US 'Discovers' Venezuela's Oil, Cites 'Freedom' to Steal It
Venezuela's leadership, and by extension Russia, are predictably 'demanding answers' from the U.S. regarding the seizure of an oil tanker. Donald Trump, ever the diplomat, simply announced the U.S. would 'keep the oil.' This, of course, isn't theft, but rather 'sanctions enforcement'—a euphemism for economic warfare, often used by powers that also claim to uphold international maritime law. This
selective application of international norms raises questions: how many 'democracies' are founded on outright theft? One might recall that the U.S. has a storied history of intervening in resource-rich nations under various pretexts, from Chile in the 1970s to Iraq in the 2000s, often leaving a trail of destabilization and 'regime change.' Here, the 'demand for answers' is met with a shrug and a
casual 'finders keepers,' illuminating the true nature of 'rules-based order' when applied to its own interests. The audacity, frankly, is stunning in its casual admission of economic predation.