U.S. food aid to Venezuela a cynical move

Re Venezuela’s Maduro closes Brazil border to block aid entry, Online Feb. 21

It looks certain that on Saturday there will be a confrontation and bloodshed at the Venezuelan-Colombian border, as boxes of USAID food will be handed to Venezuelans on the Colombian side of the border — to be delivered in Venezuela.

Washington claims that it merely seeks to help the Venezuelan people and that it has brought medicines and “nutritional supplements.” Selfdeclared president Juan Guaido terms it a “humanitarian avalanche.”

It is nothing of the sort. The U.S. goal is to embarrass President Maduro and encourage the Venezuelan military to rebel.

When the three U.S. air force planes arrived, they were greeted by administration hawks, Cuban America politicians Mario Diaz-Balart and Marco Rubio. Vice-President Mike Pence will be on hand in Colombia on Monday to provide moral support.

If Washington were serious about providing aid, it would use the two major ports, an hour’s drive from Caracas. And it would use internationally recognized agencies, such as the United Nations or the Red Cross.

Largely ignored is the perspective of these organizations. Colombia’s Red Cross spokesperson Christopher Harnisch declared last week: “We will not be participating in what is, for us, not humanitarian aid.” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujaric also raised objections to the U.S. tactics: “For the UN, humanitarian assistance should be carried out in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.”

Well, independent it is not. This is a cynical move, preying on a desperate and hungry people. It is also a clear American plan to bring about regime change and further U.S. interests in the oil wealth of Venezuela (the largest proven reserves in the world). Meanwhile, the Lima Group (spearheaded by Canada) continues to support these efforts and should be embarrassed that it is associated with this tactic. It will not end well.