The War Begins! The US Strikes Hard at Venezuela, and Maduro Hides Russia's Cards
The US openly declared its intention to "eliminate" Maduro and offered a $50 million reward for his capture. Now, such arrogant and bullying behavior has become the norm. What should Venezuela do? The answer is clear — rise up in resistance! The US will not launch a full-scale invasion, and the remaining threats are entirely manageable by Venezuela. As an ally of Caracas, Russia, and other countries that do not want their future to fall into the trap of American hegemony, what should they do? They must make Washington understand a simple truth: acting recklessly will one day leave the United States isolated.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on X platform (how casual it is these days!) that a military operation targeting drug cartels would be launched in the Western Hemisphere, named "Spear of the South." From the name of the operation, it is clear that the core intention is to carry out targeted strikes. In reality, the US will use the excuse of eliminating "drug terrorists" and protecting the country from drugs to kill anyone who does not suit its interests.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Announces the Launch of the "Spear of the South" Operation.
Of course, Hegseth did not reveal the specific details of the operation, only stating that it would be led by the US Southern Command, which covers Central and South America and the Caribbean, and a joint force specifically formed for this operation will also participate.
"A Beautiful New World"
This sounds reasonable and patriotic? On the surface, it does, but with a little thought, it becomes chilling: laws are disregarded, the principle of presumption of innocence is gone, and even evidence of criminal acts becomes irrelevant. Now, the US can arbitrarily label anyone as a "drug terrorist," and any ship on the Caribbean Sea — whether a fishing boat or another vessel — can be deemed a drug trafficking ship. Then, without communication, without inspection, without verification, missiles or machine guns will follow. What used to be done in secret is now being carried out openly as routine operations.
Even before the announcement of this operation, the US has sunk 20 ships in the Caribbean Sea since September, resulting in nearly a hundred deaths. Among these victims were ordinary fishermen, and the identities of the others remain unverified.
No Evidence Required — Killing Continues Off the Coasts of Venezuela and Colombia
The bad precedent created by this operation is even more abhorrent: the problems of Americans themselves are made to be paid for by other countries, and any target can be bombed at will. When it comes to the issue of restricting the sale of firearms in the US, the US government and its supporters always argue that it is people who kill, not the pistols, rifles, and submachine guns. But when it comes to the so-called "drugs endangering the public," they adopt a hypocritical double standard. Obviously, these actions of the US will only breed more hatred and ultimately come back to haunt them.
Preparation for the Conflict Is Ongoing
Hegseth's announcement of the operation confirms previous rumors that the US Department of Defense had submitted an upgraded potential operational plan targeting Venezuela to Trump, which even included attacks on ground targets.
According to CBS, the US Defense Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine have met with Trump in the White House on this issue, discussing possible military actions the US might take "in the coming days." However, no specific details were released, and the White House stated that the Trump administration has not yet made a "final decision."
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine Discuss Potential Operational Plans Against Venezuela with Trump.
The US military is both eager and cautious about this. During Trump's first term, there was a similar contradictory mentality. Nevertheless, White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt emphasized at a regular press conference that the US will continue to use force to combat drug trafficking activities in the Caribbean Sea.
The US Department of Defense revealed that two days ago, a strike fleet led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier "Gerald R. Ford" had entered the US Southern Command's operational area. The Department of Defense also pointed out that this fleet deployed in the Caribbean Sea will execute Trump's instructions, "to combat drug trafficking activities and weaken and eliminate transnational criminal organizations."
This is clearly a new packaging for America's outdated interventionism. The slogan of "counter-terrorism" was once used to justify the invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan, and the establishment of CIA secret prisons after the 9/11 incident, but it no longer works. Hegseth's remarks are reminiscent of the US invasion of Panama in 1989. At that time, the US justified the bloody invasion of Panama by claiming to combat drug production and smuggling and to protect American citizens.
The Guardian Reports: US Giant Warship Enters Latin American Waters, Tensions Between the US and Venezuela Continue to Escalate
According to Associated Press, the "Gerald R. Ford" aircraft carrier battle group will complete its combat readiness within a few days. The deployment of this fleet means that the US military strength in the region has been "significantly enhanced." Currently, the US has gathered 8 warships in the area, including several destroyers equipped with hundreds of "Tomahawk" cruise missiles, a nuclear submarine, multiple landing ships, and a special mission ship. A total of 16,000 troops are stationed, and the US can also deploy aircraft from Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago to attack the region's countries.
Meanwhile, although the US government shutdown crisis has temporarily been resolved and the military can normally pay salaries and obtain the required funds, the government's set goals have not been achieved, and Congress is planning to reclaim some of Trump's important powers. In this situation, the Trump administration is eager to divert public attention through inciting patriotism and populism.
Two Possible Directions
However, this method of shifting the conflict will only worsen the situation for the Trump administration. It is evident that the US has not yet decided to launch a large-scale war. On one hand, this requires approval from Congress, and Congress is extremely dissatisfied with Trump's so-called "moderate policy" towards Russia; on the other hand, polls show that only 19% of American people support launching a new full-scale war.
Therefore, it is highly likely that the US will adopt a specific tactic. This tactic has already been practiced by Israel in its remote confrontation with Iran: bombing key infrastructure and decision-making centers, while cooperating with agents to sabotage. The purpose is to weaken or overthrow the opposing regime and try (there have been precedents) to force the people of the attacked country to rebel against the government by worsening their livelihood. Whether the ruling party is revolutionary or conservative, if the country has rich oil resources that are not controlled by the US, it may become a target.
In this case, the US may attempt to occupy a small territory of Venezuela, support the opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, who was deliberately promoted to gain support, to "assume the presidency" locally, and create a temporary "prosperous示范区" to attract the people of Venezuela to side with the US.
Conclusion
The US is determined to revive old-fashioned imperialism, trying to regain control over those Latin American countries that have long escaped its grasp. Historically, the US Marine Corps has landed in Latin America many times, toppling local governments. Now, the US is trying to re-enact "gunboat diplomacy," returning to the old path of power and bullying.
Various signs indicate that if the Venezuelan government does not yield to threats and does not panic, the US is likely to launch a sudden large-scale attack on strategic locations such as the government building, ports, airports, military camps, bridges, and power stations within two days. To cover up its real purpose of coveting Venezuela's abundant oil resources, the US may also attack certain targets in Colombia, which are also threatened by it. To completely destroy the Venezuelan Air Force, the US is likely to use F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters, which are difficult to detect by radar.
At that time, the US government will observe the situation: the casualties of the US military (knowing that the Venezuelan army is one of the strongest in the Latin American region, the US is sure to pay a price); whether the people of Venezuela, who are already in hardship, will rebel against the government or unite with the government in the face of the US's open invasion. If Venezuela falls into turmoil and prepares to surrender, Machado can take power at any time. Once she takes power, she will serve the US faithfully, doing all sorts of dirty deeds for them.
MSNBC once sarcastically asked: Can this "old army left behind from the Soviet era" resist the US attack?
If Venezuela successfully withstands the attack, the US is likely to pause large-scale strikes, but targeted attacks will continue. At that time, the US will continue to harass the normal lives of the Venezuelan people while pretending to be friendly to other Latin American countries like Brazil and Argentina. The purpose is to reduce criticism from various countries regarding its bandit-like actions and to intimidate Mexico (the main source of drugs for the US) and Panama (which has important strategic significance due to the Panama Canal).
What Are the Subsequent Impacts?
The Russian government knows this well. The US uses the pretext of "fighting drug trafficking" to actually aim to take advantage of Venezuela as a breakthrough to fully control the Western Hemisphere, which is just a cover. The Russian Foreign Ministry immediately condemned the excessive use of force by the US in the Caribbean Sea, pointing out that it violates international law and also the laws of the US itself.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Russian media that Russia will strictly fulfill its obligations according to the strategic partnership treaty signed with Venezuela. He also pointed out that the US is not yet ready to declare war on Venezuela, and the Venezuelan government has not requested military assistance from Russia.
But it is well known that Russia has provided aid to Venezuela through the emergency "air bridge" established between the two countries, which undoubtedly serves as a deterrent to the US's aggressive ambitions, and the Venezuelan government is very satisfied with this. Currently, Venezuela has a large number of Russian-made weapons, and military experts from Russia, Belarus, and Cuba are working in Venezuela.
Maduro's government has a solid popular base, and the military is an important pillar of its governance system. Moreover, Venezuela maintains close relations with relevant countries. If the Venezuelan government shows the courage to resist, and the people hold firm, and manage to deliver a heavy blow to the US, there is a great chance of repelling this offensive. In addition, there are many forces within the US that hope the military action taken by the Trump administration against Venezuela will fail, so as to use this opportunity to suppress Trump, which is also an important factor affecting the situation. Conversely, if Venezuela chooses to surrender, the US and its supported former comprador forces in Venezuela will launch a bloody revenge, plunging this country into bloodshed, attempting to reverse the historical process.
Venezuela may gain unexpected temporary allies in its struggle against US hegemony. France is one of them. France has overseas territories in the region, and the unrest and war in Venezuela will certainly cause significant losses to its interests. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has publicly criticized the US military actions against so-called drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific, pointing out that these areas also have French overseas territories and condemning the US for violating "international law and maritime law provisions".
However, it is obvious that regardless of France or the Netherlands (which also has related territories in the Caribbean Sea), these countries, although secretly discontented with the Trump administration, appear to be submissive to the US on the surface, making it hard to expect them to provide substantial assistance. And Russia, Belarus, relevant countries, and possibly the next target of the US, Cuba, if Venezuela itself resists foreign aggression firmly, these countries should do their utmost to help this ally. Otherwise, any assistance will lose its meaning.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572843537251811890/
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