Many Venezuelans must have assisted US personnel (including the CIA and Special Forces - see video above) already in Venezuela - in the rendition of Maduro, at his Caracas compound last night. See the whole matter at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_strikes_in_Venezuela
I suspect
that the neatness of the US operation might be explained if there was also a
Venezuelan military coup against Maduro - a coup or mutiny or Venezuelan soldiers simply refusing to fight, because US forces were and are too powerful. Hence Venezuelan military leaders could order no or little firing on US forces. This explains why there were no US casualties.
Trump's Second Administration has been an international wrecking ball in so many ways that Trump's promise to "run Venezuela" smoothly is likely beyond the US.
I recall that in 2003 the US quickly subdued Iraq - but poor governance decisions led to an endless Iraqi insurrection/quagmire against Western forces -- mainly those of the US. Soviet forces were earlier victorious for a short time in 1980's Afghanistan before a long anti-Soviet insurrection which effectively drove out Soviet forces. Meanwhile Trump's friend Putin found determined resistance almost instantly in Ukraine.
Oh yeah, I’m actually surprised at how ‘clean’ this mission seems to be, but we will get updated casualty figures in a few days.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite military history YouTubers actually prepared a video on the Venezuelan Air Force and posted it just before the US went in. It’s likely there’s now nothing left to fly. https://youtu.be/Y0AvoM8XeMM
‘Large number’ of Maduro’s security team killed:
Deletehttps://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/large-number-maduro-security-team-185404245.html
According to official Cuban announcements 32 Cuban "security personal" were killed during the raid.
DeleteMH
Hi Anonymous at 1/05/2026 9:02 AM
ReplyDeleteThanks for https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/large-number-maduro-security-team-185404245.html
That some of Maduro's security team remained loyal and died for him may still be consistent with my military coup scenario. Confusion and fragmentation reigned amongst the Venezuelan military on the night.
Regards Pete
As officially stated by Cuba about 32 Cuban security personal were killed.
Delete$50 million and a new identity by CIA are worth a change in loyalty.
Happy New Year Shawn
ReplyDeleteI suspect that the “cleanliness” of the US op might be explained if it was also a Venezuelan military coup against Maduro. Hence Venezuelan military leaders ordered no or little firing on US forces explaining why there were no US casualties.
Thanks for https://youtu.be/Y0AvoM8XeMM The continually obsolete or low availability status of the Venezuelan airforce means little opposition to US power projection while providing a ready market for US arms companies.
Greenlanders must now be having kittens. Few people worldwide thought the US would disarm the whole of Venezuela - so a US invasion of tiny Greenland is much more conceivable.
Regards Pete
Pete it seems Maduro’s personal security team was mostly Cubans who were loyal to him. Most (>3) died defending him. The Venezuelans reported around 40 total deaths. Cuban security might have been a tactic by Maduro suggesting he already did not trust his own military. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/cubans-killed-in-venezuela-trump-b2894421.html
ReplyDeleteAlso happy new year Pete. And as I watch Venezuela unravel, the military aspects of the operation seem to have been planned really well. But the long term political solution seems unknown. That is a huge risk; shades of Iraq 2003. This whole episode makes me wish more and more we dumped AUKUS and pursued a stronger and more independent Australian defense force.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous at 1/06/2026 10:56 AM
ReplyDeleteI agree totally. Even Iraq 2003 may have been an oil grab by the US, with much usually Iraqi extracted and refined oil being piped to and refined in Saudi Arabia. Part of the profits may have gone to the US.
And AUKUS? Australia is paying $Billions in advance to the US and UK, with little hope they can keep up their end of the SSN bargain and no refund clauses for the $Billions.
Regards Pete
Hi Anonymouses at 1/05/2026 9:02 AM, 1/05/2026 10:01 PM and 1/06/2026 10:54 AM
ReplyDeleteThat Maduro relied on a Cuban security team to fight and die for him is quite an indictment against Maduro and his Venezuelan armed forces who should have held together and done the protecting.
Unsurprisingly Venezuela can be destabilised and crushed by the superpower to its north.
Where former US Presidents (Kennedy - using proxies at the Bay of Pigs) and Reagan (contras in Nicaragua) had to be secretive such is Trump's supreme power over US politics and willingness to take risks that Trump did not even have to disguise US armed forces and the CIA directly disarming Venezuela.
Trump doesn't need to bother about difficult questions from Congress or the Supreme Court because he has disarmed those normal checks and balances like a dictator. No US voices oppose him in any substantial way.
Cuba and Greenland/Denmark definitely need to keep an eye on Donald's destabilize and defang dictates.
Regards Pete