Posted on 01/05/2026 1:26:12 PM PST by Red Badger
Object lesson: When a corrupt government falls, every remaining aspect of that government has to be pulled out, root and branch, and every member of that illegitimate government, at the minimum, removed from any government role. And there just aren't many governments more illegitimate than the rule of Venezuela by the thug-dictator Nicolás Maduro. Now the top man and his wife are facing federal charges in the United States, but his illegal junta is still in charge of the South American nation, and already, they are seeking reprisals against anyone in Venezuela who may have supported the American raid.
Venezuelan authorities have been ordered to find and arrest anyone involved in supporting the military operation that led to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro.
A state of emergency decree issued Saturday, but published Monday, orders police to "immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States," according to the text of the decree, Reuters reported.
It was not clear what charges could be levied against those taken into custody.
Kangaroo courts don't really need to specify legal charges; they can invent them. That's if the remnants of the Maduro regime even bother with a trial, should they capture anyone who may (or may not; corrupt governments usually paint with a very broad brush in these sorts of things) be involved with the American operation.
Here's the onion:
In Maduro's absence, Delcy Rodríguez, his former number two, has been sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela. Rodriguez, 56, has long been a confidant and backer of Maduro.
She was the country's vice president from 2018 through Sunday.
Despite denouncing the U.S. military operation, Rodriguez said in a Sunday social media post that the country aspires towards balanced and respectful international relations between Caracas and Washington.
Venezuela could swear in a capybara as president, and it wouldn't be any more legal than swearing in a member of a government that refused to accept the results of an election and remained in power regardless of the obvious will of the Venezuelan people. Delcy Rodríguez, yes, has been sworn in as "interim" president, but it would seem to accomplish little to remove Maduro and leave his #2 in charge.
As for this crackdown: The Maduro regime used armed, civilian paramilitaries, called colectivos, to crack down on protests while Nicolás Maduro was still in power; it's not at all unlikely that these same regime loyalists may be used to round up any suspected American sympathizers. Although, those groups have gone surprisingly quiet for the moment.
Government officials who are still in power are probably eager to show the Trump administration that they can maintain order, and do not want images of chaos in the streets, said Alejandro Velasco, a Latin America historian at New York University, who is Venezuelan. Their only bargaining chip to stay in power is the ability to keep the peace, he said.
“I have to imagine colectivos have been given the order to lay low,” Mr. Velasco said.
Venezuela has long used the armed civilians to fight back against protesters. They have been known to work alongside police or military forces with no consequences for the excessive or even fatal force often used.
These people are pretty much the only Venezuelans not in the military or police who are allowed to bear arms, so it's not like they could encounter much resistance.
We already know the solution to all this. The 2024 election was won, almost certainly, by opposition candidate Edmundo González. Two things must happen: Let Edmundo González take the role as interim president, and organize and hold new elections as quickly as that can happen.
Also, disarm and disband the colectivos. A legitimate government doesn't require bands of armed thugs to do it's bidding.
more FAFO from the Venezuelans...
The government hasn’t fallen, we should have finished the job.
Time for another hand to come out of the sky and pluck away a few more “leaders”.
Knew this would happen. Sadly.
They do understand our military assets are not single-use, right?
so the Venezuelan generals that issued stand down orders to their troops should be pretty easy to find
The establishment has a band of robed thugs to do their bidding.
Reminds me of the persecution of those who worked with Trump during his first term.
The Venezuelan democratic socialists are no different than the ones in the US.
Yep, and the democrat socialists here would hunt us down similarly if they could.
I'm sure we know who gave those orders.
They should have an "unfortunate" explosion.
Bkmk
Without troops on the ground? Impossible.
“Two things must happen: Let Edmundo González take the role as interim president, and organize and hold new elections as quickly as that can happen.”
There won’t be elections any time soon. Trump can control the remaining Maduro government people with the threat of coming in again.
As long as the US gets it’s hands on the oil the remnants of the Maduro regime can stay in power.
I am hoping there are generals in the military that want to keep their heads and their privilege and power.
President Trump can probably cut a deal with them. If that happens the civilian leaders will come along too.
President Trump can give a veneer of respectability to those not too obviously dirty. They will have to learn to say yes sir. If they don’t, he can remove them permanently.
Bizarre.
Let them “ govern” without benefit of electricity or gasoline, for a while.
Is this Maduro’s Angry Housewife Militia and Underwater Mess Kit Repair platoon?
Been going on for centuries with despotic regimes. Aka hunting for counter revolutionaries, traitors, spies, western influencers, western imperialist collaborators, etc.
IOW a standard new leadership power struggle
He’s Nickeless Maduro now!
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