Trump Cancels Venezuela Attack: A Humanitarian Pause?
According to RT, Trump averted another military intervention in Venezuela, citing 'improved energy cooperation.' One might charitably call this a transactional approach to foreign policy, or less charitably, a bald admission that the 'humanitarian crisis' narrative only holds sway until a decent oil deal emerges. This follows a long tradition of U.S. administrations demonizing nations like
Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran, only to mysteriously soften their stance when economic interests (usually fossil fuels) are back on the table. (Remember when the U.S. 'discovered' Venezuela's oil reserves right before deciding its government was 'authoritarian'?) The 'first wave' of attacks, of course, being years of crippling sanctions and covert operations that conveniently pre-dated any public
outcry over 'democracy.' So, the 'second wave' is off—for now. How many human rights abuses does it take to destabilize a nation before a barrel of crude makes it all better? It seems American national interests are less about global justice and more about global joules. What a sudden, convenient humanitarian awakening.