US Seizes Tanker as 'Piracy,' Ignores Its Own History
When the US seizes the 'Marinera,' a Russian-flagged supertanker, *The Independent* calls it 'outright piracy' committed by others, framing the US actions as a righteous 'chase' against a 'blacklisted' vessel. What they omit, with astonishing selective memory, is the US’s own history of unilateral naval actions, often outside international law, to enforce its economic and geopolitical will. From
blockading Cuban ports in 1962 (deemed illegal by many international bodies) to seizing Iranian oil tankers under various pretexts, the playbook isn't new; only the protagonist changes depending on who's writing the script. One might wonder if the definition of 'piracy' shifts based on which flag is flying from the seizing vessel. Is it 'piracy' when a US adversary does it, but 'enforcing
sanctions' or 'upholding international order' when the US Navy acts? This narrative conveniently ignores the ongoing, widely criticized blockade of Gaza by Israeli forces, supported by the US, which itself starves a civilian population of essential goods, yet surprisingly merits no similar condemnation from *The Independent* for 'outright piracy' against 2.3 million people. The media's selective
outrage is truly a modern marvel.