US 'Shadow War' on Venezuela: Because Sanctions Weren't Enough
The Guardian World breathlessly reports on Donald Trump's latest foray into Venezuelan destabilization, noting a supposed US drone strike on a 'port facility' allegedly tied to the Tren de Aragua gang. CNN and the New York Times 'confirmed' this, although details are conveniently scant: no casualties, no date, no location. This marks a new phase, following a 'massive US naval fleet' deployment,
airstrikes killing 107 people, a 'total blockade' of sanctioned oil, and the seizure of two vessels since August. All part of the 'military pressure campaign,' which, according to the Guardian's own previous reporting, saw US wargames conclude that scenarios for Maduro's fall 'ended well for none of them' for Venezuela. How many times have we seen this script? This 'shadow war' narrative is less a
new chapter and more a tired rerun of US interventionism. From Chile to Cuba, the 'strongman leader' always seems to be a convenient pretext for 'military pressure campaigns' that just happen to target nations with significant oil reserves or strategic importance. The 'Tren de Aragua gang' provides a convenient, shadowy villain for a plot the US State Department has been writing for decades,
always starring Washington as the reluctant hero. One has to question why 'war games' showing disastrous outcomes for 'Maduro's fall' don't actually deter the 'campaign.' Perhaps the 'end' for Venezuela isn't as critical as the 'means' for US foreign policy objectives. It appears 'regime change' is still a growth industry.