by Alan Macleod
Part 4 - An Economic, Political and Psychological War
Nicolas Maduro came to power in 2013 in a similarly heavily-monitored election. The results were endorsed globally, almost without exception; the United States was the only country to refuse to recognize his victory.
Since his rise to power, Washington has waged a relentless economic war on Venezuela in an attempt to strangle his administration. There are currently over 900 U.S. sanctions against the country. The effect has been devastating: under the weight of the American blockade, Venezuela’s oil industry collapsed, causing it to lose 99% of its international income. Under threats of secondary sanctions, countries and businesses refused to trade with Venezuela, causing massive shortages of food and other necessary goods.
Since his rise to power, Washington has waged a relentless economic war on Venezuela in an attempt to strangle his administration. There are currently over 900 U.S. sanctions against the country. The effect has been devastating: under the weight of the American blockade, Venezuela’s oil industry collapsed, causing it to lose 99% of its international income. Under threats of secondary sanctions, countries and businesses refused to trade with Venezuela, causing massive shortages of food and other necessary goods.
A report published by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a D.C. think tank, found that, between 2017 and 2018, the U.S. blockade had killed more than 40,000 people. One American United Nations official who visited the country described the situation as akin to a “Medieval siege” and declared the U.S. guilty of crimes against humanity.
The economic war is mirrored by a political war, as Washington has attempted to isolate Venezuela internationally. Media, too, have played their part, constantly demonizing Venezuela as a failed state presided over by a dictatorship. In his victory speech on Sunday evening, Maduro claimed the results were a victory of truth over lies and decried the “dirty war” against Venezuela being played out in the press and on social media.
The U.S. has supported multiple coup attempts against Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. It has also spent tens of millions funding opposition groups, including NGOs, student organizations, and political parties. Marina Corina Machado is a case in point. The opposition leader’s “human rights” group, Súmate, was bankrolled by the CIA front group, the National Endowment for Democracy.
The economic war is mirrored by a political war, as Washington has attempted to isolate Venezuela internationally. Media, too, have played their part, constantly demonizing Venezuela as a failed state presided over by a dictatorship. In his victory speech on Sunday evening, Maduro claimed the results were a victory of truth over lies and decried the “dirty war” against Venezuela being played out in the press and on social media.
The U.S. has supported multiple coup attempts against Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. It has also spent tens of millions funding opposition groups, including NGOs, student organizations, and political parties. Marina Corina Machado is a case in point. The opposition leader’s “human rights” group, Súmate, was bankrolled by the CIA front group, the National Endowment for Democracy.
Comments
Post a Comment