A recent U.S. military operation targeting a Venezuelan dock has sparked discussions about the extent of American involvement in the region. President Trump confirmed the strike, alleging the dock was used for drug smuggling activities.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Critics argue that the strike on Venezuelan soil signifies deeper U.S. engagement in a potentially volatile situation.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
President Trump provided some new insights into the attack on the Venezuelan dock, believed to be a point for loading drugs onto boats.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats, and now we hit the area. It’s a implementation area. That’s where they implement.
MARTÍNEZ: Shortly, we’ll hear from former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd on this first known U.S. operation within Venezuela. But first, let’s delve into the facts of this intensifying campaign against Nicolas Maduro’s government.
MARTIN: Joining us is NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez from Palm Beach, where President Trump is spending the winter holidays. Good morning, Franco.
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ, BYLINE: Good morning, Michel.
MARTIN: Can you provide an overview of the significance of these recent attacks?
ORDOÑEZ: Certainly. President Trump had been warning for weeks about potential land strikes and first mentioned this port strike on a radio show a week ago. While details on the execution of the strikes remain vague, a U.S. official confirmed to NPR’s Tom Bowman that the CIA was behind the dock attack. Previously, U.S. operations focused on intercepting drug and oil tankers in international waters, making this land strike a significant escalation. This move raises concerns about the risk of harming innocent Venezuelans.
MARTIN: The absence of congressional oversight in this campaign has also been noted, particularly by some Congress members. Wouldn’t it typically be expected to brief Congress before such a strike?
ORDOÑEZ: Indeed, it’s common for presidents to brief the so-called Gang of Eight, which includes top leaders from both parties in the Senate and House. This situation exemplifies Trump’s efforts to expand his authority while minimizing Congress’ role. John Feeley, a former ambassador to Panama, noted that Congress is slowly moving towards more oversight.
JOHN FEELEY: One of the things that really surprises me is how the Congress has sort of had two attempts to get a War Powers Resolution. They’ve narrowly failed, but they keep coming back to it. And it’s almost sort of like a chicken and an egg.
ORDOÑEZ: Feeley observes increasing frustration in Congress, especially following hearings about the recent double-tap strikes on boats in international waters near Venezuela, which resulted in casualties.
MARTIN: It’s interesting that if the president hadn’t mentioned the strike last week, we might not have known about it. This is different from the publicized boat strikes where the administration released videos. What does this suggest?
ORDOÑEZ: The administration seems eager to claim credit for these strikes. Ambassador Feeley mentioned that Trump aims to convey to Maduro that the U.S. has the capability to reach him anywhere and at any time.
FEELEY: They want to get as much public credit for them. They want to build momentum to provoke regime collapse. They want Nicolas Maduro to sleep poorly at night.
MARTIN: What developments are you anticipating next, Franco?
ORDOÑEZ: It’s challenging to predict. Trump recently spoke with Maduro, but it seemed to have little effect. I’ll be monitoring for further escalations, possibly another land strike. Additionally, with Congress reconvening soon, there might be inquiries or concerns regarding these actions and their escalation.
MARTIN: That is NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez. Franco, thank you.
ORDOÑEZ: Thank you, Michel.
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