Attack on Venezuela: Superpower Intervention and the Politics of Accusations
Superpowers weaponize accusations to further their own interests. Historically, the United States, Russia and Britain have invented pretexts before war and occupation.
If there's an intent to attack, superpowers never hesitate to pin some blame their target. The United States has long wanted to teach the South American nation of Venezuela a lesson because President Nicolás Maduro refused to bow to Washington. Accusing Maduro of running a drug-trafficking operation and promoting narcoterrorism in the United States, Trump ordered airstrikes on Caracas, among other Venezuelan cities. American forces dragged Maduro and his wife from their home in the middle of the night and arrested them. They will be taken to New York, where they are to be tried on drug-trafficking charges and potentially sentenced.* Trump has announced that, for now, the United States will assume control of Venezuela's government.
Similarly, three decades ago, then U.S. President Ronald Reagan arrested Panama's President Manuel Noriega on charges of promoting the drug trade in the United States. Noriega was later sentenced to life imprisonment. U.S. intelligence agents captured Noriega in Panama and brought him to the United States.
President Donald Trump has demonstrated that he, too, is powerful enough to bind the hands of another country's president and bring him to America. Now there are fears that he might take similar action against Mexico because it generates large numbers of immigrants entering the United States illegally. Last time around, Trump talked about building a wall on the Mexican border. Likewise, ignoring Denmark's displeasure, Trump could seize Greenland.
Before attacking Iraq, the United States accused Saddam Hussein of manufacturing chemical and biological weapons. Saddam was eliminated, but no such weapons were ever found. To maintain control over Iran's oil companies, America arranged the assassination of popular Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and handed power in Iran to Shah Reza Pahlavi.
Britain's then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, known as the Iron Lady, waged war against Argentina to assert control over the distant Falkland Islands, spending considerable resources on that conflict. Similar arrogance continues to drive the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia accused Ukraine of launching an aerial attack on Vladimir Putin's official residence in Moscow. If Russia's air defense system is so strong, how could a Ukrainian missile or drone reach it? The real issue is that countries level arbitrary accusations to create a pretext for attack.
*Editor’s note: Maduro and his wife will face sentencing only if they are convicted or plead guilty to charges filed against them.
If there's an intent to attack, superpowers never hesitate to pin some blame their target. The United States has long wanted to teach the South American nation of Venezuela a lesson because President Nicolás Maduro refused to bow to Washington. Accusing Maduro of running a drug-trafficking operation and promoting narcoterrorism in the United States, Trump ordered airstrikes on Caracas, among other Venezuelan cities. American forces dragged Maduro and his wife from their home in the middle of the night and arrested them. They will be taken to New York, where they are to be tried on drug-trafficking charges and potentially sentenced.* Trump has announced that, for now, the United States will assume control of Venezuela's government.
Similarly, three decades ago, then U.S. President Ronald Reagan arrested Panama's President Manuel Noriega on charges of promoting the drug trade in the United States. Noriega was later sentenced to life imprisonment. U.S. intelligence agents captured Noriega in Panama and brought him to the United States.
President Donald Trump has demonstrated that he, too, is powerful enough to bind the hands of another country's president and bring him to America. Now there are fears that he might take similar action against Mexico because it generates large numbers of immigrants entering the United States illegally. Last time around, Trump talked about building a wall on the Mexican border. Likewise, ignoring Denmark's displeasure, Trump could seize Greenland.
Before attacking Iraq, the United States accused Saddam Hussein of manufacturing chemical and biological weapons. Saddam was eliminated, but no such weapons were ever found. To maintain control over Iran's oil companies, America arranged the assassination of popular Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and handed power in Iran to Shah Reza Pahlavi.
Britain's then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, known as the Iron Lady, waged war against Argentina to assert control over the distant Falkland Islands, spending considerable resources on that conflict. Similar arrogance continues to drive the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia accused Ukraine of launching an aerial attack on Vladimir Putin's official residence in Moscow. If Russia's air defense system is so strong, how could a Ukrainian missile or drone reach it? The real issue is that countries level arbitrary accusations to create a pretext for attack.
*Editor’s note: Maduro and his wife will face sentencing only if they are convicted or plead guilty to charges filed against them.
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