https://themilitant.com/2019/08/10/oppose-us-economic-sanctions-on-venezuela/
Oppose US economic sanctions on Venezuela!
??By Seth Galinsky
Vol. 83/No. 30
August 19, 2019
In an escalation of its economic sanctions against Venezuela, President
Donald Trump issued an executive order Aug. 5 that prohibits almost all
remaining U.S. trade with the government of Venezuela and aims to get
foreign companies to comply as well.
In a letter to Congress, Trump said the order is aimed at removing
Venezuelan President Nicol??s Maduro from power and replacing him with
Juan Guaid??, a pro-imperialist opposition leader who proclaimed himself
president in January.
???This is a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Venezuelan
people,??? said Amy Husk, Socialist Workers Party candidate for governor
of Kentucky. ???The U.S. government wants to decide who should be the
president of Venezuela. The U.S. rulers claim they are concerned about
the people of Venezuela, but all they care about is getting a government
that is favorable to U.S. imperialism. Working people need to say, ???U.S.
hands off!??????
The new U.S. sanctions are especially aimed at foreign companies and
governments ??? including in China, Russia, Turkey and India ??? that have
continued to trade with the Venezuelan government despite Washington???s
increasingly hostile measures.
The U.S. government had previously sanctioned more than 100 Venezuelan
officials, confiscated Venezuelan government-owned Citgo???s assets and
bank accounts in the U.S. and turned them over to supporters of Guaid??,
and cut off most economic deals with state-owned Venezuelan oil company
PDVSA. It backed a failed coup attempt by Guaid?? in April and has tried
to prevent Venezuela from sending oil to Cuba.
Governments of major European countries have joined with threats of
imposing their own sanctions.
Washington???s escalating sanctions come amid negotiations taking place
between representatives of the Venezuelan government and the opposition
since May.
The embargo does not apply to the privately owned capitalist companies
that account for most of Venezuela???s non-oil production.?? And Chevron ???
the last major US oil company still operating in Venezuela ??? and
Halliburton, are exempt from the new rules until Oct. 25.
???We are sending a signal to third parties that want to do business with
the Maduro regime: Proceed with caution,??? National Security Adviser John
Bolton warned in a speech in Peru to more than 50 governments aligned
with Washington. ???There is no need to risk your business interests with
the United States.???
Washington says it will freeze the bank accounts and assets of any
company it deems has violated the order.
With imperial arrogance, Bolton told the conference that an economic
embargo ???worked in Panama, it worked in Nicaragua once, and it will work
there again; and it will work in Venezuela and Cuba!???
Bolton was referring to economic sanctions on Panama prior to the U.S.
invasion in 1990 that overthrew Manuel Noriega; sanctions against
Nicaragua after the 1979 revolution there, and Washington???s more than
60-year economic war against Cuba.
Maduro, like Hugo Ch??vez before him, has tried to administer and
regulate the capitalist economy. But with a steep drop in oil prices and
production it has become increasingly difficult to carry out the welfare
programs established by the government.
The U.S. rulers hope that by increasing the suffering of Venezuela???s
workers and farmers they can get rid of Maduro, and get a government
more to their liking. A central objective of Washington???s strategy is to
deal blows to Cuba???s socialist revolution and its solidarity with
Venezuela and other countries in the region.
Washington???s sanctions had severely exacerbated the economic and social
crisis working people face. Shortages of medicine, food and other basic
necessities at prices working people can afford are widespread. Some 4
million have fled for Colombia and other neighboring countries.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodr??guez called the U.S. moves ???another
action to damage and rob??? Venezuela.
Related Articles
Cuba gov???t refutes US slanders of internationalist volunteers
Hoping to stain the image of the Cuban Revolution, Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo slandered Cuba???s international medical assistance program,
saying it engages in ???exploitative and coercive labor practices??? towards
its volunteer doctors. Pompeo announced July 26 that the State???
Asia-Pacific Cuba solidarity conference held in Nepal
KATHMANDU, Nepal ??? Nearly 130 delegates gathered here July 26-27 for the
Ninth Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of Solidarity with Cuba. They
exchanged experiences and discussed plans for activities to broaden
opposition to the U.S. government???s six-decade-long economic war against
the???
In This Issue
Front Page Articles ???Kentucky miners block coal trains to demand back pay
???Oppose US economic sanctions on Venezuela!
???New prime minister vows to take UK out of EU
??????Workers need to build their own party ??? independent of the bosses???
???New US tariffs aimed at slowing rising power of rival Beijing
???Press group says end ban on ???Militant??? in Florida prisons
Feature Articles ???Cuba gov???t refutes US slanders of internationalist
volunteers
Also In This Issue ???New labor law in Mexico aims to tie unions to gov???t
???UK gov???t fails to maintain dam, threatening homes
???Condemn anti-Semitic shooting in Miami, says Socialist Workers Party
???NYPD ponders firing cop 5 years after Eric Garner killing
???Do El Paso killings show a rise of white supremacists?
???Asia-Pacific Cuba solidarity conference held in Nepal
???Gibson family vows to continue their fight
On the Picket Line ???Striking Indiana Machinists rally for health care,
higher pay
???Sky Chefs workers picket Dallas-Fort Worth airport terminal
???Quebec Steelworkers reject concessions, strike Galvano plant
Books of the Month ??????Workers should organize a guard whenever it is
necessary???
25, 50 and 75 years ago
Letters
?? Copyright 2019 The Militant?? -?? 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor -?? New
York, NY 10018?? -?? themilitant@xxxxxxx
Cookies
This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more.
Okay, thank
--
---
George Carlin
??? Tell people there's an invisible man in the sky who created the universe,
and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint is wet, and they
have to touch it to be sure. ???
??? George Carlin