Cato Podcast When Presidents Decide to Go to War Alone: Venezuela Edition
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Jan 8, 2026 Brandan P. Buck, a foreign policy research fellow at the Cato Institute, dives deep into the implications of Nicolás Maduro's arrest. He discusses the ambiguity surrounding U.S. military actions and the gray areas that blur the lines between law enforcement and acts of war. The conversation highlights the potential consequences of unilateral executive actions and the risks they pose to congressional authority. They also explore how this operation could redefine international norms and the dangers of normalizing such executive powers without stronger legal constraints.
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Operation Framed As Law Enforcement Then Shifted
- The Maduro operation was rhetorically framed as law enforcement but shifted toward regime-change goals during the buildup.
- The administration then publicly scaled back lofty aims, leaving ambiguity about true objectives.
Arrest-Force Use Sits On A Legal Spectrum
- The legal status of using military force for an arrest sits on a spectrum from routine covert captures to acts of war.
- The Maduro operation leans toward the war-like end because it lacked UN permission and wasn't self-defense.
Rendition Rarely Derails Prosecutions
- Criminal prosecutions of forcibly brought foreign leaders (e.g., Noriega) historically proceed despite rendition claims.
- Clark Neily expects the Maduro prosecution to likely continue and possibly end in conviction.