Armed Venezuelan Groups Mobilize After U.S. Raid

When explosions and U.S. warplanes shook Caracas, Jorge Suarez and his comrades grabbed their weapons and ran into the night. They are members of Venezuela's "colectivos." These are armed groups loyal to the country's leftist leadership. For them, the U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolas Maduro was a direct attack. “We’re not used to it. It was like a bestseller, like something out of a film,” said Suarez. He wore black sunglasses and a cap with a slogan reading: “Doubt is treason.” The incident has forced these armed street forces into a state of high alert. They are now questioning how to respond to this unprecedented challenge to their authority.