It never ceases to amaze me how often the left proves I am on the right side of history.
The US strike that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has thrown the left into full-blown panic.
From presenters at the ABC, to David Shoebridge of the Greens, to former Labor Foreign Minister and former NSW Premier Bob Carr, to countless others in the media and on the radical left – all have rushed to condemn President Trump. In the United States, the likes of newly sworn-in socialist New York Mayor Mamdani, Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Bernie Sanders also joined in.
‘Murder, kidnapping, theft, greed and arrogance – Trump’s war on Venezuela is all of this. The US is a brutal and dangerous “ally” that Australia, and the rest of the world, needs to protect itself from.’
In another post, he described it as the ‘kidnapping of its President and his wife in a gross breach of international law’.
I shouldn’t be surprised. These voices are defending a left-wing socialist dictator.
Maduro has been accused by US authorities of narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons-related conspiracy. Indictments allege he ran a network linked to the Cártel de los Soles, coordinated multi-ton cocaine shipments with Colombian rebels such as the FARC, and used government positions to shield traffickers and move profits under diplomatic cover.
Maduro has entered a plea of not guilty to the US indictments, asserting that the charges are politically motivated. Those indictments, however, are the product of years of investigations by US law-enforcement agencies and set out detailed allegations supported by witness testimony, financial records, and intelligence reporting. Against that background, it is reasonable to ask why senior figures within the US Democratic Party object to an operation targeting an individual under indictment for narco-terrorism and transnational drug trafficking, rather than supporting the enforcement of US criminal law and international counter-narcotics obligations.
The same question may reasonably be directed to those protesters who have taken to the streets in opposition, yet offer no coherent explanation for defending a figure facing such serious criminal allegations.
His regime is also accused of maintaining deep ties to Iran and Hezbollah, turning Venezuela into a hub for terrorism and regional destabilisation. This strike is another blow to Iran’s ‘axis of evil’, toppling a key pillar, weakening the regime, and disrupting its Latin American networks.
Under Maduro, Venezuelans endured years of repression, corruption, and systematic dismantling of democracy. Human-rights group Provea reports at around 10,000 killed between 2013 and 2023, with tens of thousands more presumed tortured, detained, or abused. Post-2024 election violence also claimed lives. Maduro’s refusal to recognise opposition candidate Edmundo González cemented his illegitimacy.
Anyone with moral clarity knows leaders like Nicolás Maduro must be removed.
This strike also exposes the failures of former President Biden, whose open borders allowed illegal immigration, including drug traffickers, and potential terrorists to cross into the United States unchecked.
For the people of Venezuela and democracies worldwide, this is a moment to celebrate. A dictator who enriched himself at the expense of millions, exported drugs, harboured terrorists, and crushed freedom has finally been held to account. Justice has been served for the 8 million Venezuelans who fled, for the tens of thousands who suffered under his regime, and for a region now less threatened by Iran and Hezbollah. It proves entrenched dictators can fall when the world acts decisively.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the operation on X as a triumph for freedom and justice, congratulating President Trump and US forces, citing Maduro’s ties to Iran and Hezbollah. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron also acknowledged its significance.
Russia denounced the operation as a violation of sovereignty, while China called for stability and respect for Venezuelan sovereignty. The hypocrisy from Russia bewilders the mind. But then, now massive oil reserves from Venezuela will hit the world market which should drive down world oil prices. Not good for Russia which affects its war funding against Ukraine.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, predictably, offered a wishy-washy response. On X, he urged ‘all parties to support dialogue and diplomacy in order to secure regional stability and prevent escalation’ adding vague support for international law. When has Maduro ever adhered to international law? This mirrors Albanese’s calls for ‘de-escalation and dialogue’ after the October 7 Hamas attacks, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and 250 hostages taken. Where was support for our ally, the United States? Leadership matters. Yet again, Albanese failed to deliver.
And where is Foreign Minister Penny Wong? Missing in action.
Meanwhile, Venezuelans are celebrating, including the millions who finally see a glimmer of freedom. This is not just Venezuela’s victory; it is a triumph for justice, accountability, and the moral order, and a blow to Iran’s malign influence globally.
We can only hope this momentum continues against the regime under the Ayatollah Khomeini. The brave Iranian protesters deserve our support. This is about removing dictators, restoring democracy, and stabilising the Middle East toward a new world order.
To those who protested on Sydney Harbour Bridge waving the Ayatollah’s portrait alongside Hezbollah, Hamas, and ISIS flags: your fantasy is crumbling. Australians are watching and they will no longer tolerate this hatred at home. With every new signature demanding a Royal Commission into antisemitism, my faith in our society is starting to return.
