By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Analysis of videos from the US operation in Caracas, Venezuela in January 2026 reveals that several Russian-made Buk-M2 air defense systems were either disconnected from radar or stored at the time of the attack. These systems, stationed at locations like La Guaira and La Carlota air base, were unprepared for the US strikes, with some destroyed during deployment. The New York Times reports, based on US officials, that the systems may not have been operational for years, potentially due to lack of Russian maintenance, which may have been diverted to the war in Ukraine or part of a strategic agreement with the US. This suggests that Venezuela’s air defenses were caught off guard despite months of warnings.
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Russian air defence systems in Venezuela were not connected to radars during US operation – NYT, and that’s quite the statement, isn’t it? It’s almost like a sitcom where the IT guy is on the phone, the lights are flickering, and the whole operation is a comedy of errors. You can’t help but wonder if someone just forgot to turn the thing on, or in this case, plug it in. Perhaps it’s a simple case of the “did you try turning it off and on again?” scenario.
Of course, the potential causes extend far beyond simple oversight. We’re talking about sophisticated military technology, and there are many avenues for things to go wrong. It’s possible that maintenance was neglected, operators were undertrained, or perhaps there was even a deliberate act of sabotage, an inside job. It makes you wonder if there were individuals working against Venezuela’s interests, perhaps undermining the system from within. The article’s assertion is a significant accusation, suggesting that the systems were either deliberately disabled or that a series of failures brought about their ineffectiveness.
Consider the potential for political undertones. Some suggest this might be a propaganda move, a way for Russia to save face and downplay the performance of their equipment. The idea of “Schrödinger’s Russia Air System” – it’s both functional and dysfunctional at the same time – is interesting, a way of keeping options open. Then there is the claim that Russian military doctrine might restrict firing at military targets until civilian casualties are confirmed. Regardless of the reason, it is clearly a failure, an embarrassing development for those involved.
Then there is the issue of costs. The suggestion that systems were left unconnected to save on licensing fees is comical, and points to a lack of resources or, perhaps more cynically, a willingness to cut corners. It does make you wonder if this was a conscious move to prioritize other matters or perhaps something was happening behind the scenes, and the radars being offline were simply a means to an end. It suggests a complete lack of commitment.
Furthermore, the timing of certain events, such as the departure of Russian diplomats before the operation, raises suspicion. This raises questions about a possible agreement between Russia and the US. The article implies some level of coordination, suggesting that Russia was willing to allow the US to operate in Venezuela. Some believe that Russia is using the situation to their advantage, potentially making a deal to give up Venezuela in exchange for other concessions, perhaps related to the situation in Ukraine.
It makes you think about the potential of a conspiracy, that maybe a deal was made between Trump and Putin. Collusion isn’t necessarily something you can prove, but when you consider some facts it seems almost to be the case. It is easy to question that if there was collusion or agreement, why would Russian air defense systems remain disconnected?
However, the military tactics employed during the operation have to be noted. It’s suggested that the US employs SEAD and DEAD tactics – Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses – which is a way of saying that the American military knows how to take out radar systems. It’s assumed the Americans were prepared. The article details how they would have identified and targeted radar sites with cruise missiles and anti-radiation missiles. Jamming and cyber attacks would have been employed to further cripple the system.
The question of whether the system was undermined from within or compromised, with the operators being bought off or intimidated into inaction, has to be answered. Were there officers who took bribes or, simply didn’t want the risk of engaging US forces? Such an inside job would make the whole episode an utter failure.
You have to consider all the possibilities. This whole situation is a perfect storm of incompetence, sabotage, political maneuvering, and high-stakes military tactics. The bottom line is that these systems, for whatever reason, were not effective. Whether it was the operator error, some sort of corruption, political machinations, or the simple fact that the systems weren’t connected.