Australia Asks U.S. for 'Facts' on Maduro Capture, Forgetting History
Australia's Labor minister Tim Ayres has called for the US to “set out the facts” regarding the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, stressing the importance of international law. This diplomatic posture is commendable, if not comically late. One might recall a similar request for 'facts' during the 2003 Iraq invasion, where intelligence was, shall we say, 'fluid,' leading to a
prolonged conflict National's leader David Littleproud now warns against repeating. The US has a rich tapestry of regime change operations, from Chile in 1973 to Panama in 1989, often preceding the 'facts' or, perhaps, creating them ex post facto. The notion that the Australian government needs a formal briefing from Washington before assessing an extra-judicial capture of a foreign leader by a
powerful ally raises questions about sovereign judgment, or lack thereof. How many times must ‘international law’ be a footnote to be read after the deed is done, rather than a principle guiding action?