“So I chose freedom. Running around, trying everything new.”
So here we are again US focused on our own Western Hemisphere after decades of global intervention, particularly in the Middle East. With so much going on (Tariffs, Greenland, Iran, Los Angeles, Minneapolis) let’s look back just a few short weeks into the United States intervention into Venezuela.
A campaign against the Venezuelan backed drug cartels began in September 2025 with the US began intercepting speed boats in the Caribbean.
https://www.britannica.com/event/2025-US-Strikes-on-Venezuelan-Vessels
The intent of these strikes were twofold. First to stop the flow of drugs into the United States and second to apply pressure to the Government of Nicolas Maduro, who had barred his main opponent, Maria Corina Machado from running in the 2024 Venezuelan Presidential election. Maduro ran against Edmundo González which many believe the latter won but the current administration maintained the win. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were charged in 2020 by US Federal Court for narcoterrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Venezuelan_presidential_election?wprov=sfti1#
To increase the pressure, the US seized a Venezuelan oil tanker “The Skipper” in December 2025. Several other tankers were also seized which some were Iranian and one was under a Russian flag.
On January 3rd, 2026 the US struck Venezuela and took Maduro and his wife into custody to face charges in Federal Court in New York.
USA Today provides a good timeline, maps and details of the raid.
Check out this article from USA TODAY:
Mapping US attacks in Venezuela: Timeline of Nicolás Maduro’s capture
Enter the “Donroe” Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a position by which the United States in 1823 marked the end of colonization by European forces into the Americas.
The “Donroe Doctrine” is a play on this policy with the focus on thwarting Chinese and Russian influence in the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seen as the driving force behind this strategy. The US will remain involved in Venezuela until there are subsequent changes in cooperation with the elected government.
Worldwide reaction was mixed but there was a clear signal that the US is more interested in securing the Western Hemisphere over concerns in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
We know President Trump is 79 (‘46 Boomer) his Cabinet is a mix of younger Boomers, Gen X and older Millennials. Marco Rubio (‘71 Gen X), Pete Hegseth (‘80 Gen X), Scott Bessent (‘62 Boomer), Pam Bondi (‘65 Gen X), Howard Lutnick (‘61 Boomer), Tulsi Gabbard (‘81 Millennial), Doug Burgum (‘56 Boomer), Kristi Noem (‘71 Gen X) , Sean Duffy (‘71 Gen X), Linda McMahon (‘48 Boomer), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ‘54 Boomer) [more are listed here]:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/the-cabinet/
There is a concept a “gray champion” in the Howe Strauss Generational Theory. We are seeing one or many helping us leave the old world order into the next one.
“The very survival of the nation will feel at stake. Sometime before the year 2025, America will pass through a great gate in history, commensurate with the American Revolution, Civil War, and twin emergencies of the Great Depression and World War II.” –Strauss & Howe–The Fourth Turning
The Fourth Turning was written in 1997. They were not far off. We sit at the fulcrum of history. The Petrodollar is over. Globalization is over. A lot is happening every week and every month. With the immediate aftermath of Venezuela in our rear mirror, the struggle will continue for the future of our world.
The message at Davos was clear. The US is no longer interested in holding up the old order. We are from the United States and we are here to break stuff!
Next Time: The Grass is always Greener in Greenland
GenX Turns Fifty 
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