Front Burner What will follow Trump's Venezuela attack?
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Jan 5, 2026 
Jon Lee Anderson, a veteran journalist from The New Yorker and expert on Latin American conflicts, discusses the recent U.S. military action in Venezuela. He delves into the complexities of Maduro's seizure, questioning the legitimacy of the drug trafficking charges against him. Anderson highlights the precarious power dynamics that could spark civil conflict. He critiques America's renewed assertiveness under Trump and examines the implications for hemispheric politics, resource control, and global responses from nations like Russia and China.
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Sudden Escalation Like A Preceding Buildup
- The U.S. executed a direct military operation to seize Nicolás Maduro and extract him to U.S. custody.
- Jon Lee Anderson compares the buildup and sudden assault to Putin's 2022 escalation before invading Ukraine.
No Clear Proof Maduro Is A Drug Kingpin
- There is no publicly provided, incontrovertible evidence that Maduro personally runs major drug trafficking.
- Anderson argues drug flows via Venezuela don't prove Maduro is a drug kingpin or head of Cartel de los Soles.
Indictments Don't Make An Invasion Legal
- The legality argument that U.S. arrest is lawful because of indictments is weak.
- Anderson dismisses J.D. Vance's justification and stresses rule-of-law norms matter internationally.