EDITORIAL – It’s too soon to cheer Donald Trump’s escapade in Venezuela
Photo of Maduro after capture, posted by Donald Trump on Truth Social.
A editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
A GUT RESPONSE when waking up today (Jan. 3, 2027) to the news that U.S. armed forces had swooped in to Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores was to cheer.
Maduro, after all, is not a good person. Most Western countries have condemned him as an illegitimate leader who rigged the 2024 election and stole office. And then there’s his alleged involvement in the drug trade. As the Americans insist, he ran a “narco-state.”
So Venezuela is lucky to be rid of him. But let’s ask a few more questions.
What are the implications of one country invading a sovereign nation and kidnapping its president, hustling him off to face charges in a foreign court? What sort of precedent will this set, or extend? Will the likes of Russia, China and tinpot dictatorships feel more emboldened to do similar things?
What effect will there be, in other words, on international law and order?
How comfortable are we with the fact that the instigator of this action was none other than Donald Trump, narcissist and liar? How can we trust him to act “fairly and judiciously,” as he claimed he will? (By the way, was he actually falling asleep at this morning’s news conference as other members of his administration spoke? It sure looked like it.)
The U.S. doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to its involvement in the politics of other Latin American countries. When Trump claims he’s now “running Venezuela,” isn’t it just a little presumptuous to suggest he can simply take over a very large country without there being violent resistance, with all the negative consequences that portends?
When he justifies the incursion into Venezuela as a matter of national security, what are the implications for Greenland, which he has also said he must control as a matter of national security?
And what about Canada? He says he won’t use military force to make us the 51st state, but where will he stop when it comes to his attempt to bring us to our knees and annex us through economic means?
Maybe you noticed the number of times he mentioned oil in his lengthy speech today. I got the impression that taking control of Venezuela’s oil industry is more important to him than the drug issue. Think of Canada’s natural resources and how much he’d love to have them.
Maybe that sounds alarmist. Our sky isn’t falling yet but, let’s face it, we can’t trust this man so it’s a little early to be applauding the events in Venezuela.
Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Oil Royalties
Alaska = 35%
Alberta Canada = 1-9 % depending on world oil price. The higher the world price the lower the royalty as low as 1 or 2%
Venezuela prior to Chavez 1-9 % Post Cavez 33%. He lifted 40% of Venezuelans out of poverty. Poor children were taken off the street and sent to schools. Music schools for all of them some became great musicians. Venezuela paid the US companies out when they nationalized the industry but don’t forget oil companies took billions in profit over the 50 years of theft.
Norway Royalties = 78% (Nationalized) oil co, stayed)
All of these countries benefited due to employment but that is it.
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as PM Chretien said about Iraq, we shouldn’t be involved in a country’s regime change. He was right what a disaster that was.
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Well typically past American presidents allowed the CIA to infiltrate a country, train and arm paramilitaries to undermine the existing power structures of that country in the form of guerrilla wars. The results were usually untold numbers of human right abuses and many civilians deaths. This time around the number of casualties appear to be quite small and the infiltration was lightening quick. Maybe the Trump actually deserve a peace price of sorts…
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As with many Latin-America countries, so many people wanted to come to America. Now America has come to them. We’ll see how they like it.
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Seal team 6 got the wrong target. We can celebrate when a hand-cuffed Trump (who is a much bigger threat to America than Maduro) is whisked away in the middle of the night from Mar a Lago in a helicopter.
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I don’t know who you think is cheering Trump, because I have heard just the opposite, and of course it is all about the oil. Trump is a madman and he needs to be stopped.
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The fix is in. When trump has any problems in “running ” Venezuela he will use emergency powers to not open Epstein files and consolidate power in the judiciary and military. Just like many despots in the 30’s. Should have got him for sedition on Jan 20th. It’s too late now. If I was young I would join up now before conscription not too far in the future.
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