What the Venezuelan Opposition Wished For

"As bombs landed on Caracas early Saturday morning, friends and family members told me that their houses seemed to shake. The city is in a valley, so nearly every building has a view-on this January morning, of fires dotting the hills and little, loud aircraft flying in all directions, like a mosquito swarm on a hot night. Venezuelans have been through a lot in recent decades:"

"Many Venezuelans welcomed the strikes. Before Saturday, polls showed that a majority of Venezuelans both inside and outside the country favored U.S. military intervention. María Corina Machado, the leader of the opposition movement, issued a statement following the American operation: "Venezuelans, the hour of freedom has arrived!" she said, adding, "Let's remain vigilant, active, and organized, until the Democratic Transition is fulfilled.""

"The simplest reason for celebration is that Nicolás Maduro is out. The dictator who imprisoned and tortured Venezuelan politicians, activists, and ordinary people was snatched from his bed and put on an American plane with his wife, Cilia Flores. Photos of him under arrest have already brought catharsis to millions. But there are reasons to be wary too. The dubious legality and shifting rationales behind Donald Trump's actions raise questions about the administration's intentions."

Bombs struck Caracas early Saturday morning, shaking houses across the valley and lighting fires on surrounding hills as many small aircraft flew like a mosquito swarm. Venezuelans endured decades of political upheaval: Hugo Chávez's rise, a revolution that replaced democracy with dictatorship, an economic collapse turned humanitarian crisis, and the emigration of more than one in four residents. Many were familiar with tear gas and gunshots, but aerial bombardment was largely new. The Trump administration targeted military bases near Caracas; at least seven explosions killed dozens. Large numbers of Venezuelans welcomed the strikes and celebrated Nicolás Maduro's removal, while concerns arose over legality and possible U.S. motives.

Read at The Atlantic