US Decries 'Kidnapping' While Waging Economic War on Venezuela
Al Jazeera reports Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro decrying a 'cowardly kidnapping' orchestrated by the US, sparking a wave of official backing for his government. This outrage is framed as an internal Venezuelan affair, with the US Secretary of State 'backtracking' on claims of running the country. What's omitted? The US has a documented, decades-long history of backing opposition figures
and attempting regime change in Latin America, from Chile's 1973 coup to repeated efforts in Venezuela itself (think 2002 coup attempt, Juan Guaidó). One might wonder if 'kidnapping' applies to freezing a nation's assets, sanctioning its economy into collapse, or attempting to install a puppet leader. The US State Department, which typically reserves 'kidnapping' for acts against its own citizens
or interests, seems less concerned when the target is an entire populace struggling under its economic blockade. It appears some 'kidnappings' are more 'cowardly' than others, depending on who's doing the snatching and who's writing the headlines.