Geopolitically the US has abandoned world hegemony and is consolidating in the western hemisphere.

Venezuela has massive oil reserves and its leadership has been anti-Zionist since Chavez.

It’s a juicy target close to home, been a thorn for decades, and not as prickly as Iran or Yemen.

But you’re right, it’s noteworthy they are not attempting to sell interventionism to the public anymore. 15 years ago they’d have staged a color revolution and gone with the populist uprising narrative. They seem to have dropped the narcoterrorist narrative already. The use of raw force without moral justification is a sign of decline. The Twitter right is trying to sell this as an imperial / Nietzschean triumph but few are going to buy it.

I think it’s just realpolitik grand chessboard strategy. Knocking out an unfriendly/uncooperative leader of a strategically important country. That’s always been the real justification for US foreign policy. It’s a game of risk, without moral considerations beyond optics. There isn’t much more to it than that.

You can be socialist if you cooperate. You can be a dictator if you cooperate. It’s not about political philosophy or forms of government, just playing ball with the hegemon.

It’s always oil. And trying to cripple anyone who was making deals with Venezuela.

Given Rubio's role, "communism bad" seems the most coherent explanation. He's been on this beat for a long time.