America struck decisively at the heart of a narco-terror regime this week when U.S. forces carried out a precision operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power and brought him to face charges in New York. The carefully planned action—praised by the White House as a law-enforcement seizure of an indicted drug trafficker—was carried out without American casualties and underlined that our country still has the will and skill to protect its interests.
Let’s be crystal clear: this was not some clumsy occupation or imperial overreach, it was a targeted arrest to take a fugitive who ran a criminal enterprise into American courts. Senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have called it a law-enforcement operation, not an invasion, and that distinction matters when we’re talking about stopping poison from flowing into our communities.
Predictably, the usual left-wing chorus sounded the alarm about “endless war” and constitutional overreach, proving once again that partisan outrage often trumps national security. Democrats on Capitol Hill rushed to attack the administration for not notifying Congress in advance, even as they overlook the operational reality that leaks and timing can doom a delicate mission. The American people deserve leadership that acts to protect them, not partisan theater.
On Fox’s Special Report this evening, veteran commentator Brit Hume rightly pushed back against the hysterical framing from the mainstream left, calling out critics who insist on labeling this a foreign occupation. Energy expert Kevin Book of ClearView Energy Partners also joined the discussion to explain the real-world consequences: Venezuela’s oil and the wider global market will be affected, and Washington must manage that transition responsibly.
Kevin Book’s sober assessment is worth repeating for anyone worried about filling the tank: disruptions in Venezuelan supply and the global market’s reaction can nudge prices at the pump, but smart energy policy at home—ramping up responsible American production and shoring up reserves—will blunt those shocks. This administration’s actions create the opportunity to pry crude out of the hands of corrupt regimes and return it to legitimate markets, which is exactly what patriotic energy independence looks like.
Make no mistake—bringing indicted narco-terrorists to justice is about saving American lives and reclaiming our hemisphere from hostile actors like Iran, Russia, and drug cartels who use Venezuelan chaos as a staging ground. Conservatives should be proud of an America that still enforces the rule of law beyond borders when necessary, and we should demand a plan from Congress and the White House that secures order, restores Venezuelan oil to lawful production, and helps Venezuelans rebuild without turning our nation into an occupier.
Now is the moment for patriotic Americans and their representatives to stand united behind decisive action, not for feckless hand-wringing that invites our enemies to fill the vacuum. We can be both tough and lawful: hold criminals accountable in our courts, protect our energy security, and keep the focus on rescuing a region from tyranny—because American strength, when wielded wisely, advances freedom and safety for citizens at home and our allies abroad.
