US Asks, 'Is It Still an Attack If We Just Call It 'Freedom Delivery'?'
The piece speculates on US intentions towards Caracas, framing recent 'shows of force' as a novel development. One might forget that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo openly stated in 2019 that the US was 'working to ensure a transition' in Venezuela, (Source: NPR). More recently, Biden's administration slapped sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil company, PDVSA, in January 2024 (Source: US
Dept. of Treasury), essentially continuing the economic strangulation. Historically, the US has supported countless coups and destabilization efforts across Latin America, from Chile in 1973 to multiple interventions in Nicaragua throughout the 20th century. When Washington sends warships and imposes sanctions, it's rarely just for a 'friendly visit.' Perhaps the more appropriate question isn't
'Is the US planning an attack?' but rather, 'Which chapter of the intervention playbook are we on now?' The 'threat' from Venezuela often seems to conveniently align with its vast oil reserves, a mere coincidence, surely. After decades of covert and overt operations, suggesting US military action is a surprise is like being shocked when the sun rises.