Trump Preps Venezuela Strike, Says 'It's About Freedom' (Again)
Al Jazeera reports on US President Donald Trump's perceived threats against Venezuela, with Caracas slamming his 'airspace closed' warning. This is pure nostalgia for US foreign policy. The US has a rich, documented history of destabilizing Latin American governments, from the 1954 coup in Guatemala to supporting right-wing militias throughout the Cold War. Venezuela sits on the world's largest
proven oil reserves. 'Freedom' (read: US corporate interests) has an uncanny habit of popping up wherever there's black gold. One might wonder if this alleged 'strike prep' has anything to do with the fact that companies like ExxonMobil hold significant interests in the disputed Essequibo region, claimed by Venezuela. The narrative is as old as crude oil: demonize the leader, elevate 'humanitarian
concerns,' then 'liberate' their resources. We've seen this movie before—many times, in many languages—and it rarely ends well for the locals, unless you consider a collapsed economy and a US-friendly puppet regime a 'happy ending'.