In Venezuela, the Era of Escaping Consequences Is Over

Originally published in the National Review

In the wake of the narco-regime’s takedown, five lessons emerge — for the region, for the U.S., and for the world.

Venezuela’s corrupt leaders got away with it for too long. They sent forth millions of their own citizenry to be trafficked, and they got away with it. They trafficked the drugs that killed and addicted millions of our neighbors and family, and they got away with it. They formed alliances with cartels dealing in goods and people, and they got away with it. They entered into the business of narco-terrorism, and they got away with it. They invited the worst enemies of the United States into the Americas — the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians — and they got away with it. They did all this for years, and they got away with it.

They got away with it until the dark hours of January 3, 2026.

To read the full article, click here.