The U.S. attack on Venezuela on Jan. 3, while shocking, followed a familiar U.S. government playbook developed post-9/11. Successive presidents expanded executive power by declaring the existence of a war against terrorists; denying privileges or obligations to their opponents in this war; and diversifying targets while claiming self-defense against all. There is a straight line from the post-9/11 national security framework to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Operation