US Seeks 'Quick Fix' for Venezuelan Oil: The Imperial Pipeline Never Clogs for Long
📰 THE STORY: Bloomberg reports that the US government is in discussions with Chevron Corp. and other major oil players to quickly revive Venezuela's oil production, aiming for a cost-effective solution well below the estimated $100 billion needed for a full overhaul of the sector. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 2019, the US began imposing sweeping economic sanctions on
Venezuela, including an oil embargo, specifically targeting its state-owned oil company PDVSA. This was part of a broader "maximum pressure" campaign designed to oust President Nicolás Maduro, following the US's recognition of opposition figure Juan Guaidó as the country's "interim president" in January 2019. These sanctions, according to a 2021 UN rapporteur, contributed significantly to
Venezuela's economic collapse and food/medicine shortages. Double Standard: The mainstream media, including outlets like Bloomberg, largely framed the US sanctions campaign against Venezuela as a necessary measure to promote "democracy" and pressure a "dictatorship." Yet, when these same sanctions lead to an energy crisis for European and US markets (especially post-Ukraine invasion), the
narrative shifts instantly to "quick fixes" for oil supply. There's no equivalent push for "quick fixes" to, say, lift the 17-year blockade on Gaza, which has also caused widespread suffering and economic devastation, because there's no resource extraction benefit for Western powers. Follow the Money: The companies now being courted by the US government, like Chevron, stand to make immense profits