US 'Captures' Maduro Just Hours After His Live Video
Al Jazeera highlighted the peculiar US announcement of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's 'capture,' which curiously came just hours after Venezuelan state television aired videos of him, visibly un-captured. This isn't the first time the US has attempted a re-brand of a sovereign leader: in 2019, the US recognized Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate president, despite Maduro controlling all
state functions—a diplomatic 'Oops!' that continues to this day. One might wonder if the US also broadcasts videos of its own 'captured' enemies just hours before announcing their apprehension. The State Department, which can dictate who is and isn't a legitimate leader (and apparently, whether they're 'captured'), also designated Guaidó as the 'interim president' and offered a $15 million bounty
for Maduro. Because nothing says 'democracy' like unilaterally picking leaders and placing bounties. It appears 'capture' has become a flexible term, much like 'democracy promotion' when applied to oil-rich nations. How many times will this narrative be sold before the pixels on our screens revolt?