Capitol Hill is buzzing this week with a flurry of activity and anticipation as lawmakers prepare for briefings on the military operations in Venezuela. This mission isn’t your run-of-the-mill diplomatic effort; it has been touted as vital to American interests, with President Trump determined to address several pressing issues that Venezuela poses. Apparently, this mission covers a buffet of problems: oil, drugs, illegal immigration, and the ousting of a dictator, Nicolás Maduro. Quite the mixed platter of geopolitical entrees.
According to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, the operation is a bold step towards curtailing the influx of illegal drugs from Venezuela. American families have suffered too long from the toxic influence of these drugs, and many have been shattered by the loss of loved ones. The Trump administration took decisive action to stop the flow of drugs from a country that Cotton describes as being in cahoots with various shady characters like drug traffickers, Cuba, and even Hezbollah. Talk about a bad lunch crowd!
The military’s complex operation to remove Maduro is nothing short of heroic as Cotton lauds the skills of America’s brave servicemen and women. The operation wasn’t just about booting a drug-dealing dictator but executing a plan that only the U.S. military could pull off. With Maduro out of the picture, the question remains whether the strikes on alleged drug boats will continue. Cotton sounds optimistic, hoping the drug boats cease to exist, or else the naval ships will keep flexing their muscles in the region.
Now, the U.S. has become deeply involved in Venezuela’s future governance. President Trump indicated that the U.S. would run things until a proper transition could occur. It’s reassuring to know that managing another country’s affairs is on top of America’s to-do list while there’s still plenty at home that needs fixing. But hey, who can blame a country for wanting to mediate in the backyard of prosperity and stability? After all, Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest oil reserves.
Then there’s the topic of intervention, a word loaded with history. Some might mention the U.S.’s less-than-stellar record with past Latin American escapades, but Cotton doesn’t seem fazed. He’s confident, drawing parallels with the successful removal of Panama’s Manuel Noriega in 1989. While some may roll their eyes at another dramatic Latin American intervention, Cotton insists that history shows it’s possible to turn things around, if only one has the resolve and, presumably, a strong arm. Who knew regime change could evoke such optimism?
