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

[sapphire blue]

Venezuelan Official Says at Least 40 People Were Killed in U.S. Attack

The official said the dead included civilians and military personnel. At least one of the civilians was killed in a U.S. airstrike outside of Caracas, according to her family.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Ontario Mom]

When bombs are dropped, loss of life is inevitable. The US weighed it up and decided these lives were expendable. Cruel, callous, heartless - but they got their guy.

Impossible decisions like that are ones I'm glad I never have to make. I can't read the hearts & minds of those who have to make those decisions so I can't say they're cruel, callous or heartless.

jmo

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Impossible decisions like that are ones I'm glad I never have to make. I can't read the hearts & minds of those who have to make those decisions so I can't say they're cruel, callous or heartless.

jmo

We've seen months of cruel, callous, and heartless actions from this administration, so I feel confident in saying it.

 

[Yellowbelly]

"The Cuban government, in a post on Facebook on Sunday, said 32 of its citizens were killed during the operation “in combat actions, performing missions on behalf of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, at the request of counterparts of the South American country.” The government declared two days of mourning.

And it seems to confirm what has long been suspected: Maduro’s inner circle of bodyguards were Cuban."

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/04/americas/cuba-uncertain-future-after-venezuela-strike

I'm as appalled as most other non-Americans (and a substantial chunk of Americans) at the US kidnapping the president of another country and then indicating that they did it because they want its oil. But as a military operation it's extraordinary. It's up there with Entebbe.

 

[Ontario Mom]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008199798411985381

 

[CrimeDawg123]

The Russian Federation admonishing the US is pretty rich, especially quoting the US Constitution

 

[otto]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

When the US kidnaps a foreign leader for the purpose of running the country and commandeering land, resources (oil), and assets for US profit - according to the National Security Strategy - every country in the Western Hemisphere and beyond is paying attention. This is not a United States event. This seizure of a sovereign nation is an international event.

Canada, and Greenland have been similarly threatened by the united states. There is an ongoing Economic War waged by the US against Canada. There is an ongoing threat of Military War waged by the US against the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland.

The threat against Greenland is framed as national security, but the goal is to take (not buy) rare earth elements. The threat against Canada is framed as nothing that makes sense, but the goal is to take control of Arctic shipping lanes, natural resources, land and assets.

During the past year, the US has become a serious threat against NATO countries and Commonwealth Nations globally.

~ in my humble opinion ~​

 

[Betty P]

Extradition is usually the way. But at this point I'd just hope without killing dozens of innocent civilians.

It's really a shame that so many Venezuelans were killed. That wasn't necessary.

 

[PrairieWind]

I'm as appalled as most other non-Americans (and a substantial chunk of Americans) at the US kidnapping the president of another country and then indicating that they did it because they want its oil. But as a military operation it's extraordinary. It's up there with Entebbe.

Maduro was NOT the lawful president of Venezuela. Even the UN acknowledges that. And now it appears his security around him were Cubans. Maduro's admin didn't seem to have much to do with representing the Venezuelan people.

 

[sds71]

erica orden

NEW: Barry Pollack, who represented Julian Assange, is representing Nicolas Maduro, according to court filings.

Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, will be represented today by Mark E. Donnelly, of Texas, according to court filing.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.376123/gov.uscourts.nysd.376123.268.0.pdf

 

[Sillybilly]

Thread is open again folks.

 

[otto]

UN Security Council Meeting on Venezuela - Live

 

[zleuther]

US Military Officers oath...

"I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

If a government decides they would like to do this again, I believe there are bounty hunters for hire.

Similarly, I believe mercenaries can't legally operate within the US, but I'd prefer the likes of Chevron getting caught hiring mercenaries over getting caught in pay-to-play politics.

 

[sunshineray]

When bombs are dropped, loss of life is inevitable. The US weighed it up and decided these lives were expendable. Cruel, callous, heartless - but they got their guy.

On the other side is living for decades under a cruel, callous, heartless and authoritative, dictatorial rule, which has destroyed economic and human rights causing people to flee their homeland. It's a catastrophic thing to behold and consider, IMO.

 

[sunshineray]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

When the US kidnaps a foreign leader for the purpose of running the country and commandeering land, resources (oil), and assets for US profit - according to the National Security Strategy - every country in the Western Hemisphere and beyond is paying attention. This is not a United States event. This seizure of a sovereign nation is an international event.

Canada, and Greenland have been similarly threatened by the united states. There is an ongoing Economic War waged by the US against Canada. There is an ongoing threat of Military War waged by the US against the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland.

The threat against Greenland is framed as national security, but the goal is to take (not buy) rare earth elements. The threat against Canada is framed as nothing that makes sense, but the goal is to take control of Arctic shipping lanes, natural resources, land and assets.

During the past year, the US has become a serious threat against NATO countries and Commonwealth Nations globally.

~ in my humble opinion ~​

And that is why a legitimately elected government needs to govern Venezuela. Let that government decide what companies it wants to invite in to help with economic infrastructure, not have them appointed by any other country. Anyone who benefitted from Maduro's corruptive and cruel rule should be shunned and prosecuted where warranted...civilian and military. I think that would be appropriate, AJMO

 

[otto]

It seems like we're living in the twilight zone where the UN Security Council is presenting reasons that the US cannot use military force to assert authority over sovereign countries.

 

[shotgun09]

Judge: How do you plead?
Maduro: I am innocent. I am a decent man. I am President
-Defense lawyer: It is a plea of not guilty to all counts.
Judge: Bridget... [His courtroom deputy] She will arraign you

From Inner City Press, present in Fed Courtroom

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008225751170945440

 

[shotgun09]

AUSA: We'll confer on that.
Judge: Is there an application for bail?
Pollock: Mr. Maduro is not seeking bail at this time, without prejudice to applying later
Judge: You can make that application later, I'll hear it.
Celia Flores also consents to detention

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008228783510483404

 

[sunshineray]

It seems like we're living in the twilight zone where the UN Security Council is presenting reasons that the US cannot use military force to assert authority over sovereign countries.

It's been nice to see condemnation of Maduro's actions too...not all members speaking, of course, but a lot of them.

 

[otto]

I don't think there is any question that the US government appears to be unaware of international law.

"U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to take control of Venezuela's oil industry and ask American companies to revitalize it after capturing leader Nicolas Maduro in a raid is likely to face many hurdles — logistically, legally and politically.

The dramatic seizure of the Maduros capped an intensive Trump administration pressure campaign on Venezuela resulting in the most assertive American action to achieve regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
...

Trump said Saturday he will allow "very large United states oil companies" into Venezuela, who he said will spend the necessary billions to "fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country."
...

Matthew Waxman: "an occupying military power can't enrich itself by taking another state's resources."

Waxman could be referring to UN Resolution 1803, which states people and nations have "permanent sovereignty" over their natural resources, and foreign investments can only be undertaken if said peoples and nations "freely" enter into agreements with international companies."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-venezuela-oil-9.7033201