With the extraordinary feat of U.S. military arms that seized and extracted Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro on Saturday, President Trump has reestablished the priority of hemispheric security among America’s vital interests. 

In so doing, he served notice on this country’s enemies in the Americas and those like China, Russia and Iran that have been allowed for far too long to operate here with impunity: Freedom-loving nations and peoples in the region will have a powerful friend in the United States and their foes a determined and engaged adversary.

To be clear, the United States did not seek to change Venezuela’s regime. Until that happens, the Communists, cartel and foreign powers that have tyrannically misruled there will remain a metastasizing threat to the native population and to ours. But an opportunity to secure both has been created – and must now be actualized. 

This is Frank Gaffney.