Operation Absolute Resolve
On the night of Jan. 3, a group of American personnel set boots on the ground in the country of Venezuela to conduct Operation Absolute Resolve and completed a mission to forcibly take custody of the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros. President Maduro was then taken prisoner by U.S. forces and sent to New York City, where the US military plan to hold Maduro until he is tried for multiple charges of narco terrorism and a charge of cocaine importation conspiracy. The U.S. military did not receive permission from Congress to carry out this international operation, therefore sparking a large debate about whether what the United States government did was constitutional. In a press conference covering the situation, President Trump stated that the country of Venezuela was not producing a satisfactory amount of oil. He then stated that the United States will take over all oil production and send over American privatized oil companies to do so. One side of the aisle argues that since President Maduro allegedly participated in large-scale drug operations throughout the country of Venezuela, the United States was justified in the capture of the figure and the takeover of oil operations. The other side argues that the United States should not be allowed to breach international law by kidnapping a foreign world leader because the country he is in charge of is not running its oil operations optimally.
Minneapolis Shooting
On Jan. 7, in Minneapolis, ICE enforcement officer Jonothan Ross fired three gunshots into American citizen Renee Good while making one of their routine stops in an effort to execute deportations on illegal immigrants in the area. Before the shots were fired, a congregation of citizens formed around the initial stop in an effort to record any ICE operations in the area. According to videos of the stop taken by a myriad of citizens surrounding the site, the events play out as follows. ICE officers made a stop of someone in the area of the shooting, followed by a crowd congregating around the officers. Trying to make her way through the incident in her vehicle, Renee Good was approached by three officers, including ICE enforcement officer Johnathon Ross. A short exchange occurred between both parties when Renee Good turned her vehicle away from the officers in an attempt to leave the conversation. In retaliation, Jonathan Ross fired three shots through the window of Renee Good’s car, ultimately killing her. Immediately following the shooting, ICE officers closed off the area to all citizens while waiting for paramedics to arrive. When an ambulance finally arrived, Renee Good was given CPR, then driven to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The shooting has been very controversial to the citizens of the United States, an argument occurring over the degree of danger presented by Renee to Jonothan Ross and if he was justified in firing his gun. As of Jan. 11, no charges have been placed on Ross.
U.S. Syria Strikes
In retaliation for the strikes committed by the Islamic State Group last month that killed two U.S. military operatives and one translator, the US sent a batch of strikes back against the organization in the country of Syria. The strikes occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, and according to the US military, the strikes successfully struck down multiple ISIS operation sites all across Syria. Military representatives also state that these strikes are part of a much larger operation to take revenge on the Islamic State group for the murder of Sgt. Edger Briant Torres-Tovar.
“The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our war fighters, prevent future attacks and protect American and partner forces in the region… U.S. and coalition forces remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States,” US Central Command said to the press on Jan. 11 following the strikes.
