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Venezuelan dissident and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado made a daring, secret escape from Venezuela with help from a US-backed contractor and a local network, using disguises and a fishing boat to reach Curaçao before flying to Oslo for her Nobel Prize

a day ago

BBC
a day ago
Nobel officials unsure when Peace Prize winner will arrive for ceremony

The plan, involving coordination with the U.S. military to avoid airstrikes, was described as high-risk, raising questions about its dubiousness, but Machado stated she was doing what was most useful for her cause, vowing to return to Venezuela to end the Maduro tyranny.

The Escape Details

Disguise & Checkpoints: Machado hid for 11 months, then disguised herself (wearing a wig) and passed through 10 military checkpoints.
Sea Journey: She took a fishing skiff from Venezuela across the Caribbean Sea to Curaçao, coordinating with U.S. forces to prevent interception.
U.S. Involvement: A contractor, specializing in extractions and supported by the Trump administration, met her in Curaçao, facilitating her private jet flight to Oslo.
Timing: The escape coincided with increased U.S. pressure on the Maduro government, including seizure of an oil tanker.

The Wall Street Journal

2 hours ago

Exclusive | Rescued at Sea: How Venezuela's Machado Survived the Riskiest Leg of Her Escape - WSJ

Dubious Elements & Context

"Dubious" Nature: The plan involved significant risk, covert operations, and reliance on external support, making it seem precarious and secretive, hence "dubious" in some contexts.
Maduro's Reaction: Vice President Delcy Rodriguez called the situation a "failed show," accusing Machado of helping Trump's campaign.
Machado's Stance: She emphasized that many risked their lives and that she was where she needed to be to fight for freedom, vowing to return.

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YouTube

The Hindu · 15 hours ago

Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado vows to bring award back to Venezuela

Significance

Machado's escape was a symbolic act, highlighting the risks for opposition leaders and her commitment to her cause, even while receiving her Nobel Prize in absentia, with her daughter accepting it

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US Edition

Politics

Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, left, and Ana Corina Sosa Machado, daughter of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, right, at the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize presentation ceremony.

Photographer: Naina Helén Jåma/Bloomberg

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The phrase "4,000 Changes. $3.5 Billion. Zero Ships." is the title of a December 2025 New York Times opinion piece. It refers to the U.S. Navy's canceled Constellation-class frigate project, a prime example of massive waste and mismanagement in the military acquisition process.

The specific details associated with this program are:

4,000 Changes: The Navy reportedly overhauled 85% of the original design by 2025, resulting in a high volume of unplanned work and contract changes.
$3.5 Billion: This is the estimated total amount of taxpayer money that was spent on the project before it was ultimately canceled.
Zero Ships: Despite the significant investment and years of development, not a single ship was produced or delivered to the fleet.

The article uses this case to highlight broader issues with the U.S. military-industrial complex and the Navy's struggles to build and maintain ships within estimated costs and schedules.

A separate report noted similar issues in a cruiser modernization program, where $1.84 billion was wasted on ships that were divested before deploying.

You can read more about the specifics of the program's failure in the original New York Times Opinion piece.