US Diplomacy: Kidnap Attempt Puts 'Rules-Based Order' in Perspective
Mainstream outlets are reporting (via AP) that the US attempted to recruit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's personal pilot in a plot to kidnap the leader. This brazen tactic, presented as a mere 'attempt' to 'persuade,' is a stark reminder that when the U.S. can't get its way politically, the 'rules-based international order' often gives way to black ops, coup attempts, and outright
kidnapping schemes. Let's not forget the well-documented 2002 coup attempt against Hugo Chávez, which the US initially downplayed while simultaneously signaling rapid recognition of the interim government. ( See: The 'Carmona Decree' and subsequent US State Department statements. ) This isn't 'foreign relations;' it's organized crime with a flag. One might wonder if the US would be so
understanding if another nation tried to 'persuade' a US Air Force pilot to divert Air Force One for a 'chat' with the Hague. But then, as we've learned, international law is apparently a suggestion for some, and a bludgeon for others.