of war between nations, but rather a selective operation against the international organized crime represented by the Venezuelan regime.
Strategic security expert Eduardo E. Hurtado asserts in his critical analysis titled “Emotional Radiography of a Kidnapped Country: From Military Show to Ridicule” that the U.S. action showcased the incompetence and deliberate deterioration of the Venezuelan Armed Forces, which transformed from a source of national pride into a repressive apparatus humiliated on the global stage.
Without mincing words, Hurtado stated that the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela was a historical humiliation for Nicolás Maduro’s regime. He also examined the institutional collapse of the Venezuelan armed forces, which he believes have been degraded by corruption and the influence of criminal ideologies.
Emotional and Political Radiography of Post-Intervention Venezuela
Hurtado’s critical analysis reveals that the recent military action by the U.S. in Venezuela has triggered a complex emotional response among the population, encompassing annoyance, sadness, fear, and joy simultaneously.
Hurtado also harshly criticized the false Venezuelan opposition, accusing them of complicity with the regime, as well as opportunism in trying to take credit for an action they previously rejected. For the security expert, Venezuela is facing a fragile and historical opportunity for liberation that demands profound civic transformation and a departure from the “viveza criolla” to avoid repeating past mistakes.
He dissects Venezuelans’ feelings following the recent events through four key emotions, arguing that most citizens experience a blend of all of them.
Annoyance: The indignation arises from the fact that the operation was limited, only impacting “two of the criminals” from the “great Castro-Chavista-Madurista mafia.” I refer to the events as a “tactical slap” and a “teaser” for the true military might of the U.S., leaving a widespread yearning for a “much deeper cleanup” that brings all responsible parties to justice.
Sadness: This feeling has multiple roots. First, the painful acceptance that foreign intervention was needed to initiate the exit from the crisis; second, the degradation of the Armed Forces, tainted by ambition and power, whose uniform shifted from a symbol of pride to one of “repression and betrayal”; third, the acknowledgment that a significant part of the opposition is “as guilty as the regime” for sustaining the dictatorship. They are accused of scamming U.S. aid and rejecting the military option for years, which they now attempt to capitalize on; fourth, the decline of the military institution, with barracks marked by “neglect, overgrowth, decay, and hunger.”
Fear: This emotion references popular jargon to illustrate that “it’s not the same to call the devil as it is to see him arrive.” The regime and its forces, used to repressing “unarmed civilians,” were exposed when faced with a real adversary. The operation revealed the vulnerability of the security apparatus, shattering the myth of its invincibility.
Joy: The primary source of joy is the perception that a “historic step towards the liberation of a kidnapped country” has finally been taken. This is seen as the only possible way out, as the dictatorship had fortified itself on all fronts, including the use of a “false and complicit opposition.”
Critique of Venezuelan Institutions
In his analysis of Nicolás Maduro’s capture by the U.S., Eduardo E. Hurtado critiques the state of the country’s key institutions, pointing out their functional and moral collapse.
He believes that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces have fallen from glory to international ridicule, characterizing the military institution as one deliberately destroyed and turned into a group of “thugs at the service of mafia interests.”
According to Eduardo E. Hurtado, the main weaknesses and failures of the FANB include:
AspectDescriptionLoss of CapabilityThe defense of the country has been delegated to “militias, guerrillas, collectives, and armed civilians,” highlighting the intentional destruction of the professional force.Obsolete EquipmentOutdated equipment from “supposed allies” was acquired, while nonexistent capabilities were simulated, such as featuring “obsolete fighter aircraft alongside modern warships,” culminating in “international ridicule.”Useless TrainingThe regime sold a “fantasy of military power.” Training civilians with “wooden rifles for a weekend” is nothing more than a “cheap show” to deceive the public and humiliate Venezuelans.Operational FailureThe “improvised overlapping air defense systems” proved completely useless during the operation.
The Opposition: Complicity and Opportunism
Eduardo E. Hurtado’s analysis accuses the opposition of being a façade, referring to it as “the same regime, version 5.0.”
The central points of his critique are:
Active Complicity: They supported the dictatorship for years while engaging in “politicking” and negotiating “the misery of the people.”
Rejection of Military Means: María Corina Machado, Edmundo González Urrutia, Leopoldo López, and Juan Guaidó, among others, publicly ridiculed and rejected the possibility of military intervention for years.
Capitalizing on Others’ Success: The opposition is now attempting to claim credit for the event when, in reality, “what happened is not due to them; it’s due to the United States, period.” The author suggests that Donald Trump “simply charged them” for having previously scammed U.S. aid.
The Honor Guard: The Collapse of a Myth
The author emphatically states that the humiliation suffered by the presidential protection body constitutes “one of the most humiliating and crushing defeats ever seen.”
• Devastating Failure: The dictator’s security was delegated and resulted in catastrophic failure. “They entered a hornet’s nest and took out the queen.”
• Historic Contrast: The current ineptitude is contrasted with the historical bravery of figures like Mario Iván Carratú Molina, whose actions were a “global example in dignitary security.”
• Operational Ignorance: It is ridiculous to think that launching “tear gas at protests was sufficient training to face a Delta unit,” which is characterized as “brutal operational ignorance,” especially in front of operators who trained for six months for that specific mission.
The Role of the United States
The analysis of Nicolás Maduro’s capture by the U.S. evaluates the role of the North American nation and outlines the challenges faced by Venezuelan society to capitalize on this opportunity.
Eduardo E. Hurtado described the action as a strategic and unilateral move by the U.S. under the Trump administration.
Message to the Opposition: The United States made it clear that “it will not put money in the hands of an opposition that has already deceived them before.”
Conditions for Reconstruction: The message from Washington is, “first order, then investment; first institutions, then reconstruction.”
Nature of the Action: He reaffirms that it was an action against a “narcoterrorist and criminal project” disguised as “21st-century socialism,” paving the way for what Hurtado ironically calls “22nd-century democracy.”
Call for Civic Responsibility
Finally, Eduardo E. Hurtado warns and issues a call to action for the Venezuelan people.
Need for Cultural Change: It is imperative to “change the mindset, leave behind the viveza criolla” and take on civic responsibility.
Risk of Relapse: There is a danger of falling back into “recycled communists, false opponents, and dream sellers,” which would nullify the current opportunity.
Unique Opportunity: He emphasizes that this is a historic lesson. If it is not learned, “there will hardly be another Donald Trump coming to rescue us,” and the nation may not deserve the chance to recover the country.
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