Trump’s Venezuelan strategem was bold, brilliant and incredibly risky.

The comparisons with Iraq are inevitable. In both instances the United States was dealing with a ruthless dictator who posed a serious threat to us and to international stability. In the first case we formed an international coalition and invaded Iraq. The defeat and deposition of Hussein was easy, but the follow-up went horribly wrong. Remnants of the repressive Suni infrastructure remained, along with a Shite opposition, and the nation descended into chaos. Our stabilization efforts were continually frustrated while our occupying forces suffered from ceaseless guerilla-like attacks. At the same time we were experiencing similar problems in the neighboring state of Afghanistan. As we finally exited the scene there was nearly universal agreement – “No more nation building.”

Nicolas Maduro was an even more pressing problem tha Saddam Hussein. He had transformed Venezuela into a narco state and was pouring drugs and criminals into the United States. Million fled his brutal dictatorship. He was destabilizing other Latin American nations and helping Communist China extend its influence in that area. He had allied himself with America’s enemies and openly thumbed his nose at Trump, daring him to act.

Trump had no interest in territorial expansion or nation building, but he was determined to end the drug trade and repell China’s inroads in Central and South America. He decided that Maduro must go. By his direction, the War Department developed elaborate and extremely detailed plans for a strike at the Venezuelan leader. It would have been easy to kill Maduro, but that would provoke international condemnation — even by allies. On the other hand, the capture and removal of Maduro for trial would doubtless receive approbation on the part of most observers. After all, Maduro had been charged in an American court as a drug trafficker, and the United States had offered an award for his capture dating from 2020.

The extraction of Maduro from his residence in Caracas was a masterful military operation. It could have gone terribly wrong, and Trump knew that failure would probable mean his political demise. Nevertheless, he decided that it was worth the risk. As it turned out, the capture of Maduro was achieved with no American loss of life and no loss of equipment. Amazing! Maduro’s protectors were not so fortunate, though their casualties are believed to be fewer than a hundred.

Now comes the true test of Trump’s strategem. The head of the snake was removed, but can we control the remaining infrastructure and bend it to our will? These people know that we have their names and addresses. Either comply with our wishes or be eliminated. So far, the plan seems to be working. The Venezuelan vice-president and others seem to be cooperating. In time, the Venezuelan people will be free to elect a new government.

The alternative would be to impose a new government, but that would mean more direct involvement on the part of American forces. No nation building!!!

The Venezuelan move has produced other salutary developments. Columbia, another source of our drug problems, now appears eager to cooperate with us; and perhaps this cooperative spirit will spread to other Latin American states. Even Cuba may be poised on the brink of liberation now that Venezuelan oil is no longer available to support their fragile Communist dictatorship.

The change in Venezuela is also a significant strategic blow to China, Russia, and Iran. Their Latin American tentacles have been severed.