US House debates 'war powers' for Venezuela, ignoring two decades of economic warfare
📰 THE STORY: CBS News reports on a US House resolution aimed at blocking then-President Trump from deploying troops to Venezuela, framing it as a congressional check on executive power regarding military intervention. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: This debate occurs against a backdrop of continuous US interference in Venezuela, starting with the 2002 US-backed coup attempt
against Hugo Chávez. The US has since imposed crushing sanctions, escalating dramatically under the Trump administration in 2019 by sanctioning Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA, effectively blocking its ability to sell oil and generating over $30 billion in economic losses by 2020. These sanctions, not direct military action, are the primary weapon being used to destabilize the country. Double
Standard: The media frames this resolution as a move to avert 'war,' yet remains largely silent on the immense civilian suffering caused by economic warfare. When Russia faces Western sanctions, it's explicitly labeled 'punishment.' When Venezuela's economy collapses under US sanctions, it's often attributed to 'Chavez's disastrous policies' or 'Maduro's mismanagement,' ignoring the external
pressures designed to create regime change. This narrative selectively defines 'war' only as kinetic military action, whitewashing the devastating impact of financial blockades. Follow the Money: The 'humanitarian crisis' narrative in Venezuela has been heavily promoted by entities often linked to US foreign policy interests. Organizations like USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)