admin
The United States has deliberately moved to choke off the narco-terror cash flow that props up the Maduro regime by seizing sanctioned oil tankers and surging forces into the Caribbean, and Americans should understand this is a fight for our national security and economic interests. For years Caracas has shipped crude through shadow fleets to line the pockets of criminals and bad actors, and the decision to act reflects a long overdue commitment to stop the flood of drugs and illicit money headed for our streets. Washington’s actions will make uncomfortable many in the coastal elites who look the other way when dictators profit.
The dramatic boarding of the VLCC known as the Skipper, with Coast Guard teams rappelling from helicopters and securing the vessel, was no movie stunt — it was an enforcement action backed by judicial authority to prevent sanctioned oil from fueling terror networks and corrupt regimes. Video released shows the precision of American law enforcement working with the Navy and prosecutors to seize assets that are clearly tied to sanction-evasion schemes and illicit transfers. This kind of muscular, lawful interdiction is exactly the kind of decisive leadership that keeps Americans safe.
This operation forms part of the broader campaign called Operation Southern Spear, which has included strikes on suspected narcotics vessels and steps to quarantine sanctioned tankers; the policy has already choked off significant volumes of Venezuelan exports and left many shadow fleet tankers idle. The reality is simple: when the United States clamps down on the criminal networks that use oil as a revenue stream, the dictators and cartels lose their lifeblood and the flow of fentanyl and other poisons toward our communities is interrupted. Critics will howl about escalation while ignoring the lives saved on Main Street by stopping dope at its source.
At the same time the Pentagon has placed some of its most capable assets into the theater, including carrier strike elements, stealth fighters, electronic attack aircraft and unmanned surveillance platforms, to deter hostile moves and ensure our interdiction efforts succeed. This is not saber-rattling for its own sake; it is prudent force posture to protect our hemisphere, back our law enforcement actions, and make sure sanctions are enforceable in practice rather than just on paper. Americans who value peace through strength should applaud a White House willing to back policy with the necessary tools.
Of course, Maduro and his allies in Havana immediately screamed “piracy” and sought to rally international outrage, while left-wing voices at home equivocate about defending criminals over citizens. Let them denounce enforcement while overlooking how Caracas has trafficked influence and narcotics across borders, often in partnership with Iran-linked networks; America cannot surrender its right to protect its people and to stop malign actors from abusing the maritime commons. The choice is between tolerating kleptocratic regimes shipping poison, or standing firm to cut off those supply lines and hold enablers accountable.
Patriots should be clear-eyed about what’s at stake: secure borders, safe streets, and the economic freedom that comes from enforcing rules against regimes that steal and launder their way to power. We need leadership that is willing to defend American lives and interests rather than appease foreign tyrants or indulge fashionable hand-wringing. Support our servicemembers and law enforcement as they do the hard, necessary work of protecting this country from the criminal networks and corrupt governments that threaten us.
