What worries me is the alt right, like their neo-con predecessors, think it will all be easy. That is the formula for disaster.
Why should any rational adult believe they would?
Why would a rational adult believe they would just accept their country being occupied, and their natural resources being stolen?
Remember, you do not need that many of them to start a war. Let's say that 0.01% of them do not like being occupied and are willing to do something about it, that is a 3,000 person force, a large terrorist group. The retributions against the terrorist attacks cause 0.1% to join up, and you have 30,000, a large guerilla force. The retribution against the guerilla attacks cause 1% to join up, and you have 300,000, a huge guerilla force, which will make it extremely difficult to keep Venezuela.
What happened in Iraq is that all but the imperial guard surrendered immediately, upon being ordered to do so. There was no fighting for the vast majority of the invasion.
And then we had almost a decade of fighting. Remember Venezuela has perfect terrain to hide in, unlike Iraq, and a people who are prepared for guerilla war, unlike Iraq.
I would almost prefer it if Maduro be strong and respected. That way when he surrendered, the occupation would be easier at the begining.
Once we impose our will, we can leave at anytime.
The second we leave, our will gets ignored.