The Thinking ‘Kat: Cash Grabs
I await the inevitable hypocritical defence of his actions, but whilst I wait, let’s consider Donald Trump’s recent actions against the nation of Venezuela. After weeks of intercepting and destroying unarmed ships, he authorised the abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, which was preceded by military strikes on the country. He has now said that the USA will run Venezuela, until such time that there is a proper transition of power, though he has offered no specifics, and it seems that Venezuela’s vice president, an ardent supporter of the existing regime, is being tapped to take over.
Trump has also revealed that US oil companies are going to get involved in Venezuelan operations – and it just so happens that the South American nation sits on huge reserves of oil, worth untold billions. Does anyone want to hazard a guess that Trump’s true motive for this measure is not to bring justice against Maduro (even though Maduro arguably should face justice for how he has run Venezuela), but instead to ensure he and his cronies get richer?
After all, it is clear from his history that Trump rarely, if ever, acts out of altruism. The man is greedy, self-centred and egotistical. He is also a hypocrite. Having previous denounced the attempts at regime change by past US governments, he is now doing what his predecessors have done, and if he does decide to support their vice president, he is not even doing much to achieve that.
Trump – and his supporters, and his cronies – claims to be all about justice, but destabilising another country and then siphoning its resources to line their pockets is hardly justice. It’s an opportunistic grab for oil and money. It is also entirely in keeping with Trump’s selfish philosophies. The average American will not benefit from this action. At best, little changes in the long-term. At worst, the US has to station forces in Venezuela, in yet another costly imperialist misadventure, and all directed by a man who said he was opposed to such practices. What are the odds that even now, those who blindly worship Trump are conjuring excuses for his hypocrisy and his obvious greed?
‘Kat Comments