White House Reportedly Prepares Plan to Target Maduro in Venezuela
A covert plan to assassinate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has reportedly been developed by the White House, drawing parallels to the operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. According to sources cited by The Daily Mail, this proposal is already “teed up” and awaits further authorization.
The backdrop of this operation stems from serious allegations against Maduro, who has been charged by the U.S. Justice Department under President Joe Biden for allegedly transforming Venezuela into a hub for drug trafficking and terrorism. In 2020, a grand jury indictment in New York accused Maduro and his associates of conspiring with Colombian rebels to “flood the United States with cocaine,” utilizing the drug trade as a strategic weapon against the country, as reported by The Associated Press.
The U.S. military has amassed a notable presence of naval forces in the waters off South America, raising concerns about a possible invasion of Venezuela and a direct attack on Maduro. A Special Forces operation similar to the one executed under former President Barack Obama in 2011 is reportedly under consideration. During Obama’s presidency, a successful raid by SEAL Team Six led to bin Laden’s death in Pakistan.
As tensions escalate, Senate Republicans recently voted against legislation aimed at limiting President Trump’s ability to authorize military action against Venezuela. This decision indicates a willingness among some lawmakers to allow Trump to continue his military buildup in the region. Sen. Jim Risch, the Republican chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, remarked that Trump has taken decisive steps to protect Americans from the influx of narcotics.
Since early September, Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have claimed that narco-terrorists are attempting to smuggle substantial quantities of drugs into the U.S. They alleged that these actions could lead to the deaths of 25,000 to 50,000 Americans, likening the threat to the devastating impacts of the September 11 attacks. Reports indicate that the military has conducted strikes resulting in numerous fatalities of alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Despite these military actions, members of the Trump administration have been reluctant to provide Congress with evidence linking the attacked vessels to drug-trafficking networks or the names of the cartels involved. Critics have expressed concerns over the transparency of the operations, with Rep. Adam Smith calling for clearer communication from the White House regarding these military actions.
Trump has defended the strikes as necessary to combat drug trafficking and has asserted that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with these cartels, citing the same legal authority invoked by the Bush administration post-9/11. However, the lack of formal congressional approval for these military actions has sparked a debate about the limits of presidential power regarding military engagement.
In a recent statement, Trump suggested that he would continue bypassing Congress in his aggressive strategy against drug traffickers, declaring, “we’re just gonna kill people.” His comments followed a series of strikes against vessels suspected of carrying drugs. While he acknowledged the potential for future land-based operations, he emphasized that his actions would ultimately aim to save American lives.
As the situation develops, the implications of these military strategies on U.S.-Venezuela relations remain uncertain, with concerns about the rising tension and the potential for further conflict.
