Many on the political left, and even a few on the political right, are having fits about President Trump authorizing the operation to capture Venezuela president and narcotrafficker Nicolas Maduro without any congressional notification.
Several House members attempted to frame the issue as Trump acting as a dictator. A few called attention to the lack of the Gang of Eight being notified, and even some Republican senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee were concerned with the military deployment without advance notice.
If a covert intelligence operation was deployed, the President would sign a “finding memo” generally notifying the Gang of Eight, but that doesn’t apply in this instance.
President Trump remarked a concern with leaks was an element, saying that Congress has “a tendency to leak,” which he said could have produced “a very different result.” However, Secretary Marco Rubio was purposefully clear in his statement about the operation.
“This is not the kind of mission that you can do congressional notification on. It was a trigger-based mission in which conditions had to be met night after night,” Rubio said later at a Mar-a-Lago news conference. “Remember, at the end of day, at its core, this was an arrest of two indicted fugitives of American justice, and the Department of War supported the Department of Justice in that job. Now there are broader policy implications here, but it’s just not the kind of mission that you can pre-notify because it endangers the mission,” he said.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton affirmed after discussion with Rubio, “Congress doesn’t need to be notified ever time the executive branch is making an arrest. And that’s exactly what happened this morning in Venezuela, and now Maduro is going to come to the United States, and he’s going to face justice.”
This is an important distinction. The DEA and DOJ carried out an arrest of an indicted drug trafficker.
This was, as Rubio noted, a law enforcement operation to capture fugitives. The military component was in support of that operation, nothing more. The DOJ had the lead, the DEA was the enforcement mechanism, and the military were in tactical support.
Pertaining to the “broader policy implications” noted by Rubio, there are many facets. As accurately noted by Cynical Publius:
“Under Maduro, Venezuela had become the Latin American crossroads for all of the USA’s principal enemies. Maduro was nurturing relationships with Russia, Hezbollah and Iran. Worst of all, Venezuela was eagerly becoming a part of Red China’s Belt & Road initiative.
As America’s enemies were lining up Venezuela as their base of operations in the Western Hemisphere to cause mischief and destruction for the USA, Maduro was at the same time making Venezuela a crossroads, safe haven and enabler for all manner of narcoterrorist operations, ranging from Colombia’s FARC to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.
On top of all that, Venezuela had become a key player in the illegal alien invasion of the USA, shipping its very worst to the USA in a deliberate and comprehensive destabilizing operation that might have worked had Donald Trump not won in 2024.
[…] So was Maduro seized because of some five-year-old drug charges? Yes. Legally–yes. However, like so many strategic issues in the world today, an action needed to be backed by the fine points of law, and it was. But the reality is that the Maduro takedown was a Monroe Doctrine-driven necessity that has greatly enhanced the power and national security of the USA. (read more)
However, beyond the geopolitical issue that relates to all the above, there is another consideration that might help explain the immediate and alarmed reaction of Mexico.
With President Trump now forcefully executing exfiltration of narcotic drug traffickers, the ramifications for Mexico and the cartels who own/operate the Mexican government take on a new context.
If the U.S. will raid Venezuela, will the U.S. now conduct a similar approach closer to home?
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Mexico condemns military intervention in Venezuela – The Government of Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations (UN).
Based on its foreign policy principles and its pacifist vocation, Mexico makes an urgent call to respect international law, as well as the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, and to cease any act of aggression against the Venezuelan government and people.
Latin America and the Caribbean is a zone of peace, built on the basis of mutual respect, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the prohibition of the use and threat of force, so that any military action puts regional stability at serious risk.
Mexico emphatically reiterates that dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate and effective ways to resolve existing differences and therefore reaffirms its readiness to support any effort to facilitate dialogue, mediation or accompaniment that would help to preserve regional peace and avoid confrontation.
It also urges the United Nations to act immediately to contribute to the de-escalation of tensions, facilitate dialogue and create conditions that allow for a peaceful, sustainable solution in accordance with international law. (link)
Reconsider these words from Rubio, against the backdrop of what Mexico is known for. WATCH:
Perfect ! Laughed my ass off at that one
My only question is will a New York jury find him guilty such is the strength of TDS in NYC? Democrats and leftists believe the arrest was illegal! The IC run mockingbird media is having a hissy fit over Maduro’s arrest!!! Doesn’t Soros have an NGO teaching jurors how to nullify certain verdicts? Just wondering?
Don’t forget Bubby Maduro was also indicted in the Southern District of Florida as a hedge against runaway purists in New York.
He has been center stage for weeks and months – not JD.
I’ve been posting for days — where is Ratcliffe? I didn’t recall him at the December Cabinet meeting. I commented he was MIA.
He surfaced on yesterday’s stage of speaker’s at the press conference, but, he didn’t speak.
Well done, President.
Well done.
one of my my fondest hopes is that Ratcliffe is working quietly in the background,
not making any perceptible waves which would drive the bad actors even deeper,
just taking names and making notes, in the well established tradition of tradecraft.
there is a strategic difference in being “public” as opposed to being effective.
and yes, been wondering if PT is working on SOS Rubio as option #3 for the future?
Did you notice that Radcliff was in the shadow in many of the “war-room” pictures?
Run Venezuela? But I already have two jobs.
I believe he already has 3 jobs, not just 2. SoS, NSA, and National Archivist.
I stand corrected. But since USAID is abolished he has some extra time to form a cabinet, kick out Iran and Hezbollah, and get the oil flowing.
Marco Rubio, USA Secretary of State and ruler of other nations as they become Great Again!
Democrats, and some Republicans, who have criticized Trump for this military operation, have a very short memory:
Maybe an unintended positive from recent actions is the obvious, the President’s cabinet is simply too large and needs to be pared down to Marco, Pete and Tulsi. Only slightly kidding.
And Scott
and RFK.
Whoah!!!!
PDJT has the best cabinet I’ve experienced in my lifetime (I’m 76).
I’m 85 and will second that!
The Cabinet is like a bike wheel and each cabinet head is a spoke in that wheel. All spokes are needed for the tire to be effective. You start removing spokes and the tire cannot be supported and effective.
The cabinet should stay as is.
Watch the monthly cabinet meetings where PTDJ has each head state what the dept has been doing since the last meeting. The members can’t speek fast enough to get in all the stuff they want to say about the tremendous amount of work being done.
It could use some upgrades / eliminations.
There are some weak links, yes. DOJ took the “lead” on Operation Absolute Resolve. Maybe that will give a little boost up for her.
But whereas the wheel began with only 4 spokes, I am sure some were added as political payoffs rather than strengthening additions.
I’m not sure of that, at all.
Didn’t know you were a mind reader of our genius president.
The War Powers Act of 1973
48 hours
Period
Does not apply.
The President executed an arrest warrant.
Donroe Doctrine.
Monroe/donroe doctrine should have reintroduced after fall of Evil Empire 1991…it cost us $ Trillions -Afghan/Yougoslavia/Ukraine/Middle East…….and hundreds of thousands lives include lives of ours soldiers…for what ?????? I hope VSGPDJT will find way to get out of NATO after MADURO spill beans..names of CONgre$$ beauties involved in his enterprise……brilliant move VSGPDJT….
Like one of those “no knock” raids that America had become so familiar with. The one that comes to mind is where CNN was on scene as it unfolded.
I would suggest that moving a carrier strike group off the shore of Venezuela constitutes a “knock”. The Trump administration has also learned that notifying congress about anything means it will be made public in a matter of minutes. If you don’t want or need the Communist News Network at the perp’s house, don’t let congress know.
Massie is crazy, and wholly owned.
But for backup “legalistics”, I’m sure he informed Congress withing 48 hours after the event. <smiles>
100% wrong! Did you not read the part about how it was a DOJ operation, not a military operation?
Thank you for your response, sharing correct information needn’t be a stinging rebuke.
Isn’t that the entire reason we follow Sundance? To be correctly informed and/or corrected?
Wishing you a stellar day.
Or you could read the article….
Ankle biting so early in the day.
You never suffered a gut reaction?
Good on ya 😉
Minnie, your silliness is best owned and dropped.
Your projections of ankle biting and retorts about gut reactions only count as marks against you and reveal you as a lefty sympathizing troll.
Stinging rebukes? Oh child, please.
Posting air-headed comments on serious issues here will get you noticed every time.
Ofter the problem with commenters who don’t bother reading the ENTIRE post, or if they do, they don’t understand it. They are more interested in being first or at the top of the comments.
Isn’t that after?
I thought it was longer, but I am pretty sure it is after, not before.
30 days
The War Powers Resolution requires POTUS to notify congress within 48 hours after committing troops. (Not beforehand)
It also requires POTUS to remove troops within 60 days if Congress has not granted an extension. (The troops were gone from Venezuela within two hours.)
The raid to get Maduro was entirely within the President’s Article II Constitutional powers. Nothing in the War Powers Act applies.
might as well call the media if you plan to tell congress and save them the effort as you know they will.
My late husband was an Army veteran of nearly 10 years before I met him. He said when he was given orders in 1965 he’d be sent to Vietnam, he was told not to tell anyone, not even his wife (at that time). Tell no one. Period. And yet their ship was greeted by the US media when they landed.
The Constitution says NOTHING about the President giving ANY kind of notice or explanation to Congress about military action.
The War Powers Act, passed by Congress in 1973, establishes consulting and notification requirements for the President with Congress. That law is plainly unconstitutional.
There are Congress Critters in BOTH parties who would use consulting requirements to sabotage the President’s Constitutional authority as Commander in Chief. They are traitors guilty of treason. The penalty for treason is death.
God bless President Trump in his fight against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic.
Yes.
Article I Congress trying to exercise power & control over the Article II President.
Violates the seperation of powers requirement built in to the U.S. Constitution.
So we justify it with Article 3?
Can Boasberg order the military to do whatever he pleases, wherever he pleases?
Boasberg is a Demorat so he believes he has that power! One of the biggest problem that has occurred over the last 150 years is that our Founders thought that everybody would have the same passion for honesty and trust that they had! Would George Washington, Ben Franklin, even Abe Lincoln ever thought to use their position in government to enrich themselves? While new ball game now! Mostly Demorats, but even some Republicans are in it to enrich themselves!
The founders expected what they created to serve well for a while and then grow corrupt as does everything human over time.
They are on record on this issue. Here we are, fighting that corruption.
“Can Boasberg order the military to do whatever he pleases, wherever he pleases?”
No of course not – Article III courts are not empowered by the Constitution to manage the military or ANY LEA’s anywhere. That is a completely unrelated and ridiculous hypothetical in this context, IMHO.
Article III courts should uphold the Article II President’s Constitutional authority via the separation of powers principle, but more directly his authority under Article II to enforce federal laws through the Executive Branch’s federal LEA’s AND the military (as CoC) if it is needed to assist in certain circumstances.
Boasberg thinks he can. By definition, Boasberg is a traitor as defined by American law.
Don’t recall the m3dia, congress, gang of eight, et al, being informed of the raid to take Obama bin laden down….Something about lose lips….
President Obama didn’t know about the operation until the copters were in Pakistan territory. He was pulled off the golf course to come and watch from the corner of the table.
No wait, I’m sorry. I meant osama bin laden….easy mistake to make.
Chances are their first call, congress that is, would be to a radical federal judge to tie up the action, then to the media for their consulting fee.
President Trump is still taking all those slings and arrows…
He was suppressing democracy in Venezuela and his election was questionable as well.
After reading this on X, I understood better what was the real threat fou us:
“Cynical Publius
@CynicalPublius
9h
I have been monitoring the Venezuela issue all day long, and there are so many questions yet to be answered (thanks to great Pentagon OPSEC), but the strategic reason for bringing down Maduro has become abundantly clear.
While we ostensibly captured Maduro based on legitimate, outstanding US drug charges from 2020, the real reason for the military operations early this morning is that neutralizing Maduro’s Venezuela had become a strategic imperative for the USA.
Under Maduro, Venezuela had become the Latin American crossroads for all of the USA’s principal enemies. Maduro was nurturing relationships with Russia, Hezbollah and Iran. Worst of all, Venezuela was eagerly becoming a part of Red China’s Belt & Road initiative.
As America’s enemies were lining up Venezuela as their base of operations in the Western Hemisphere to cause mischief and destruction for the USA, Maduro was at the same time making Venezuela a crossroads, safe haven and enabler for all manner of narcoterrorist operations, ranging from Colombia’s FARC to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.
On top of all that, Venezuela had become a key player in the illegal alien invasion of the USA, shipping its very worst to the USA in a deliberate and comprehensive destabilizing operation that might have worked had Donald Trump not won in 2024.
Next in importance: oil. The global and regional ambitions of both China and Russia are in large part dependent on the politics of petroleum, and the USA just deprived both of the cudgel afforded by friendly Venezuelan oil. Trump opponents say “It’s about oil” as if that was a bad thing. Yeah, it’s about oil.
Finally, all of this was in keeping with the most essential and fundamental foreign policy mandate of the USA almost since the nation’s inception: the Monroe Doctrine. Operations like what Maduro was running simply cannot be allowed in the Western Hemisphere. Trump was right for falling back on this most basic of doctrines that protects the USA’s sovereignty.
So was Maduro seized because of some five year-old drug charges? Yes. Legally–yes. However, like so many strategic issues in the world today, an action needed to be backed by the fine points of law, and it was. But the reality is that the Maduro takedown was a Monroe Doctrine-driven necessity that has greatly enhanced the power and national security of the USA.
Congratulations, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and the rest of the Trump national security team: you boldly took the steps necessary to defend the USA.
Well done.
Jan 4, 2026 · 2:46 AM UTC”
https://nitter.poast.org/CynicalPublius/status/2007644800779169936#m
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
“The Monroe Doctrine was articulated in President James Monroe’s seventh annual message to Congress on December 2, 1823. The European powers, according to Monroe, were obligated to respect the Western Hemisphere as the United States’ sphere of interest.
President James Monroe’s 1823 annual message to Congress contained the Monroe Doctrine, which warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere.
Understandably, the United States has always taken a particular interest in its closest neighbors – the nations of the Western Hemisphere. Equally understandably, expressions of this concern have not always been favorably regarded by other American nations.
The Monroe Doctrine is the best known U.S. policy toward the Western Hemisphere. Buried in a routine annual message delivered to Congress by President James Monroe in December 1823, the doctrine warns European nations that the United States would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs. The doctrine was conceived to meet major concerns of the moment, but it soon became a watchword of U.S. policy in the Western Hemisphere.
The Monroe Doctrine was invoked in 1865 when the U.S. government exerted diplomatic and military pressure in support of the Mexican President Benito Juárez. This support enabled Juárez to lead a successful revolt against the Emperor Maximilian, who had been placed on the throne by the French government.
Almost 40 years later, in 1904, European creditors of a number of Latin American countries threatened armed intervention to collect debts. President Theodore Roosevelt promptly proclaimed the right of the United States to exercise an “international police power” to curb such “chronic wrongdoing,” in his so-called Roosevelt Corollary (or extension) to the Monroe Doctrine.
While the Monroe Doctrine’s message was designed to keep European powers out of the Western Hemisphere, Roosevelt would strengthen its meaning to justify sending the United States into other countries of the Western Hemisphere. As a result, U.S. Marines were sent into Santo Domingo in 1904, Nicaragua in 1911, and Haiti in 1915, ostensibly to keep the Europeans out. Other Latin American nations viewed these interventions with misgiving, and relations between the “great Colossus of the North” and its southern neighbors remained strained for many years.
In 1962, the Monroe Doctrine was invoked symbolically when the Soviet Union began to build missile-launching sites in Cuba. With the support of the Organization of American States, President John F. Kennedy threw a naval and air quarantine around the island. After several tense days, the Soviet Union agreed to withdraw the missiles and dismantle the sites. Subsequently, the United States dismantled several of its obsolete air and missile bases in Turkey.”
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/monroe-doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine is no different than China’s “one China” policy, no?
The doctrine did not help Argentina against Great Britain in the Malvinas. The doctrine is weak cover. It is trotted out when convenient to the US.
So, it is convenient for us to use it now.
When else would we use it? The Malvinas? Maybe some context would help you.
And yes, we’re exactly like China, without the worldwide communism goal.
from Brave…
The term “Malvinas” refers to the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, known as Islas Malvinas in Spanish. Argentina claims sovereignty over the islands, referring to them as Islas Malvinas, based on its inheritance of Spanish territorial rights in the early 19th century and their proximity to the South American mainland.
U mad, bruh?
Not at all. Just pointing out that the Monroe Doctrine people are waving around is just a piece of paper. I’m all in with our president.
And, President Trump’s 12.2.2025 Proclamation entitled “America 250: Presidential Message on the Anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine”, stating:
On December 2, 1823, the doctrine of American sovereignty was immortalized in prose when President James Monroe declared before the Nation a simple truth that has echoed throughout the ages: The United States will never waver in defense of our homeland, our interests, or the well-being of our citizens. Today, my Administration proudly reaffirms this promise under a new “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine: That the American people—not foreign nations nor globalist institutions—will always control their own destiny in our hemisphere.
More than 2 centuries ago, President Monroe proclaimed before the United States Congress what is today known as the legendary “Monroe Doctrine”—a bold policy that rejects foreign interference of faraway nations and confidently asserts United States leadership in the Western Hemisphere. “The American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers,” President Monroe professed. With those mighty words, every nation knew that the United States of America was emerging as a superpower unlike anything the world had ever known—and that nothing could ever rival the strength, unity, and resolve of a freedom-loving people.
In the centuries since, President Monroe’s doctrine of sovereignty has guarded the American continents against communism, fascism, and foreign infringement, and as the 47th President of the United States, I am proudly reasserting this time-honored policy. Since I took office, I have aggressively pursued an America first policy of peace through strength. We restored U.S. privileged access through the Panama Canal. We are reestablishing American maritime dominance. We are disrupting non-market practices in the international supply chain and logistics sectors.
My Administration is also halting the flow of deadly drugs flowing through Mexico, ending the invasion of illegal aliens along our southern border, and dismantling narco-terrorist networks all across the Western Hemisphere. To defend our Nation’s workers and industries, I recently secured historic trade deals with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, and Guatemala, allowing greater and more streamlined market access. Reinvigorated by my Trump Corollary, the Monroe Doctrine is alive and well—and American leadership is coming roaring back stronger than ever before.
Today, we renew our pledge to always uphold American sovereignty, security, and safety first. Above all, we vow to protect our cherished national legacy of republican self-government against all threats, foreign and domestic.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/america-250-presidential-message-on-the-anniversary-of-the-monroe-doctrine/
Because Nicolás Maduro was not legitimately elected and is widely regarded by major governments as little more than a cartel boss rather than a leader entitled to legitimate sovereignty, he has no genuine claim to sovereign immunity or protections under international law.
The situation with Biden is similar in principle, yet no foreign power and no sufficient domestic force within the United States has possessed the strength to forcibly remove him.
It is true that “Nicolás Maduro was not legitimately elected and is widely regarded by major governments as little more than a cartel boss rather than a leader entitled to legitimate sovereignty.” That’s truth.
Having said that, the legality of President Trump’s actions don’t depend upon what “major governments” around the world “widely regard” as “legitimate.” In a Constitutional Republic it is the Constitution that rules government actions.
In our Constitutional Republic, the Constitution is based on the bedrock foundation of The Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.
Please don’t misunderstand. I am in no way disagreeing with you about Maduro being a legitimate president. He’s not.
I agree that he’s nothing more than a gangster thug illegally installed as president by the cartels.
I’m only saying that we don’t have to rely on what major governments or politicians “widely regard” as legitimate. The wicked words of UniParty politicians and evil cretins like Jack Smith regarding the definition of “truth” has me a little skittish about authoritarian politicos.
Plus the fraudulent voting schemes which originated there. Little by little the Dimmy voting theft org seems to be dismantling.
“Mexico emphatically reiterates that dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate and effective ways to resolve existing differences and therefore reaffirms its readiness to support any effort to facilitate dialogue, mediation or accompaniment that would help to preserve regional peace and avoid confrontation.”
When you’re guilty and you know it
How long do you keep talking and negotiating and getting nowhere. At some point it has to end
But the guilty don’t want it to end. Ever.
The cartels never want it to end, because it allows for the easy identification of their targets for kidnapping, ransom and public assassination.
clap your hands
Cuff your hands…
Haha very clever lol
When “dialogue and negotiation” fail, an overwhelming land, air and sea assault courtesy of the most powerful military force in the world will do the trick.
more recently identified and described as FAFO :):):)
EXACTLY!
…..sooo is saying madam presidente they are not safe she know it Z…. know it too…..
When has any of these drug infected nations done anything to stop their drug infection from pouring into other nations? Talk is cheap but action gets results.
Addictions of one sort or another have existed as long as any civilization, and for a long time the impetus to provide drugs was $$$.
It is still $$$ (on steroids) but also a way to destabilize our country along with a perverse educational system and glorification of immorality.
Strongly worded dialogue. Eff them.
Chinese influence was growing in Venezuela.
Would like to know more about the Panama Canal.
China was trying to take that over.
Since 10/1/79, Panama increasingly, has enjoyed coming into the world of globalist commerce. Their tourism industry has taken off in leaps and bounds. Whatever influence China is trying to deploy, I doubt it will work…not that China won’t try.
Follow Michael Yon re: chicoms and Panama Canal 😉
Found it odd that Vance and Bondi weren’t at the podium or seen in the remote viewing room at Mar a Lago during the operation. Wonder if Patel was circling around the perimeter gates to the Southern White House on an FBI tricycle trainer, as well.
Maybe not so irregular.
This was simply a law enforcement op. Not an international war treaty violation op requiring multiple layers of involvement and approval.
VP and USAG are busy so didn’t need to provide photo op support to an otherwise valid move by POTUS. POTUS demonstrated that he is in charge.
💥💥💥
Evidently, security for the operation included insuring that our Prez and Vice Prez were not colocated.
As for Bondi, probably at the manicurist. Cuticles are always growing.
(Snarky towards her coz of the NY location. Glad that PDJT mentioned “possibly Florida” in his news conference.”)
I’m sure Bondi was busy troweling on her makeup in preparation for a FOX News interview.
Read it’s a deliberate action to avoid having all the major players in one location for security reasons. They were present via zoom or other technology.
The snarky comment about Patal was ignorant, disgusting and totaly unnecessary.
I find no snarky comment about patel to in any way ignorant, disgusting or unnecessary, ever.
Some of us prefer to react like adults.
Exactly. Except I found it off that Bondi and Patel weren’t there considering this was a joint DOJ/DOW operation. I think that’s very curious. I hope it portends of changes ahead.
I find it very interesting how the Dems go after pretty much EVERY member
of Trump cabinet EXCEPT Marco..I do wonder what secrets Marco knows (about
them) from his time on the Senate Select Intelligence committee and his time
on Gang of 8 are they afraid that Marco could spill some beans on them that they
don’t critisize him?
Good question. Maybe Rubio holds the keys (and proof) of the foreign influence operations from which the Dems have so richly benefited? State/National Security being the paywall for the NGO money laundry?
During the “45” admin, Trump was known to say something along the lines of not letting your enemies know your plans?
Not immediate plans, definitely!
However, an obvious argument against AmeriPravda and the CongressCritters* is that PDJT stated very clearly some time ago that he was going to go after Maduro.
It’s not his fault if they always think he’s lying. 😆
*Hmm, I think I just came up with another rock band name for my list…
I keep thinking of an old song…”knock 3 times on the ceiling if you want me…bang on the pipes if the answer is no”….
Perhaps Comey can clarify the notification issue.
He is familiar with sensitive matters.
He’s familiar with his boyfriend.
“He broke me, Jim. Hold me. Hold me now.”
Mexicans have a long and strong relationship with Cubans. I remember seeing Russian war ships docked at the Vera Cruz, Mexico Harbor in 1981. I remember a 2015 visit to a Mexican Island where I saw a wooden tommy gun hung above a doorway in a family home, a souvenir kept by Mexican sympathizers who helped Castro overthrow Batista’s government. In this same home was a wall of framed photographs of US elected officials meeting with the family. My observation. There is still no clearly visible middle class in Mexico after 35 years. Cui bono?
i also learned that the wealthy Mexican families (including politicians) obtained medical treatment for their families at Houston’s Texas Children’s Hospital, Hermann Hospital, MD Anderson Hospital and the Oschner Center in New Orleans.
When they ask why Congress was not notified he should say: because of the sensitivity of the matter
LOL Post of the (new) week. 🙂
J
I would prefer they just say, no constitutional duty to inform.
“Separation of powers b****”
“Ongoing investigation”
When they ask why Congress was not notified he should say……. “Because I’m President and you’re not.”
President Trump should name names of members of Congress and the Gang of 8, who cannot be trusted not to leak sensitive information. Does anyone believe they wouldn’t notify Maduro and get law enforcement and military personnel ambushed and killed just to embarrass President Trump and justify an effort to impeach him and SOW Hegseth? These rat bastids don’t care how many people they have to get killed to hang on to power. A pox on them all.
WHAT are remittances (money sent by wire tranfer) to Mexico taxed at … I have forgotten …
Cynical is one of my favorite follows on X simply because he does a lot of research here on CTH.
One, Obama declared the National Emergency in Executive Order 13692, on March 8, 2015, that was continued 4 years through “Joe Biden” to present day.
The Operations in Venezuela and Pacific Ocean BEGAN on April 1, 2020, as you can read on the SouthComm site.
Two, the CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION is found in Section §1550 from Title 50 Chapter 33.
§1550 is from the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by a DEMOCRATIC controlled House of Representatives on December 20, 2019.
The Title 10 Orders (Presidential), still active to present day, were invoked in the first 180-days of the §1550 clause.
March 27, 2020, Executive Order 13912, invoking Title 10 Section §12302, calling up to 1 MILLION RESERVE Components to Active-Duty plus 4 Title 14 Codes with Coast Guard?
April 1, 2020, the launching of the ‘Enhanced Counternarcotics Operation in the Western Hemisphere’ (Venezuela) by Southern Command?
April 30, 2020, Executive Order 13919, invoking Title 10 §12304, which is a pre-planned mobilization, that EO specifically mentions the ‘Enhanced Counternarcotics Operation in the Western Hemisphere?’
The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without congressional authorization for use of military force (AUMF) or a declaration of war by the United States.
Section 1550 says: “Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, and every 180 days thereafter, the President shall submit a report….”
https://t.me/rattletrap1776/20722
Ha ha you mean you’re asking CongressCritters to remember what laws they have already passed?
That would mean refraining from coming up with a boatload of duplicative ones. They live for that!
(The /s goes without saying…thanks for the valuable references. ☺️)
Remember the laws they already passed? Hell, they don’t even write or read them .
Korean (1950-1953) wasn’t a war it was a police action. (Truman)
Vietnam (1955-1975) wasn’t a war it was a police action. (John F. Kennedy)
Invasion of Grenada (1983) wasn’t a war it was a police action. (Reagan)
Invasion of Panama (1989) wasn’t a war it was a police action. (George GH Bush)
Gulf War Operation Desert Shield & Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991) weren’t wars they were police action. (George GH Bush)
Somalia Intervention, Bosnian War, Kosovo War, (1993, to2001) weren’t declared wars but UN police actions. (Bill Clinton)
Iraq War (2003-2011) wasn’t a war, it was a police action. (George W. Bush)
War in Afghanistan 2003 wasn’t a declared wars it was a police actions. (George W. Bush)
Killing of Osama bin Laden (2011) wasn’t a war. it was special operation. (Obama)
If those weren’t wars, then this most certainly wasn’t a war. No Congressional Notification Needed
If B. Hussein Obummer didn’t need Congressional approval for droning American citizens overseas with absolutely no due process whatsoever, then President Trump can serve an arrest warrant with HUUGE military support without Notifying Congress.
I am very aware of that and one was even a minor under the age of 18.
Apples and oranges.
Obama’s argument was that the armed conflict with Al-Qaeda and associated forces at the time provided sufficient legal authority.
We aren’t currently in any type of armed conflict with Venezuela.
You’re lost.
Irrelevant apples and oranges argument.
We ARE in an armed conflict with Venezuela. Did you miss the news? The U.S. military was armed to the teeth when we “conflicted” with Venezuela over the weekend.
Of course, by “armed conflict,” you probably mean “declaration of war.”
That’s irrelevant. The President doesn’t need and the Constitution doesn’t require a declaration of war for military action to be initiated. Article 2 says the President is the Commander in Chief-the “Chief Decider.”
It’s called Separation of Powers for a reason.
U mad, bruh?
Argument. I can make all kinds of arguments, that doesn’t mean the argument is valid or change anything. In all these secrecy is paramount and DC is a leaking sieve.
Unfortunately the US Congress cannot be trusted.
Oh, so all those drug boat strikes don’t constitute “any type of armed conflict with Venezuela”? You strike me as more Massachusetts than Texan.
I always thought those non wars were conflicts.
So does this expose the Concritters aka “law makers” lack of understanding the laws?
Perhaps they are concerned about the negative impact on their cash flow?
DING DING DING!!!
We have a winner!!
And their odds for reelection.
Congress writes NO LAWS, lobbyist do.
They are just a bunch of blabber mouths on the dole.
Who expects Congress to know what the law is?
They don’t write them.
They don’t really debate them.
And they don’t read them before voting.
No. It exposes them as traitors and liars.
Congressman Tim Burchett: Democrats Weren’t Briefed on Maduro Operation Because ‘They Would Have Run Straight to the Media’
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/congressman-tim-burchett-democrats-werent-briefed-maduro-operation/
One of the reasons that the military operation to take Maduro went so flawlessly is because there were no leaks. The reason why there were no leaks, is because the Democrats were not briefed on it.
Republican Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee talked about this in a video this morning, noting that if Democrats had been briefed, they would have run straight to the media and he is exactly right.
My comment: TREASONOUS Democrats Weren’t Briefed on Maduro Operation Because ‘They Would Have Run Straight to Marudo in Venezuela’
Ex general Milley would have immediately called to warn Murado, as he pronounced himself he wold warn our enemies of a first strike.
I always love me some dadgum Burchett with my ☕️ covfefe, thanks.
The guy is solid MAGA so far as I can see.
“The reason why there were no leaks, is because the Democrats were not briefed on it.” You forgot to add the RINOs. Same, same, G.I.
The debate in Congress over this notification matter may prove a useful distraction while President Trump’s train continues at full speed and unhindered.
…..unleashing hell…..
Doesn’t Congress have some work to do.
Make President Trumps executive orders law.
Pass a budget .
Just for starters 🙂
They will have to nuke the filibuster first and the RINOs refuse to do that. The deep state just wants to run Trumps term out.
Yes, we must always provide AmeriPravda with a chew toy, or they will eat our shoes.
(I know, I know, insult to canines. 😆 I do not mean to denigrate them!)
“Latin America and the Caribbean is a zone of peace, built on the basis of mutual respect, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the prohibition of the use and threat of force, so that any military action puts regional stability at serious risk.”
Zone of Peace -Zone of Peace – Zone of Peace -Zone of Peace. All day yesterday from all those condemning the U.S.
Start the deportation process based on this predicate alone. World leaders have declared that all of Latin America , South America and the Caribbean are peaceful nations.
SEND THEM ALL BACK THEN.
Which is it???
How comforting also to see the real men in charge.
Happy New Year United States of America and Happy Birthday.
That should Trump all claims for Asylum.
Pun intended.
Particularly entertaining was the new commie mayor of NYC calling PDJT to express his displeasure.
Obviously he doesn’t get that he is just another mayor, most every town or village has one.
Wonder if the mayor of Bugtussel TN chimed in??
Maybe the invasion of the US from you cartel allied thugs is more destabilizing than this action.
The Big Stick theory has always been proven true.
Warner would have narc’d
Also broader geopolitical implications outside the region. This is a big pressure point on Russia and China. This actually does give Trump leverage because of how much oil RU and China actually import from Venezuela.
Russia sells oil.
China buys oil.
Freeing up Venezuelan oil for the legal free market should bring down the price.
Every seller of oil will be hurt.
Every buyer of oil will be helped.
True, but Russia is also Venezuelas second largest buyer after China if I’m not mistaken
President Trump is working on making Russia an ally. The Venezuela Operation will work out for both Russia and the United States.
Mexico, Canada, EU…..Are you paying attention?
President Trump used many different tools in his Presidential Toll Box to lower oil prices in 2025.
His bold actions towards Venezuela look like another tool being used for the same purpose (among other more obvious purposes).
God bless President Trump! Keep the wins coming, Mr. President!!
It sounded to me as if he intends to continue exports to all and sundry – but just imagine the tariffs to certain sundries…
I’m sure he’ll continue selling oil but it makes it easier to cut that oil off as a position Of leverage which he hasn’t had regarding Russia
Russia does not import oil. It is the second largest exporter of oil in the world.
Frank’s wording was of russia and china doing the importing
Congress is the enemy. All are on the payroll of various hostile forces.
Foolish to tell Congress anything sensitive whatsoever.
Pictured here: Senators Gallego and Kelly in happier times
Rest in the Vine: Venezuela Today, Arizona Tomorrow!
A thousand thumbs up!
JUST to make this part of the record – from YT #Body Language Guy (he’s from Venezuela)
“VENEZUELA FREE! Trump REMOVES Maduro with SURGICAL military operation!”
JONATHAN TURLEY: Why capture of Maduro didn’t require approval from Congress
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-why-capture-maduro-didnt-require-approval-from-congress
Trump has ‘precedent on his side’ for Maduro’s capture, Jonathan Turley argues
(Video 6:38 mins)
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6387189353112
There are many DOJ targets in Mexico that are also appropriately considered terrorists and hence should be killed where they stand or crawl. I favor an 80 / 20 ratio with only 20% actually arrested. The scope of the cartel problem in Mexico is simply huge. The other side of the coin in Mexico is that Mexican civil society and Mexicans as a people simply have no backbone for combating organized crime like the cartels. They appear incapable of waging the civil war necessary to rid their country of this cancer.
Kind of like Democrats have no backbone for fighting invasion or crime and especially not criminal invaders.
Oh wait, those are all things the Democrats spend tax money on.
The cartels have unlimited weapons and unlimited money and resources. The peons have slingshots. What do you expect of them? If you were they, what would YOU do?
The BBC has gotten the message:
“In terms of scale and precision, it was virtually unprecedented.”
On two different MSM platforms (including BBC), whether it’s purposeful or not, they’ve left out what could be an important ‘minor’ detail in Trump’s speech where he states, “And if you would’ve seen the speed, the violence… it’s just, it was an amazing thing, an amazing job that these people did.”
Notice the ellipsis. Trump followed “the violence” with “that’s what they call it,” “they” being the military. Perhaps it’s to paint Trump as loving violence. We’ll have to wait for some body cam video to judge ‘the violence.’ If it were Gaza, we’d have already seen multiple photos and video of the same ‘dead’ child in several locations.
Maduro and family were given the opportunity to leave or surrender without the need for violence of “that’s what they call it” or other variety. Any violence involved in his arrest would seem to be on him.
Can’t wait to see the reactions when Delta Forces start to support DOJ teams that arrest insurrectionist mayors and governors.
re: “Biden-Harris administration … $25,000,000 reward for information … lead to the arrest …”
There is a term for ppl like the Biden-Harris administration here, that term is “goldfish*.”
.
.
* a term frequently used as a metaphor to describe a person’s perceived short-term memory or lack of focus
As Rush Limbaugh used to say, paraphrasing, ‘Lying, hypocrisy, cheating and stealing are resume enhancements within the Democrat Party.’
I also like the term habitual drunk.
This action to capture Maduro, while legal, definitely re-emphasizes the stereotype of Big Bad America pushing changing governments to suit their wishes, swapping one corrupt dictatorship for another. Of course, it does put another black eye on Heels-Up Harris who traveled to Central America to battle the “root causes” of migration into the US when the Biden administration threw open the borders. With a prosperous Venezuela, a lot of the ex-pats may decide to go home. The one question is the political leanings of the exiled duly-elected President and whether she will just take over the reins of power and be just like Maduro.
Mealy mouthed gobbledygook is a very thin disguise.
I couldn’t care less about “stereotypes” perpetuated by globalists, corrupt corporate media, Deep State criminals or UniParty functionaries.
I care about a strong Unitary Executive forcefully carrying out his duties as outlined in Article 2 of the Constitution.
re: “This action to capture Maduro, while legal, definitely re-emphasizes the stereotype of Big Bad America”
Funny … no one in Venezuela is complaining, just outsiders whose @ss is not ‘in the sling’ in a socialist/communist Venezuela under Madero …
YOU DO NOTE it was Bill Barr who indicted Maduro back in 2020, right? RIGHT?
This was a law enforcement action, aided by a US combat force capable of opposing the combat force exhibited by Venezuela …
The Senators Maduro bribed are so mad right now.
LOL!
and one other thing
rather than try to explain the facts/law to liberals
just tell them to F**K OFF!
Just shut up; no one is listening to your drivel
“Venezuelans dancing to YMCA in honor of Trump.”…
OK…the fun part is over. The giddyness and chest thumping of the past 24 hours can be put behind us. Now comes the likely not so fun part of “running Venezuela” which the President has committed to yesterday (nation building by any other name). The drug lords may have something to say about that with their well armed and funded paramilitaries. Congress cannot begin to fix the problems in our own nation so naturally they will begin preping a emergency aid package for Venezuela. The only question is how many billion will it be for? Taxpayers know what’s coming….Enjoy.
I’m getting kind of sick of BlackPill Baris.
The “poll question” linked to here is heavily weighted towards Eeyores.
These days it seems he’s out to depress MAGA voters. Gets me wondering who might have paid him off.
JinWis is eeyore or simply on the anti-MAGA team.
Probably a Madison or Milwaukee Republican, which is a RINO
It’s been a big outing day for the neverTrumpers here, FR, PDW, X, etc.
They’ve been having a big party through 2025 talking away every accomplishment with “but no (insert thing here)” but to see them do it so obviously this weekend pulls away any shred of credibility they had.
“Thumbs Down Button”
Your concern is duly noted. Would you like to speak to the manager?
re: “OK…the fun part is over. The giddyness and chest thumping of the past 24 hours can be put behind us. Now comes the likely not so fun part of “running Venezuela” ”
Victim of “Stimulus Generalization”? (ALL countries look alike / ALL problems look alike, etc. etc.)
This:
1) Isn’t Iraq,
2) The country isn’t Muslim,
3) It used to be a democracy/republic (?)
4) He isn’t George Bush.
As soon as I heard about the raid from my wife yesterday morning, my first words were “Good, taking down narcotics-terrorists is a good thing; so, by the end if the day the MSM and the expected group of elected officials will be out in full support if narco-terrorists.”
By 10 am I was proven right.
Boasberg (or some other Clinton- or Obama-appointed judge) declares the arrest unconstitutional and orders Trump to send Maduro back to Venezuela in 3-2-1…
I don’t see how we’re going to hold him up to trial and then after conviction. My money is someone getting him from 1kY plus when he’s in the open air at some point. Watch and see if I’m wrong. If socialist judges are busting their asses to get Kilmar Garcia back on American streets, imagine 48 hours from now what they’ll be doing for Maduro.
As I posted last night – he’ll get pardoned and then he and his wife will go to UAE, where they keep a home.
The trump card is that he was also indicted in FL, so even if this 92-year-old Clinton judge rules against the admin, Maduro still has to go to FL where the outcome will likely be quite different.
Aha! Thanks for clarifying what PDJT meant with that aside.
A real tip off for anyone paying attention was President Trump’s December 2 Proclamation posted on whitehouse.gov entitled: “America 250: Presidential Message on the Anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine”. To quote our President from yesterday’s press conference: yes, the Columbia president needs to watch his ass.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/america-250-presidential-message-on-the-anniversary-of-the-monroe-doctrine/
Mexico’s “pacifist vocation”. Wow, that’s some first class gaslighting.
Mexico, and the cartels that run it, actively protect expats and travellers because it’s good for the Economy.
They want to keep the money flowing into Mexico.
No American is truly safe in Mexico, IMHO. I know there are those who will disagree with me, but we’ll see what happens.
EXCLUSIVE: Former Maduro Spy Chief’s Letter To Trump Seeks To Expose Narco-Terrorist War Against U.S.
https://dallasexpress.com/national/exclusive-former-maduro-spy-chiefs-letter-to-trump-seeks-to-expose-narco-terrorist-war-against-u-s/
President Trump is taking back what Maduro stole in 2007, when the globulist bushies did nothing-oil companies. Seems to me that Maduro was a key component in the chycom and globulist plan to destroy our nation.
I continue to wholeheartedly support President Trump, although I do not know all the background info. While I am not supportive of our nation’s Middle East or European involvement, I do think we need to take back what was stolen from us; and that includes the Panama canal.
I could care less what the demorats or others are saying-these are the people who scream that WE live on stolen land.
I also think world events are heating up. Continued prayers for our nation as we a are in the 250th year.
Should be an interesting negotiation of the bilateral trade agreement with Mexico when the USMCA expires.
Maduro thumbs up? Doesn’t look unhappy.
You don’t the thug knows how to play yo the US media, which loves authoritarians?
Ditto! Well done!
I am curious. How much advance notice did Obama give Congress when he invaded Pakistan with military violence to capture and then execute Osama Bin Laden?
He was usually very careful to cross his T’s and dot his i’s.