A system in collapse needs a stabilizing field, or every small disturbance becomes a cascade. If Maduro's removal on Jan 3 prevents a violent vacuum and interrupts organized crime, that is a real gain. But a stabilizing field must be shaped, bounded, and switched off, or it becomes a cage. Rubio's Jan 7 three-stage plan could work only if the rules are public, the interim authority is Venezuelan, and the handover date is fixed, not political. Talk of 50 million barrels and preferential oil access is the wrong signal, because it makes every good deed look purchased. If Washington wants to avoid blowback, it should fund recovery transparently through international mechanisms and invite regional oversight. Do that, and the field lines may guide the system toward equilibrium. Do it as a trophy, and the field will snap back hard.