I awoke Saturday morning to news that Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife were on a U.S. warship, reportedly the first leg in a journey to New York to face justice.
Maduro et ux got there after one of those middle-of-the-night, pinpoint military raids that probably only the U.S. or Israelis could make with such successful precision.
The usual suspects – China, Russia, Iran, Democrats and LameStream media – are decrying the action, ordered by President Donald J. Trump. As my late mother used to emphasize to the kids in the family, you are known by the company you keep. Actually, she was more earthy, saying if you travel with (excrement), you stink with it.
Along that line, it is fitting that the deranged leftists among us would join our avowed enemies and back a thug drug lord, albeit one (formerly) with political portfolio.
I presume that LameStream media will begin the propaganda campaign by calling Maduro a New York father, once he arrives there. These same useful idiots would have labeled Hitler as a Berlin, or Brandenburg, husband, neatly ignoring his pathological behavior that led to the deaths of millions.
Perhaps some prominent stooges among the Democrat far-left wing can arrange to visit Maduro and have a few drinks, providing photo ops for their vacuous social media posts.
More of those leftist stooges will flood social media with allegations of military overreach (he was just sitting there in his country presumably minding his own narcoterrorist network, although admittedly while in hiding), racism (Maduro is not white), misogyny (presumably his captured wife is a woman), and maybe even fraud (Trump overstating the reach and power of the U.S. military, albeit such being a tough sell considering this success, but still a possibility with a typical left-wing zealot masquerading as a judge presiding over a trial).
Can the Supreme Court be called into emergency session to demand Maduro and his wife be returned to Venezuela?
Some seem to be surprised by this Maduro capture. The only surprise to me was the exact timing.
I read it might have happened a few days earlier but for some bad weather. Regardless, Trump has been perfectly clear that Maduro had to go as far as Venezuela leadership.
In typical Trump fashion, he first made sure he had all the negotiating cards. Recall him pointing out to that pathetic dwarf Zelenskyy months back that the Z guy held no cards in his tiny hands? Maduro was similarly challenged when it came to lacking a strong hand to play.
Late in the going, Maduro must have sneaked a peak at his cards and offered to deal, a plaintive request dismissed summarily by Trump. Too late.
This negotiation had reached the point of no return for Maduro. The outcome was inevitable.
I find symbolism in Maduro being headed to New York, the state of our largest city, which now is run by a socialist mayor who sounds a lot like Maduro. Many Venezuela residents bought into Maduro’s socialist claptrap, only to find themselves needing those free bus rides so they could trek to garbage dumps in search of dinner.
Leaders of Mexican drug cartels might want to pay attention to Maduro’s capture, too. Trump is citing executive authority, the same power that led to deposed Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega being captured. CBS news reports that the Maduro grab is 36 years to the day after Noriega was taken.
The allegations against Maduro and Noriega are similar – narcoterrorism.
But Maduro was taken relatively easily owing to the advancements in our military in those three-plus decades.
Yes, I’ve read how well-trained and formidable Mexican drug cartel militias are. But, if push came to shove in a full kinetic confrontation, I’m confident the U.S. military would bloody their cocaine-stained noses with ease.
Trump might want to redirect some of that sea and air power formerly off the Venezuelan coast to the western edge of the Gulf of America, or even to the Pacific Ocean below California, just to make his point with Mexican drug lords.
If he does, they might do well to check their playing cards quickly, and fold immediately if not sooner.
Sam Ross Jr's site 