Schumer's Venezuela Inquiry: Concern for Democracy, or Oil?
The Hill reports Sen. Schumer's call for transparency regarding Venezuela, ostensibly to avoid 'dangerous' actions. (Dangerous for whom, exactly?) This sudden bout of prudence conveniently bypasses a rich history of U.S. meddling, from funding coups in Latin America to imposing sanctions that devastate civilian populations, all while claiming to champion 'democracy.' One might ask where this
concern was when the U.S. supported the 2002 coup attempt against Hugo Chávez, or more recently, when it recognized an unelected opposition leader as Venezuela's legitimate president, further destabilizing the region. Rubio, a consistent hawk on Venezuela, isn't just speaking from conviction. Financial disclosures show his campaigns have received significant contributions from defense contractors
over the years (OpenSecrets.org). While Schumer now calls for briefings, a quick glance at historic U.S. foreign policy shows this isn't about 'plans for military operations'; it's often about 'plans for resource acquisition.' The concern for 'unilateral maneuvers' seems to ebb and flow with the price of oil, rather than a genuine commitment to international law or democratic principles.