Washington DC [US], January 4: US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the recent military intervention in Venezuela, in which US forces captured deposed President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, describing the operation as the “exact opposite” of the 2003 Iraq invasion. He emphasized that the move was carefully planned to avoid prolonged conflict or loss of American lives.
In an interview with CBS Evening News, Hegseth addressed public concerns about comparisons to Iraq, noting that the Iraq war resulted in significant loss of life and resources, with little economic return. He said, “Through strategic action, we can ensure that we have access to additional wealth and resources, enabling a country to unleash that without having to spend American blood.”
The operation, carried out in Caracas, involved US intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were indicted on charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies in the Southern District of New York and are being flown to the US to face trial.
President Donald Trump called the intervention “one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.” He stated that the US would temporarily manage Venezuela to ensure a “safe, proper, and judicious transition” and oversee the restoration of the country’s oil infrastructure, with American companies investing billions to rebuild the sector.
Trump added that Maduro and Flores would soon face “the full might of American justice” on US soil, with their trial location to be determined between New York and Florida. Hegseth described the operation as “bold and audacious” but meticulously planned, aimed at delivering tangible benefits to the United States, unlike past interventions such as Iraq. (ANI)
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