{"id":9120,"date":"2026-01-04T01:54:33","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T01:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9120"},"modified":"2026-01-04T01:54:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T01:54:33","slug":"deploying-us-troops-in-venezuela-could-become-a-force-protection-nightmare-retired-colonel-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=9120","title":{"rendered":"Deploying US troops in Venezuela could become a ‘force protection nightmare,’ retired colonel says"},"content":{"rendered":"

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While the military pulled off a stunning feat by extracting dictator Nicolas Maduro without any loss of American lives and only taking minimal damage to aircraft, maintaining order in Venezuela is a different story.<\/p>\n

When pressed on the potential role of U.S. forces going forward and whether there will be boots on the ground in Venezuela, Trump didn\u2019t shy away from it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not afraid of boots on the ground,\u201d he told reporters at a briefing on Saturday. \u201cWe\u2019re not afraid of it. We don\u2019t mind saying it, and we\u2019re gonna make sure that that country is run properly. We\u2019re not doing this in vain.\u201d<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will seek full regime change as key figures in Maduro\u2019s government remain in power, and Trump claimed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is willing to so what Washington wants.<\/p>\n

But the U.S. record after toppling oppressive leaders is mixed, retired Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton pointed out. Success in Germany and Japan after World War II contrasts with prolonged counterinsurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last two decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe risk with Venezuela is that it could be a hostile environment as well, and that could put U.S. forces in great danger,\u201d he told CNN.<\/p>\n

In that a scenario, the Venezuelan military has had plans for years that indicate it would engage in guerrilla warfare, Leighton added.<\/p>\n

An insurgency could involve Venezuelan forces melting back into the hills or hiding in city slums while attacking U.S. troops.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSo these are the kinds of things that we definitely would have to be prepared for and could very well become a force protection nightmare if it\u2019s not handled carefully and if the governance isn\u2019t put in place to really in essence make for that to happen,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n

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Military personnel are seen as many residents are seen leaving their homes located within the Military Complex of Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas, Venezuela on January 3, 2026. <\/figcaption>

Boris Vergara\u2014Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

The remaining leaders of the Maduro regime were defiant. Rodriguez demanded his return, calling the U.S. raid \u201can atrocity that violates international law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged Venezuelans to \u201ctrust in the political leadership and military\u201d and \u201cget out on the streets\u201d to defend the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese rats attacked and they will regret what they did,\u201d he said, referring to the U.S.<\/p>\n

And Defense Minister Gen. Vladimir Padrino L\u00f3pez said Venezuela\u00a0will resist the ?presence of foreign troops, adding \u201cThey have attacked us but will not break us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump said Saturday that U.S. oil companies will rebuild Venezuela\u2019s energy infrastructure and spend billions of dollars that will eventually be recouped with export revenue.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s an insurgency, U.S. troops or security contractors would presumably be called on to protect company employees and assets.<\/p>\n

That would likely require a much larger military presence than there is right now. Ahead of Maduro\u2019s capture, the Pentagon said there were about 15,000 troops in the Caribbean last month. By comparison, hundreds of thousands of troops were in Iraq and Afghanistan during those wars.<\/p>\n

For now, U.S. forces remain in the region at a high state of readiness, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told reporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe American armada remains poised in position, and the United States retains all military options until the United States\u2019 demands have been fully met and fully satisfied,\u201d Trump said. \u201cAll political and military figures in Venezuela should understand what happened to Maduro can happen to them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

#Deploying #troops #Venezuela #force #protection #nightmare #retired #colonel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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