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Epstein makes the valid point that we are not seeing the sort of propaganda campaign in the media that we saw in the build-up to the US invasion of Iraq. He concludes that that this means an invasion of Venezuela is less likely. He's right, but he's also not taking into account the complexity of the situation. In the early 2000's, the mainstream of the US capitalist class had given themselves over to the neoconservatives. That was why they installed Bush into the White House. They were more or less united behind Bush's strategy (if you want to dignify it with that term). Today, the central fact of US political life is exactly that to a large degree they have lost control over their executive branch. Policy towards Venezuela is a perfect example. Last August Trump proposed a US invasion. His national security advisor - H.R. McMaster - and his secretary of state - Rex Tillerson - both strongly resisted. These were two of the "adults" in the administration. They were more representative of the mainstream of the US capitalist class. And they've been replaced by Mike Pompeo (secretary of state) and John Bolton (security advisor), throwbacks neoconservatism if there ever were ones. The admission of the NY Times that they had it wrong and that it was the protesters who burned the aid trucks, not Maduro's armed forces, shows that the representatives of the capitalist mainstream - have major doubts about an invasion. That's why we're not seeing that propaganda campaign. As for what's coming out of the White House, Trump is somewhat tied down fighting against any investigation by either Mueller or congress. That too, is staying his hand. In the future, though, he could launch an invasion precisely in order to distract from the investigation. (By the way, on CNN last night, Katherine Rampell, columnist for the Washington Post, commented: "What we actually want to know is 'who does he [Trump] owe money to?'.... You have to remember, this was a guy who banks would not lend money to. This was a guy who was buying golf courses in all cash. If you know anything about real estate transactions, you know this makes no sense." She was of course referring to Trump's money laundering operation. Once again, we see that the very logic of the situation is forcing them ever further down the path of revealing this operation.) John Reimann -- *“In politics, abstract terms conceal treachery.” *from "The Black Jacobins" by C. L. R. James Check out:https:http://oaklandsocialist.com also on Facebook _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
