Friends + Interlocutors,

The most sensible reaction to the U.S. intervention in Venezuela so far has been that of David Stockman. He points out that the two main premises used by Trump to justify the commando raid are false.

https://open.substack.com/pub/davidstockman/p/tmm-trumps-macho-madness?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web 

On the question of drugs, Venezuela is a very minor player compared to Columbia or Mexico. The allegation that President Maduro is the head of a massive drug cartel is dubious. The “war on drugs” is stupid anyway, according to Stockman.

On the question of oil, Venezuela has plenty in the ground but it's the wrong kind. It’s “heavy oil”—expensive to refine. Too expensive at the moment. Not like West Texas or Saudi crude, which costs a lot less to refine.

Stockman concludes that Trump and his sanctimonious minions are “out to lunch”, assuming they actually believe their own propaganda. It appears that this adventure is going to be yet another fool’s errand launched by the executive branch of the USG.

Unnecessary, foolish and unremunerative. Along the lines of Washington’s extracurricular crusades in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and Syria, albeit probably less expensive.

In reading over the many criticisms of Trump’s attack on Caracas, I keep coming across the words “illegal” and “unauthorized” and “illegitimate”. Although true, this leads nowhere.

As a history buff, I have come to the conclusion that, at bottom, there is no law between nations but the law of the jungle. Countries like people will try to get away with whatever they can get away with.

At the present time, Israel gets the prize for successfully getting away with murder. This has been happening for many months, condoned and fully enabled by Washington, first under Papa Joe Biden, now by Trump. 

Opposition is dismissed out of hand as anti-semitism and is suppressed because it is contrary to the official but false narrative. It’s a remarkable state of affairs and shows what can be gotten away with if you have the power and really try.

I think it is high time for Washington to halt all these sanctions, boycotts and embargoes which seek to wreck the lives of countries, groups and individuals that Washington is targeting for spurious reasons. It's unseemly and cruel.

I’m for removing all sanctions everywhere…against Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Russia, China and the Palestinians, etcetera. Let people breath and succeed and make mistakes. 

The idea of Washington playing a holier-than-thou role is ludicrous. How in the world at this late date can Washington sit in judgement on anyone? And I do mean anyone.

Patrick

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