Morning Note

There’s still a real chance the United States winds up at war with Venezuela. 

The South American country announced the launch of a “massive mobilization” of military personnel, weapons, and equipment on Tuesday, positioning herds of land, air, naval, and reserve forces to resist a potential American invasion. The move is a response to the build-up of U.S. warships and troops in the Caribbean Sea, which Venezuela’s defense minister described as an “imperialist threat.”

The United States says its mission is to combat drug trafficking, but Caracas isn’t buying it. Venezuelan leaders believe the real goal is regime change; the ousting of Nicolas Maduro in favor of a leader Washington can control. Given America’s storied history of meddling in other countries’ politics, their theory is easy to believe. 

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