The pattern is painfully familiar: Destabilize a regime. Push the narrative. Move the warships.
And when it’s over, if it ever ends, leave a broken country behind.
Some worry Venezuela may be next.
In this interview, CIA whistleblower @JohnKiriakou laid out how U.S. foreign policy keeps repeating the same fatal script, from Iraq to Libya to Afghanistan, and argues this time won’t be any different.
Why a regime change?
Influence, oil, and a system addicted to toppling governments it doesn't understand.
We get into:
• How regime change became America’s deadliest habit
• Why Venezuela’s “narco-state” label doesn’t stand up to the facts
• What naval deployments really mean — and when to take them seriously
• Why U.S. planners always forget “Day Two” — the aftermath
• What a real CIA coup would look like — and why it won't end with democracy
And the question at the heart of it all:
If the U.S. keeps failing at regime change, why does it keep trying?
00:56 — Venezuela enters the geopolitical spotlight alongside Iran, Russia-Ukraine, and China.
01:16 — U.S. naval movements suggest possible intent, yet Washington lacks a clear strategic upside.
02:20 — Sanctions redirect Venezuelan oil to China and India, weakening U.S. influence.
03:06 — China’s new Caribbean refinery shifts oil power dynamics and alarms Washington.
04:41 — Maduro previously offered Trump oil access, undermining the logic for regime change.
05:39 — The U.S. buildup may be a bluff aimed at pressuring Maduro to flee.
05:48 — Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico unanimously oppose U.S. intervention.
06:57 — U.S. foreign-policy tensions now spread to Latin America, not just Europe.
08:16 — Trump may reject amnesty because he “wants a scalp” to signal toughness on drugs.
09:22 — The U.S. excels at toppling governments but repeatedly fails at stabilizing them.
10:12 — Latin America still views past U.S. coups as recent, fueling deep distrust.
10:50 — Modern U.S. regime changes are largely unsuccessful and destabilizing.
13:14 — China’s fentanyl strategy mirrors CIA logic: weaken rivals through drug flows.
14:12 — U.S. concerns extend to oil, minerals, and Guyana’s massive new oil discovery.
17:24 — Opposition leader Maria Machado lacks real power; a military figure would likely take over.
21:46 — A full U.S. ground invasion is unlikely and lacks public support.
23:14 — Libya serves as caution: U.S. planners toppled a regime without a functioning postwar plan, resulting in years of civil war.
