Dear Editor: 

We invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban in 2001. Weinitiated a war in which millions were displaced, hundreds of thousands of Afghans died, and thousands of U.S. and allied service men and women were killed or suffered terrible injuries. Maine had the highest death rate per capita of any state*. Today, the Talibanis back in power. 

We invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Weinitiated a war in which millions were displaced, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died, and thousands of U.S. service men and women were killed or suffered terrible injuries. Maine was once again among the states with the highest death rate per capita. Today,there is still no stable government. 

We bombed Libya and toppledMuammar Gaddafi in 2011. We initiated a civil war which continues to this day with mass casualties and widespread population displacement. There is still no stable government. 

We have a long history of regime change with mostly disastrous consequences for the local population. In Asia, in the Middle East, inAfrica, in Central America, and in South America. Formanycountries the human toll has been calamitous and the suffering never ending. 

Why would we think it is going to be any different in Venezuela? President Trump is marching us with eyes wide open into another regime change, in defiance of both U.S. and international law, with no credible alternative government in place, no clear aim other than to seize Venezuela’s oil, and no defined end in sight. 

I fear the price the Venezuelans, Maine’s service men and women, and all of us, will pay. 

Nigel Calder 

Newcastle