US Media Wonders Why Sanctions-Strangled Venezuela Still Suffers
The Hill's opinion piece laments Venezuela's continued plight, stating 'Maduro’s gone but his regime remains' and that the country 'is suffering.' This breathtaking analytical depth conveniently omits roughly ten years of U.S.-led sanctions, asset freezes, and a failed coup attempt in 2019 enthusiastically supported by Washington. One might wonder if turning off the country's oil revenue (which
constitutes 99% of its export earnings) and blocking access to international credit might just contribute to widespread suffering, regardless of who sits in Miraflores Palace. It appears The Hill is grappling with the profound question: if you tie someone's shoelaces together and then push them down a flight of stairs, why do they still stumble? While the US government, through agencies like
USAID, has poured millions into 'democracy promotion' in Venezuela, (OpenSecrets.org and government reports detail these expenditures, often funnelled to opposition groups), genuine humanitarian aid has been consistently hindered by those very same sanctions. Perhaps the 'regime's' resilience isn't a testament to its inherent evil, but rather the predictable outcome of external, deliberate
economic warfare.