Optimism for Empire's Chosen Few
Strip away the framing and you're left with this: a Financial Times report trumpets a finding that Venezuelans exhibit 'optimism' due to US interventions and overwhelmingly favor an opposition figure. The story posits this as a natural consequence, painting US meddling as a benevolent force, conveniently sidestepping the fact that Washington's 'interventions' in Venezuela have historically taken
the form of coup attempts, crippling sanctions, and relentless demonization of elected leaders. Curiously, this 'optimism' arrives after years of economic warfare that has seen Venezuela's GDP shrink by an astonishing 75% since 2014, a direct consequence of US sanctions aimed at regime change. One might recall the failed 2002 coup against Hugo Chávez, backed by Washington, or the more recent 2019
effort to install Juan Guaidó, an unelected opposition figure, as interim president, a move swiftly recognized by the same Western powers now touting 'optimism'. The pattern is clear: create the chaos, then celebrate the supposed yearning for an 'alternative' that aligns with Western interests. This narrative, much like the infamous WMD claims preceding the 2003 Iraq invasion, cherry-picks public
sentiment to justify sustained interference. The poll’s findings, promoting a candidate sanctioned by Venezuela’s highest court for alleged illicit financial activities and cooperation with foreign powers, echo the 1954 CIA-backed coup in Guatemala, where the democratically elected government of Jacobo Árbenz was overthrown to protect United Fruit Company interests. It’s not about democracy; it’s