In 2007 Paul Thomas Anderson directed a critically acclaimed film, ‘There Will Be Blood’, starring Daniel Day Lewis as an oil tycoon who pursues profit at all costs and, ultimately, with devastating consequences. The movie explored themes of greed, ambition, and the complexities of wealth accumulation. Unfortunately for the United States, our daily reality seems like it was taken right from this script.
Noone should buy in to the lie (let’s call it what it is) that the attack on Venezuela and the capture of President Maduro and his wife was about drugs. If it were truly about drugs, then it’s impossible to reconcile the recent pardon and release of Honduran ex-president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was sentenced in the United States to 45 years in prison for his role in trafficking 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. The attack on Venezuela was about oil, period, full stop!
The fact is that Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves on the planet. US oil companies including Exxon, Mobil and the Gulf Oil Corporation had invested about $5 billion in the Venezuelan oil sector before it was nationalized under former Venezuelan president, Carlos Andres Perez, in 1976. It is true that these companies were not fully compensated during the nationalization of the oil industry, however, keep in mind that this took place in 1976! That was 50 years ago. Does anyone believe that these oil companies have suffered greatly because of this incident that took place half a century ago? So even the argument that Venezuela financially injured some behemoth American companies decades ago, gives us the moral authority to right this wrong rings pretty hollow. This is about greed and coveting the world’s largest oil reserves.
This will likely not end well. The US invaded Iraq which cost the lives of almost 5,000 American military personnel. Over 30,000 American military personnel were injured, and it is estimated that over 200,000 Iraqi civilians were killed. Are the people of Iraq better off today? About 2,500 servicemembers were killed during our invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. Over 20,000 Americans were injured and about 175,000 Afghans were killed. Are the people of Afghanistan better off today? And, of course, there is the United States ill fated war in Vietnam which cost 60,000 American lives and injured over 150,000 under the guise of stopping communism because it was in ‘America’s national interest’. The United States has a long history of invading and/or interfering in other countries under the pretext of ‘national security’ and it has resulted in a huge loss of life and failed every time. Venezuela will be no different. There will be blood – the only question is how much?
Emboldened by the capture of Maduro, Trump the Madman, is once again threatening Greenland under the pretext of ‘national security.’ That is bullshit! Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and given that Denmark is part of NATO, it is already covered under the Article 5 security pact. Once again, it is about natural resources. Greenland is rich in rare earth elements, nickel, copper, zinc, lead, gold, diamonds, and potential oil reserves. Trump’s desire for Greenland has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with allowing corporations and oligarchs to lay waste to Greenland in pursuit of profits. And just like Trump’s foray into Venezuela, if he decides to take Greenland by force, there will be blood. Everyone, including every member of Congress who fails to act to stop this madness, and who continues to support this administration will have that blood on their hands.
