Shield of the Republic Trump's New War for Oil
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Jan 9, 2026 Eric and Eliot dive into the controversial raid in Caracas aimed at capturing Nicolás Maduro. They explore the operation's military execution and its implications for future governance in Venezuela. The hosts discuss Trump's comments and the fallout, alongside the lack of a post-raid plan. They analyze Maduro’s connections to Cuba and Russia, while questioning the legal justifications for such interventions. The muted public response and potential global repercussions for authoritarian regimes add another layer of complexity to this high-stakes situation.
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Raid Was Essentially A Military Strike
- The Caracas raid was a military operation despite being framed as law enforcement.
- Eric Edelman emphasizes the action involved cyber, kinetic strikes, and large air assets, making it warlike in nature.
Maduro's Regime Is Internationalized
- Maduro is deeply embedded with Cuban, Iranian, Russian, and other foreign actors.
- Eliot Cohen and Eric Edelman stress that external advisers and mercenaries complicated any US effort to stabilize Venezuela.
Panama Precedent Doesn't Translate
- The Panama precedent differs substantially from Venezuela and offered clearer legal and practical justifications.
- Eliot Cohen warns that relying on Noriega as precedent mischaracterizes the legal and political context here.