Thursday 8th of January 2026
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team chaos takes charge of the known universe....

The successful seizure and removal of President Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela demonstrates Washington’s readiness to use every means at its disposal — including military power — to stave off any diminishment of U.S. national influence in its bid to manage the dissolution of the celebrated postwar, liberal order. 

For the moment, the rules-based order (meaning whatever rules Washington wants to impose) persists in the Western Hemisphere. As President Donald Trump noted, “We can do it again. Nobody can stop us. There’s nobody with the capability that we have.” 

Put differently, “Team America” is back!

The question is what happens next? How will Washington consolidate its latest victory over Maduro and his regime? The plan seems murky if non-existent.

Presumably, Maduro will be tried and convicted in a U.S. court for drug-related crimes. Meanwhile Trump said Saturday that the U.S. will “take over” during the transition. Can Washington actually set up a new political order that will prevent Venezuela from sliding into civil war, or, more important, from hosting future drug-fueled violence? 

President Trump said that opposition leader Maria Machado lacks the political strength to govern Venezuela. So who does that leave? Is there a CIA-preferred comprador for the job, or will Secretary of State Marco Rubio simply govern as an American Viceroy? In any case, can anyone — Venezuelan or American — govern the country without heavy reliance on U.S. Military power?

Meanwhile American firms and corporations are chomping at the bit to move into Venezuela to extract its oil. In addition to the world’s largest reserves (the oil infrastructure is decaying and it will take a long time to rebuild), Venezuela is massively endowed with gold and one of the largest iron ore deposits in the Western Hemisphere. To these must be added significant reserves of natural gas, bauxite, nickel and some rare earths. No doubt the exploitation of these mineral resources will be seen as vital if the current intervention is to avoid the usual catastrophic costs associated with military intervention.

But will Washington now provide a lucrative economic package to lift Venezuela out of poverty and chaos? Will it be at American taxpayers' expense? Shipments of Venezuelan heavy crude constitute most of the Venezuelan economy. Venezuela is in the top 5 exporters of heavy crude, but by total volume, Venezuela barely cracks the top 20.

Protests from Moscow and Beijing notwithstanding, neither the Russians nor Chinese will directly interfere with events in the Caribbean Basin. The fact that Maduro was meeting with Chinese officials just 24 hours before he was captured is no doubt deeply disconcerting to Beijing. China might accelerate its liquidation of American debt with uncertain consequences for the American bond market. But Russian and Chinese leaders will not repeat Western stupidity in Ukraine and challenge American military power on its doorstep. The home court strategic advantage is undeniable.

Whatever happens next, the short-term impact of Maduro’s capture conveniently distracts from the Trump administration’s failed attempts to end the war in Ukraine on terms that might benefit Washington and its allies. In fact, the Trump administration is likely to quietly disengage from these efforts while Moscow turns its attention entirely to ending the war in Ukraine on its own terms. 

Meanwhile, the ceasefire Trump brokered with a flourish earlier this year has not halted the destruction of life in Gaza. In the background, Iran’s missile factories are humming again having recovered from the 12-day war in June 2025. U.S. and Israeli strikes have set back Iran's nuclear ambitions but Israel won’t soon forget Iran’s ability to hit back with counterstrikes on Israeli soil. Not surprisingly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now pushes for fresh strikes before Iranian silos swell to 1,000 warheads a year, enough to overwhelm U.S. and Israeli air and missile defenses.

President Trump warns there will be “hell to pay” if Iran rebuilds. The president who promised to “end forever wars” now advocates for the next Middle East war, too.

At home, progress in a range of critical areas from living standards and educational performance to high-tech manufacturing is slow to non-existent. Inflated expectations of faster productivity growth through artificial intelligence are flagging. There is no evidence for any interest in breaking up overgrown, monopolistic media and IT corporations, or stopping mergers aimed at shaping narratives and suppressing free speech.

Still, Americans should cheer up. Congratulations from Trump’s Wall Street donors on the ostensible victory in Caracas are pouring in. The purportedly numerous Hamas and Hezbollah training camps that threaten Israeli national security will now vanish like the morning mist hanging over Venezuela’s jungles. Team America is back!

 

Dear RS readers: It has been an extraordinary year and our editing team has been working overtime to make sure that we are covering the current conflicts with quality, fresh analysis that doesn’t cleave to the mainstream orthodoxy or take official Washington and the commentariat at face value. Our staff reporters, experts, and outside writers offer top-notch, independent work, daily.Please consider making a tax-exempt, year-end contribution to Responsible Statecraft so that we can continue this quality coverage  — which you will find nowhere else — into 2026. Happy Holidays!

 

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-take-over-venezuela/

 

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THE BRILLIANCE OF TEAM AMERICA UNDER TRUMP IS TO BE UNPREDICTABLE, STUPID AND DANGEROUS. HITLER WAS PREDICTABLE. TRUMP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE WILL REALLY DO NEXT BUT HE WILL FUDGE A "SADDAM HAS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION"-STYLE PROGNOSIS ON THE FLY... IT'S FLY BY THE SEAT OF HIS PANT STUFF... IT LEAVES EVERYONE IN THE WAKE OF A SPEED BOAT WIZZING AROUND FOR FUN, WHILE BURNING GAS AND DESTROYING THE WILDLIFE — FOR FUN... 

YES TRUMP IS HAVING FUN WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS BAMBOOZLED BY THE CHURNING WATERS.... BOOM, AND ANOTHER DRUG BOAT! AND OF COURSE, VENEZUELA WILL NOT EXPORT ANY DRUGS TO THE USA, NOW... AND NO-ONE IN AMERICA WILL EVER USE COCAINE AGAIN...

LOADS OF ASPIRIN AND CAFFEINE ARE DONALD DRUGS OF CHOICE... ONE IS PRESCRIBED BY HIS DOC, THE OTHER BY THE COCACOLA COMPANY... AND HE FARTS BURGERINE-GAS...

NO WONDER HE'S AN OVERACTIVE LOONY WITH THIN BLOOD THAY WOULD KILL DRACULA WITH UNDERNOURISHMENT — WITH AN EGO THE SIZE OF MOUNT RUSHMORE, HE TRAVELS TO THE MOON ON AIRFORCE ONE.... ACCOMPANIED BY SCRIBES WHO FEEL CHUFFED FOR BEING ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE SUPERTRUMPMAN DESPITE THE ENGINES NOISES WHICH [THE NOISES] ARE SECRETLY SCRIPTED BY THE CIA.... FOR THE EVENING NUZ...

IT'S MAGIC: TRUMP JUST SAW VENEZUELA IN HALF AND FEW HAVE SEEN THE DIRTY TRICK. MOST PUNDITS WAIT TO SEE THE BLOOD ON THE CARPET... WHILE APPLAUDING CAREFULLY AS NOT TO UPSET THE MAGICIAN.

 

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YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

scripted news....

 

They’re Not Even Trying to Lie Well Anymore

 

Venezuela is merely one of seven countries Trump bombed in 2025, one of several where regime change is the official but unstated agenda. Increasingly, Americans are being asked to support going to war and deploying the military in lethal actions even in the absence of anything approximating a casus belli.

https://rall.com/comic/theyre-not-even-trying-to-lie-well-anymore

 

 

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READ FROM TOP.

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

 

banditry....

US ‘banditry’ in Venezuela is harbinger of chaos – Moscow
Washington’s actions horrify “even the staunchest Atlanticists,” Russia’s envoy Vassily Nebenzia has said

The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US threatens to throw the world back into an era of “chaos and injustice,” the Russian ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, has said.

Washington’s attack on the Latin American nation has demonstrated the world order the US wants to build, the diplomat told an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Monday, adding that it “horrifies even the staunchest Atlanticists.”

The US invaded the oil-rich South American country on Saturday, abducting Maduro and his wife, taking them to a US warship from which they were subsequently flown to New York. They appeared in court on charges of drug-trafficking conspiracy on Monday – to which the Venezuelan president declared “I am a decent man!” before entering a not-guilty plea.

Maduro had previously warned that Washington was seeking to get its hands on Venezuela’s natural resources. US President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that Washington seeks to “run” the Latin American nation so that “we can take advantage of the economics of what they have.”

Nebenzia condemned the US actions as “international banditry.” The US’ open pursuit of “hegemonistic ambitions in Latin America” and its desire to gain “unlimited control over natural resources” only contribute to a resurgence of neo-colonialism and imperialism, he said.

The world must stand united in rejecting Washington’s belligerent foreign policy, Nebenzia said, warning that “the bell is already tolling” for each UN member state and the future of the organization itself.

Ignoring the threat posed by the US to the system of international relations would mean condoning the violation of international law, as well as disregard for “civilized” conduct on the international stage.

Russia – along with other BRICS nations – had already strongly condemned the US actions. Moscow called for Maduro’s immediate release and expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela.

Reactions from the West have been far more muted. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged “restraint,”calling for adherence to the UN Charter. A follow-up joint statement signed by all EU member states except Hungary neither condemned nor supported the US actions.

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IN AUSTRALIA, THE "REACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MUTED" WHILE IT APPEARS THE "OPPOSITION" — THE LIBERALS [PURE CONSERVATIVES] ARE QUIETLY IN UNISON WITH EL TRUMPO....

THE CARTOON BY CATHY WILCOX, SMH, TODAY, IS SHOWING SOME OF THIS WISHY-WASHY POLITICAL OUTLOOK IN REGARD TO SOMETHING TOTALLY INTERNATIONALLY ILLEGAL...

WE SHOULD BE HORRIFIED AND CANCEL ALL CONTRACTS WE HAVE WITH THE GANGSTERS/USA... [BUT WE WON'T BECAUSE WE'RE TEPIDS]....

 

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READ FROM TOP.

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

 

AND TO THOSE WHO TRY TO COMPARE WHAT TRUMP HAS DONE WITH WHAT PUTIN IS DOING IN YUCKRAINE, I SAY BUGGER OFF — AND READ SOME DECENT HISTORY BOOKS RATHER THAN THE CIA-RUN WESTERN MEDIA...

 

a mole....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEPk3GIOSak

 

Danny and Larry argue that the U.S. operation in Venezuela was not a daring assault against active defenses, but a carefully staged action enabled by high-level insiders. According to the discussion, a senior Venezuelan security or intelligence official had long been an asset of a U.S. intelligence agency and helped arrange the operation—ordering air defenses to stand down, ensuring helicopters faced no resistance, and allowing U.S. forces to enter and exit safely despite operating under full moonlight, which would normally be avoided.

They emphasize that the absence of anti-aircraft fire and the safe use of vulnerable helicopters strongly indicate internal cooperation rather than U.S. military dominance. The operation is compared to past “set-piece” actions and exercises where intelligence agencies pre-arranged conditions to guarantee success. As a result, the event is characterized as political theater meant to showcase American power and “reestablish deterrence,” rather than proof of superiority over Russian or other air defenses.

The speakers also raise ethical and political concerns: insiders who stood down defenses may have indirectly caused the deaths of dozens of Cuban and Venezuelan personnel, yet are protected by their power and incentives (including money). They argue that while the snatch-and-grab succeeded, it did not constitute true regime change, leaves Maduro’s supporters intact, and could backfire legally and politically if a trial exposes classified sources or embarrassing details about U.S. actions.

 

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READ FROM TOP.

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

fall guy....

OKAY. SPECULATION & BULLSHIT FROM GUS:

PETE HEGSETH LAUGHED AT THE USELESS RUSSIAN AIR DEFENCES IN VENEZUELA... AHAHAHAAA....

ASK YOURSELF: ANYONE WITH A POLICE RADAR DETECTOR WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE INCOMING AMERICAN CHOPPERS — ESPECIALLY UNDER THE FULL MOONLIGHT!...

SO, THE AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS THAT WORK SO WELL IN RUSSIA DID NOT WORK IN VENEZUELA... THE AIR DEFENCE SSYTEM IN VENEZUELA WOULD HAVE BEEN OPERATED BY RUSSIANS... AND TURNED OFF....

WHY DID THEY NOT "WORK"?

 

GEOPOLITICAL GAME IS DIRTY BUSINESS: 

METHINKS OF A CHESS GAME:

MADURO IS A FALL GUY — A BIG ONE, SURE. ALREADY THE DoJ HAD TO DROP SOME "DRUG CHARGES" AGAINST HIM. THEY COULD NOT STICK..

THE RUSSIANS DID NOT WANT TO START WW3 BY DESTROYING THE AMERICAN OP.

I BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN ANALYSTS KNOW THIS...

BUT, THE NEXT PHASE IS AS LARRY POINTED OUT COULD BE LIKE IN SYRIA: THE NEW GUY NEEDS THE RUSSIANS — BECAUSE A) THEY PLAY FAIR AND B) NO-ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COULD TRUST THE AMERICANS. THEY PLAY DIRTY. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SO SINCE THE END OF WW2.

TRUMP IS GOING INTO VENEZUELA LIKE HE HAS GONE INTO GAZA (NOT YET)... BIBI IS WAITING FOR A SIGNAL FROM TRUMP TO BOMB IRAN AGAIN... AND CHINA IS WAITING FOR TAIWAN TO CLAIM INDEPENDENCE TO ACT ON THE ONE CHINA POLICY... NO-ONE SNEEZES...

MEANWHILE, THE NATO ORGANISATION IS FROTHING AT THE MOUTH IN UKRAINE. TRUMP WOULD KNOW THAT THE CAUSE IS LOST... ALL HE WANTS IS RESOURCES TO PAY FOR WHAT THE USA HAS SQUANDERED ON YUCKRAINE... BRICS IS OUTPACING THE G7... MULTIPOLARITY IS HERE TO STAY... CHAVISMO WILL GO INTO THE JUNGLES AND FIGHT ON LIKE THE VIETCONG... THE USA WILL END UP WITH A BIG MESS IN ITS HAND — AND COULD BE FORCED TO BEG CHINA TO BUY VENEZUELAN OIL...

ETC... 

 

READ FROM TOP.

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT — SINCE 2005.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.