A WARNING TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD

An In-Depth Op-Ed Interview on War, Power, and the Failure of Force

By Rev. Paula Josephine Sadler (Presented as a public-interest interview reflecting the author’s analysis, historical reasoning, and moral warning)

Opening Warning

“We are living in very dangerous times. What we are witnessing now is not simply political conflict or isolated foreign policy decisions. This is a spiritual, moral, and cultural war unfolding in real time. We are seeing global escalations and aggressive acts of war carried out without provocation, without justification, without congressional consent, and without the cooperation or approval of the international community. The United States has entered a perilous moment, and our current administration is making us targets — increasing the likelihood of retaliation by other world governments. We do not need to expand our borders or capture, obtain, or purchase other lands, provinces, or nations. We need to take care of what we already have. There are deep and urgent problems at home that demand our attention. What we are witnessing is a global power grab — for land, money, oil, minerals, trade routes, and control — driven by pure greed and a narcissistic hunger for domination. This is spiritually corrupt. It is unchecked power. And it is the face of evil when it goes unchallenged. We must pray for the healing of our country and the healing of the world — before it is too late.”**

Q: What does it mean for our military to go in, bomb the capital of Venezuela, and capture the president of another country?

A:“When a military bombs the capital city of a sovereign nation and captures its sitting president, that is not diplomacy, humanitarian intervention, or law enforcement. That is war.

Under international law and long-standing global norms, bombing a capital and seizing a head of state constitutes an act of war and a violation of national sovereignty. It signals regime change by force, not negotiation. History shows that such actions destabilize not only the targeted country, but entire regions — and often the world.”

Q: You’ve stated plainly, ‘Yes, it did happen.’ Why is that so alarming?

A:“Because history tells us exactly what follows.

When powerful nations remove leaders by force, they do not create peace — they create chaos. We have seen this pattern repeatedly, and the outcomes are documented, not speculative.”

Q: Does Congress have to approve acts of war?

A:“Yes. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress — not the president — holds the authority to declare war.

While presidents have increasingly bypassed this requirement through ‘limited strikes’ or ‘emergency actions,’ bombing another country’s capital and capturing its president goes far beyond any reasonable interpretation of limited force. When war is initiated without congressional consent, democracy itself is undermined.”

Q: How large is the military force in Venezuela, and why does that matter?

A: “Venezuela’s regular armed forces are estimated at roughly 120,000 to 150,000 active personnel, with additional militia and paramilitary forces numbering in the hundreds of thousands, though many are lightly trained.

This matters because history shows that even when a country’s military is far smaller than that of the United States, occupation and forced regime change do not lead to peace. They lead to resistance, insurgency, civilian suffering, and prolonged instability.”

Q: Who is next in line to run the country of Venezuela?

A: “Under Venezuela’s constitution, the Vice President is next in line. But history shows that when leadership is removed by foreign force, constitutional order often collapses.

We saw this in Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s capture. We saw it in Haiti after Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s removal. Power vacuums invite internal conflict, factional violence, and external manipulation.”

Q: Why would the United States want to capture President Maduro?

A: “Historically, such actions are framed in the language of democracy, security, or human rights. But when we examine patterns across decades, the deeper drivers are often resources and control.

Venezuela holds some of the largest oil reserves in the world, much like Iran. Resource-rich nations are frequently targeted when geopolitical dominance, energy markets, and strategic leverage are at stake. History makes this pattern unmistakable.”

Q: Where does Iran fit into this pattern of escalation?

A: “Iran is absolutely central to this discussion.

Any bombing of Iranian territory — particularly related to allegations of uranium enrichment — constitutes an act of war under international law unless clearly authorized by the United Nations or justified by immediate self-defense. Iran did not attack the United States.

This mirrors the same pattern we see with Venezuela:

• allegations first

• escalation second

• force before diplomacy

• justification after the fact

Iran, like Venezuela, is a resource-rich nation located near one of the most critical global chokepoints — the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply flows. Escalation with Iran threatens global energy markets, international shipping, and regional stability.

History shows that when multiple theaters ignite simultaneously — Iran, Venezuela, China, the Middle East — escalation becomes uncontrollable. That is how regional conflicts become global wars.”

Q: You’ve also raised concerns about Gaza and what some have described as a desire for a ‘Trump Gaza.’ Why does this matter?

A:“Because Gaza represents the most dangerous normalization of domination we are witnessing.

Public statements and proposals suggesting that Gaza should be ‘taken over,’ ‘redeveloped,’ or reshaped by outside powers — often framed as economic opportunity or security — reveal a deeply disturbing mindset: that devastated civilian land can be possessed, redesigned, or controlled after mass destruction.

This is not humanitarianism. It is colonial logic.

Gaza is not vacant land. It is home to millions of civilians who have endured extraordinary suffering. Speaking casually about turning Gaza into a project, asset, or geopolitical prize while its people are displaced or killed is morally indefensible.

This fits the same global pattern:

• Venezuela → oil

• Iran → oil and chokepoints

• Gaza → land and regional control

• Panama → trade routes

• Greenland → territory and resources

• Canada and Mexico → border and economic dominance

History teaches us that when leaders speak this way, domination has already been normalized.”

Q: Have we ever captured a sitting president before?

A:“Yes — and every case is a warning.”

Panama (1989)

• Leader: Manuel Noriega

• Action: U.S. invasion and capture

• Outcome: Imprisoned; died in 2017

• Current relations: Normalized only after decades; trauma remains

Iraq (2003)

• Leader: Saddam Hussein

• Action: Invasion; later captured

• Outcome: Executed in 2006

• Current relations: Fragile; region destabilized; rise of ISIS

Haiti (2004)

• Leader: Jean-Bertrand Aristide

• Action: Forced removal and exile

• Outcome: Alive

• Current relations: Haiti remains in humanitarian crisis

Not one of these interventions produced peace or lasting stability.

Q: What does this history tell us about what comes next?

A:“It tells us that force does not create legitimacy. It creates retaliation. It creates radicalization. It creates suffering.

History is unambiguous: removing leaders by force does not lead to peace — it multiplies conflict and erodes moral authority.”

Q: You’ve described this as not just political, but spiritual. Why?

A:“Because when domination replaces conscience, something deeper breaks.

We see external aggression paired with internal repression — attacks on LGBTQ people, women’s bodies and rights, journalists, truth-tellers, and anyone labeled ‘woke’ or undesirable. History shows this pattern clearly: external wars are always accompanied by internal moral collapse.”

Q: You’ve written a book you describe as a warning to the world. How does it connect to this moment?

A:“My book, The Garden and the Flame, was written as both a historical and spiritual warning.

It traces how empire, oil, power, and unchecked ambition have repeatedly led humanity to catastrophe — from ancient Persia and Iran to modern global conflicts. The book warns that when balance, humility, and restraint are abandoned, we burn the very garden we depend on.

What we are witnessing now is precisely the pattern that book describes.”

Final Statement

“This is why I am speaking now. We are not on a path toward peace. We are on a path toward escalation — militarily, morally, and spiritually. We do not need to dominate other nations. We need to heal our own. What we are witnessing is a global power grab driven by greed and narcissism — not justice or security. History is warning us. Faith is warning us. Conscience is warning us. The question is whether we will listen — and whether we will choose restraint, compassion, and wisdom before it is too late.”**

Closing Note

This interview is grounded in historical record, constitutional principle, and moral conscience. It demonstrates clearly that past acts of force did not lead to peace or positive change — and warns against repeating those failures on a broader, more dangerous scale.

A Prayer for the Healing of Power and the Restoration of Peace

Divine Source of Life, Holy Presence beyond all names, Spirit of Wisdom, Compassion, and Truth—

We come before You in humility and urgency.

We ask for healing where power has turned into domination, where leadership has hardened into cruelty, where fear has replaced conscience, and where greed has masqueraded as strength.

Heal the insanity of unchecked ambition—the lust for control, the hunger for conquest, the corruption that blinds hearts and deafens ears to the cries of the vulnerable.

Heal those who seek power at any cost. Heal movements driven by fear, grievance, and rage. Heal the temptation to rule through force, to silence dissent, to wage war for profit, pride, or political gain.

We ask for deep repentance—repentance from greed, repentance from deception, repentance from hostile aggression fueled by ego and entitlement.

Pour Your wisdom into every seat of power. Restrain hands raised toward violence. Interrupt plans that lead toward destruction. Dissolve the momentum of war before it consumes the world.

We pray for healing and protection for Venezuela, for its people, its land, and its future.

We pray for healing and protection for Gaza, for every child, every family, every soul living under terror and loss.

We pray for healing and protection for Iran, for restraint, dignity, and peace to prevail over escalation.

We pray for the healing of all world relations harmed by acts of war, threats of war, and the normalization of domination.

Divine Presence, stand between us and catastrophe.

We call for Your intervention before nuclear fire, before irreversible destruction, before humanity crosses a threshold from which there is no return.

Disarm the weapons of pride and hatred. Dismantle the lies that justify violence. Restore the sacred truth that every life is precious and no nation owns the Earth.

Turn hearts from conquest to care, from empire to humility, from war to wisdom.

Awaken conscience where it has fallen asleep. Strengthen voices of peace where they are silenced. Protect those who speak truth at great cost.

May justice roll without bloodshed. May power bow to compassion. May peace rise where war has been rehearsed.

And may humanity remember—before it is too late—that the world is not ours to conquer, but to protect, to heal, and to share.

Amen. So be it. And may peace prevail.

The following are quotes that are an example of where we are at as a nation and the acts of intention of aggression against the world...It is not okay, it is not sustainable and we are in the beginning of major Global Conflicts, that could be avoided, Trump and our government is provocation war with the world, to gain access to resources that are not our to take, and once again Just as the British and many empires tried to dominate globally, it never ends well, it well end in millions of lives lost, global disaster and nuclear destruction, the wealthy elite are prepared to live underground for 10 to 20 years of more if needed, while the rest of the globe perishes. Take heed to what is happening now, and it can all be avoided and is unnecessary, the United States will be the downfall of the world if this continues.

Appendix: 28 Verified Direct Trump Quotes (Verbatim Excerpts)

Illustrating a documented pattern of territorial ambition, resource framing, dehumanization, and escalation rhetoric

A) Greenland, Panama, Canada, Mexico, Gulf Renaming

• Greenland (“absolute necessity”) — Trump said U.S. control of Greenland was an “absolute necessity.” (Reuters)

• Greenland & Panama (force not ruled out) — Trump “refused … to rule out using military or economic action” regarding Greenland and the Panama Canal. (Reuters)

• Buy-Greenland framing — “It’s essentially a real estate deal.” (The Guardian)

• Canada as a state — “If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that they’d become a state.” (PBS)

• Gulf renaming (speech) — “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America…” (ABC News)

• Gulf renaming (official wording) — “The area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico…” (White House proclamation)

• Mexico immigration line (2015) — “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” (ABC News)

B) Venezuela and Oil Framing

• Maduro captured (reported statement) — Reuters reported Trump said Maduro was captured after strikes. (Reuters)

• Oil investment pitch — Trump said U.S. oil companies would “invest billions in Venezuela” after Maduro. (Reuters)

• Resource-imperial framing — Trump suggested the U.S. might retain oil taken from Venezuelan shipments. (The Guardian)

C) Iran Escalation Language

• Iran targets tweet — “We have targeted 52 Iranian sites…” (X / formerly Twitter)

• Cultural sites reference (reported context) — Reporting noted Trump referenced targets “important to Iran & the Iranian culture.” (Royal Aeronautical Society reporting roundup)

D) China Rhetoric

• “China virus” — “The China virus is a vicious and dangerous illness…” (Trump White House Archive)

E) “Woke,” Transgender Attacks, LGBTQ-Related Rhetoric

• “Woke no longer” — Trump said the U.S. “will be woke no longer.” (PBS)

• Schools / transgender rhetoric — “We will get … transgender insanity the hell out of our schools…” (PBS)

• “Stop transgender lunacy” — Trump pledged to “stop the transgender lunacy” on day one. (Le Monde.fr)

F) Women’s Bodies / Abortion Rhetoric

• “Protector” framing — “I want to be your protector.” (ABC News)

• Abortion minimization claim — Women will “no longer be thinking about abortion.” (People.com)

G) Press, Journalists, and Dehumanizing Language

• Enemy of the people (tweet) — “The FAKE NEWS media… is… the enemy of the American People!” (Al Jazeera)

• “Real enemy” phrasing — “The… great success, except with the real enemy of the people, the Fake News Media.” (ABC News)

• CPAC repetition — He again called fake news “the enemy of the people.” (TIME)

H) Broader Vulgar / Insult Rhetoric Used in Policy Debates

• “Shithole countries” (reported) — Trump questioned why accept immigrants from Haiti and “shithole countries” in Africa. (AP News)

• Confirmation — Trump later confirmed using the “shithole countries” remark. (FactCheck.org)

I) Name-Calling Politics (Nicknames)

• “Crooked Hillary” — Repeated use of the moniker “Crooked Hillary.” (The Guardian)

J) Oil-as-Spoils Pattern (Contextual Parallel)

• Syria oil line — “We want to keep the oil… Keep the oil.” (ABC News)

• Syria oil again — “We have the oil. The oil is secure. We left troops behind only for the oil.” (The Guardian)

K) “War on Woke” / DEI Framing

• Anti-DEI rhetoric — Trump attacked DEI and said hiring should be based on “merit.” (ABC News)

L) International Reaction Demonstrating Impact

• Canada backlash — Canadian leaders called the “51st state” talk an “unacceptable insult.” (AP News)

Editorial Note

These quotations are presented verbatim as reported by major news organizations. They are included to document a public record of rhetoric that critics argue reflects patterns of territorial ambition, resource framing, dehumanization, and normalization of force.