As deadly military strikes continue against Venezuela-based and supported drug cartels in the Caribbean, it appears as if the Trump administration is inching closer to launching direct kinetic military actions against the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela.
Both President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have accused Dictator Maduro of heading up the "Cartel of the Suns," which is comprised of elements of Venezuela's armed forces, so why not hit the problem at its source?
Republican lawmakers, like Senators Ashley Moody and Rick Scott, and Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez, and Maria Elvira Salazar, appear to be supportive of increased military operations against the Maduro-supported drug cartels.
Since military operations against the cartels began, the U.S. has steadily moved more assets into the region, fueling a buildup that is normally seen when a larger military operation or incursion will be implemented.
In addition to the military presence, the CIA is in the region, and President Trump has authorized the clandestine group to operate inside of Venezuela.
"The President of the United States is going to wage war on narcoterrorist organizations," said Secretary Rubio during a recent press conference in Mexico. "The President has declared that these organizations – Tren de Aragua, Cártel de los Soles, and others – these groups are narcoterrorists. These are narcoterrorist groups, designated so by the U.S., operating in international waters, and their destination is taking drugs to the U.S. streets."
Secretary Rubio, who was once targeted for assassination by "Cartel de los Soles" henchman and current Venezuelan Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, noted that a grand jury made up of Americans in New York had indicted Cabello, Maduro, and others on drug trafficking.
There is currently a $50 million reward for Maduro.
"The President of the United States has determined that narcoterrorist organizations pose a threat to the national security of the United States. I don’t need to explain to you why. They are traffickers of people, they are traffickers of deadly drugs, and they are traffickers of all kinds of (inaudible), and they use the money that they generate to destabilize governments in the region, which in and of itself then poses a threat to the United States," added Rubio.
This chart below of U.S. military assets in the region speaks for itself.
Deploying naval vessels with onboard air assets is understandable and plausible, but moving Marine F-35 strike fighters and U.S. Special Operations into the region is a significant uptick.
Could the Department of War be planning strikes against the Cartel de los Soles inside Venezuela, and are they anticipating resistance from the Venezuelan armed forces?
So far, weaponized drones and attack helicopters have been taking out the drug-running boats, so why the need for advanced fighter jets and ground troops?
It is a fair assumption to make that, considering the amount of assets U.S. companies have in Venezuela, the ongoing drug trafficking and atrocities committed by the Maduro Regime against the Venezuelan people, the regime could be on the verge of feeling the full insurmountable weight of U.S. military might.
There could very well be a missile or bomb with Maduro's name already written on it.
