The ball  is still in play, so this is preliminary.

The team which has executed Venezuela strategy appears to have a rare historical sense relating to the errors of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The architects of the post-conflict intervention were collectively known as the “neoconservatives”. Following military conquest, this group attempted a complete reconstruction of Iraq along democratic lines, based on preconceptions devoid of cultural relevance. The first, immediately controversial step was “de-Ba’athification“, removal from civil service eligibility of anyone, primarily Sunnis, associated with  the old regime. This had the effects of removing virtually all experienced civil servants, and provoking the enmity of the Sunni minority, who actually thought they were the majority.  Since the Sunnis had been in control of the state, the vacuum devolved into multi-polar conflict: Sunnis and Shias with each other, and against the U.S.

This happened despite a U.S. occupation that was regarded favorably by a significant percentage of the population. No matter how beneficent U.S. intentions in Venezuela may be, the wrong choices of collaboration could result in civil war. Each general or military clique has potential of a warlord domain.

This is the likely basis of Trump’s choice to interface with Delcy Rodríguez, a committed leftist, rather than conservative opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. This is not regime change. If we subtract the potentially damaging imperialist rhetoric, it becomes possible to offer Venezuela a win-win:

• Cessation of anti-American ideological posturing and alignments.
• A favorable environment for U.S. investment.
• Recognition of U.S. security interests.
• A secure cash cow, based on oil revenues,  for the left to finance their social agenda.
• Recognition by the U.S. of the validity of domestic left-leaning social policies.

Will legitimate democracy be an eventual U.S. goal? This depends upon the degree to which the U.S. chooses to risk dismantling or weakening the existing power structure.

This historical sense is worthy of note. Henry Kissinger would have appreciated the nuances.