Attack on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar – Power, Oil, and the Threat of Violence – Rubio’s Appearance and the New Venezuela

In Washington that day, the discussion was not only about Venezuela, but about control, about the limits of political power, and about the willingness to enforce it militarily if necessary. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with the message that the United States was not at war with Venezuela, but stood ready at any time to strike again should the transitional leadership in Caracas deviate from Washington’s expectations. The arrest of Nicolás Maduro, Rubio made clear, was not a closed chapter, but part of an ongoing exercise of power.

Rubio described a situation in which cooperation and threat coexist. The transitional government was working with the United States, he said, yet at the same time Washington did not want to bind itself to forgoing further violence. The military strike earlier in the month, in which Maduro was arrested, had been a targeted operation. Shortly afterward, the committee chair specified that US troops had been involved in a firefight for about 27 minutes. Roughly 200 soldiers, brief, precise, successful. That was how the operation was described. At the same time, officials were already speaking openly about the possibility that Venezuela would require international oversight in the future in order for elections to be conducted in a credible manner at all.

Senator Rand Paul, Republican: “If you reverse the circumstances, it becomes very difficult to maintain these arguments. If a foreign country were to bomb our air defense missiles, arrest our president and take him out of the country, and blockade our nation - would that be considered an act of war”

The central point of the hearing was Venezuelan oil. Rubio explained that Venezuela would be allowed to sell oil again despite existing sanctions. The revenues, however, would not be freely available. The money would be deposited into an account under the control of the US Treasury Department. Monthly budget plans would have to be submitted and approved before any expenditures could be made. The funds were intended for police, health care, and basic state services. They were meant to provide stability to the country without once again ending up in the hands of a corrupt elite. Venezuela could benefit, but only under supervision.

When questioned by the committee, Rubio did not shy away from sensitive issues, but smoothed them over. When asked about the interest of the US Drug Enforcement Administration in the Venezuelan transitional president, he confirmed that there was no indictment, yet he also did not contradict reports that her name had appeared for years in internal investigations. Corruption had been the binding agent of the old regime, Rubio said. The United States was now working with those who in fact exercised power. Reality took precedence over illusion.

We did not take this step lightly. Filing a complaint before international bodies is not a symbolic act, not a political statement for in between, and certainly not a convenient undertaking. It means real work, legal precision, careful weighing - and the knowledge that resistance is certain. That is precisely why we filed it. We are addressing three international courts and oversight bodies at the same time: the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, and, in addition, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San José. Not out of political activism, but because the legal complexity of the facts requires parallel consideration by several international bodies. You can access our complaint to the International Court of Human Rights via this link here..

Alongside the Venezuela debate, the hearing broadened. Rubio stated that the Western defense alliance needed to be rethought. He rejected the concern that Washington was weakening its alliances, but once again pointed out that many partners were spending too little on their defense. Previous presidents had criticized this as well, just less loudly. From the Democratic camp came the accusation that foreign policy was losing sight of everyday realities at home. While the administration focused on Venezuela, many people were asking why rising prices and daily living costs were not receiving the same attention.

The tensions did not remain confined to words. A demonstrator interrupted the hearing with a sign opposing US policy in Venezuela and was escorted out. Rubio commented coolly that it likely would not be the last protest. Outside the Capitol as well, tensions were simmering, and doubts about Trump’s mental competence were voiced.

Tim Kaine: “The president has repeatedly confused Iceland with Greenland, right?”

Marco Rubio: “He meant Greenland. But I think we all know presidents who have verbal slips. We have had such presidents before.”

In Minneapolis, the mayor responded to a sharp online message from the president and made clear that the task of the police was to protect the population, not to enforce immigration law. Security meant that people could call emergency services without fear.

Surprisingly, Mayor Jacob Frey just stated that, “Minneapolis does not, and will not, enforce Federal Immigration Laws.” This is after having had a very good conversation with him. Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE! Und das, nachdem ich ein sehr gutes Gespräch mit ihm geführt hatte. Könnte ihm bitte jemand aus seinem inneren Kreis erklären, dass diese Aussage einen sehr schwerwiegenden Verstoß gegen das Gesetz darstellt und dass er MIT DEM FEUER SPIELT!

The day was further overshadowed by an attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar on Tuesday evening. A man, Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, sprayed her with an unknown substance during a town hall meeting. President Trump later responded with a public accusation, suggesting without evidence that the attack may have been staged. He referred to Omar as a fraud, continuing a pattern of years-long personal attacks. The suspected assailant has a prior criminal record, had publicly identified himself as a Trump supporter, and as of midday had not been charged or represented by an attorney.

What emerged that day was more than a hearing. Venezuela became a projection screen for a policy that combines control over resources, military readiness, and moral justification. Oil is released, but only under supervision. Elections are promised, but only under external control. Peace is asserted, while new violence is explicitly not ruled out. It is an order that promises stability, but is based on threat. And it shows how far the United States is prepared to go to not merely influence a country’s course, but to steer it.