Venezuela - President Nicolas Maduro & his wife "captured and flown out of country" by U.S. Army Delta Force during "large scale attack" - Jan 3, 2026

[Ruminations]

This was not an act of war. It was an arrest by the DOJ with assistance from the military for safety.

It was not an arrest. It was an invasion and a kidnapping. If Maduro flew into the county on his own and was detained at the airport, that is an arrest.

If there is an indictment out to bring you to court because you are suspected of drug trafficking, US authorities could not barge into your house and arrest you. They would specifically need a warrant to enter your house and arrest you, and in addition, they would need a special warrant to do so without knocking and giving you the chance to come to the door on your own.

If they wanted to search your house, they would need a special warrant for that, too. Just because there is a warrant for your arrest, there is no automatic permission to go through your house to look for anything but you. And, most of all, just because there is a warrant for you to go to court, does not mean the authorities can bomb and kill the people around you just to detain you.

This invasion and kidnapping was an invasion and kidnapping. It was not a lawful arrest. And there are many people who lost loved ones; they would not agree this act promoted "safety."

MOO

 

[Sundog]

This was not an act of war. It was an arrest by the DOJ with assistance from the military for safety. imo

Exactly. Secretary Rubio made that very clear in his comments today on the Sunday morning news programs where he made the rounds.

 

[SouthAussie]

Exactly. Secretary Rubio made that very clear in his comments today on the Sunday morning news programs where he made the rounds.

It was an arrest that likely violated international law. There are many, many quotes out there (about that) from experts in the field.

imo

 

[keek]

Exactly. Secretary Rubio made that very clear in his comments today on the Sunday morning news programs where he made the rounds.

But he WOULD put out that narrative right? It does not mean he is right, that is up to the Constitution and Congress I would think. He is a spokesperson for that admin. that carried this out. IMO

 

[Betty P]

Clearly, the United States can walk into Greenland anytime they like, and there wouldn't be very much the Greenlanders or the Danes could do about it, seeing as the rest of NATO is hardly going to go to war with the USA. But to do so would mean the end of NATO and the western alliance. Not that Mr Trump would care very much about that, I suspect, given that he tends to treat America's allies in much the same way as the Athenians treated the Delian League.

It would also mean the end of the United States status as a respected leader of the free world. Our allies would no longer trust us. We would have no allies, a prospect that would be much more difficult than most Americans now imagine.

The end of our involvement in NATO would be very destructive and destabilizing for US foreign relations and security. It would evolve into economic instability, too.

 

[Sundog]

I think the difference with this "ousting" of Maduro is that those previous operations were (from what I can see) internal coups that the US backed/instigated, or were joint operations with other nations.

This particular "ousting" was more like a kidnapping. As it was not a US arrest on US soil. It should be up to local law enforcement (or maybe Interpol) to perform an arrest in another country, I would think.

imo

Madura capture and arrest has parallels with the Noriega capture and arrest for criminal charges/indictments in 1989-90, both on foreign soil and involving U.S. military. And Noriega's prosecution was successful. Hoping the same for the Maduro prosecution, especially since there is precedent.

 

[Spyralflare]

I really appreciated finding Websleuths. It was full of people having thoughtful, civil discussions about true crime stories.

Sadly, an increasing number of posts on this thread are more appropriate for Twitter. I hope there is some cleanup done here.

 

[Sundog]

https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/04/politics/noriega-trial-maduro-legal-battle

Like Maduro, Noriega was accused of participating in a large-scale operation to smuggle drugs into the United States. And Noriega was also captured in a military operation in his home country.

Noriega’s attorneys quickly launched an aggressive defense of the military leader, accusing President George H.W. Bush’s Justice Department of violating both international law and due process protections by invading Panama and arresting him abroad.

Noriega’s arguments were ultimately unsuccessful — he was tried and convicted in 1991 and given a 40-year prison sentence.

A critical factor in his failed defense was that US courts “refused to consider the legality of the invasion itself,” Clark Neily of the libertarian think-tank Cato Institute pointed out in an article Saturday.

“Federal courts held that the manner in which a defendant is brought before a US court—even by force, even from foreign soil—does not defeat criminal jurisdiction,” Neily wrote.

 

[nao]

I really appreciated finding Websleuths. It was full of people having thoughtful, civil discussions about true crime stories.

Sadly, an increasing number of posts on this thread are more appropriate for Twitter. I hope there is some cleanup done here.

Well what are your thoughts n opinions?... moo

 

[Ruminations]

If it's off topic, Report, and move on.

 

[otto]

It was obvious to many, what was meant by “run Venezuela”. I was surprised by so many hyperbolic comments all over the internet. I think people will calm down as time passes. imo

Bringing Maduro to justice is a good thing. imo

When Trump said that he intends to "run" Venezuela six times during a Presidential Announcement on January 3, he was warning acting President Delcy Rodiguez in "a not-so-veiled threat" that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.” (The Altantic)

I don't think anyone has any difficulty understanding that threat. Unless the acting president does what she is told, she will be kidnapped, but it will be worse because she will not face charges. She'll be presumed guilty of some trumped up charge and face consequences - similar to blowing up boats in international waters?

What will the US do to the acting Venezuelan president after she is kidnapped that is worse that being criminally charged? Murdered?

The US intends to run Venezuela, and anyone who stands in the way will face consequences worse than kidnapping and criminal charges. Clearly understood threat that explains what it means when the US is running Venezuela.

 

[nao]

Moo.. yea that is why they protectively took..Nobel prize person outta country...where is she now ?

 

[DustysMom]

For some perspective -

Full list of dictators the US has ousted throughout history​

MSN

While not a dictator, Osama bin Laden was also ‘ousted’, in a sense, under the Obama administration.

 

[zleuther]

By objective measure, seems the operators were 100 outta 100 near-perfect.

Now suppose it's revealed that one of the breakthrough capabilities is something that can only be used once. Sometimes that happens in conflict -- like exploding pagers. My opinion is it's wasted here.

Save that capability for an emergency where a nation might have to RESCUE, not arrest. Seems a no-brainer.

If so, was this a failure of priorities?

 

[Hexe]

Madura capture and arrest has parallels with the Noriega capture and arrest for criminal charges/indictments in 1989-90, both on foreign soil and involving U.S. military. And Noriega's prosecution was successful. Hoping the same for the Maduro prosecution, especially since there is precedent.

One successfull unlawful act does not make the other unlawful act any less unlawful nor any more rightful.

 

[otto]

Moo.. yea that is why they protectively took..Nobel prize person outta country...where is she now ?

Last I heard she escaped on a fishing boat heading to Oslo to collect the Nobel Prize.

Today, Trump claims that the Venezuelan opposition leader (Nobel Peace Prize recipient) lacks the respect needed to govern Venezuela. <modsnip: Opinion stated as fact>

Dec 15, 2025

Nobelprijswinnaar Machado liep wervelfractuur op bij vlucht uit Venezuela

De oppositieleider deed drie dagen over haar reis naar de Noorse hoofdstad. Ze kwam net te laat om de Vredesprijs zelf te ontvangen.

nos.nl

"Mr. Trump had never warmed up to the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who had organized a winning presidential campaign in 2024, earning her the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Since Mr. Trump’s re-election, Ms. Machado has gone out of her way to please him, calling him a “champion of freedom,” mimicking his talking points on election fraud in the United States and even dedicating her Peace Prize to him.

It was in vain. On Saturday, Mr. Trump said he would accept Ms. Rodríguez, saying that Ms. Machado lacked the “respect” needed to govern Venezuela."

How Trump Fixed On a Maduro Loyalist as Venezuela’s New Leader

Nicolás Maduro balked at a gilded exile. U.S. officials then saw a more pliant option in his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, known for stabilizing Venezuela’s economy.

www.nytimes.com

 

[otto]

<modsnip: stating opinion as fact not in the article linked>

"There were fears that the US military would attack the boats. The former soldier claimed to have contacted the Americans to prevent a bombardment. Machado finally arrived in Curaçao after twelve hours at sea. From there, she traveled on to Oslo."

Nobelprijswinnaar Machado liep wervelfractuur op bij vlucht uit Venezuela

De oppositieleider deed drie dagen over haar reis naar de Noorse hoofdstad. Ze kwam net te laat om de Vredesprijs zelf te ontvangen.

nos.nl

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

“We’re very happy because this is the first step like getting closer to freedom. We were waiting for this for such a long time,” said Ana Perez-Prince, a West Palm Beach resident.

Similar feelings were echoed by others in the local Venezuelan community who have long opposed Maduro’s leadership.

Victor Verdecia, president of the advocacy group Venezolanos Unidos Donde Sea, said the moment represents a turning point.

“Definitely it’s a big change,” Verdecia said. “It’s like a restart all over again for the whole in the country and this is a big opportunity for everyone.”

Venezuelans in Palm Beach County ‘hopeful’ after capture of President Nicolás Maduro

Members of the Venezuelan community in Palm Beach County are reacting to news that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested following what U.S. officials described as a coordinated strike in Caracas.

www.wptv.com

 

[otto]

Moo.. it is funny..but it is not. There are intelligent government Democrats ready to be there for Venezuela . But no, Trump says no. This is a really creepy chess game

The current government is hoping that the president will be released. The acting president is demanding the release, and does not want to be sworn in because it would trigger an election in 30 days. The opposition leader may or may not win at the next election.

Regardless of how this unfolds, the US has no reason to interfere, but will interfere because the US plans to run the Venezuelan oil industry (per announcement on Jan 3).

 

[Warwick1991]

thank you so much for this post.

The statistical information about how low production of oil in Venezuela has been, brings up new questions.

But, I knew NOTHING about Guyana, and their relationship with Venezuela.... clearly Guyana will be part of this US chess game.

from the article:
For years, Venezuela and Guyana have had a territorial dispute that has also been related to oil rights. Last March, Venezuelan vessels entered Guyanese territorial waters approaching offshore oil vessels belonging to ExxonMobil.

"Without a doubt, with a changing regime, Guyana should feel more secure," Monaldi says.

Guyana, formerly British Guiana, is an English speaking country that has repeatedly faced territorial claims from Venezuela after oil was discovered... Venezuela is stronger than Guyana, and has a larger population, with military assistance from Cuba. China and Iran.

It is natural that they would look to the US and UK for protection.

Also, Venezuela has a close relationship with Iran and China. China's Belt and Road initiatives into South America have concerned the US even before the Trump administration. China has built intelligence facilities and monitoring stations in South America. With longstanding competition and possible future conflicts, the US wants to prevent China from gaining a foothold in the Western hemisphere. Iran is said to have some kind of military mission on Venezuela.

The US does have legitimate security concerns about Venezuela, and to some extent, Chinese involvement in other parts of South America. Over the past decade and longer, thousands of desperate people have fled Venezuela to migrate elsewhere.

However, the seizure of Maduro appears clumsy at best, possibly illegal, and lacking in any coherent planning. Repressive elements of the Venezuelan state are still in place, and the legitimately elected leadership in exile aren't able to return. Oil infrastructure in Venezuela is in poor condition, and will take years to rebuild. In the most cynical scenario, it is not possible for the US to manage Venezuela's oil resources. That will require a stable environment. Right now, there doesn't seem to be an interest in stabilizing Venezuela.

It will be interesting to see if the indictment against Maduro will stand in a US court.

IMO, this situation is probably a lost opportunity, compromised by crude policies that might worsen the already dire conditions in Venezuela.

All my opinion......