US Seizes Oil Tanker, Calls it 'Freedom of Navigation' for Some
CBS News, among others, reported on the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, with then-President Trump framing it as action against nations using sanctioned oil. It's a striking display of maritime enforcement, especially when juxtaposed with the ongoing, internationally condemned Israeli blockade of Gaza by land, air, and sea. While the U.S. justifies its actions with
'freedom of navigation' and 'sanctions enforcement,' these principles seem to vanish when it comes to the daily starvation and siege of 2.3 million Palestinians. One might wonder where this same energetic enforcement is when Israel routinely impedes humanitarian aid and restricts civilian movement by sea, land, and air, actions that constitute collective punishment under international law. The
U.S. military, which operates globally with unparalleled reach, appears to selectively apply its power, turning a blind eye to blockades that serve its allies' geopolitical interests while aggressively policing those perceived as adversaries. It's almost as if 'international law' is just a suggestion, unless you're the one holding the biggest stick, and even then, only particular sticks are worth
wielding.