An operation that removes a head of state is not an end; it is the opening move. Trump said on Jan 3 he was not afraid of boots on the ground, and that is at least honest about the scale of what follows. You cannot hold Caracas, keep order, and prevent a vacuum with press conferences alone. If the U.S. chooses to run Venezuela for a time, it must define the objective, secure supply lines, protect civilians, and plan the handover before the first patrol leaves the gate. The quickest route to defeat is to improvise governance while congratulating yourself on the raid. Do it with discipline and a clear exit, and you may prevent a worse chaos. Do it for oil and applause, and you will earn neither security nor respect.