Nebraska Delegates Offer Support Of Venezuela Actions

The weekend attack on Venezuela and the arrest by the U.S. of that country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, has received unanimous praise from Nebraska’s federal delegation. With candidate filing beginning this week, Venezuela will likely become a primary topic for the upcoming 2026 midterm election. The MissionIn the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2025, the United State launched a military operation in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. At approximately 4:20 a.m., EST, President Donald Trump announced via social media that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and flown out of the country.The basis for Maduro’s arrest was a 2020 indictment on charges of narco-terrorism in the Southern District of New York. As of press time, Maduro is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, New York. Federal DelegatesU.S Representative Mike Flood issued a public statement, “Thanks to American leadership, Maduro’s reign of terror has come to an end. President Trump and his team used brilliant strategic force to capture Maduro alive so that the tyrant will face prosecution for his crimes in a court of law. No longer will Maduro flood our country with drugs, kill his own people in the streets, or rig election results. The end of the Maduro era opens a new chapter where the voice of the people of Venezuela will finally be heard.”Some delegate chose to make their initial response on social media, such as U.S. Senator and former Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, who posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), “Nicolas Maduro was an illegitimate dictator. He is a narcoterrorist responsible for the death of countless Americans. Congratulations to President Trump for taking swift action to capture him. God bless the heroic troops who executed this successful mission. I look forward to hearing more details on the mission.”U.S. Senator Deb Fischer also chose to make her support known via X, “Maduro was an indicted dictator for crimes of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. I understand he is now in U.S. custody and will answer for his crimes.”Adrian Smith wrote, “Nicolas Maduro is a longtime target of federal drug trafficking investigations. While I look forward to receiving more information, I welcome initial reports that he was captured by U.S. law enforcement supported by limited military strikes and will stand trial in U.S. courts for violations of federal law.”Among Nebraska’s delegates, the only caveat was raised by U.S. Representative Don Bacon, who supported the operation but expressed concern other countries may use it as justification for military aggression. Bacon wrote in his statement, “Maduro and his predecessor took Venezuela from the richest to the poorest country in South America, and destroyed its democracy. The operations last night are great for the future of Venezuelans and the region. My main concern now is that Russia will use this to justify their illegal and barbaric military actions against Ukraine, or China to justify an invasion of Taiwan. Freedom and rule of law were defended last night, but dictators will try to exploit this to rationalize their selfish objectives.” Others in Nebraska ReactNebraska Governor Jim Pillen, recently endorsed by President Trump in the upcoming election, also made clear his support, “President Trump’s decisive action overnight sends an unambiguous message to transnational thugs and narcoterrorists across the world: you may not send a river of drugs and terror into the United States of America without suffering the consequences. Nicolas Maduro has now experienced firsthand the full and unmatched might of the American military and will soon experience the strength of the American justice system.”Not everyone in Nebraska feels the same, as evidences by the protests that broke out over the weekend at 72nd and Dodge Streets in Omaha.Senator Pete Ricketts’ opponent in the upcoming election, Independent Dan Osborn, posted the same question on every one of his social media accounts, “Who amongst us profits from endless wars and regime change?”In an apparent answer to his own question, Osborn then posted a link to a Wall Street Journal story with the headline, “Finance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela.” What Happens NextAs of press time, it is unclear exactly who will be governing Venezuela. President Trump announced that the U.S. will “run the country” “a proper transition can take place.”Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in early Monday morning.

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