act — an intervention to combat narco-trafficking, restore order, and free a population suffering under an entrenched dictatorship. We’ve seen this movie before; we know better than to think it will be ‘smooth sailing’ from here. It is worth stating what is obvious: Maduro was a dictator. His government repressed political opposition, hollowed out democratic institutions, and oversaw an economic collapse that drove millions of Venezuelans to flee. Many Venezuelans — though not all — are celebrating his removal. The question is not whether Maduro was a problem. The question is whether the U.S. invasion and forced regime change can provide a long-term solution. History offers a sobering answer.” (01/05/26)