This, right here, is the meta-message of the Venezuelan raid. Competence collapse isn't a purely military pathology, nor is it solely an American affliction. It applies to every institution in every Western country. We've been living with the frustrations and humiliations of this imposed decline for decades now.

With one decisive act, Trump has demonstrated that decline is a choice made by a small, false elite - and that if that elite is removed, decline can be reversed.

Removing the elite is the fix-everything switch in the presidency, the US military, and the Venezuelan government.

And now the whole world sees it.