AFP: Capturing Maduro is a risky gamble

International – Saturday, after the US military launched a military operation against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Trump celebrated his military victory in Venezuela. However, this foreign intervention may bring severe criticism at home.

Ten years ago, after 9/11, he called the invasion of Iraq "foolish," which laid the foundation for the core principles of the nationalist and isolationist ideology of his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement. Therefore, the series of airstrikes from Friday to Saturday night and the arrest of President Maduro represent a risky gamble for this Republican. As expected, Democratic members responded quickly. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the action "reckless."

Democratic Senator and Iraq War veteran Ruben Gallego angrily stated, "This is the second war without just cause I have experienced in my life. This war is illegal," and added that the United States "has no reason" to go to war with Venezuela.

On the other hand, many Republican members praised the action. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a message on social media early Saturday morning.

Republican Representative Tom Cotton said, "I congratulate President Trump, our brave soldiers and law enforcement officers for completing this remarkable operation."

House Speaker, a key figure in Trump's political machine, Mike Johnson quickly avoided questions about the legality of the military action, asserting that the action was "decisive and justified" to "protect American lives." Johnson clearly stated that Congress does not need to hold an emergency session. He specifically pointed out that the Trump administration officials are "working" to arrange a meeting scheduled for next week.

However, signs of concern began to emerge within the Republican Party.

Shortly after the announcement of the Caracas operation, conservative Senator Mike Lee posted on X, stating that he "迫切想知道 [...] what could legally justify this action." According to him, this was not "a declaration of war or authorization for the use of force."

However, Mike Lee quickly changed his statement, saying that he had spoken with Secretary Marco Rubio and received assurances that the purpose of the operation was solely to arrest Nicolas Maduro. He noted that this "likely falls within the president's inherent powers."

Marjorie Taylor Greene, an active member of the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement and a long-time supporter of Trump - who recently broke with the president - was far less tolerant of it.

In a lengthy article on the social network X, she sharply criticized Trump's claim that the conflict in Venezuela aimed to combat drug trafficking. She pointed out that most of the deadly fentanyl flowing into the United States comes from Mexico, so "why hasn't the Trump administration taken action against Mexican drug cartels?"

Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized several points that could resonate with MAGA supporters, including the distinction between forcing a regime change in Venezuela and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She wrote that people are "fed up" with foreign interventions, spending money abroad rather than in the United States, and "neoconservative wars": "Many MAGA supporters thought they voted to end these wars. We were completely wrong."

Source: rfi

The US military captured the Venezuelan president

Original: toutiao.com/article/1853346341590028/

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