>>/172734/

Mike Lyons
@MAJMikeLyons
Hot take that'll make everyone mad:  The US port attack in Venezuela wasn't a war crime.  And no, this isn't partisan spin. It's US  law.  Here's what @CNN gave me 90 seconds to explain: 👇
11:52 AM · Jan 2, 2026
· 17.5K Views
https://x.com/MAJMikeLyons/status/2007178318039396517


Mike Lyons
@MAJMikeLyons
12h
1/ Title 50 of US Code authorizes CIA to conduct covert action.  These operations are:  
- Deniable (officially)
- Below threshold of "armed attack"   
- Not attributable to US as state actor  
This is BY DESIGN - creates strategic ambiguity.

2/ Article 2(4) of UN Charter prohibits "threat or use of force" by STATES against other states.  But covert action under Title 50 is structured to fall below that threshold.  Gray zone operations. Not war. Not peace. Something else.

3/ Venezuela knows this. That's why their response options are limited.  They can't invoke Article 51 (self-defense) against an attack the US officially didn't conduct.  We are going to see a lot more this in the Caribbean.  Stand by.
https://x.com/MAJMikeLyons/status/2007178688539000940