A high-ranking ex-Pentagon official has unleashed a scathing critique of the recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, arguing it undermines America’s standing with allies worldwide. In a candid interview, Dave Lapan, retired Marine colonel and former Pentagon press secretary, highlighted glaring inconsistencies in the government’s account of the raid.

Lapan, whose career also included stints in homeland security media relations, demanded clarity on the operation’s purpose. Conflicting claims—ranging from capturing a drug kingpin to securing oil or toppling the regime—have muddied the waters. ‘The government has offered multiple explanations, many contradictory,’ he noted.

Unlike congressionally sanctioned wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this raid flew under the radar. Lethal force resulted in heavy casualties, yet lawmakers were kept in the dark until completion. Lapan called this a dangerous precedent, even if smaller in scale.

Tactically flawless, perhaps, but the ‘law enforcement’ framing doesn’t pass muster legally, per experts. Communication breakdowns exacerbate the issue: Pentagon briefings have been replaced by White House spectacles, eroding institutional trust.

The fallout ripples globally. European and Asian partners, sensing unreliability, may rethink alliances. Lapan’s stark warning: ‘This hits U.S. credibility head-on. Allies must question if America is trustworthy—a sad state of affairs.’

This episode exposes fractures in U.S. decision-making, where haste overshadows strategy, potentially leaving America more isolated in a multipolar world.