Trump ignored this clear warning about reckless strikes and the disasters that follow

There is an old lesson in foreign policy that powerful countries ignore at their own risk: if you break another country, you become responsible for what happens next. This idea is often called the “Pottery Barn rule,” meaning that if you smash something, you now own it. Colin Powell warned President George W. Bush about this before the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003. Powell knew from experience that overthrowing a government doesn’t end a problem—it begins a long and dangerous one. Once you remove a leader by force, you are responsible for security, rebuilding, governing, and the suffering of civilians. If you don’t prepare for that responsibility, chaos is almost guaranteed.

The United States has learned this lesson the hard way before, yet it continues to forget it. Donald Trump’s shocking and possibly illegal action in Venezuela, including the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, feels like history repeating itself. Powell’s warning no longer feels like a historical footnote. It feels like a direct accusation.

I saw firsthand how seriously some leaders once treated decisions about war. Thirty-five years ago, I worked on Capitol Hill during the debate over whether the U.S. should use military force to push Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. The congressman I worked for was a Marine veteran and a member of the Armed Services Committee. He understood how serious this vote was. He met privately with every staff member and asked for our honest opinion. That kind of care was rare, especially in such a small office.

I told him I thought the U.S. should not go to war. I worried it would hurt America in the long run. On a personal level, I was also afraid for a Marine I was dating at the time. The congressman ultimately voted no, along with most Democrats.

What happened next surprised many people. Operation Desert Storm was fast and successful. Iraqi forces were pushed out of Kuwait, and President George H.W. Bush became extremely popular. But that success wasn’t luck. It happened because Bush followed strict rules before using force. He got approval from Congress. He worked with allies and built a large international coalition. He set clear and limited military goals. And when those goals were achieved, he stopped.

That decision to stop was not weakness. It was wisdom. Bush understood that removing a dictator or marching deeper into a country without a long-term plan leads to disaster.

Bush had already learned this lesson in Panama, where the U.S. removed dictator Manuel Noriega. The mission succeeded, but the aftermath was messy and unstable. Infrastructure was damaged. Governance collapsed. Removing a dictator doesn’t magically fix a country. Years later, Barack Obama learned the same lesson in Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. Obama later called that decision the worst mistake of his presidency.

Because of those experiences, Bush refused to march on Baghdad in 1991. Many criticized him for leaving Saddam Hussein in power, but history has shown that restraint was the wiser choice.

In 2003, George W. Bush ignored Powell’s warning and invaded Iraq based on false claims about weapons of mass destruction and ties to 9/11. Powell, despite his doubts, helped present that case to the world. He later called it a stain on his legacy. The result was decades of war, massive loss of life, regional instability, and lasting damage to America’s credibility.

Now Trump appears to be making the same mistakes, while ignoring every safeguard that once limited American power. He did not seek approval from Congress. And even if he had, it’s hard to believe today’s Republican-controlled House and Senate would meaningfully challenge him.

Trump also did not work with allies or build an international coalition. He acted alone, in secret, and without transparency. Unlike past presidents who understood the stakes, Trump has no clear plan. He openly admitted that his administration is still trying to figure out what comes next for Venezuela. That is not something a president should say after military action. That question should be answered before the first move is made.

There is no public support for this action, largely because Americans don’t really know what is happening in Venezuela. Most people couldn’t find it on a map. They hear vague claims about drugs or criminals, but they are not given a clear, honest explanation for why the U.S. should intervene.

Experts have warned for weeks that any action without a clear political and military plan would be disastrous. Maduro’s power network is deeply rooted. The military is divided. Armed groups operate throughout the country. This is not a situation where removing one leader causes the system to collapse. It’s more like a mythological monster—cut off one head, and more grow back.

Instead of explaining the risks and responsibilities, Trump boasted on camera about American military power. He even said the U.S. would “run the country.” That raises obvious questions. Who will run it? How? For how long? This is how wars turn into endless disasters.

Trump also threatened larger attacks and promised to spend billions rebuilding infrastructure, especially oil infrastructure. This sounds painfully familiar. Iraq. Libya. Oil has always been part of these stories. Trump just says it openly.

These claims echo former Vice President Dick Cheney, who once promised that Iraq would welcome the U.S. with open arms and that rebuilding would pay for itself through oil. That was nonsense then, and it’s nonsense now. Trump may claim to hate Cheney, but he’s repeating the same failed ideas.

This raises a final question. Is this really what “America First” was supposed to mean? Spending billions in another country? Intervening in yet another nation in South America? Trump campaigned on isolationism, not occupation. His talk of “dominance” means nothing to the millions of Venezuelans who will likely reject U.S. control.

George H.W. Bush understood something Trump never has: power without restraint is not strength. It is recklessness. When a powerful nation acts without limits or planning, the consequences are severe and long-lasting.

The Pottery Barn rule exists for a reason. History keeps proving it true. When you break a country, you own the consequences—for the people whose lives are destroyed, for the region thrown into chaos, and for America’s place in the world.

Colin Powell learned this lesson in Vietnam. He applied it in Desert Storm. He warned about it in Iraq and lived with the regret of being ignored.

Trump now has his own stain on history. And while his record already has many, this one will linger. Venezuela is broken. The region will suffer. And the United States will be dealing with the consequences for years to come. This never ends well.