US 'Democracy Promotion' in Venezuela: Oil, Not Aspirations
The program features historian Alan McPherson discussing how Washington's efforts to destabilize Venezuela are part of a 'regime change campaign'. While acknowledging diplomatic and economic pressure, it's worth recalling the historical pattern: the Monroe Doctrine isn't just a dusty parchment; it's a living policy where any Latin American nation asserting resource sovereignty becomes a 'threat.'
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger famously remarked in the 1970s about Chile's Allende: “I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people.” This wasn't about communism; it was about nationalizing copper and refusing to follow the script set by US corporate interests. In Venezuela today, it's about the world's largest proven
oil reserves, not human rights—unless those rights involve unimpeded access for ExxonMobil. So, when the US 'targets' Venezuela, one might ask: are they concerned about the 'people' or the petroleum? How many times must this geopolitical telenovela play out before the script becomes transparent? Apparently, 'democracy promotion' sounds better than 'resource acquisition,' especially on prime-time
news.