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On January 3rd, 2026, USA military forces landed in Caracas, Venezuela's capital city, captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and conveyed them to captivity in the USA.
USA President Donald Trump has extended the Monroe Doctrine of the 1820s into the 'Donroe Doctrine' (a term used by columnist Justin Ling in the Toronto Star of January 4th). The President stated that the USA 'would run Venezuela for the future' (no timeline provided). Venezuela is a nation of about 37 million people, with a land area slightly smaller than the province of Ontario, and has been independently governed for about two centuries.
Reading today's New York Times, we see the page one headline: 'Trump Asserts His Global Power Has One Limit: Himself'.
There was NO Congressional advance notice, debate, or oversight on the Venezuelan raid.
The USA Constitution, from the late 1780s, was expressly created to prevent this sort of adventure from happening. Congress and the Judicial system are supposed to provide 'checks and balances' on American presidential power; this mechanism is now virtually nonexistent.
Legal and diplomatic experts around the world condemned the raid as illegal. But Trump has rarely concerned himself, throughout with legality on what he really wants to do.
Media analysis indicates that Cuba could be Trump's next target. Cuba and Venezuela have an interesting trade relationship: Venezuela sends oil to Cuba, in exchange for trained medical professionals, who then work for low wages.
USA President Donald Trump has extended the Monroe Doctrine of the 1820s into the 'Donroe Doctrine' (a term used by columnist Justin Ling in the Toronto Star of January 4th). The President stated that the USA 'would run Venezuela for the future' (no timeline provided). Venezuela is a nation of about 37 million people, with a land area slightly smaller than the province of Ontario, and has been independently governed for about two centuries.
Reading today's New York Times, we see the page one headline: 'Trump Asserts His Global Power Has One Limit: Himself'.
There was NO Congressional advance notice, debate, or oversight on the Venezuelan raid.
The USA Constitution, from the late 1780s, was expressly created to prevent this sort of adventure from happening. Congress and the Judicial system are supposed to provide 'checks and balances' on American presidential power; this mechanism is now virtually nonexistent.
Legal and diplomatic experts around the world condemned the raid as illegal. But Trump has rarely concerned himself, throughout with legality on what he really wants to do.
Media analysis indicates that Cuba could be Trump's next target. Cuba and Venezuela have an interesting trade relationship: Venezuela sends oil to Cuba, in exchange for trained medical professionals, who then work for low wages.