Donald Trump imposed a naval blockade on Venezuela and admitted he wants to take its oil and give it to US corporations: "We had a lot of oil there. They threw our companies out, and we want it back".
“Make the economy scream”, CIA Director Helms was told.". An Imperialist euphemism for making the masses of workers and poor people of Latin America scream.
Trump's NSS is pretty clear on enforcing a neo Monroe Doctrine in this hemisphere as it has become obvious it cannot topple its competitors in China/Russia. I support the victims of Imperialism in Venezuela as I do in Russia and China. But, this situation is much more dangerous as Imperialism may actually still have the ability to achieve its goals against an impoverished and weak Venezuela.
"Every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba. If such a policy is adopted, it should be the result of a positive decision which would call forth a line of action which, while as adroit and inconspicuous as possible, makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation, and overthrow of government."
- Lester Mallory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, 1960
The sad thing about US foreign policy is that the people who run things (without ther eal consent of the American public) is that they never seem to learn from their failures. Under what sort of logic does Trump assume American sovereignty over another countries property? The illogic of it is self-evident. It should be noted that Rex Tillerson went on to describe Trump as "A Fucking Moron."
It’s a gangster. It has been called a gangster state, for just such reasons. And other countries are afraid of what the United States can do, not only under Trump, but what it has been doing for the last 50 years. It is simply confiscating, and destabilizing, and overthrowing.
The US has basically declared war against any attempt to create an international trade and investment system that the United States does not control, in its own self-interest, wanting all of the earnings from it, all of the revenue from it, not just part of it. It’s a greedy empire.
Can't help but think about what you reported regarding Vance admitting all the foreign policy is shifting to get at China... (BRICS). Bombed Somalia at the top of last year, still bombing Somalia, with the Turkish oil deal underway... Probably will NOT stop bombing Somalia... Then jumped to Iran. Now Venezuela. Not shy about the oil, but the amount of the inside-paid establishment Dem pundit class that somehow manages to never mention BRICS while still talking about the Venezuela oil issue-- oil that does not exist in a vacuum-- I think I found it. All roads lead to Beijing.
BRICS has fallen off the radar by Western media design. Let's bring it back. Everyone understands the economy. Screw the temporary personalities and their BS.
It's time for others to sanction the US and make its "economy scream" for all the damage the US government has done in the world. If only the UN had the backbone to do something!
This is not specific to Trump. As the article points out, the Obama administration took part in the attempt to destabilize Venezuela's government. In fact, all US administrations since Eisenhower (with the coup in Guatemala in 1954) have pursued colonialist policies in Latin America. Read William Blum's _Killing Hope_ and Eduardo Galeano's _Open Veins of Latin America_. Both are available on the Internet Archive.
Now that we in the United States have been in Full Self-Destruct Mode for a while, will it soon be considered traitorous to acknowledge that the blame for our decline/collapse lies with ourselves? Will we have to prove our loyalty by blaming some agreed upon external boogeyman for our troubles instead of our own stupidity, immorality, recklessness and corruption? Even though our own culpability is so glaringly obvious, blaming others is so much easier than taking responsibility. We are like a dying predator flailing helplessly pretending we are young and strong. How long can we keep up this ruse before everyone realizes how wasted and frail we are? All things end. It is sad this noble experiment couldn’t last longer. Was it arrogance that allowed us to sleepwalk to our demise while freely abandoning the virtues that made us and sustained us? Can we avert our imminent downfall or is it too late? Maybe we can at least delay it somewhat. If we are alive, we have agency to plant seeds that will support an eventual renewal and possibly reduce the duration of the difficulties to come. We can’t control fate but we can control our minds and actions. Let us prepare ourselves now to have the strength of character needed to endure the hardships awaiting us.
For a balanced view of the Venezuelan situation, which seems totally reasonable, I suggest viewing the Youtube video "Russia's Military Takeover of Venezuela Shocks Pentagon". Western Media never gives us even 2 percent of the facts, so to hear what 2 other members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China, might be doing in the area, is enlightening.
The World is not going to allow Venezuela to become Gaza II, because the World Economy can't tolerate it. IMO, a major conflict on the High Seas, will cause Global Inflation to skyrocket and "Inflation is followed by Depression and then War" to use a classic phrase.
Consider if the Panama Canal could still operate with an international maritime conflict nearby? That is the worst Geopolitical Economic / Global Supply Chain nightmare!
“Make the economy scream”, CIA Director Helms was told.". An Imperialist euphemism for making the masses of workers and poor people of Latin America scream.
Trump's NSS is pretty clear on enforcing a neo Monroe Doctrine in this hemisphere as it has become obvious it cannot topple its competitors in China/Russia. I support the victims of Imperialism in Venezuela as I do in Russia and China. But, this situation is much more dangerous as Imperialism may actually still have the ability to achieve its goals against an impoverished and weak Venezuela.
"Every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba. If such a policy is adopted, it should be the result of a positive decision which would call forth a line of action which, while as adroit and inconspicuous as possible, makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation, and overthrow of government."
- Lester Mallory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, 1960
***
https://dwkcommentaries.com/2023/04/21/state-department-secret-memo-from-1960-set-basis-for-subsequent-u-s-policies-regarding-cuba/
The sad thing about US foreign policy is that the people who run things (without ther eal consent of the American public) is that they never seem to learn from their failures. Under what sort of logic does Trump assume American sovereignty over another countries property? The illogic of it is self-evident. It should be noted that Rex Tillerson went on to describe Trump as "A Fucking Moron."
It’s a gangster. It has been called a gangster state, for just such reasons. And other countries are afraid of what the United States can do, not only under Trump, but what it has been doing for the last 50 years. It is simply confiscating, and destabilizing, and overthrowing.
The US has basically declared war against any attempt to create an international trade and investment system that the United States does not control, in its own self-interest, wanting all of the earnings from it, all of the revenue from it, not just part of it. It’s a greedy empire.
***
MIGA - Make Imperialism Great Again!
youtube.com/watch?v=H_1WIksJJ8Q
***
Trump’s Monroe Doctrine 2.0:
youtube.com/watch?v=UAM_HzRAx4Y
Naught but the desperate gambit of buccaneers.
The sole purpose of the military is to kill and support killing.
https://griobhtha1.substack.com/p/beginningrecruitment-middlekilling
Can't help but think about what you reported regarding Vance admitting all the foreign policy is shifting to get at China... (BRICS). Bombed Somalia at the top of last year, still bombing Somalia, with the Turkish oil deal underway... Probably will NOT stop bombing Somalia... Then jumped to Iran. Now Venezuela. Not shy about the oil, but the amount of the inside-paid establishment Dem pundit class that somehow manages to never mention BRICS while still talking about the Venezuela oil issue-- oil that does not exist in a vacuum-- I think I found it. All roads lead to Beijing.
Ben thank you for your reporting the reality of Venezuela. It’s absolutely outrageous to think we have a right to their oil.
BRICS has fallen off the radar by Western media design. Let's bring it back. Everyone understands the economy. Screw the temporary personalities and their BS.
It's time for others to sanction the US and make its "economy scream" for all the damage the US government has done in the world. If only the UN had the backbone to do something!
Smart
Thorough
Educational
Involving
Trump corruption- too big to fail.
This is not specific to Trump. As the article points out, the Obama administration took part in the attempt to destabilize Venezuela's government. In fact, all US administrations since Eisenhower (with the coup in Guatemala in 1954) have pursued colonialist policies in Latin America. Read William Blum's _Killing Hope_ and Eduardo Galeano's _Open Veins of Latin America_. Both are available on the Internet Archive.
Also regime change in Iran in 1954.
Now that we in the United States have been in Full Self-Destruct Mode for a while, will it soon be considered traitorous to acknowledge that the blame for our decline/collapse lies with ourselves? Will we have to prove our loyalty by blaming some agreed upon external boogeyman for our troubles instead of our own stupidity, immorality, recklessness and corruption? Even though our own culpability is so glaringly obvious, blaming others is so much easier than taking responsibility. We are like a dying predator flailing helplessly pretending we are young and strong. How long can we keep up this ruse before everyone realizes how wasted and frail we are? All things end. It is sad this noble experiment couldn’t last longer. Was it arrogance that allowed us to sleepwalk to our demise while freely abandoning the virtues that made us and sustained us? Can we avert our imminent downfall or is it too late? Maybe we can at least delay it somewhat. If we are alive, we have agency to plant seeds that will support an eventual renewal and possibly reduce the duration of the difficulties to come. We can’t control fate but we can control our minds and actions. Let us prepare ourselves now to have the strength of character needed to endure the hardships awaiting us.
For a balanced view of the Venezuelan situation, which seems totally reasonable, I suggest viewing the Youtube video "Russia's Military Takeover of Venezuela Shocks Pentagon". Western Media never gives us even 2 percent of the facts, so to hear what 2 other members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China, might be doing in the area, is enlightening.
The World is not going to allow Venezuela to become Gaza II, because the World Economy can't tolerate it. IMO, a major conflict on the High Seas, will cause Global Inflation to skyrocket and "Inflation is followed by Depression and then War" to use a classic phrase.
Consider if the Panama Canal could still operate with an international maritime conflict nearby? That is the worst Geopolitical Economic / Global Supply Chain nightmare!