US 'Drug War' Off Venezuela: Just Like the 'War on Terror'
The US, concerned about 'drug trafficking,' is ramping up military pressure on Venezuela, contemplating strikes on vessels. This narrative conveniently sidesteps the US track record of leveraging 'drug wars' and 'counter-terrorism' to justify interventions, sanctions, and regime change efforts across Latin America for decades. From Nixon's declaration to Reagan's funding of Contras in Nicaragua (a
known drug-running operation, according to Senate reports), the 'War on Drugs' has frequently been a pretext for advancing geopolitical agendas rather than eradicating actual narcotics. One might recall the 2002 coup attempt against Hugo Chávez, swiftly recognized by the Bush administration. The pattern of destabilization, economic strangulation, and military posturing against nations that don’t
align with Washington—under the guise of noble causes—is as consistent as presidential election cycles. The real question isn't 'can it be legally justified,' but 'who defines the law when the US is the judge, jury, and executioner?'