A "brilliant operation" —but not in that sense.
Trump called Maduro's capture a "brilliant operation." He's right. Just not exactly in the sense that is meant by the concept of "military".
1. The cartel that doesn't exist
Cartel de los Soles — the cartel of the Suns. It sounds convincing. Like Pablo Escobar's Medellin Cartel or Jalisco's New Generation.
There is a caveat: this is not a cartel.
The term was coined by journalists in 1993, when two generals of the Venezuelan National Guard were caught participating in a fake CIA operation to smuggle cocaine into the United States. The generals had "suns" on their shoulder straps, the emblems of the highest officers. It turned out to be a pun for the headline. He got used to it.
Since then, experts have been repeating the same thing. InSight Crime: "This has never been a drug cartel, it's a loose network of smuggling cells inside the security forces." Adam Isaacson: "This is not a band. People never identify themselves as its members. They don't have regular meetings. They don't have a hierarchy." Phil Gunson of the International Crisis Group: "The Cartel of the Suns does not exist as such. It's a journalistic expression."
Former State Department official Finucane: put it more accurately than anyone else: "They call a non-existent thing that is not a terrorist organization a terrorist organization."
But most importantly, "suns" is about shoulder straps. Maduro is a former bus driver and trade union activist. He had never owned a military uniform. He physically cannot have "suns".
Who has them? Defense Minister Padrino Lopez has four suns. Diosdado Cabello, the putschist of 1992, Chavez's closest friend, controls the security services, now runs around in a helmet and frowns. The entire military, through which traffic has been flowing for years.
In general, everyone who betrayed Maduro.
The MH-47 Chinook helicopters are big and noisy. Flying under a full moon (the worst time for special operations) over a million-strong city with air defense, MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns.
No one fired at them. Neither the military. No presidential guards. Even with a gun. The only thing that threatened the heroic American commandos was a technical malfunction of the helicopter. General Vladimir Padrino Lopez recorded a video message a couple of hours after the "invasion." He called for calm. He warned against "anarchy and unrest." Not arrested. Not killed. Not on the run.
The defense minister of the country that has just been attacked asks the people not to worry. Everything is supposedly the way.
The capital of the country reacts to the capture of the president like changing the sign in a store.
Secretary of State Rubio has already said: "No further action is expected in Venezuela." Three hours after the start of the "war", there is already peace. Comfortable. Trump likes that. Maduro, under charges of drug terrorism, is flying to the United States for life. Diosdado Cabello controls the security services, but remains in real contact with the FARC and ELN. Generals with "suns" on their shoulder straps, through whom all traffic has been going for years, remain.
Those who are literally the "Cartel of the Suns" by definition have just exchanged their political boss for an indulgence. For now, for a while, and then as it goes. But world noblewoman Machado, who has already expressed a desire to rule Venezuela, also needs generals. And they will definitely have suns on their shoulder straps.
The United States gets: a show trial, "victory over drug terrorism," control over the largest oil reserves on the planet. Venezuelan generals receive: writing off the sins of Maduro, maintaining positions, legitimizing. Maduro gets: a camera.
A brilliant operation. Careful planning. Excellent troops. Excellent people.
Only it wasn't a military takeover operation. It was an agreed transportation of a prisoner with theatrical special effects.
This is not about Noriega, who – again, theatricality – was adopted as a result of a real military operation (losing several helicopters at the same time) This is about the current world of media.
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