Apparently President Maduro and his wife have been kidnapped.
Charming.
Imagine the furore if President Putin had just done that.
https://swentr.site/news/630363-us-attack-venezuela-caracas/
“Arrested, I think you’ll find, but I haven’t been told what to say by the West Israelis yet,” replied Kier Starmmler from his North Israel pied a tierre (Orange Juice on the stereo, like).
Might there be any recent Novel laureates chucking in their CV ?
On the assumption that it is true, there is a salutary lesson here. When the US parks an aircraft carrier or a fleet of warships that threaten you, it seems to me that one must strike first. Sink the friggin carrier and then be ready for any consequences.
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‘We will run the country’: Trump after Venezuela regime change (Live Updates)
The Venezuelan president and his wife are being delivered to New York to face “narco-terrorism” charges, Washington has said
An explosion in Venezuelan capital Caracas amid rising tensions with the US. © Getty Images
The US will “run” Venezuela after carrying out a regime-change operation in the oil-rich South American country, President Donald Trump has said.
Trump was speaking at a press conference after US forces swooped over the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, early on Saturday. Maduro and his wife were captured by US special forces in the operation and renditioned on an American warship, where the Venezuelan leader is being held blindfolded and handcuffed.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Trump told the media from his Mar-a-Lago resort. “We’re there now… we’re going to stay until such time as a proper transition can take place.”
Read more
Trump issues oil demand to Venezuela
“We’re going to have our very large US oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country and we are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so. So we were prepared to do a second wave,” Trump added.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondon has told the country’s troops to “trust the leadership,” while Foreign Minister Yvan Gil has accused Washington of seeking to gain control of the Latin American nation’s natural resources.
Numerous videos have emerged of a series of heavy explosions across Caracas. Footage showing attacks in two other parts of the country has also been geolocated. One clip features the outline of several US Chinook military helicopters swooping across the city at low altitude.
Read more
Oil, arms and longstanding ties: What connects Russia and Venezuela
In a statement, Moscow has condemned the US “aggression,” called for “immediate clarification” on Maduro’s whereabouts and lamented that “ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism.”
American Senator Mike Lee announced on his personal X account that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told him that Washington does not foresee any further military operations at this time and that the Venezuelan president will stand trial in the US.
Multiple Western countries have expressed “concern” and claimed they are monitoring developments with their diplomatic teams in the Venezuelan capital.
Maduro indicted in New York – US attorney general
The charges include narcotics trafficking and weapons possession, Pam Bondi has said
President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro. © Jesus Vargas/Getty Images
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been indicted in New York on several charges related to drug trafficking and weapons possession, US Attorney General Pam Bondi has said.
On Saturday, the US military conducted strikes on Venezuela. President Donald Trump later announced that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and flown out of the country. Caracas has denounced the strikes as “grave military aggression.”
In a statement on X, Bondi said Maduro and his spouse had been indicted in the Southern District of New York and charged with “narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machineguns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices against the United States.”
Maduro and his wife have yet to deliver their pleas.
READ MORE: ‘We will run the country’: Trump after Venezuela regime change (Live Updates)
The US has long accused Maduro of links with drug cartels and helping to flood America with narcotics while refusing to recognize him as a legitimate leader and putting a $50 million bounty on information leading to his arrest and conviction. The Venezuelan president has vehemently denied the accusations, arguing that Washington has been using them as a pretext for military aggression and in order to topple his government.
Russia has condemned the US strikes as an act of “armed aggression” and warned against further escalation. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recalled that Brussels “has repeatedly stated that Mr. Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition” while urging all parties to exercise restraint.
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The Zionists win again. The massive investment made into US “heavy” oil refining by the Koch brothers has sat dormant for years. Now, they can get their refineries going.
The Duran has a very weak (IMHO) report of what is known so far. Nothing, zero, zilch (up to the point where I gave up listening) on the complete wild west behaviour of the US, with extra judicial killings and now invasions of a sovereign nation. I’m waiting to compare the world’s reaction when the Russians drop into Kiev and assinate the green T shirt guy and the heads of the Avoz battalion.
US Raids Venezuela Seizes Maduro; No Resistance; Government Retains Control; China Brazil Humiliated
“We are going to be taking a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground”—Trump
No legal prosecution of any Venezuelan leaders is remotely legitimate under these circumstances.
To call this a conflict of interest would be to give it an undeserved 10% dignity, rather than the zero it deserves. It would be like a burglar taking out a financial claim against the owner of a house he was caught burgling, in order to justify the burglary.
So will legal institutions laugh this out of court, or stop it with their protests? I doubt it, they are all essentially captured - captured by their careers, their salaries, by the political allegiances of their professional elites.
More than likely the US will be in no hurry, as the “prosecution” is a very red herring anyway, probably never happen, likely not seriously intended - unlike stealing the oil.
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From Larry Johnson at Sonar21.com
I believe the true objective of the kidnapping operation to remove Maduro is to secure US control of Venezuelan oil in anticipation of a disruption of the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf when Israel, with US-backing, launches a new attack on Iran. I suppose you could say that Trump’s Monday meeting with Netanyahu, which coincided with the eruption of protests in Iran that were likely incited by the MEK — a terrorist group with direct ties to the CIA and Mossad — followed by the kidnapping of Maduro and his wife is just a happy series of coincidences… I don’t believe in coincidence.
https://sonar21.com/is-the-maduro-kidnapping-a-prelude-to-attacking-iran/
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Unless Trump kidnaps 26 million Venezuelans, it’s already over. Militiamen are walking the streets, #1 TV host did a 20 hour stint to prove they aren’t alone.
Will Trump be TACO once again?
Also, where does this take us? I’ve already seen joke posts on social media reporting the address of their leader whilst expressing fear that it happens. More seriously does this mean a global race to nuclear weapons now?
Edit. Columbian prez is talking about going in to help Venezuela.
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Hi @LocalYokel - the last arrow should refer to transfer of Venezuelans to El Salvador not Venezuela :
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/venezuelan-migrants-sent-to-el-salvador-demand-justice-after-us-judge-ruling/ar-AA1T5ziY
Cheers
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Apologies, it was the Cuban president, not Columbia.
From MoA;
-Venezuela Hires Rothschild as Adviser on Defaulted Debt Pile –
https://archive.ph/6JbIM#selection-1193.0-1193.60
– Nat Rothschild posts a statement on X praising and congratulating the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela. –
Posted by: The Painter | Jan 4 2026 19:37 utc
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Haven’t seen the phrase “murderous attack” anywhere in the media.
ED
Much of Maduro’s Security Team Killed in US Action, Venezuela Defense Minister Says
The official said much of Maduro’s security team as well as soldiers and civilians were killed.
A destroyed anti-aircraft unit at La Carlota military air base in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026. Leonardo Fernandez/Reuters
Breaking News Reporter
1/4/2026|Updated: 1/4/2026
A significant portion of Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolás Maduro’s security team was killed in the U.S. operation that led to the leader’s capture, Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino López in a news conference on Jan. 4.
While López didn’t provide a figure of the casualties, he backed the Venezuelan Supreme Court declaration that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez serve as interim president and said armed forces were activated across the country.
He said in a live video address that “much of” Maduro’s “security team” as well as soldiers and civilians, were killed in the operation, according to a translation from Spanish.
López said he wants Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also detained Jan. 3, to both be returned to Venezuela. He described the U.S. military operation as an act of aggression against the country.
Earlier, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that U.S. President Donald Trump has had conversations with Rodríguez, the interim leader of the country, which she described as ”very matter-of-fact and very clear.”
“You can lead, or you can get out of the way,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News. “Because we’re not going to allow you to continue to subvert American influence and our need to have a free country like Venezuela to work with rather than to have dictators in place who perpetuate crimes and drug trafficking.”
Noem said that the United States wants a leader in Venezuela who will be “a partner that understands that we’re going to protect America” when it comes to stopping drug trafficking and “terrorists from coming into our country.”
She noted that “we’re looking for a leader that will stand up beside us and embrace those freedoms and liberties for the Venezuelan people, but also ensure that they’re not perpetuating crimes around the globe like they’ve had in the past.”
On Jan. 4, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that the operation in Venezuela was meant to bolster U.S. national security and that it was in the interests of the country.
“There’s not a war” between the Trump administration and Venezuela, he said.
“We are at war against drug trafficking organizations, not a war against Venezuela,” Rubio said.
He then described Maduro as the leader of a drug cartel known as the Cartel del Soles, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization late last year.
We will continue to reserve the right to take strikes against the drug boats that are bringing drugs toward the United States, that are being operated by transnational criminal organizations, including the cartel,“ he said. ”Of course, the leader of that cartel is now in U.S. custody and facing U.S. justice.”
The Venezuelan regime has said for months that Trump’s operations in the Western Hemisphere and actions against the Maduro regime are part of an effort to take possession of the country’s vast natural resources, especially its oil.
Maduro was indicted in 2020 on U.S. charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy. He has denied any criminal involvement.
Rubio said on Jan. 4 that Maduro was given the opportunity to come to an agreement with the United States to leave Venezuela and relinquish power, even as recently as a week ago. But he stressed that Maduro has a history of not committing to deals with the United States.
With Maduro gone, “other people” in charge of the country’s “military and police apparatus” will have to make choices about the future of their nation, Rubio told Fox. He said that there should be no more “Iran–Hezbollah presence,” no more drug smuggling, and no more using the country’s vast oil reserves to enrich U.S. adversaries.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California’s Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
Author’s Selected Articles
Trump: Acting Venezuelan Leader Will Face Consequences If She Doesn’t ‘Do What’s Right’
(This is interesting:
16:26 GMT
Kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be represented in the US courts by Barry Pollack, a prominent criminal defense lawyer who had long represented Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange, NBC News reported, citing court filings.)
Maduro pleads ‘not guilty’ as he appears before US judge: Live Updates
3 Jan, 2026 08:03
Kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be represented in the US courts by Barry Pollack, a prominent criminal defense lawyer who had long represented Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange, NBC News reported, citing court filings.
The abducted Venezuelan president and his wife have denied the narco-terrorism and smuggling conspiracy charges levied against them
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores arrive at the Wall Street Heliport in New York City, January 5, 2026. © Global Look Press/Kyle Mazza-CNP
Kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have pleaded not guilty to all charges in a New York court on Monday.
The pair were delivered to the federal courthouse in Manhattan for arraignment following their abduction from Caracas by US special forces just days before.
Maduro is facing charges on four counts, including “narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States.”
When asked by US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein to introduce himself, Maduro reportedly said that he is the “president of Venezuela,” and that he considers himself “a prisoner of war.”
The Venezuelan leader is reportedly being represented by Barry Pollack, a veteran criminal defense lawyer known for defending Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange in the case that saw him freed.
READ MORE: Trump explains how he wants to ‘run’ Venezuela
In closing the proceedings, Judge Hellerstein reportedly announced that the next hearing will take place on March 17.
Meanwhile, after carrying out a regime-change operation in the oil-rich South American country, US President Donald Trump has threatened Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, with a “bigger price” than the one paid by Maduro.
He added that the US needs “total access… to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country.” Trump also said that Washington will “run” Venezuela “until such time as a proper transition can take place.”
“We’re in charge,” Trump reiterated on Sunday, noting that Rodriguez was “cooperating” with the US.
Moscow has condemned the US “aggression,” and lamented that “ideological hostility has triumphed over business-like pragmatism.”
More here:
https://swentr.site/news/630363-us-attack-venezuela-caracas/
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Well, now we’re banned from using the word “kidnapped”.
How about “wafted”?
Maduro and his wife Cilia Adela Flores were gently “wafted” from their home in the middle of the night and then gently “wafted” into the US?
BBC bans saying US ‘kidnapped’ Maduro – leaked memo
The policy looks like “Orwellian stuff,” British journalist Owen Jones has said
More here:
https://swentr.site/news/630665-bbc-bans-maduro-kidnapped-term/
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Good one for those who believe the BBC is independent.
Owen Jones gets time to write articles rather than swishing his epee for the delight of Twitter twinks? He’s one for a waft alright in his light blue cardy. Spook of the second order, useful idiot section, so they say.
