Maduro — Blog — Healy Chen

And another one

So the United States went into a foreign country and kidnapped the sitting President. Seems like we all just forgotten about it. When you are one of the few preeminent super powers on this planet, they just let you do it. Grab them by the Maduro. The Russian Federation is drowning itself in celebration because there’s now another direction for the finger to point at. The war in Ukraine is de-facto justified because, well, what are you going to do about it?

And if there’s nothing consequential you can do about it, is that not a de-facto sanction to continue? America certainly understands that message. Kidnapping a foreign President is tables stakes now! We’ve gone into Iran and essentially assassinated the country’s supreme leader. The rest of the world can only put out statements. Let’s see what the U.S. Congress does in terms of wrestling back their sole right to declare war, but let’s not hold our breaths.

At least we used to be subtle about this sort of stuff. History is allegedly littered with the CIA covertly influencing leadership changes in foreign countries. Should agents get captured in the act, there’s plausible deniability from the reigning administration. I know this because I’ve watched all of the Mission Impossible movies. Regime change is the United States’ speciality.

You mean to tell me Khamenei couldn’t have been knocked off more silently than what transpired? A Jason Bourne type wasn’t available?

Because what Americans don’t have the stomach for is yet another war in the Middle East. It’s partially why Trump was voted into office. The messy withdrawal from Afghanistan during the Biden administration was supposed to be a bookend to billions wasted and thousands of American lives lost in Mesopotamia. That didn’t last long because now the current administration just put us into direct armed conflict with Iran. American lives are already on the lost tally. Who voted for this? Congress certainly did not.

You know who looks the most ridiculous right now - not that they care? FIFA. The peace prize that already looked stupid is now downright comedic.

Catch me if you can

When America violates the sovereignty of another country, that’s perfectly fine! Essentially kidnapping a foreign President in their home soil; why wouldn’t other nations do just that? The People’s Liberation Army special forces should airdrop into Taipei, no problems! When you are famous like the United States, they just let you do it. Grab them by the Maduro.

There’s precedent to this sovereignty violation thing. Many years ago, American Seal Team Six flew into Pakistan in the zero dark of night to kill Osama bin Laden. The international community said nothing about that, because we can all point to Osama as say, “Yup, that’s a bad guy.”

So this isn’t about President Trump - Osama was under President Obama. It’s about America flexing its muscle and daring dissenting nations to do anything about it. Russia invaded Ukraine because it can. The only thing the rest of the world has done is protest loudly at the United Nations. When the deterrent is effectively zero, the bully shall reign until it gets punched in the face.

Nor is this commentary on whether or not Maduro has done terrible things. If the nations of this globe cannot respect each other’s borders and sovereign rights absolutely, then what the heck are we doing? It’s all a shell game because there’s a tacit understanding on who’s got real power (read: nukes) and influence to impose their will internationally. A country’s extradition laws is only as solid as its ability to defend itself against the offending nation.

Though I guess Pakistan’s nukes didn’t deter a DEVGRU team from jumping in unannounced. I guess it would be rather difficult to defend harboring bin Laden of all people.

Can Americans at least get cheaper gasoline prices out of this embarrassment?