US Decries Venezuelan 'Theft' While Sanctioning Its Economy Dry
Newsweek reports Maduro spoke out against the US seizing an oil tanker in international waters as 'theft.' (A 'theft' that just happens to align with US foreign policy objectives.) This wasn't some random act of piracy; the vessel, the 'Adrian Darya 1,' was allegedly carrying Iranian oil to Syria, violating US sanctions. Sanctions which, according to the Congressional Research Service, the US has
repeatedly used as a primary tool to exert pressure on, and ultimately destabilize, the Venezuelan government since the early 2000s—long before this particular tanker kerfuffle. So, Washington, in its magnanimous wisdom, levies crushing sanctions designed to cripple a nation's economy, seizes its assets under those same sanctions, and then expresses surprise when the targeted country calls it
'theft.' It begs the question: How many euphemisms for 'economic warfare' do news outlets need before they just call it what it is?