We are learning that the United States military conducted a bomber attack demonstration near Venezuela as part of the newly named Operation Southern Spear, the US military mission to combat narcotics in the Western Hemisphere. And it comes as the US is ratcheting up its military force around Venezuela. We want to go right away to NBC's Courtney QB.As you know, she covers the Pentagon. Courtney, what else are we learning here about what happened. And this was a demonstration.They never actually dropped bombs ...

We mentioned the the now presence of USS Gerald R. Ford um and the Pentagon saying it would quote disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle transnational criminal organizations when you think about the potential objective here of the United States both in the Pacific and and the Caribbean what is your sense Richard with all the firepower that is being used as to the ultimate objective. >> You don't need that to knock out a few boats that are traveling in the open sea and not responding to sign ...

Military Deployment & Operations - US military deployed the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group to the southern command area, including Venezuela [1] - US military conducted strikes targeting alleged drug cartel boats in the Caribbean, escalating in frequency [2][4] - A nighttime strike targeted a vessel operated by the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua (TDA), resulting in six deaths [3][4] Regional & Political Reactions - Colombian president has opposed the US strikes, claiming the US has murdered Colombian citizens [5] - Republican Senator Ran Paul stated the strikes are illegal and require congressional authorization [10] - President Trump mentioned providing more information to Congress regarding the strikes [8] Evidence & Justification - US government has provided heavily edited videos and information regarding the strikes [7] - Defense officials insist they have intelligence proving drugs are on the targeted boats [8] - Lack of due process for individuals targeted in the strikes is causing concern [9] Potential Escalation - The US is posturing for potential attacks on land in Venezuela [13] - There is discussion about the possibility of attacks on land [14] - Potential inflection point could be the killing of an American citizen on one of the boats [11]

President Trump hailed the use of military force to police American cities, telling generals and admirals in an address that it was important to quell “the enemy within” https://t.co/Mucvetw5im ...

RT Bloomberg en Español (@BBGenEspanol)¿Por qué es tan controvertido el uso de fuerzas militares por parte de Trump dentro de EE.UU.? @ethomson1 explica qué dice la ley y por qué genera debate https://t.co/lpj66L8B4O https://t.co/6gOa1Dk0vd ...

Iran Nuclear Program Status - The strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were effective in knocking out thousands of centrifuges, making it difficult to reach enriched uranium [1] - Some enriched uranium may have survived the strikes, and parts of the program were never targeted [1] - Iran's nuclear program has been diminished and set back, but not eliminated [1] - Iran may try to rebuild its nuclear program in decentralized ways, which will take time [1] Geopolitical Implications and Diplomacy - Iran has stopped cooperation with international weapons inspectors, complicating diplomacy [2] - Sanctions relief is a major Iranian demand for returning to the negotiating table [1] - Diplomacy is a long shot, and it's unrealistic to think it will solve the problem permanently [1] - The US military operation has made the Iranian regime more vulnerable [3] - The Trump administration may pursue a diplomatic resolution, potentially offering sanction relief on Iranian oil [10] - A grand bargain with Iran should prioritize preventing the reconstitution of their nuclear program, requiring international weapons inspectors and offering sanctions relief [16] Potential Future Actions - Military force may be used again against Iran's nuclear program if diplomatic solutions fail [1] - Future military action would likely involve discreet strikes, similar to those conducted by Israel and the United States [18] - A two-pronged policy of diplomatic exploration and the potential for renewed military force is recommended [15][19]

Geopolitical Stance - The US President expresses deep ambivalence about joining Israelis in a war against Iran [2] - The President states he doesn't want to fight, but sometimes it is necessary [2] - The President emphasizes his firm stance against Iran possessing nuclear weapons [2] - The President believes Iran was approximately one week away from acquiring a nuclear weapon when Israel initiated its attack [2] - The President has an upcoming meeting in the situation room, referred to as the war room, within an hour [2] Decision-Making Process - The President's tone of voice, body language, and word choice suggest deep ambivalence regarding US military action [3] - The President has not yet made a final decision regarding military action [3]