Rubio Demands Venezuela 'Quarantined,' Forgets Bay of Pigs Sequel
Senator Marco Rubio, ever the statesman, has declared that the U.S. oil 'quarantine' of Venezuela will persist, with the ominous threat of troops landing. (Source: NY Times Politics, 'U.S. Oil ‘Quarantine’ of Venezuela Will Remain, and Troops Could Land, Rubio Says'). This echoes a familiar refrain from Washington, dusted off whenever a sovereign nation with oil dares to defy U.S. hegemony. One
might ponder why 'quarantines' and 'regime changes' are only ever prescribed for countries that don't align with corporate interests, while brutal allies receive unequivocal military support. This isn't Rubio’s first rodeo advocating for regime change. Recall his fervent support for figures like Juan Guaidó, whose U.S.-backed attempt to seize power in 2019 spectacularly collapsed. ( The New York
Times , 'The Rise and Fall of Juan Guaidó,' 2023). The humanitarian situation in Venezuela, often cited as justification for intervention, has been exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, which block basic goods and medicines from reaching the populace. ( Center for Economic and Policy Research , 'Economic Sanctions as Collective Punishment: The Case of Venezuela,' 2019). The military option, always on the
table for Washington's detractors, seems less about liberating people and more about controlling resources. How many 'democratic' interventions actually lead to democracy, particularly when they involve installing leaders palatable to the very powers orchestrating the intervention?