US Raids Venezuela, Cries 'No Occupation', UN Disagrees
The Trump administration, via its UN envoy, assured everyone that despite capturing Nicolás Maduro in a "stunning special forces raid" (Bloomberg's unsettling phrasing), the US had no intention of occupying Venezuela. This, of course, comes after decades of US intervention in Latin America, from Chile to Grenada to Nicaragua, often under the guise of 'stabilization' or 'democracy promotion.'
Remember when the CIA overthrew Guatemala's democratically elected government in 1954? Or the Bay of Pigs? It seems 'non-occupation' is a flexible term when applied to Washington's backyard. One might wonder if 'stunning special forces raids' that snatch heads of state are typically considered acts of friendly diplomacy or, perhaps, sovereign violations. The UN's assessment seems pretty clear. The
US continues to assert its right to interfere globally, then feigns surprise when international bodies point out the obvious. After all, what's a little regime change between friends?