No ‘downside’ to Maduro’s capture

Thanks for your letter, Mr. Marty, and a great response to Mr. Kristofferson. Remember, this is the Mr. Kristofferson who lectures us about saving the world from climate change yet gives get-out-of-jail free cards to everyone who pollutes to their hearts desires, such as the folks who take 400+ private jets and who knows how many public jets to attend COP conferences. I predict Mr. Kristofferson will attempt to change the parameters of his argument and fixate on a new issue. And of course, playing the victim and bemoaning everyone on the “other” rational and well-reasoned side.

John, this shows how difficult it is for people on opposite sides to communicate. You are focusing solely on Maduro. I was thinking about the larger picture that followed the raid. As I mentioned previously, the raid was a tactical success - no question about it. Many parties wanted him gone - not just Republicans as you pointed out.

However, what happened afterwards? Trump, flushed with his success and no capability for self-control, starts threatening Columbia, Mexico, Cuba (all of which is understandable from his perspective) but then also goes on to attack our NATO allies and make veiled threats on military action against Greenland. As I just said to Ed Kahl in his LTE about Trump’s “negotiating style,’ listen to Mark Carney’s unedited speech at Davos: https://youtu.be/izDAOvHz5Wc . This is another challenge to get outside of the Fox News bubble. I listened to ALL of Trump’s speech: https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-remarks-at-the-2026-world-economic-forum/671750

On top of that, what about the blowing of “drug boats” out of the water? While there is an understandable tendency to say “Thank God, someone is finally going after those guys.”, is it really the best course of action for Trump/Hegspeth to serve as judge, jury, and executioner??? I have Trump-supporting friends who readily admit that Hegspeth was NOT qualified for his job… but I almost NEVER here anyone on the Trump side EVER admit that there might, just might, be any problems with their side’s positions in the SMDJ comments section. That is why it is useless to answer people who NEVER admit that they might be wrong.