As far as I can tell from the narrative, Venezuela was basically serving as a puppet state for China, and if that's true, I would probably give that as the primary reason, but who knows. Maybe it's because Venezuela did poorly in the FIFA World Cup qualifier and this was action dictated by his recent peace prize award.

On a slightly more serious note, the charges against Maduro were actually filed in 2020: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/nicol-s-maduro-moros...

Good call on the China angle. Maduro is a first grade asshole. But this is just one bully taking out another on a pretext. I'm thinking more along the lines of a gang war over territory than a goal of lifting up Venezuela to the point that they will be freely able to deal with whoever (or nobody) when it comes to their natural resources.

What a well reasoned take.

Let's hear your well reasoned alternative take then.

Yes, oil.

Was it too long for you to read?

No, your comment history speaks volumes, you are also as of now muted.

Oh, do tell how, please!

> Trump loves ... drug dealers as long as they kiss the ring.

I'm not aware of a specific example. Who is a drug dealer that Trump loves?

The one he just pardoned a couple weeks ago?

Sorry for not being specific enough: former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted of importing over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States.

You’re getting downvoted but your take is simply the truth. Trump does not think like a politician or leader- he does not listen to, care about, or consider things like facts or broader consequences. Insiders in his administration have repeatedly leaked that they are not allowed to communicate information or facts to him, and he never shares reasons for his orders, they have to creatively make that up after the fact for the media. He operates the presidency as a reality TV show, he is interested only in how an action will play with the public and his base in the short term- will it increase his power and help him shift public narratives the way he wants, or not?

It gets better, the comment is now flagged, which is funnier still considering that Trump & Co are now on the record that it was indeed about the oil. I wonder how that will affect Maduro's court case...

None of these things are the most likely reason. The national security establishment doesn't want a Chinese-allied socialist state with a regime perceived to be hostile in South America, especially if its resource-rich. But the timing is very convenient for burying the Epstein stuff.