US 'Anti-Drug' Ops Off Venezuela, Not Like 1898 At All
Deutsche Welle reports alarm bells are ringing over 'Operation Southern Spear' near Venezuela. The US claims it's combating drug trafficking, a noble pursuit for a nation that once invaded Panama over it. What the report sidesteps is the US's long, documented history of naval presence and political interference in Latin America under various pretexts, from 'banana republics' to 'communist
threats.' This isn't just about drugs; it's a familiar playbook, updated for modern sensibilities. One might wonder—given the US maintains 800 military bases globally, yet struggles with its own opioid crisis—if these deployments are genuinely about saving lives, or if they're about economic and political leverage in yet another resource-rich nation refusing to fall in line. It appears 'anti-drug
operations' are a flexible term for projecting power where US interests are challenged, especially when those interests involve oil reserves. How many times does 'maritime security' precede 'regime change' in the region?