It is mortifying to watch as someone who spent years in the foreign service defending the rules-based international order.
When the U.S. conducts airstrikes on a sovereign capital, extracts a head of state via special forces without congressional authorization, and announces it on social media from a private resort, we’ve just demolished every argument we’ve made about Ukraine for the past three years.
From a diplomatic perspective, this is catastrophic.
Every international law argument we’ve made: sovereignty matters, territorial integrity is inviolable, regime change by force is illegal, the UN Charter means something; just became “rules for thee but not for me.”
We just became the thing we claimed to oppose. And every person still there knows it, even if they can’t say it publicly. And frankly, it’s pathetic that they will still work for this regime. Disgusting…
That’s the real cost of this operation, not just Venezuelan lives, but American credibility on every principle we claimed to defend.
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I’m impressed with your ability to bring me so much information on this current debacle so quickly. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Glad I have you and Renato to watch today.
Your theory of events in Venezuela being used to deport Venezuelans still holds true though for a different reason. Trump/Miller won't use Alien Enemy's Act, instead they'll say Venezuelans in US will no longer need Temporary Protected Status since Maduro's gone and so can be shipped back to Venezuela.
Seems like a distraction from the Epstein files. Release the Epstein files. It’s still chilling that Mara Lago was sending young girls to Jefferey Epstein for house calls for Massages repeatedly. And he was exposing himself. This is disturbing. Why would they send young girls for massages to his house??? It’s off property and who knows what he was up to.
Wag the dog as a distraction from the Epstein files. Today was the day DOJ was supposed to explain their redactions in the miniscule released files. Now Pam Bondi is busy with Maduro.
Brit here. 250 years ago, Americans "stole" a whole continent from us. Would now be a good time to ask: can have it back now, please? I think you'd find our King a lot nicer than the one you currently have. :-)
Thank you for shining a legal light on these recent actions of our administration but when all is said and done, it just seems that we (the USA) basically do most anything we want because we can. "Who is going to stop us?" seems to be the mentality of this current administration. Any law, national or international can be bent to suit their agenda. The big picture and long term historical implications are lost on them.
Legal question (setting aide that law no longer matters in the USA…), don’t international treaties supersede all other laws? If so, wouldn’t Maduro have to be released under the UN Charter provision exempting heads of state from prosecution?
Thanks Asha. FYI stuff … “Viscount Castlereagh, the British Secretary of State from 1812-22, casts a dark shadow in Shelley’s poetry. This is because Castlereagh lead some of the most pivotal—and controversial—foreign policy moves of Shelley’s era: in addition to breaking Irish independence movements and bringing the Celtic island under the dominion of the United Kingdom, Castlereagh spearheaded the work of restoration in the years following Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. Royal families reassumed positions of power, and with them came a new era in Europe, one committed to crushing the reform movements.”
Good author line up. All these criminal leaders need to do each other in. The speech to text is not working today, perhaps authors input would help us lowly substack subscribers get that repaired. I was going to write happy weekend but that just seems wrong. Hopefully nobody will bomb us, if they do I hope the target is mar a lago.
The felon just opened the door on taking presidents from other countries in season, not sure what months the season lasts. Who will take ours now. We won't fight you, take him.
Excellent review of recent events. So recent, and controversial, they're still on TV as we speak. The justification for capturing this individual, in his own country, at his home no doubt, is slightly problematic, to say this least. Why didn't the US government just say "Mr Maduro and Family, from Venezuela, just won a Free Cruise to the US and will be visiting New York city for a while. Congratulations!
It is mortifying to watch as someone who spent years in the foreign service defending the rules-based international order.
When the U.S. conducts airstrikes on a sovereign capital, extracts a head of state via special forces without congressional authorization, and announces it on social media from a private resort, we’ve just demolished every argument we’ve made about Ukraine for the past three years.
From a diplomatic perspective, this is catastrophic.
Every international law argument we’ve made: sovereignty matters, territorial integrity is inviolable, regime change by force is illegal, the UN Charter means something; just became “rules for thee but not for me.”
We just became the thing we claimed to oppose. And every person still there knows it, even if they can’t say it publicly. And frankly, it’s pathetic that they will still work for this regime. Disgusting…
That’s the real cost of this operation, not just Venezuelan lives, but American credibility on every principle we claimed to defend.
—Johan
U.S. citizens living, serving, or studying abroad—you can vote from wherever you are! 🌍 Visit https://votefromabroad.org to register and request your overseas ballot.
It’s quick, free, and valid for all elections in 2026. Need help? Write to help@votefromabroad.org.
Vote from Abroad volunteers are ready to assist you with any questions about requesting or returning your ballot. Don’t wait! Request your ballot today and make your voice heard! 🗳️
I’m impressed with your ability to bring me so much information on this current debacle so quickly. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Glad I have you and Renato to watch today.
Your theory of events in Venezuela being used to deport Venezuelans still holds true though for a different reason. Trump/Miller won't use Alien Enemy's Act, instead they'll say Venezuelans in US will no longer need Temporary Protected Status since Maduro's gone and so can be shipped back to Venezuela.
Love your plan for 2026.
Thank you for all of your thorough posts.
So using the same logic, trump can be arrested and tried by a foreign government?
Anyway, I'm watching 'Godzilla Raids Again', so I have more pressing issues.
It would be nice if they'd arrest putin/vought/miller/thiel/musk/orange/vance/johnson, etc. But I wouldn't wish those terrorists on any other country.
Seems like a distraction from the Epstein files. Release the Epstein files. It’s still chilling that Mara Lago was sending young girls to Jefferey Epstein for house calls for Massages repeatedly. And he was exposing himself. This is disturbing. Why would they send young girls for massages to his house??? It’s off property and who knows what he was up to.
Wag the dog as a distraction from the Epstein files. Today was the day DOJ was supposed to explain their redactions in the miniscule released files. Now Pam Bondi is busy with Maduro.
Oh how convenient.
Agreed. Note that Cuba and Mexico are next.
Yep.
Has anyone asked the Orange Overlord how Venezuela “stole” its own oil?
Brit here. 250 years ago, Americans "stole" a whole continent from us. Would now be a good time to ask: can have it back now, please? I think you'd find our King a lot nicer than the one you currently have. :-)
I'm sure you can find the history of Venezuelan oil exploration and development by researching it on Google, Wikipedia, and Encyclopedia Britannica.
And you can be sure I’m familiar with the history of Venezuelan oil exploration and of PDVSA.
Thank you for shining a legal light on these recent actions of our administration but when all is said and done, it just seems that we (the USA) basically do most anything we want because we can. "Who is going to stop us?" seems to be the mentality of this current administration. Any law, national or international can be bent to suit their agenda. The big picture and long term historical implications are lost on them.
I fear, Trump would love to see Putin abduct Zelenskyy.
Legal question (setting aide that law no longer matters in the USA…), don’t international treaties supersede all other laws? If so, wouldn’t Maduro have to be released under the UN Charter provision exempting heads of state from prosecution?
Who will enforce?
Thanks Asha. FYI stuff … “Viscount Castlereagh, the British Secretary of State from 1812-22, casts a dark shadow in Shelley’s poetry. This is because Castlereagh lead some of the most pivotal—and controversial—foreign policy moves of Shelley’s era: in addition to breaking Irish independence movements and bringing the Celtic island under the dominion of the United Kingdom, Castlereagh spearheaded the work of restoration in the years following Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. Royal families reassumed positions of power, and with them came a new era in Europe, one committed to crushing the reform movements.”
Excellent analysis. I just heard Ambr. McFaul speak to Harry Litman on their substack. Good interview for those who subscribe to either.
Did not realize the election in Venuzuela in 2024 was one of the most watched, and verified, ever. Here is McFaul's write-up from this weekend.
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelmcfaul/p/the-us-priority-in-venezuela-must?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&shareImageVariant=overlay&r=mwz4r
Everybody's gotta say Maduro is a bad guy because why? Is it the same reason they have to say Hamas killed a lot of people in 2023?
Good author line up. All these criminal leaders need to do each other in. The speech to text is not working today, perhaps authors input would help us lowly substack subscribers get that repaired. I was going to write happy weekend but that just seems wrong. Hopefully nobody will bomb us, if they do I hope the target is mar a lago.
The felon just opened the door on taking presidents from other countries in season, not sure what months the season lasts. Who will take ours now. We won't fight you, take him.
Excellent review of recent events. So recent, and controversial, they're still on TV as we speak. The justification for capturing this individual, in his own country, at his home no doubt, is slightly problematic, to say this least. Why didn't the US government just say "Mr Maduro and Family, from Venezuela, just won a Free Cruise to the US and will be visiting New York city for a while. Congratulations!