The US Destroys Venezuela’s Economy – OpEd

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Corporate media in this country deliver a steady onslaught of anti-Venezuelan propaganda. The Washington Post fumes about Venezuelan “pirates ” while the New York Times reports that Ecuador is overwhelmed by desperate Venezuelan migrants . Unfortunately the propaganda has succeeded to a large degree. “Socialism doesn’t work, just look at Venezuela,” is an all too common trope. It is rare that anyone with a public platform reveals a simple truth. Venezuela’s problems were created by the United States government, first during the Obama administration and now continuing under Trump’s.

It is sanctions against the Venezuelan government and its people that have created hyperinflation, hunger, and a devastated health care system that was once the envy of that region. Sanctions are war by other means, invisible to most eyes. There are no troops, bullets, bombs, drones or military weaponry. But sanctions are as deadly as any military invasion, and Trump may do that yet.

In 2015 Barack Obama issued an executive order declaring Venezuela to be “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” That decree is necessary in order to impose economic sanctions. But sanctions do not only mean that American corporations and individuals cannot do business with the targeted country. Any country that conducts economic transactions with Venezuela will also be subject to sanctions. Even in its state of decline the United States is the 800-pound financial gorilla that can’t be ignored.

When the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC and the rest report on Venezuela’s depredations they never reveal that it is the United States which brought about it crisis condition. Because of sanctions Venezuela has oil that it can’t sell. Even individuals are prohibited from doing something as simple as sending money there.

A federal judge recently ruled that creditors can seize CITGO , Venezuela’s U.S.-based petroleum subsidiary. The creditors are Canadian mining company Crystallex and ConocoPhillips. They may get the chance to scavenge because sanctions make Venezuela unable to renegotiate any of its debts. This is the epitome of criminality brought about by international capital. Venezuela was deliberately impoverished, and then robbed of what little it has left.

Venezuela is isolated financially and is now surrounded by right wing governments in Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. The United States could overthrow Maduro without sending even one soldier. The reliable crime of funding proxies could work as well on Venezuela as it did on Libya.

What have Venezuelans done to bring on this draconian punishment? They have dared to vote for socialist governments, first under the late president Hugo Chavez and again when he was succeeded by Nicolas Maduro. The corporate media derisively refer to Maduro as a “hand picked successor.” That means he was vice president and, just as in this country, succeeds a president who dies in office. The attempt to discredit his legitimacy is yet another example of how the state and media work closely together in a country that claims to have a free press.

Now the social media corporations have colluded with government to make certain that anyone who is interested in the Venezuelan perspective will be isolated as well. Facebook temporarily removed the Venezuela Analysis page claiming violations of terms of service. It was not the first time that Facebook has removed Venezuela Analysis and it may not be the last.

Black Agenda Report predicted that Russiagate would be the pretext for censoring the left. Social media platforms are as much a part of corporate media as the networks or major newspapers. The day may come when Venezuela’s presence is erased there altogether.

Barack Obama issued executive orders imposing sanctions in 2015 and 2016. In 2017 the order was renewed early in January in order to provide “a smooth transition ” to Donald Trump.

“This will ensure that the new administration will not need to immediately undertake renewals necessary to safeguard our national security as it works to put its national security team in place and secure Senate confirmation of relevant appointees.” The security state is nothing if not consistent.

But is the anti-war movement consistent? Are people who claim to be on the left consistent? If Trump were to make good on threats to take military action, how many people would be in the streets protesting against U.S. aggression? Venezuelans impoverished by American dictates have no lobby to speak for them. No member of Congress takes to the floor and expresses outrage on their behalf. Even alleged socialist Bernie Sanders dismissed Chavez as “a dead communist dictator.” Unfortunately he isn’t alone in his assessment.

Anyone who claims to be anti-war must also oppose the ongoing horrors visited upon the Venezuelan people. They are suffering and dying because of decisions made by the bipartisan war party. If the left were consistent in its analysis and actions no president would dare to attack Venezuela or any other country in this manner. Let the whole world sanction the United States for its continuing aggressions that devastate so many people.

Margaret Kimberley

Margaret Kimberley's is the author of Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents. Her work can also be found at patreon.com/margaretkimberley and on Twitter @freedomrideblog. Ms. Kimberley can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgendaReport.com."

5 thoughts on “The US Destroys Venezuela’s Economy – OpEd

  • August 17, 2018 at 11:48 am
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    Venezuela was in collapse way before sanctions were imposed by Obama and Trump. Typical leftist apologist who doesn’t even mention the collectivos, the massive arrests and torture, or the Cubans manning the state surveillance system. Add the manifestly stupid way she conflates the regime with “the people” when everyone from the OAS to the EU has refused to recognize the rigged “elections” that Maduro barely won.

    And what about the economic support of the illegitimate regime by the very democratic and socialist governments of China and Russia? Throw in the theocracy of Iran and you have the perfect trifecta for the shrinking Maduro bandwagon.

    I am Venezuelan, from Maracay, and it’s obvious that Margaret Kimberly eats well within her narrow, ideological echo chamber while the people of Venezuela starve from a socialism that is killingly real.

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  • August 17, 2018 at 10:20 pm
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    I would suggest that Ms Kimberley refrain from blaming sanctions when it is clear that Chavez socialism and continuing corruption have brought Venezuela to it´s current position. Perhaps a two semester enlightenment in an Econ101 class would help her understand. She and people like her amuse me, they espouse the benefits of socialism while filling their little tummies and bank accounts from the rewards of capitalism. Chavez, and now Maduro, both uneducated stooges, thought that they could overcome the law of supply and demand. One failed, the other is failing miserably, many have tried but it has been proven time and again that it can´t be done. Capitalism may not be perfect but it is a hell of a lot better than whatever is in second place.

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  • August 18, 2018 at 2:48 pm
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    The title caught my attention, read the article and could not stop laughing at this poor woman’s opinion.
    She is entitle to one but it seems she lives in a cave, the financial caos in Venezuela is sole responsibility of Chavez/Maduro.
    Chavistas are such ignorants in economics (and corrupt) that did not have the “smarts” to solicit in time advise to Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua that have/had progressive govts and have not screwed up like Venezuela has with its economy…………..
    Chavistas tried to mess with markets and voila the result, granted govts like even the U.S control to some degree pricing on sensitive comodities such as milk or corn, but not like Venezuela did (or their buddies in Cuba), they killed the incentive for the private sector to produce, who is in business to lose money? That is the recipe for disaster hence the exodus of venezuelans to neighboring countries.
    So Margaret get on a plane and visit Cuba and Venezuela but please do not just go to Havana and Caracas, go deep into the “true” country inland and poll the people and shower yourself with some painful truth.
    Btw I am from Ecuador and a liberal but not romantic like these commie morons in Cuba/Venezuela.

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  • August 19, 2018 at 4:34 am
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    I have been to Venezuela before Hugo Chavez took power and the corruption was rampant. Simple courtesy does not exist. Venezuelans brought these calamities upon themselves. I remember how some tourists got robbed of their belongings before they could even had a chance to pick-up their luggage at the Airport. The rich people were paying the government officials to look the other way and even the police will try to stop you to collect bribes in order to let you go. I am expecting any day now when there will be a military coup and a military dictatorship will be established. It is just a matter of time.

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  • February 7, 2019 at 3:50 pm
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    Concerned about American aggression in Venezuela …Read what D.H. Lawrence had to say about the American People…..Remember The United States had what was described as The Financial Crisis in 2007,2008 and 2009 ….Millions were hurt or totally destroyed and thousands died, but not the Elite ….They were rewarded ….Some thought for all of you know it all’s out there…..

    Reply

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