The day after… the rendition

The dust hasn’t really settled over Caracas after those Delta Force fellas plucked Mad Maduro from his highly guarded redoubt and flew him to face the music in the US. He didn’t look so big and bad now, did he??!! But details are slowly emerging that should give us an idea of what should be doin’ if the Yanks wanna render a political type they’ve also sanctioned for breaking their laws!! Right now, they’ve been asking rather nicely for Sanction Man – even throwing in some legal “please, pretty please” – but as with Mad Maduro, their patience might wear thin!! Don’t forget they’d skirted our local legal hurdles with (Jolly) Roger by herding him to Suriname, from where he was renditioned via T&T to NY by US Federal Marshalls!!
One detail that should be of interest is the US had “turned” a member of Mad Maduro’s inner circle and was aware of every move the dictator made – in real time!! In addition to the incentive of the US$50 million bounty – 15.2 BILLION Bolivars that would take a MILLION years for an average Venzie to earn!! – there woulda been some kinda arrangement for the squealer to enjoy his reward in America!! Sanction Man should take a very close look at the hangers-on around him – ain’t gonna take much to scrape off one of those scrapes!!
At the international level, some have expressed their concerns about international law and the need for peace, but they should realise that the golden rule of political realism adumbrated by Thucydides 2500 years ago is now openly embraced by Trump. To wit, “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must”!! That’s always been the position of strong states – with the weaker states trying to raise “moral questions” of what’s “right and just”. To which strong states retort – “Might is right!!”
It’s always been the case – just that Trump ain’t hypocritically couching his MAGA actions as defending “democracy” or whatever high-sounding rhetoric is the spirit of the moment!! Like Churchill “defending democracy against fascism” in WWII – while condemning TEN MILLION BENGALIS to death by starvation by ordering food to be shipped to Britain!! – and Hitler gets tarred and feathered for gassing six million Jews!!
So what’s the lesson for Pressie and his security honchos after Mad Maduro’s rendition?? Get with political realism’s programme!! Because America got the resources, President Trump can speak loudly and carry a big stick. With Venezuela’s 300 billion barrels of oil, far outweighing our 15 billion, let’s not get too big for our britches but follow the Roosevelt Corollary – “Speak softly by carry a big stick”!!
And facilitate that extradition – requested at this point! – by the US!!

…in Venezuela
While your Eyewitness gotta congratulate the US for carrying out their “extraction” of Mad Maduro with such precision – their challenges have just begun!! President Trump says they’ll “run” Venezuela during a transition to a more acceptable regime!! Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Supreme Court late Saturday ordered VP Delcy Rodriguez to serve as acting president. The “transition”, then, can take one of two paths: Delcy decides to go along with the Yanks and remains, or a new election is arranged to give legitimacy to a new Government. Surprisingly, President Trump has nixed Maria Machado’s chances of becoming the Opposition leader who might step up – by claiming she ain’t popular in Venezuela!! Really?? This wouldn’t only come as a surprise to Venezuelans in and out of the country but would help delegitimise any new Government!! From where your Eyewitness sits – as a red-blooded Guyanese patriot!! – Machado’s the best of a bad lot of Venezuelan politicians – all of whom see Essequibo as theirs.
At least Machado has voiced support for the ICJ process!!

…taking precautions
Following Mad Maduro’s departure, Venezuela’s western and southern neighbours – Colombia and Brazil – rushed troops to their border to deal with an anticipated new wave of Venezuelan refugees. Shouldn’t we – the eastern neighbour – follow suit with our GDF??