JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: RETIRED U.S. INTELLIGENCE OFFICER GROUP PUBLISHES OPEN LETTER AGAINST AMERICAN INTERFERENCE WITH IRANIAN TANKERS HEADED TO VENEZUELA - BUT EVEN IN ATTEMPTING SOMETHING SENSIBLE WE SEE AN UNPLEASANT AMERICAN IMPERIAL QUALITY IN THE WORDS, WORDS WHICH STRIKE ME AS IRRELEVANT - VENEZUELA IS SIMPLY NONE OF AMERICA'S BUSINESS - AMERICA CANNOT EVEN GOVERN ITSELF - REPEAT OF A LIST OF AMERICA'S SHABBY ACTS OF TERROR AGAINST VENEZUELA

John Chuckman


COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN CONSORTIUM NEWS


VIPS MEMO: To the President—Avoid Hostilities Over Iranian Fuel Shipment to Venezuela

The Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) urges Donald Trump to avoid the slippery slope toward armed conflict as an Iranian oil tanker nears Venezuela on Sunday.

https://consortiumnews.com/2020/05/22/vips-memo-to-the-president-avoid-hostilities-over-iranian-fuel-shipment-to-venezuela/



This is an attempt to lay out a reasoned set of arguments.

But the situation America has created, from beginning to end, is without reason.

Venezuela has done absolutely nothing wrong, yet it has been dragged to the ground and heavily kicked and abused by the representatives of a distant self-declared authority. A distant Mafia Don having his thugs work over uncooperative peasants in territory he is trying to expand into.

America’s behavior towards Venezuela has been savage.

And even these arguments advising caution about the Iranian tankers, have a revoltingly American tone to them.

They do not reflect the thinking of people concerned with principles of justice, democracy, and the rule of law.

They reflect the concerns of power.

The way Venezuelans govern themselves is simply none of America’s business, even if it were true Venezuelans are being governed badly. But it is not true, and looking at most aspects of America society today, an open-minded person would have to say it is America that is poorly governed.

From its slums and poor public schools to its crumbling infrastructure and complete lack of a proper national medical system, we see bad government. Then throw in the world’s most incompetent response to the pandemic, and it is fair to say America has nothing to say to anyone about government.

Of course, the arguments are made by Americans who spent their careers in the service of imperial agencies which function to manage and expand America’s global dominance.

In a word, the arguments are almost irrelevant.

Here's just a portion of recent American activity against Venezuela and its twice-elected government...

Shutting down the country's electrical grid, several times, spoiling all the food in millions of poor people's fridges, as well as endangering those dependent on life-saving machines.

Imposing severe sanctions against the health and welfare of millions. Sanctions always disproportionately hurt the poor and vulnerable, and it is important to stress that the way the US uses them, they are simply illegal. They are American laws being applied to people who are not Americans and without the authority of any international organization such as the UN.

Imposing a naval blockade against the same poor people, something which is considered an act of war.

Stealing some of Venezuela’s national assets and turning them over to an unelected man who pretends he is president.

Interfering in the country's trade and commerce abroad in every way it can think of.

Sending a flotilla of gunboats, destroyers, into the area to intimidate.

Sending a group of private American mercenaries to kidnap or kill the President.

Putting a large bounty on the head of an elected government.

An earlier attempt to kill the President used a drone with explosives.

If that list doesn’t represent authentic terror, then I don't know what would.



ADDITIONAL NOTE:

From Sputnik Sunday morning:


“The first of five Iranian fuel tankers, the 'Fortune', entered the Venezuelan exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on late Saturday, according to data from Refiniv Eikon.”

“Later, Iranian embassy in the country announced that the tanker has successfully reached the coast of the country.”