The last time the US removed a loathed dictator by force, its biggest mistake was to leave the country it liberated with a vacuum of power. Has this White House learned the lesson of Iraq? Having overthrown Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, the president says the US will “run the country.” What that means is not yet clear.

In the short term, the raid that plucked Maduro out of Caracas is a clear win for the administration. He’d stolen an election, imprisoned and tortured opponents, impoverished his country, and fueled a massive diaspora that destabilized the region. Few will mourn his exit. Venezuelans have at least a chance at a better future, and this in turn could relieve migration pressures in the US and elsewhere. The operation also showcased military capabilities that should give pause to other US adversaries.

At the same time, the........

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