The Supreme Court must act decisively—to restore fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability, and to uphold the integrity of the budget process. At stake is not merely a budgetary device, but the Constitution’s clear command on who controls the nation’s purse—and in whose name public money is spent.

In modern post- war history, the U.S. has won battles but has frequently lost the peace. This happened in Vietnam, Iraq, and in Afghanistan. It remains to be seen if history will repeat itself in Venezuela, and from the looks of it, the situation does not look promising for the Americans and is more complicated and convoluted than they make it appear.

Maduro, to be sure, was a scoundrel. It is just a pity that his end came in the hands of another scoundrel. It could have been better under the rule of international law.