The loudest cheerleaders for this raid are already circulating doctored images and convenient myths, and that should worry anyone who likes truth. Reports say the Jan 3 operation captured Maduro and flew him to New York, and officials now boast the U.S. will run Venezuela. Fine, then show your receipts: legal basis, chain of command, civilian protections, and an exit date. Early assessments say dozens were killed in the fighting, and every one of those deaths becomes fuel for the next cycle of hatred. When Rubio on Jan 7 talks about recovery built around Western oil access and billions in seized crude, you can hear the old colonial music playing under the speech. Accountability for Maduro is one thing; turning a country into a managed asset is another. If Washington wants legitimacy, it must stop selling this like a deal and start acting like a constrained trustee with a clock that cannot be reset.