Washington carries out large-scale attacks on Caracas

Key Concepts

• UN Charter Violation: The assertion that US actions constitute a breach of the United Nations Charter.
• Colonial Policy: Framing US intervention as a continuation of historical colonial practices.
• Monroe Doctrine: Reference to the 19th-century US foreign policy principle asserting US dominance in Latin America.
• Demonization of Leaders: The pattern of US portraying targeted foreign leaders negatively prior to intervention.
• Unilateral Aggression: The accusation that the US acts without international legal justification.

US Actions Regarding Venezuela: A Critique of Legality and Historical Context

The discussion centers on the recent actions taken by the United States regarding Venezuela, specifically referencing a perceived “bombing” and the “kidnapping” (capture and transport) of President Maduro for potential lifetime imprisonment. Brian Becker argues these actions are a “complete violation of the UN charter” and lack any legal basis, despite Venezuela being “technically at peace” with the US. He characterizes this as a “colonial policy” reminiscent of the 19th century, incongruous with the current 21st-century context.

Domestic Opposition and Historical Parallels

Becker highlights significant domestic opposition to US intervention, citing demonstrations in New York City – one of 105 occurring across the United States within 12 hours of the described events. This demonstrates, according to Becker, that “the American people…are very much opposed to another war.” He draws parallels to previous US interventions, specifically mentioning the demonization of leaders like Muammar Gaddafi (Libya), Saddam Hussein (Iraq), and Slobodan Milošević (Yugoslavia) before subsequent military actions and “unilateral illegal acts of aggression.” He notes the resulting “terrible price” paid by large numbers of people in those conflicts.

Challenging US Regional Dominance & Latin American Response

Becker contends that President Trump’s approach, attempting to reassert US control over Venezuela and Latin America, is unrealistic. He believes Trump is “dreaming” if he expects to “shoe box back into the 19th century” the region under the principles of the “Monroe Doctrine,” which historically asserted US dominance over Latin American affairs. He further emphasizes that public opinion within the United States is also against such “lawless actions.”

Framing of US Foreign Policy

The core argument presented is that US foreign policy towards Venezuela is illegal, aggressive, and rooted in a historical pattern of interventionism and colonial practices. The framing positions the US as a potential “rogue nation” acting outside the bounds of international law and disregarding the will of both the Venezuelan people and a significant portion of the American public.

Notable Quote

“The US might be considered a rogue nation at this point. Complete violation of the UN charter.” – Brian Becker, highlighting the perceived illegality of US actions.