Your Independent Journal from the Heartland
It would be beneficial if all disputes would look to the rule of law for solutions to problems. The situation with Venezuelan alleged drug boats is a prime example.
What does international law say on this topic? Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a 1994 resolution signed by 168 of the 193 UN members, stopping ships is permitted beyond the 12-mile limit from shorelines. However, the reason has to be specific and limited to piracy, hot pursuit, self-defense and, yes, drug trafficking. Thus the US has the law on its side to stop Venezuelan purported drug boats.
Why, then, didn’t the US do this? Because the US never signed the treaty, citing excuses about surrendering its sovereignty to an international body, a position predating MAGA. It had followed these protocols of UNCLOS until the recent attacks, which destroyed any evidence that would prove their reasons were justified.
Mexico has unofficially jumped on board in approving US actions. Of course. By aligning with the US it is throwing the onus of guilt off itself, the real perpetrator of funneling drugs into the US. Mexico’s cartels are beyond their control, and they prefer not having to face possible US trade sanctions or even invasion.
All this misses the real hidden reason of US policy, with Venezuela facing the repercussions of its own hidden riches. The country is no doubt a political nightmare, run by a ruthless, deadly dictator Nicolas Maduro, whose election victory was an illegitimate sham. Millions have fled the country to escape poverty and violence.
Venezuela’s real wealth lies underground, with oil reserves the largest in the world, five times greater than US reserves. Boat attacks are a smokescreen for military involvement to seize their “black gold,” a promise to Big Oil for their billion-dollar contribution to Trump’s 2024 campaign. This regime change would then install an American-friendly government to acquiesce in this coup.
Sound familiar? The US involved itself in similar upheavals in Vietnam and Afghanistan. How did those failed misadventures work out? Putin has allied with Maduro and supplies him with military hardware, possibly hypersonic missiles. Maybe Putin wants to erase Khrushchev’s failure in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
“Insanity is doing the same mistake over and over and expecting a different result.”—Albert Einstein
ED ENGLER, Sebring, Fla.
