Today's news of the U.S. intervention in Venezuela sent me rushing to my search engine. How many times has the USA done such a thing in the past? The list is sobering. I remember when the USA invaded Panama and deposed Noriega. And Iraq, Afghanistan and Grenada. Not to mention Vietnam. I understand the reasons for those adventures, sort of. Now we can add Venezuela to the list.
After watching today's Trump news conference, I have grave concerns about this incursion. At first I thought it was being done to stop drug smuggling into the US by deposing a corrupt dictator. But who gave him the authority to step in and kick over a sovereign nation's government?
I doubt today's action will have much effect on stopping illegal drug imports. The US is a huge market for high-stakes smugglers. Illegal substances have a way of finding new ways around barriers because there is so much demand, and so much money, in the USA. Despite the actions announced today, the problem of drug abuse and addiction will pop up again and again, even if we stop the outflow from Venezuela. How about attacking the demand side of this problem? More federal funding for drug education and help for the addicted? Our federal goverment doesn't seem to even consider a two-prong approach.
Even worse were Trump's statements that "we" (meaning him and his minions) are going to run Venezuela now, and U.S. oil companies will run the Venezuelan oil industry. That sounds like a takeover of the entire country, including its economy. I have the sickening feeling that Mr. President decided to make those sweeping statements on the spur of the moment, without first having a robust debate with his own advisors. I shudder to think of how that unexpected statement must have been received by Venezuelans. They're losing the right to rule themselves without foreign interference.
