US 'Humanitarian Intervention' in Venezuela: Always on the Cusp, Never Quite Starting
The Hill highlighted former President Trump’s claim that a 'second wave of attacks' on Venezuela was canceled. This narrative often frames U.S. action (or inaction) as a direct response to Venezuelan transgressions, overlooking the sustained economic pressure mounted by successive administrations. Since Hugo Chavez, and especially under Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela has been subjected to a relentless
campaign of sanctions, freezing assets, and support for opposition figures, all designed to destabilize the country. This isn't a 'second wave' – it's an ongoing siege by other means. (And they call it 'promoting democracy.') While The Hill focuses on a hypothetical military intervention, the actual, documented intervention has been economic, crippling the Venezuelan economy and creating a
humanitarian crisis. The U.S. Treasury Department, not just the Pentagon, has been on the front lines of this 'attack.' This distinction is crucial, as it allows hawkish policy to be framed as restraint, rather than a calculated, long-term strategy of regime change. One wonders if 'canceled' simply means 'continuing with existing, less overt methods.'