By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Department of Justice has conceded that the “Cartel de los Soles,” a drug cartel previously cited by the Trump administration to justify military action in Venezuela, does not exist. The original claim, appearing in a 2020 indictment that identified Nicolás Maduro as its leader, has been revised to state that Maduro merely supported a system of drug-money patronage. Experts suggest the term “Cartel de los Soles” was a slang term, and the revised indictment more accurately reflects the reality of the situation. Despite the DOJ’s shift, some officials continue to invoke the name of the non-existent cartel.
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The DOJ’s recent admission that the “Maduro drug cartel” – the very entity the Trump administration cited to justify potential military action against Venezuela – doesn’t actually exist, is, frankly, astounding. It’s like the rug has been pulled out from under the entire justification for potential conflict. For weeks, the Trump administration and its allies in the GOP were loudly beating the drums of war, painting a picture of a dangerous cartel allegedly controlled by Nicolás Maduro. This was a narrative that was supposed to justify everything. The media, for the most part, offered little to no significant pushback, almost as if they were complicit. The whole charade feels like a poorly written political thriller, and the ending has a serious “oops, our bad” vibe.
If the so-called “cartel” didn’t exist, then what was the real motivation? Given the undeniable connection between Trump and the oil and gas industry, it is hard not to draw conclusions. The industry funneled tens of millions into supporting his 2024 presidential bid, as well as super PACs aligned with him. Direct contributions from the oil and gas industry, along with support from Super PACs and dark money groups, amounted to a significant investment in Trump’s political ambitions. It is not surprising that, in this context, the rhetoric suddenly shifted to talking about oil, contracts, and potentially seizing Venezuelan crude.
It feels like this whole situation is an echo of past political machinations, most notably the build-up to the Iraq War. Remember the claims of weapons of mass destruction? The similarities are unsettling, a fabricated pretext used to justify a power grab. The idea of military operations being based on a fabrication, with innocent people potentially harmed as a result, should make everyone angry. Now, with the DOJ’s admission, the house of cards has begun to collapse. What did our military do if the cartel was never real?
The implications of this revelation are substantial. The core premise for military intervention – a desperate struggle against a powerful and deadly drug trafficking organization – has been demolished. It makes one wonder about the actual goals. Was this about destabilizing a country for economic benefit? Or perhaps it was about leveraging a fabricated threat for political gain? Was the capture of Maduro itself a part of this charade, an attempt to bolster the false narrative?
The fact that this narrative could be spun, spread, and perpetuated without significant challenge from the mainstream media is a testament to the current state of our political landscape. If Maduro is found not guilty, he will just be sent back to Venezuela. The whole thing screams of a “heads, I win; tails, you lose” scenario. The situation is a dangerous sign.
The whole thing smacks of a carefully constructed deception, designed to achieve a specific outcome. Experts have noted the “Cartel de los Soles” was a term coined by the Venezuelan media, and the indictment has now shifted to claim that Maduro simply supported the system. The evidence was likely never there. We’re seeing a blatant manipulation of the truth to suit a pre-determined agenda, a situation that should raise concerns about the integrity of the justice system and the overall direction of the country.
What is the role of international bodies like the ICJ or the ICC in all this? Could they investigate? Given the evidence, what will happen if Maduro walks free? Could he just be pardoned in the future? The whole situation is deeply disturbing. It echoes Operation Iraqi Freedom, where a similar pretext was used to justify military action. In the age of social media, the lies are harder to perpetuate. This is what the war on drugs has always been about, packaged as truth.