https://links.org.au/why-us-attacking-venezuela
There were several reasons for US hostility to the Maduro government. 1. The US wants to control Venezuela's oil and other natural resources. In 2007 Chavez nationalised the assets of those foreign oil companies that refused to restructure in such a way as to give PDVSA (the state oil company) majority control. While Chevron agreed to comply, and was able to remain in Venezuela, some other companies such as Exxon did not. Chevron remained in Venezuela, but its joint venture with PDVSA controlled only a minority of Venezuela's oil production. Before the imposition of the naval blockade, most of Venezuela's oil exports went to China. 2. The US wants to install a government that will support US foreign policy. Maduro has condemned US foreign policy, particularly its support for Israel's genocide in Gaza. Venezuela developed strong links with Russia, China and Iran. Economically, the US economic blockade made it necessary for Venezuela to find alternative trading partners. Militarily, the fear of US aggression led Venezuela to acquire Russian weapons, including anti-aircraft systems (which proved ineffective on January 3). 3. Under Chavez, the Venezuelan government carried out some progressive social policies. It used oil revenue to fund programs in health care, education, housing etc. Chavez also encouraged the formation of communes. He said they should become the starting point for a new kind of state. These policies represented an alternative to the neoliberal model promoted by the US. The blockade undermined many of these gains. For example, the blockade makes it more difficult for Venezuela to get medicines, vaccines and medical equipment from the US and its allies, or companies intimidated by US threats. ,,,,, Today, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez is in a difficult position. Venezuela is under a naval blockade that prevents it from exporting oil without US permission. It is also threatened with renewed bombing if Rodriguez defies Trump's demands. Under these circumstances, any agreement reached between Venezuela and the US will be extremely unfair. If Venezuela refuses to sign a bad agreement, the US will continue the blockade and Venezuela's oil industry will be shut down. Should we condemn Rodriguez if she signs a bad agreement? For those outside Venezuela, such a condemnation would be pointless. Our task is to build a movement opposing the US blockade. The 1918 Brest-Litovsk treaty between Germany and Russia's new Soviet government was unfair, but Lenin advised the Bolsheviks to sign it. The treaty became irrelevant later that year when the German government was overthrown by a popular uprising. The blockade on Venezuela can only end through political change in the US. Movements opposing the Trump regime can contribute to such a change. We need a strong movement opposing US attacks on Latin America, including the blockade of Venezuela. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#40447): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/40447 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/117554663/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
