Photograph by Nathaniel St. Clair

Funny thing about war: it is relatively easy to start. An insult here. A lie there. A “false flag” as a casus belli there, and shots, bombs, missiles ensue…and destruction and deaths follow until there is some sort of “victory”. However, when the odds are stacked against a much smaller opponent that is facing an overwhelmingly larger foe, then “victory” will not appear straightforward, or even clear. It will be messy.

This is the case of Venezuela. The USA thinks its technological superiority will allow it to subdue the Venezuelan government and people: in other words, bomb them into submission. But I would like to point out a few TRUTHS, not the propaganda with which Trump and his gang of thugs surround themselves:

ONE: LEGITIMACY. Despite the attempt to criminalize President Maduro, he is not a dictator. He is a duly elected president in fair elections, witnessed by several hundred international observers, recognized by the UN and most of the countries of the world. As to the criticism that he is “authoritarian”, it’s a vague, undefined insult, unaccompanied by real evidence. For the USA to call President Maduro an authoritarian is also extremely hypocritical. Authoritarian Trump, who directs ICE to attack USA’s own citizens, should be more careful when throwing rocks from his glass house in Florida.

TWO: DRUGS. The supposed reason why the US is committing murder in the high seas (6 boats blown to bits and 27 murders) is its fake accusation that Venezuela is a major source of illegal drugs entering the USA. The real purpose of the US government is regime change, and the assertion of its Monroe Doctrine based illusion of the right to control Latin America. The US government wants a supine, obedient, subservient Venezuela that will hand over its resources to USA interests and obey Washington. Drugs are an easily debunked excuse for aggression. The UN World Drug Report in no uncertain terms states that Venezuela is not a narco-state. Most of the drugs enter the USA by way of the Pacific Ocean – not the Caribbean Sea – through Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. The United Nations, the European Union and even the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) consider Venezuela to be free of drug production and processing. The country grows no poppy or coca. Only 5% of Colombian cocaine........

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