Thirty-seven years ago today, on January 3, 1990, Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S. forces, ending Operation Just Cause in Panama. As a young navigator on a KC-135 air refueling tanker, I flew in the first wave of missions from Barksdale Air Force Base on December 19-20, 1989, supporting the assault that dismantled a narco-dictator’s regime. We refueled fighters, transports, and special operations aircraft enroute to Panama, ensuring our troops hit hard and fast. Noriega, indicted for drug trafficking, had turned his nation into a cartel hub, endangering Americans and stability in our hemisphere. We didn’t occupy Panama forever; we captured him, restored democracy, and withdrew. Panama flourished as a result. That’s the model for smart, decisive action—and the recent takedown of Nicolás Maduro shows we’ve got it right again.
With 32 years as a combat veteran in the United States Air Force—from enlisting as an EOD tech at 17, rising through the ranks to command B-1 bomber squadrons operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, overseeing nuclear operations, and surviving the Pentagon on 9/11—I’ve witnessed the devastation of misguided wars. I’ve called out neocons for entangling us in endless conflicts like Iraq, where vague goals and nation-building fantasies cost trillions and countless lives. America First means we engage only when our vital interests demand it: with overwhelming force, precise objectives, and a clear path out. No more perpetual wars lining the pockets of defense insiders while our service members pay the ultimate price.
The Maduro operation embodies that principle. This wasn’t a sprawling invasion; it was a highly targeted strike under established authorities to neutralize a narco-terror threat. Maduro stood indicted by the U.S. Justice Department for pumping cocaine and fentanyl into our communities, partnering with cartels, and transforming Venezuela into a base for adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China. His regime spawned millions of refugees overwhelming our southern border and exacerbated the opioid crisis ravaging American families. Our elite Delta teams, backed by precision airstrikes, extracted Maduro and his wife alive amid minimal civilian disruption—no drawn-out ground war, no repeat of Baghdad’s anarchy. Now, he’s facing justice in a New York courtroom, echoing Noriega’s fate in Miami.
Detractors on the left decry “imperialism,” while some conservatives fret about executive overreach. To them, recall Just Cause: President George H.W. Bush launched it after Noriega’s thugs murdered a U.S. Marine and harassed Americans. We struck with precision, dismantled his forces, apprehended the kingpin, and empowered Panama’s elected leaders. Civilian casualties were low, democracy took root, and we avoided long-term entanglement. It was justified under existing laws, bipartisan in support, and a success because it was limited. No forever commitment—just results.
I’ve long demanded Congress authorize major wars per the Constitution; it’s our troops and families who bear the burden. But operations targeting indicted narco-terrorists fall within executive powers, bolstered by laws passed across party lines. President Trump handled this masterfully: swift entry, objective met, exit executed. Streets in Caracas erupt in joy, refugees eye homecoming—much like Panamanians post-Noriega.
Fellow veterans and patriots skeptical of interventions: This isn’t inconsistency. We’ve absorbed lessons from Libya and Iraq—oust a despot without follow-through, and worse fills the gap. Here, Venezuelan opposition stalwarts like María Corina Machado, who’ve braved Maduro’s brutality, are poised for fair elections. We bolster their self-determination, not impose rulers or squander billions on rebuilding. A revitalized Venezuela, with equitable oil production, becomes a stable partner, easing border strains and starving cartels.
Maduro’s web of alliances made Venezuela a clear danger: Hezbollah cells in his ranks, Cuba funded Russian Wagner mercenaries at his side, Chinese debt fueling his graft. Neutralizing him fractures that network and warns global thugs: Cloak your crimes in ideology, but if you export death to America, accountability awaits.
Throughout my service—from defusing bombs as an enlisted EOD tech to directing nuclear deterrence—I learned that resolute action prevents escalation. Hesitation breeds boldness in foes. Biden’s weakness allowed Maduro to metastasize; Trump’s fortitude excised him. This mission honors our lost comrades by averting larger threats.
Veterans, heed Just Cause’s legacy: Rapid, righteous, victorious. That’s our template. Now, let’s pray for Venezuelans forging their future. Demand accountability from Washington—no creeping commitments. America First: Defend our homeland, safeguard our people, foster liberty where it aligns with our security.
God bless our warriors, the Venezuelan freedom fighters, and these United States.