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

[Sundog]

How will the US be 'helping' Denmark if they annex Greenland? How will the US be 'helping' Canada if they invade us? You know as well as I do, that the motivating factor of any of these political takeovers are rooted in materialism: what natural resources or products can the US siphon and use for their own needs? I don't think Canada needs your help if that's your definition of helping. There is absolutely nothing even remotely related to altruism in the offhand way Trump talks about how much fresh water BC has "they have essentially a very large faucet'. Our lumber, our oil, our precious metals, basically anything that the US needs, to exploit OUR resources for YOUR consumption.

Ideally, these issues will be worked out through the negotiation of tariffs. Unless, of course, Alberta decides to secede from Canada and make its own decisions. It will be an interesting year ahead.

 

[Sundog]

That right would not transfer unless the UK explicitly transferred it to Canada as part of Canadian independence. Also, the British Empire was not a legal entity in the way that the UK itself is. The UK had colonies, some of which became self-governing dominions and later independent, eg Canada, South Africa and Australia; colonies which became directly independent, eg Ghana, Jamaica and Belize; and others with a variety of legal statuses.

Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of countries and King Charles III serves as the head of the Commonwealth realm. A Canadian passport requests that foreign countries allow the bearer of a Canadian passport to pass freely in the name of His Majesty the King. (Older Canadian passports that have yet to renew refer to Her Majesty the Queen.)

 

[Hexe]

Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of countries and King Charles III serves as the head of the Commonwealth realm.

King Charles is a ceremonial head of the Commonwealth, which in turn is just an association of states, not a state in itself.

 

[Sundog]

"More than a dozen media workers were detained on Monday while covering events in the Venezuelan capital, including a march in support of ousted president Nicolás Maduro and the swearing-in of the country’s new legislature, the Venezuelan press association said.

All 14 of those detained in Caracas were later released, the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) posted on X, though one was a foreign journalist who was deported.

Reuters quoted the SNTP as saying those detained included 11 people working with international media outlets and one with a national outlet."

Opposition leader Machado says she hasn’t spoken to Trump since attack as she vows to return to Venezuela – live

María Corina Machado tells Fox News she would share her Nobel peace prize with US president after removal of Nicolás Maduro

www.theguardian.com

Interesting that Machado, Nobel Prize recipient, is totally supportive of our President's actions and admires him for taking action when no one else would.

Trump has “proven to the world what he means,” Machado continued, because “January 3rd will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny,” as a “milestone” that was “a huge step” for the Venezuelan people, and for “humanity, freedom, and human dignity.”

God bless her, a true champion of the people and for freedom around the world.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of countries and King Charles III serves as the head of the Commonwealth realm. A Canadian passport requests that foreign countries allow the bearer of a Canadian passport to pass freely in the name of His Majesty the King. (Older Canadian passports that have yet to renew refer to Her Majesty the Queen.)

I'm unclear what the relevance of this is. Can you please clarify?

 

[tricia]

Hi Everyone.
I took a selfie in my office. This is me begging. Please Stay On Topic.
Thank you.
Tricia

 

[Ontario Mom]

Well this is horrifying:

"Gangs of armed pro-regime militants on motorbikes have taken over the streets of Caracas, hunting down Venezuelans who support the US’s audacious capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, according to videos and on-the-ground accounts shared with The Post and multiple reports. The masked thugs, known as Colectivos, holding Russian automatic weapons, brought rush hour traffic to a grinding halt in the Venezuelan capital, stopping drivers at checkpoints and demanding to search their phones and cars, four sources in Venezuela confirmed Monday and Tuesday."

Pro-Maduro motorcycle gang thugs hunting for Trump supporters in Caracas days after dictator’s capture: ‘Very tense’

“The future is uncertain,” one distressed resident said.

nypost.com

 

[Ontario Mom]

Well this is horrifying:

"Gangs of armed pro-regime militants on motorbikes have taken over the streets of Caracas, hunting down Venezuelans who support the US’s audacious capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, according to videos and on-the-ground accounts shared with The Post and multiple reports. The masked thugs, known as Colectivos, holding Russian automatic weapons, brought rush hour traffic to a grinding halt in the Venezuelan capital, stopping drivers at checkpoints and demanding to search their phones and cars, four sources in Venezuela confirmed Monday and Tuesday."

Pro-Maduro motorcycle gang thugs hunting for Trump supporters in Caracas days after dictator’s capture: ‘Very tense’

“The future is uncertain,” one distressed resident said.

nypost.com

More from this same article:

"One source shared video with The Post from Caracas that appeared to show the Rodriguez government delivering weapons to civilian supporters of the regime known as “milicianos,” or militiamen. The remaining government in power, headed by Maduro’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who was sworn in as the country’s interim president on Monday, has declared a state of emergency banning any celebration of the US military operation."

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Well this is horrifying:

"Gangs of armed pro-regime militants on motorbikes have taken over the streets of Caracas, hunting down Venezuelans who support the US’s audacious capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, according to videos and on-the-ground accounts shared with The Post and multiple reports. The masked thugs, known as Colectivos, holding Russian automatic weapons, brought rush hour traffic to a grinding halt in the Venezuelan capital, stopping drivers at checkpoints and demanding to search their phones and cars, four sources in Venezuela confirmed Monday and Tuesday."

Pro-Maduro motorcycle gang thugs hunting for Trump supporters in Caracas days after dictator’s capture: ‘Very tense’

“The future is uncertain,” one distressed resident said.

nypost.com

Not surprising, is it

 

[SouthAussie]

U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela and his overall strategy for the Western Hemisphere should serve as a warning to all Canadians and require a more fulsome response from its political leaders, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations says.

Bob Rae, who finished his five-year ambassadorship last November, told Global News in an interview that the U.S. under Trump is rejecting multilateralism in favour of asserting its dominance over the hemisphere, without “any notion of legality.”

“We’re basically being told (by) the Americans, ‘We will do whatever we can get away with, and who’s going to stop us?'” he said. “Which is a license to take over any country that they feel is getting in their way.

“We’re on the menu,” he said. “If you don’t think we’re on the menu just because he hasn’t mentioned the words ’51st state,’ I think that’s really missing the boat in terms of what this administration is about.”

Trump’s actions in Venezuela suggest Canada is ‘on the menu’: ex-UN envoy - National | Globalnews.ca

Although U.S. President Donald Trump has not revived his threats of making Canada the 51st U.S. state, Bob Rae says that doesn't mean Canadians should rest easy.

globalnews.ca

 

[SouthAussie]

During the U.S. operation in Caracas, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured trying to escape to their safe room, according to a senior military official and a source familiar with Monday's congressional briefing.

Special operations forces threw flash-bangs into the area where they were found.

When U.S. authorities arrested the couple, they were already bleeding.

In court Monday, attorneys for both Maduro and his wife requested that health and medical issues be attended to for their clients.

Flores' attorney said that "during her abduction," she "sustained significant injuries," including bruised ribs.
Journalists in the courtroom observed visible bruising and bandages on Flores' head.

Venezuela's ex-president Maduro held in NYC jail as Trump administration plans next steps

Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro spent the night in jail after he appeared in a U.S. courtroom — as questions linger about President Trump's plans for Venezuela.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[SouthAussie]

"The Venezuelan military posted a tribute video on social media for soldiers who were killed in the U.S. operation in Venezuela, and said there were 24 deaths.

The new development brings the total number of personnel killed in the U.S. operation to at least 56."

Venezuela's ex-president Maduro held in NYC jail as Trump administration plans next steps

Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro spent the night in jail after he appeared in a U.S. courtroom — as questions linger about President Trump's plans for Venezuela.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[CrimeDawg123]

During the U.S. operation in Caracas, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured trying to escape to their safe room, according to a senior military official and a source familiar with Monday's congressional briefing.

Special operations forces threw flash-bangs into the area where they were found.

When U.S. authorities arrested the couple, they were already bleeding.

In court Monday, attorneys for both Maduro and his wife requested that health and medical issues be attended to for their clients.

Flores' attorney said that "during her abduction," she "sustained significant injuries," including bruised ribs.
Journalists in the courtroom observed visible bruising and bandages on Flores' head.

Venezuela's ex-president Maduro held in NYC jail as Trump administration plans next steps

Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro spent the night in jail after he appeared in a U.S. courtroom — as questions linger about President Trump's plans for Venezuela.

www.cbsnews.com

I'm sure the US forces had nothing to do with their injuries

 

[PrairieWind]

During the U.S. operation in Caracas, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured trying to escape to their safe room, according to a senior military official and a source familiar with Monday's congressional briefing.

Special operations forces threw flash-bangs into the area where they were found.

When U.S. authorities arrested the couple, they were already bleeding.

In court Monday, attorneys for both Maduro and his wife requested that health and medical issues be attended to for their clients.

Flores' attorney said that "during her abduction," she "sustained significant injuries," including bruised ribs.
Journalists in the courtroom observed visible bruising and bandages on Flores' head.

Venezuela's ex-president Maduro held in NYC jail as Trump administration plans next steps

Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro spent the night in jail after he appeared in a U.S. courtroom — as questions linger about President Trump's plans for Venezuela.

www.cbsnews.com

It isn't uncommon for criminals to get injured as the try to avoid arrest. Happens all the time. Surrender, don't resist and you wont get injured.

 

[Inthedetails]

The number of confirmed dead in Venezuela has risen to 56 following a U.S. strike and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

Officials said on Tuesday at least 24 Venezuelan security officials were killed in the attack, along with a confirmed 32 Cuban military and police officers.

At least 56 killed during Venezuela strike

The White House says none of the roughly 200 U.S. personnel involved in the strike were killed.

www.newsnationnow.com

 

[NuttMegg]

The number of confirmed dead in Venezuela has risen to 56 following a U.S. strike and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

Officials said on Tuesday at least 24 Venezuelan security officials were killed in the attack, along with a confirmed 32 Cuban military and police officers.

At least 56 killed during Venezuela strike

The White House says none of the roughly 200 U.S. personnel involved in the strike were killed.

www.newsnationnow.com

They bombed an apartment and killed Rosa Gonzalez, 78. Clearing bomb wreckage, Venezuelan mourns aunt killed in US raid

Also reported in NYT.

 

[bearfossils]

DOJ admits that Maduro drug cartel Trump cited to justify Venezuela strike doesn’t actually

That claim was initially made in a Trump DOJ grand jury indictment against Maduro in 2020.

The 2020 indictment refers to the cartel 32 times and says Maduro is the leader of the organization.

The State Department and the Treasury Department under Trump last year designated Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization.

But Latin America experts have countered that “Cartel de los Soles” is actually a slang phrase coined in the 1990s by the Venezuelan media to describe government officials who accept narco money as bribes.

A revised DOJ document issued after Maduro’s capture now claims Maduro only supported the drug-money patronage system, along with his predecessor and mentor, President Hugo Chávez.

Elizabeth Dickinson, deputy director for Latin America at the International Crisis Group, told the New York Times that the new indictment was “exactly accurate to reality.”

“I think the new indictment gets it right, but the designations are still far from reality,” Dickinson said. “Designations don’t have to be proved in court, and that’s the difference. Clearly, they knew they could not prove it in court.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the weekend continued to refer to the now-disputed cartel by name, however.

 

[charminglane]

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Russia was confident that it would be over in 3 days, where Russia would run Ukraine. It didn't work out as Russia planned.

It looks as though the US is imitating Russia, making a big show of seizing a country in a day.

Is that what's going on? The US government is playing a game of oneupmanship with Russia? Is the US president's ego getting in his way and causing him to be a show-off with threatening and seizing sovereign countries?

~ in my humble opinion ~​

My thoughts. Exactly.
Little Man Syndrome.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

CNN Business online January 6, 2026 article by Kit Maher, Kaitlin Collins, and David Goldman entitled ‘Trump says Venezuela will turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to US’:

https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/06/business/venezuela-turning-over-oil-trump

Unless I missed it, it was not entirely clear the grade of oil in scope or exact timing. And whether, e.g. crude is involved or other processing will be required. It was in one context referred to as ‘high quality’ and ‘sanctioned’ oil. Another portion of the article refers to stockpiled crude Venezuelan oil IIUC. Another segment refers to I believe heavy crude. MOO

 

[seasideForest]

That is just the point, this needs to be up to the people of Greenland to decide. Do they want to be part of Denmark, the UK, or independent? Only they should decide.

Well, yes. But aren't we having this whole argument because Trump has laid claim to Greenland. In what way is that right? Have the people of Greenland invited him? I didn't get the impression anything like a majority was thoroughly enthused when American delegations were turning up in Greenland last year.
MOO