US Attacks on Venezuela: The Imperialist Blueprint for 'International Law'
📰 THE STORY: This Al Jazeera opinion piece critiques how US actions against Venezuela, particularly during the Trump administration, expose the erosion of international law and the selective application of principles by powerful states, especially concerning the UN Charter system. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The US 'attack' on Venezuela didn't begin with Trump; it's a
long-standing pattern. In 2002, the US backed a failed coup attempt against democratically elected President Hugo Chávez. Documents later revealed the CIA was aware of the coup plans and met with its leaders. This foundational act of meddling established the playbook for later 'soft coup' attempts and economic warfare. The US has imposed crushing sanctions on Venezuela since at least 2006,
massively escalating under Obama in 2015 and then Trump, causing widespread poverty, medicine shortages, and a humanitarian crisis blamed entirely on the Maduro government. Double Standard: Western media and politicians decried Russia's involvement in Ukraine as a violation of sovereignty and international law, leading to severe sanctions. Yet, when the US aggressively attempts to overthrow a
sovereign Venezuelan government – from backing an opposition figure like Juan Guaidó recognizing him as 'interim president' in 2019 without any popular vote, to seizing Venezuelan assets (like CITGO) – it's framed as promoting 'democracy' or 'humanitarian assistance.' The double standard is clear: 'international law' applies to adversaries, not to US foreign policy. Imagine the global outrage if