The Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has been captured. The Venezuelan people are free. And some of our own American politicians are... angry? All this and more are coming up right now on the Clear V Today Show.
You're listening to Clear View Today with Dr. Abadan Shah, the daily show that engages mind and heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Ryan Hill. I'm John Galantis. Welcome to the Clearview Today Studio.
It is so good to be back here with you guys, having a great conversation today with our host, Dr. Abadan Shah. For those of you guys listening for the very first time, never heard the show before. Dr. Shah is a PhD in New Testament textual criticism, professor at Carolina University, author, full-time pastor, and the host of today's show.
Dr. Shah, welcome to the studio. It's good to be here. Amen. We've got a lot of ground to cover today with everything that's happening in the world, lots of current events happening.
We want to unpack that here on the Clearview Today show. That's right. A lot of celebrating is going on in the world today. There's a lot of people, especially over in South America, in Venezuela, right now, who are in the streets celebrating, cheering, having a great time, and just celebrating this newfound freedom that they have because the dictator, Nicholas Maduro, has been captured by American military forces. That's right.
And so, you know, President Trump announced this early this morning. And Dr. Shah, I know you're going to fill us in on this, but. People back home, maybe not people, but there are certain people. in positions of power and influence.
Who are trying to use this against the president, as always. Yeah, I mean, it's uh. Shocking to me that you will use this as an opportunity to make your talking points, some political points, when actually. Just a little while ago we were all agreed. On this person is a dictator.
He is killing his own people. He is funneling tons and tons of And fentanyl into our country, where hundreds of thousands of people were killed. because of it. And now, all of a sudden, hey, the whole way we did this thing and how we went after a country's leader, and I mean, that's we can't go for that. I mean, you're making yourself sound terrible, guys.
These politicians, leftists. Democrats who are talking like this. You're making yourself look So obviously biased. Yeah, it's really not a great look, especially for our nation when there are people in the streets of Venezuela cheering, saying, Thank you. We thank you, America.
We love you. We love you. We love you. And we're saying, guys, don't love us. Could we do this?
How could we possibly do this? Don't love that. We've got our own dick. I mean, people say the craziest things when we should be celebrating. Dr.
Shaw, just in case anybody is unaware of what's happening, can you fill us in on Nicolas Maduro? Yeah, true. Who he is, his influence, the negative impact he's had on Venezuela, and kind of how we got to this point. Yeah, I mean.
So my Um Awareness of what was happening in Venezuela began, I would say. almost fifteen years ago with Hugo Chavez, when all the oil crisis was happening and this one dictator down in Venezuela who was, you know, um Just shaking his fist towards the West, especially towards America. I was like, who is he? You know, in South America, Latin America, you have these actors, bad actors that get into power, whether it's in Nicaragua or Panama or now Venezuela. You go, like, who is this again?
Because we're not aware of it for a while until. they do something and you go, Oh. Didn't know that was happening there. Yeah. And so Even back in twenty thirteen.
So if you want to back up more. back I believe I believe it was ninety one or ninety somewhere there When Hugo Chavez, he was a military commander, something like that, who tried to stage a coup and it did not go well. He ended up in prison. And so Life continues. But then this lawyer, okay, This lawyer who comes around and she tries to talk him into.
helping Him get out of prison and be a new leader. And she wanted him to sort of drop this this general or this commander of army persona and take on like a common man persona. And who is this person?
Well, this is Maduro's wife.
Okay.
So she was that lawyer who Try to talk him into doing like change your public image. Let me help you get out of prison, whatever, whatever. And so, of course. you know, Chavez at the time, Chavez agreed to that. And then He gets out of prison.
He is pardoned. And then of course now begins this democratic socialist movement. Which is, you know, in third world countries, it's like a. a fertile soil for this kind of stuff. Whether this is Asia or South America or Africa.
It's fertile soil. And so Chavez came to power. And it was helped by, of course, Maduro. Nicolas Maduro was one of his. his advisors.
I would imagine that people, like even Democrats and leftists here, would look at the state of Venezuela and say, they're not thriving. Do you think they just fool themselves into saying, well, we're not Venezuela, so we could establish democratic socialism here and it won't happen because we're not corrupt? Is that their line of reasoning? Oh, so they think. But I don't think they're that innocent.
Hmm. The socialists in America are not that innocent. People are like, we just want to help people. No, some college students, maybe. Who grew up in a good home Got good education, good parenting, good life, great life.
They may get influenced by this, some kind of altruistic. Feeling like I can save the world if we only come together because I know how capitalism works and how rich white men control the world.
So I am here to save. When actually, you also grew up with rich white men. Right. Of course. That's why your life is as privileged as it has been.
Right. Or you. were b yeah, privileged by Being around those kinds of people, but now you feel like, hey, I'm going to fight my own kind to help. And So there are those college student types who are altruistic, but Everywhere socialism. Has gone.
Everywhere democratic socialism has been or cultural Marxism has been, which is they're all connected. They're all related. They're not the same thing, but they're related. It's always A few who end up being in power. Right.
who gets super wealthy. The very thing that they think they're going to condemn the world for, and all these bad capitalists, industrialists, they are doing the exact same things. They may not have the title of a king or a queen or whatever, but they're doing the exact same things. And they get their comrades to be their strong arm in controlling the masses of people. And if it can happen in South America, it can happen here.
Oh, 100%. I think in the last election, if President Trump hadn't won, we were headed there at turbo speed. Wow. Yeah, we would have been on the express track to that very thing that we were calling evil in another country.
So, Nicolas Maduro, correct me if I'm wrong, but he was Chavez's successor. He took the presidency after? Yeah, when Chavez died, I believe it was 2013. When he died, then he was sort of his mentee.
Okay.
But really. It was not just a mentor-menteed relationship. It was really Maduro and his wife and other people around were sort of his advisors. Chavez's advisors helped him create that image, that persona that got him. to become the ruler of Venezuela.
Especially if it was Maduro's wife that was the one who kind of initiated getting him out of prison. Right. So they're sort of tangled all up in this play for power that then Maduro steps in when Chavez dies.
Well, I like the way that you opened up this episode, Dr. Shah, because I mean, it's public record. Everybody knows that up until like very, very, very recently, maybe even today. We're recording this, by the way, the day that this happened. Yeah.
But up until like today, either no one was aware of who Nicolas Maduro was. There are people with very strong opinions on what happened who didn't know his name 24 hours ago. Or everybody agreed that this is a person who has been causing political corruption, dictatorial rule in Venezuela. Everybody agrees this is a bad guy. But now we got a problem with President Trump.
Now we've got a problem with the White House. How did that work? How did that happen? My question, and I'm genuinely curious of how people would answer this: is if he's responsible for funneling so much so many drugs into America, so much crime into America, especially, let's just take fentanyl, for example. Fentanyl, no one utilizes fentanyl.
Fentanyl for like recreational purposes. We can't even offer it. We're not like injecting fentanyl. But no one is saying, I need it to unwind. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
If we're just looking at that alone, can we not consider that an act of terrorism? Because that is only designed to hurt people. Yeah, that's what's called narcoterrism. Yeah, he's a narcoter. Yeah.
Just take that, for example. That would be enough reason to take this guy out.
Well, let's say, even for some reason, that even that's not enough. We can't because a lot of the things I've been seeing online today are: you know, a president, a sitting president of a sovereign nation, cannot invade another sovereign nation and remove their ruler, they just can't do it. And the very first thing, and I'm not being silly here, I'm not being funny. Haven't nations done that throughout all of human history? Absolutely.
Isn't that how political and military operations commenced? That's who they go for is the leader, right? Absolutely. Absolutely. And this country has been flexing their arms for a long time because of these dictators like Chavez and Maduro.
And really, behind Maduro was his wife, Sydia Flores, who is really. I would say the power behind the throne has was the power behind the throne. she is very smart and she was very manipulative and she was uh using her own family. A lot of nepotism was happening, but they all were part of this massive high level You know, very lucrative drug trade. I have a question.
And this is not a talking point. This is not like a gotcha or anything. This is like a legitimate question. Because in 2003, I was 11 years old. I might have been 10.
Uh Were people like this when the United States captured Saddam Hussein? Were they did they have this level or or even any sort of like disdain like we shouldn't have done that? We shouldn't have gone and captured him?
Well, there were people who were against it. There have always been people like that. But there was more sense there in people that's like, Yeah, he's a bad guy, he was hurting his people. Yeah, we should we should have done something and I'm glad we did. I remember people being like, We shouldn't be in Iraq, but I don't remember anybody ever being like, They did Saddam Hussein wrong.
I thought people generally were like, no, he's bad. He's got to go. Yeah, he needed to go. And so I guess fast forward to today, do you think it's because people were just in the dark about who this person was? Or do you think there's an agenda riling people up?
against like the White House. Are they saying that he was not a bad person? Like, are they trying to cover that up? Or are they just focusing on. President Trump should not have gone into Venezuela.
Well, anything President Trump does that is good, they have no problem with it. Anything that makes him look good, like in this amazing operation where no U.S. casualties, just minor damages to, I think, the helicopter or something like that, or one of the planes, whatever, very minor damage.
So, and we extradited. The president and his wife out of that country. And don't, don't, please don't look at them as like these poor, helpless people who are just trying to do what is right for the people. No. Watch the videos in Venezuela.
Watch the videos of people in England. Watch the videos of people From Venezuela in America, and see how they are celebrating. They left in droves, escaped the country because of this group of people.
So All of a sudden, you're upset with President Trump because he did not follow protocol. When Death has nothing to do with that. Just because he did. a wonderful job. For one, keeping things under wraps.
Had the best training because I mean, American troops and American technology, nobody can touch that. I don't know how long it took. There was some bombing that happened. I've seen videos of that. I watched the entire press conference with President Trump and Pete Heckseth and Marco Rubio and the general.
I mean, I watched the whole thing. I also watched some other, I watched President Trump's phone call from this morning. I watched some other news reports about that. I think. It was just a several hours at the most.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, but when they're talking about President Trump this way, just know that international bodies like the European Union.
Okay, United Nations, Human Rights Watch. Several of the Latin American countries. Had for a long time said that we will not recognize Maduro's government because it's corrupt. is dictatorial. And it has done whatever they could to gain this power and kill people.
And do Shady things? It's like these are thugs. How can we say these are legitimate people who run a country? No, they're thugs.
So European Union is no friend of the United States. The United Nations is no friend of the United States. And they're saying. They were saying that these people are not right. Right.
Yeah. I'd be very interested to see how many people, and I don't know if anyone would ever write into this. I would imagine that most of the people listening to this, typically they lean more conservative. But there are, I mean, our prey.com metrics have shown there are some Democrats. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I would be interested to see if anybody who is genuinely against what President Trump did this morning.
Has been aware of this situation for more than 24 hours. Yeah, there's a lot of people. Yeah, I would say, if anything, they got aware of it because of how some of those vessels were bombed, carrying drugs and other things, and the waters were taking control of.
So, other than the past maybe two months, Maybe most people are not aware of Venezuela and what has been happening there for. several decades. I remember the gas prices going up. This is back in, uh, gosh, in in mid-2000s. And hearing that this Chavez guy is like really shake, you know, thumbing his nose towards the United States.
And I was like, why? Yeah. This is during President Bush's time. Right. That's when this was happening.
And and um Something else with uh with Maduro's and and Celia Mor Flores. This is um a rule. Is that a lot of collaboration with Iran, Cuba. Russia, China? North Korea?
I mean Lot of collaboration with these groups who are expressly anti-American. I was just about to say that. There's a common element in that list, and all of those nations that were listed are no friends of the United States. And that's where it was a hotbed, it had become a hotbed of terrorist. Um, you know, is this is like their little uh base away from home.
like an outpost for them than Israeli was. Yes, of course.
So, I mean, it's not in our best interest to sit there and let it go. And then people will say, why don't we go against Cuba or Colombia and all that? I mean, maybe we should. We should. Yeah.
I mean, listen, if we can see over the next few months or years that the status in Venezuela increased, not increased, improves. Yes, thank you. Because of this operation, hey, that's a victory, right? Dr. Shaw, thinking about American history and just kind of the way that the world works in general, what precedence is there, or I guess really, what responsibility is there on America to step in when other nations are struggling or when there's injustice or when there's a wicked, corrupt government that is mistreating its people?
Do we, as a nation, have a responsibility to step in and to. uh enter into other other nations when there's um injustice happening.
Now that's a big philosophical question. that uh we've had to answer for the past, I would say, 150 years. Right, ever since America became a nation and became like a powerful nation. And became a main player in world politics, that's been a question. How much should we interfere or should we interfere?
There are people who will say, we need to mind our own business, take care of. American interests. And if American interests are not threatened, leave it alone. Let them fight it out. Let them destroy themselves, why do we have to get involved?
And to some extent, I understand. To some extent, we need to put America first. I get it, no doubt. But Here's Where people fail to understand. If There is a fight going on across the street.
Okay.
If there's a fight going on across the street, let's say thugs have moved in. Bad guys are out there and they have taken over that house. It's a matter of time before they're going to come for your house. Yo, yeah, the fight is going to spill over into your yard. 100%.
Absolutely. And when you don't come, that is often interpreted as you are either too weak to come. Too afraid to come. And We need to come to you now. Why do people do that?
Why can't we just be happy and satisfied and content with living in our own homes, our own countries and just doing trade? Like a nice game on SimCity. We just do trade and we just Live happily ever after. Human beings don't work like that. That's right.
They want to rule, they want to dominate. And so. Why should we get involved in the Middle East? We should absolutely get involved in the Middle East because when you don't show up there, guess who shows up? Right.
Russia shows up. That's right. European Union shows up. France shows up, Germany shows up. Africa shows up, African nations show up.
China shows up. Go figure. North Korea, who has a lot of problems, Iran, whose people are struggling, they also show up. Why are they showing up? Because all of a sudden they can walk around as if we're in charge.
That looked to us. And they may not have anything. I mean, Americans. You know, supremacy when it comes to our military power or our technology, when it comes to warfare, it's just so superior. I mean, very few.
Western nations can compare with that. That's true. That's true. And Israel, you know, very few can compare with that. Uh but When we don't show up, that's when these people pretend to be the bosses.
They pretend to be. And you know. in charge. And then they convince other third world countries to listen to them, follow them. Trade with them, work with them, and hate America.
Yeah. Because America is a military supremacy, there is a responsibility to do God. Basically, what you're saying is with great power comes great responsibility. There you go. No, I see what I see.
Shout out to Uncle Ben. Shout out to Uncle Ben, man. If he was here, I think he'd be proud of our troops today. Absolutely. No, but I do see exactly what you're saying, and I agree with you.
I think on the world stage, you know, America. Is sort of it's it's not that America is a world police, but America, we're supposed to look out for other people.
Well, I think you said it best, Dr. Shao. If we don't step in, then other undesirable nations are going to step in, they're going to seize power, and then they're coming and knocking on our door. And yes, and hey, listen, all of the American politicians are exactly right. All of Nicolas Marudos, Maduro's supporters, they're angry with the United States.
They're not happy with this, but the Venezuelan people, the public, are not thinking that's the true test. I mean, nobody's talking about for how long this man has controlled his people, killed people, killed his people. And how about Mm-hmm. How about that? Right.
I mean, this is not like not many of us ignorant. In the West or in America are just hearing about this, but you know that. You know, the the cases have been filed against this government. Oh, this this this tug mafia. Since 2019, but even prior to that, 2017?
That's Almost Ten years ago. Yeah. President Obama In 2013, or 2015, I believe it was, he declared Venezuela a national threat or a threat to our national security. President Obama, he's not Republican. Right.
But in twenty fifteen he declared Venezuela a threat to American national security. What do you do about that? What do you do about the Americans who were captured and kept in prison? Why are we talking about that? Right.
Some of these were oil uh workers, people.
Some people say, well, maybe they were military going in there. Who knows? I don't have the details. Mm-hmm. But I know this much: Americans were in prison.
And just like what you quoted a few moments ago: with great power comes great responsibility. Yes, it doesn't make sense to England England is our ally. I would I would hope we continue to be that way. It doesn't make sense to say Germany. It doesn't make sense to say France.
It doesn't make sense to any of those Scandinavian countries that, you know America, who do they think they are? We give the Nobel Priest Prize or whatever. What they don't realize is while they're sitting there making the chocolates and their watches, you know, we are sending troops with. food and with aid to all these places. While they are over there deciding Who is is uh a a a you know a good person Our people are millions and billions of dollars.
to help Suffering nations. That's right. That's right. And that's what we should do. That's why I'm not against.
Taking care of the world. Yeah. People, people. May disagree with me, and I'm sorry, you're wrong. Yeah, amen.
We've got about five minutes left in the show. What does the average Christian take away from this conversation? Maybe someone's listening to this. They thought they were going to get a fun devotional today, or maybe they thought we were going to keep talking about Job. Maybe they've never heard of this conflict ever, and they're hearing about it for the first time right now.
What do we do with this? Just know. Under Socialist governments under communism, under Marxism, under Social Marxism under democratic socialism. You will not have the opportunity to share the gospel as you do under a free nation. That's right.
I'm not saying just because we're capitalist. That everything is wonderful in America. We're all going to heaven. We're all Christians. No, corruption happens.
Bad things happen. Bad politicians get in power. That's why you need the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's right. But when the environment is such That you have these few thugs, mafia-like thugs, who are controlling.
uh their people based on You know, their ulterior motives, which is to gain money. It all comes down to money and power. They will not allow Christianity to come in. They may allow this version of Christianity, this Catholic, you know, Venezuela Catholicism is there, but a certain version of that Christianity will be allowed. Right.
As long as you don't really get into the freedom that Christ gives. promises us the dignity of humanity, every human being. Is made in the image of God. Uh that goes against their Their values. Or anti-values.
Yeah. That's why in these kind of countries, they don't like Christianity. Because all of a sudden you feel like, man. God loves me. I am somebody.
I am called to make a difference. I am called to help the poor, the needy. I am called to stand for justice. Not here, buddy. Right.
That's right. Not in Venezuela. Yeah. And that's why you see all the people who are in Venezuela right now. I mean, there's videos.
I might try to link some of them so that you can go and watch them for yourselves. That's why they're so happy and they're cheering because they know deep down in their core that the gospel is true, that they are somebody. But they've had to live decades and decades and decades hiding that truth and pressing it down. And now they don't have to do that anymore. And I think that response to freedom, I think that shows not only that this dictator, Maduro, and his whole party are corrupt, but it also shows that God has created us with a desire for freedom.
God has created us with a desire for the gospel that only relationship with Jesus can satisfy. That's right. That's right. That's right. And our prayer is for the Venezuelan people that they will be able to have a stable government, a government that actually cares about the people.
I mean, they have oil, for goodness sakes. How can you have food and medicine shortages. Yeah. They have oil. They got a rich oil system.
I mean, their major economy is oil, just like the Middle East. If you ever go into the Middle East, like places like Saudi Arabia or Kuwait or Bahrain and all these, I mean, they have. plenty of money because of oil. Venezuela has oil but because of these corrupt elements And their connections with other correct, corrupt. Regimes like Iran and Cuba and Colombia and and Russia and other places.
The people are hungry. no opportunities for them. And so Man, I'm praying that Not only will the people find freedom, They'll have stability, and we will make some good friends. Amen. America needs good friends down south for the past.
Several decades, I don't think that has happened. Yeah. So, we need some good friends. Amen. Amen.
Around us. Amen. Guys, make sure you join us tomorrow. Same time, same station. We're going to be diving into another great topic here on the Clearview Today show.
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