A pair of different perspectives on capture Nicolas Maduro and the situation in Venezuela we discussed within a few moments of each other this morning The Big K Morning Show on KDKA Radio on Monday.
The Venezuelan leader and his wife were taken from their Caracas estate early Saturday morning by a U.S. military raid and taken to New York to be arraigned on the charges.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh ShapiroThe Democrat, who has been a vocal critic of Trump and his policies, said there were two very clear things to take away from the situation – that “Maduro is a bad guy” and that the skill and professionalism of the U.S. military is “something we should all be proud of.”
Commenting on Trump’s statement that the United States will “rule” Venezuela, Shapiro said: “Beyond that, there are many, many questions and plenty of serious concerns. “I reject President Trump’s belief that we should engage in regime change wars.”
Shapiro urged the president to take a novel stance, reminding listeners that Trump continued to oppose such actions by previous administrations.
“And I think it is unwise that even after removing Maduro from power, he should leave his illegitimate regime in place,” the governor said. “Vice President (Delcy Rodriguez) is in power. And the president says: “We will rule Venezuela.” I don’t know what that means.
“It sounds like a massive nation-building project with basically no future plans other than stealing Venezuelan oil to enrich your friends. So I’m afraid we’ll be dragged into something bigger, more expensive and more dangerous.”
Shapiro, who is scheduled to launch his re-election campaign on Thursday in Philadelphia, also expressed concern about Trump’s comments about Air Force One on Sunday evening.
In a record rally, the president said that “Cuba looks like it’s ready to collapse” and that the US needs “Greenland for the national security situation. The EU needs us to have Greenland.”
“He talked and talked not only about Venezuela, but he attacked Cuba, Colombia, Mexico and even Greenland, which, by the way, Greenland is a NATO ally,” Shapiro said. “I don’t think it’s a strength. I think it’s a tyrant’s weakness. We have an enormous amount of work to do here at home. So the idea that instead of solving problems here at home we end up embroiled in foreign wars is my biggest problem.”
Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormickThe Republican supports the president’s actions, claiming that Trump will continue to secure the border and stop the flow of opioids into the country, among other things. in 2024
“Venezuela is a transshipment hub,” McCormick said. “It’s a drug-terrorist center. This guy (Maduro) was dealing drugs across the country that are killing Americans, which was a direct threat to children in Pennsylvania and all over America.”
The senator, who served in the Army with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, agreed with the governor, saying it was an “extraordinary military operation” and that the United States has “the greatest military in the world.”
McCormick said four policy goals must be achieved – stop Venezuela from being a port, ensure Venezuela does not support U.S. adversaries in the Western Hemisphere, unlock the oil industry and create a path to democracy.
“I don’t expect it to be easy,” he said. “I think we need to be humble. I think as great as the first phase is, the second phase will be more difficult. Nation building may be difficult, but I have confidence in the president’s team, but I think we need to continue with a little bit of humility.”
