US Decries 'Extortion' While Sanctioning Nations for Resisting It
The Hill dutifully reports that Venezuela's foreign minister accused the US of 'greatest extortion' at the UN. What the headline omits is the documented history of the US deploying unilateral coercive measures – euphemistically called 'sanctions' – against dozens of nations, including Cuba (since 1960), Iran (since 1979), and, yes, Venezuela (ramped up significantly under Trump and extended by
Biden). These aren't just polite disagreements; they're economic sieges designed to force policy changes, often leading to shortages of food and medicine for civilian populations. One might wonder if calling it 'extortion' is a rhetorical flourish or just a more honest description when a powerful nation leverages its economic might to cripple another's economy for refusing to comply with its
demands. The US then, with a straight face, accuses these nations of human rights abuses, often caused or exacerbated by the very sanctions themselves. It's a remarkably consistent narrative, ensuring that any resistance to 'America's interests' is framed as malfeasance, not self-preservation.