One would have thought that after the blatant lies that led to the invasion of Iraq under president Bush in 2003, the US would not repeat such a horror again. The undemocratic and brutal attack on Venezuela shows we were mistaken. This time we are told that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is a drug baron with terrorist tendencies. The truth is that President Trump is simply not comfortable with left leaning socialist governments and his real target is the abundant oil reserves of Venezuela. Proof of this is provided by Trump himself. He has openly stated that ‘We’re going to be taking a tremendous amount of wealth from the ground’. It is heartening to see that despite Trump’s attempt to humiliate and cow down President Maduro, he retains his sense of humour. Handcuffed and in sandals while being escorted by federal agents through a Manhattan drug enforcement facility, he wished them ‘Good night, Happy New Year’. What is frightening in all this is that under two different US administrations 23 years apart, the mode to deal with foreign regimes they disagree with or do not like remains unaltered. Are we to conclude that what we are witnessing is the open declaration of unfettered imperial rule.
Kamal Hyat
Lahore
