We are all aware by now of Donald Trump’s brutal campaign against the administration of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, the deadly attacks on boats carrying suspected drug runners from that country, and his threatened assault on the nation of Venezuela itself.

But it may be useful to look back 15 months at some of the history of the Maduro regime and its long-standing problem with systemic corruption. Here, as a gentle reminder, is what I wrote in September of 2024:

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Venezuela’s self-proclaimed president, Nicolas Maduro, has had his share of issues lately. Aside from the legitimacy of his presidency itself being denied and protested, he has been widely criticized for his friendship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin; had his illegally-purchased $13 million plane seized; and had to fight off growing political unrest among Venezuela’s citizens who are fed up with his authoritarian rule. And that’s just for starters.

But he believes he’s found a way to keep his people happy, or at least distracted . . . for the next few months, anyway. On his weekly television show on Monday, he proclaimed:

“September smells like Christmas! This year and to honor you all, to thank you all, I am going to decree the beginning of Christmas on October 1. Christmas arrived for everyone, in peace, joy and security!” [Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, September 4, 2024.]

Well, that ought to do it — particularly for the dissidents he’s thrown into prison. And for opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, who has been accused by Maduro of “crimes associated with terrorism,” and is now the subject of an arrest warrant issued just hours before the big Christmas announcement.

Since the start of the protests over the election, some 2,400 people have been arrested, and Human Rights Watch says it has documented eleven related killings. (Non-governmental organizations have reported 24 people killed.) Maduro has ordered two new prisons to be opened, and has called for “everyone in the streets to be imprisoned.” [Id.]

If they were speaking Russian instead of Spanish, I would swear . . . well, never mind.

To say that things are not going well in Venezuela would be a gross understatement. Obviously, then, what we need is a little . . .

That should fix everything. Yeah . . . right!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/5/24

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But that was then. What about now?

Not much seems to have changed in Venezuela in the past 15 months. Yet nothing that Maduro or his supporters have done can justify Donald Trump’s and Pete Hegseth’s murderous attacks on boats, in international waters, that may or may not have been carrying drugs, and may or may not have been headed to the U.S. (which, in any event, seems virtually impossible, given the small size and fuel capacity of the boats and the great distance from Venezuela to the nearest point in the U.S.). Those attacks have been blatantly illegal, inhumane, and inexcusable.

Furthermore, the hypocrisy of Trump’s attempt to justify his actions by labelling them attacks against a corrupt regime is simply laughable. Has he even looked in a mirror lately?!!

One thing he did get right: Maduro is scum. Still, shouldn’t it be up to the people of Venezuela to unseat him? Since when does Donald Trump give a flying fig about corruption?

The truth is, he doesn’t. In reality, it’s all about that rich, abundant Venezuelan oil. The fight against drugs and corruption is just an excuse . . . the cover he needs for his own corrupt regime.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/15/25