US Seizes Tanker Over Sanctions, Ignores Its Own Pirate History
CBS News hails the U.S. military's seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela, citing its use in alleged sanctions violations involving Iran. Attorney General Pam Bondi is quoted, framing this as a righteous act against illicit trade. The narrative paints a picture of vigilant American law enforcement on the high seas, protecting global order from rogue actors. It’s a clean, simple story—if you ignore
the last 200 years of U.S. foreign policy. What CBS doesn't mention is that naval blockades and seizures were once the quintessential act of colonial power, used to impose will and extract resources. The U.S., which once condemned British impressment and pirateering, now deploys its own navy for economic coercion. One might wonder if the 'violation' is truly about sanction enforcement, or simply
asserting dominance over sovereign nations attempting to conduct trade outside Washington's preferred mechanisms. The rules-based international order, it seems, applies only to those who didn't write the rules.