Meeting with María Corina Machado

1. Support for Regime Change Without “Boots on the Ground”

• Regime change can be morally and strategically justified when it leads to the fall of tyrannical or hostile regimes (e.g., Soviet Union, Iran).
• Strongly distinguishes between:
  • Non-military or indirect regime change (diplomatic pressure, moral support, rhetoric, economic pressure)
  • Full-scale military invasions, which the speaker opposes based on lessons from Iraq and Libya.
• Frames “regime change” as a concept unfairly discredited due to past U.S. military failures.

2. Historical Analogy: Reagan and the Cold War

• Ronald Reagan is a model:
  • “Peace through strength,” rebuilding the military without large-scale invasions.
  • Moral clarity and public rhetoric (e.g., “evil empire,” “tear down this wall”) are catalysts for systemic collapse.
• The power of words and leadership signaling can inspire dissidents inside authoritarian regimes.

3. Iran as an Active Enemy of the United States

• Iran is fundamentally different from prior dictatorships:
  • Actively funds terrorism targeting Americans
  • Governed by a theocratic regime portrayed as irredeemable
• Open U.S. rhetorical and moral support for Iranian protesters and dissidents.
• Acknowledges uncertainty and risks following a revolution but argues the status quo is worse.

4. Venezuela: Engagement With María Corina Machado

• A bipartisan Senate meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado following her meeting with President Trump.
• Highlights her strategic emphasis on:
  • U.S. unity
  • Avoiding partisan attacks on Trump
• She is an effective, pragmatic opposition leader acting in Venezuela’s national interest.
• Strong ties between U.S. senators and Venezuelan communities, especially in Florida and Texas.

5. Trump’s Role in Global Opposition Movements

• Donald Trump’s leadership and rhetoric is a motivating force behind opposition movements in:
  • Iran
  • Venezuela
  • Cuba
• These three countries are simultaneously nearing potential regime collapse or elections.
• Claims this could represent the most significant geopolitical shift since the fall of the Berlin Wall, while acknowledging high risks.

6. Military Operation Against Maduro (U.S. Arrest)

• A recent military raid targeting Nicolás Maduro:
  • Maduro described as being protected by Cuban military forces
  • Operation allegedly resulted in:
    • No American fatalities
    • Multiple enemy combatant deaths
• The Senator visited three wounded U.S. soldiers recovering in San Antonio.
• Emphasizing:
  • Their bravery
  • Their role in “changing the Western Hemisphere”
  • Symbolic gestures (retrieving bullets/shrapnel as mementos)

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