The Maduro government is a catastrophe. We have to start there. The Venezuelan people are rising up against it, because Maduro has rigged elections. Taking to the streets is their only option.
Sadly, we are now looking at twin responses. From the left, "Why is America overthrowing the Venezuelan government?" From the right, "Release the War Pig!" Neither of these is helpful. Hoping that Trump won't decide on the worst possible decision is not a great hope. Intervening in Venezuela in any way would be a massive disaster, both because of America's history there and because of Trump's unique toxicity in Latin America.
Using military force in Caracas would be the way a reasonably cunning Republican would get out of the shutdown impasse. "I didn't want to re-open the government, but we had to bomb Maduro" is something Dick Cheney would come up with before lunch. But the long term stability of Venezuela requires a Venezuelan solution. Hopefully Trump's incompetence will give them enough time to arrive at that.
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