I approach the arrest of Maduro in Venezuela with caution and mixed feelings. I am definitely pleased that the people there are freed from this dictator who ruled them with an iron fist. I have heard stories from older people who fled from Venezuela about how lovely the country once was. There are sadly generations of people who live there who have never known such a time. If things go well perhaps they will be able to rebuild their nation and move forward toward the kind of democracy and freedom that so many of the people long to enjoy. 

Sadly I feel a bit uneasy about how difficult it may end up being for the people. Our nation has tried to be the good guy many times over with very little success. My father-in-law still speaks of the horror of the Korean War and the loss of so many people that ended in a stalemate in spite of the seemingly good intentions of the United States. As a teen and young woman I remember how Vietnam became a disastrous quagmire and I sob each time I see the names of the the American soldiers who lost their lives there only to result in the Communist regime of North Vietnam winning the day. I remember when we helped the Iranian people to rid themselves of the corrupt Shah of Iran and ultimately things became worse than ever. I hoped that we might restore the people of Afghanistan to the kind of culture and lives that they once enjoyed but we left there in defeat as well. So too it was in Iraq where the people at first danced in the streets with joy in our decision to militarily oust Saddam Hussein. Little progress was made there in spite of years of spending treasure in lives and money. 

There seems to be no real plan as to what to do next other than Trump’s boast that the United States will be in charge of Venezuela which is not our right. It will be up the Venezuelan people to decide who they want and what type of government best suits them. We might agree to support them but we should not be in charge. We should also not be so eager to get our hands on their oil. Somehow the flimsy plan that Trump is suggesting seems to benefit the United States more than the people of Venezuela. If I were a citizen of Venezuela I would be leery of his ultimate intentions. 

Then there is the question of whether or not Trump’s action was even legal. Is it any more moral that Putin claiming that the leaders of Ukraine are nazis and then invading that country and taking land and natural resources that do not belong to him? If we are really a nation determined to help people around the world who are under the thumb of dictators there are many other leaders to choose. What would we think if some country kidnapped our president in the name of making Americans freer? We need to consider such things as well as the ultimate complications that may arise and only make life worse both for Venezuelans and Americans. That is why such moves have always been determined by a vote from Congress. The Constitution states very clearly that the president does not have the power to invade another country without first conferring with Congress. The reasons for this should be very clear. We do not want one person making such a consequential decision.

I have family members who are refugees from Venezuela and I have felt their pain in being so far removed from their homeland. They have grieved for friends and family that they had to leave behind. They have prayed for a miracle that might free their land. Of course they feel great hope now that Maduro is no longer there but such a thing needed to be done properly and with great consideration of what the repercussions might be for everyone. 

As I write this the son of a friend is stuck in Puerto Rico because the Venezuelan air space has been deemed too dangerous for American airlines. This means that the Puerto Rican people many of whom are also my relatives are no doubt feeling a nervous sense of danger. How many American soldiers will be sent to Venezuela? Will any of them lose their lives? Why are we getting involved there but leaving the people of Ukraine stranded? There are so many questions and very few answers. I can only hope that all works out well but I fear that the turmoil in South America will spread before calm resumes. 

I want to be wrong about my concerns on every level. I don’t want to kill the joy of the Venezuelan people. Still, something does not feel right to me just as it did not feel right when we went to Iraq. I want nothing more than to be able to admit that I my anxiety is silly. I’ll be the first to admit that I am wrong it if all turns out well. In the meantime I have so many questions and concerns.