President Obama decleares Venezuela a national security threat

[ringpriest]

From Reuters: "U.S. declares Venezuela a threat, sanctions top officials".

(Reuters) - The United States on Monday declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials in the worst diplomatic dispute with the oil-rich country since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013.

President Barack Obama issued and signed the executive order, which senior administration officials said did not target the energy sector or Venezuela's broader economy. The move raises tensions between Washington and the OPEC member just as U.S. relations with Cuba, another longtime U.S. foe in Latin America, are set to be normalized.

Declaring a country a national security threat is the first step in starting a sanctions regime. The same process has been followed with countries such as Iran and Syria, U.S. officials said.

The White House said the executive order targeted people whose actions undermined democratic processes or institutions, had committed acts of violence or abuse of human rights, were involved in prohibiting or penalizing freedom of expression, or were government officials involved in public corruption.

Regime change ahoy? Regardless of the actual levels of corruption and undemocratic behavior or the history of diplomatic friction, labeling America's fourth largest oil supplier "a threat to national security" seems both foolish and an over-reaction. (Even the best case scenario - that Obama declared Venezuela a 'national security threat' only because that made it easy to get these targeted sanctions in place - doesn't seem to say anything good about his administration.)

Edited to add (3/10):
"Statement by the Press Secretary on Venezuela"
"Venezuela sanctions: Maduro fumes at 'imperialists' as US targets officials"

[Hooked]

Oh another executive order, I don't even read them anymore. 2017 cant come soon enough.

[Revi]

From Reuters: "U.S. declares Venezuela a threat, sanctions top officials".


Regime change ahoy? Regardless of the actual levels of corruption and undemocratic behavior or the history of diplomatic friction, labeling America's fourth largest oil supplier "a threat to national security" seems both foolish and an over-reaction. (Even the best case scenario - that Obama declared Venezuela a 'national security threat' only because that made it easy to get these targeted sanctions in place - doesn't seem to say anything good about his administration.)

That's rich, considering how they're sucking up to Saudi Arabian officials. If this by some miracle turns out to not be about money or power I'll be very impressed though.

[Rukh]

We should forget about our convictions when it might harm your corporate overloards?

[Independent voter]

The masses were kept happy with oil revenue. The oil isn't bringing in much money today because there's a glut of US oil on the market.

The current regime in Venezuela doesn't like us and there is no reason for us to help them.

[Drsolders]

Aren't they having serious economic issues due to OPEC and price dropping? Especially since their oil cost more to produce than middle easter oil? I mean I guess I could see the people eating the propaganda that it is all the US's working to cause a regime change and there could be a few lunatics who would try terrorist activity. However, I would hardly think they are as serious a threat to America as they make it out to be. Obviously I don't know the info the intelligence community does, so I'm probably wrong. It just seems like they would have more reason to attack their own government seeing as how they are horribly corrupt and their leader disbanded their intelligence community and keeps killing all the prosecutors who try to indict her.

[Kasierith]

It just seems like they would have more reason to attack their own government seeing as how they are horribly corrupt and their leader disbanded their intelligence community and keeps killing all the prosecutors who try to indict her.

That right there seems like a pretty good reason to cut off economic ties and financial support, if the US wants to live up to the mantel it's adopted for itself.

[Drsolders]

That right there seems like a pretty good reason to cut off economic ties and financial support, if the US wants to live up to the mantel it's adopted for itself.

Of course, but we have proven (so have many other countries) morals take a backseat to wealth. Surely they must be an economic benefit in there somewhere.

[Kasierith]

Of course, but we have proven (so have many other countries) morals take a backseat to wealth. Surely they must be an economic benefit in there somewhere.

By the looks of it, it more appears that the financial motive to overlook their actions has dissipated.

[ringpriest]

It just seems like they would have more reason to attack their own government seeing as how they are horribly corrupt and their leader disbanded their intelligence community and keeps killing all the prosecutors who try to indict her.

I think you're talking about of Argentina here....

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By the looks of it, it more appears that the financial motive to overlook their actions has dissipated.

Obviously, their government needs to quickly place a few billion dollars worth of orders with US defense contractors.

[Revi]

Obviously, their government needs to quickly place a few billion dollars worth of orders with US defense contractors.

The worst part is, that genuinely has a chance of working. Poor some money into US economy and they leave you alone, unless of course they could make even more money by going after you.

[Independent voter]

The worst part is, that genuinely has a chance of working. Poor some money into US economy and they leave you alone, unless of course they could make even more money by going after you.

Argh! We're pirates matey!

[Drsolders]

I think you're talking about of Argentina here....

'
Oh I am sorry, my google-fu however has deduced that they are still very corrupt(19th most corrup according to corruption index). However, I guess the point stands that they become worth less money keeping around than they are ignoring.

[ringpriest]

Oh I am sorry, my google-fu however has deduced that they are still very corrupt(19th most corrup according to corruption index). However, I guess the point stands that they become worth less money keeping around than they are ignoring.

Yeah, the government of Venezuela seems to be a long way from squeaky clean, and the apparently simple politics (populist socialist government vs. rich capitalist revolutionaries) quickly complicates as you start looking in detail. But with the crash in oil prices, the government took a big hit. I wonder how long until USAID starts "helping"?

[Wulfey]

I think we should be nicer to the Venezualens and try to help them. They are so screwed with their current leadership. They have to toss them in order to fix their serious policy screw ups.

[Deleted]

So disappointed.
Totally read that as "President Obama decleares Vuvuzela a national security threat" when I clicked a link to another thread.

[vindicatorx]

Oh another executive order, I don't even read them anymore. 2017 cant come soon enough.

He is still way behind Bush and Clinton. I mean do some of you think executive orders are new? Obama has 204 Bush had 291 Clinton had 364, hell FDR had 3,721 and people love to make it sound like Obama is the only president to use them.

[Xar226]

I think we should be nicer to the Venezualens and try to help them. They are so screwed with their current leadership. They have to toss them in order to fix their serious policy screw ups.

That's what this order helps to do. It targets the assets of exactly seven people: The director of national intelligence, the director of the national police, the leader of the state-run mining firm, three military officers and a prosecutor. They were levied on allegations of trying to intimidate political opponents.

According to their own opposition leader: "It's not a problem with Venezuela or with Venezuelans; it's a problem for the corrupt ones. It doesn't affect we Venezuelans."

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He is still way behind Bush and Clinton. I mean do some of you think executive orders are new? Obama has 204 Bush had 291 Clinton had 364, hell FDR had 3,721 and people love to make it sound like Obama is the only president to use them.

And conservative hero Ronald Reagan had 381. Obama would have to average almost three times as many EOs per year for the rest of his term than he has averaged in the first six years to catch him.

Facts don't get in the way of a good irrational rage for some people.

[Olo]

From Reuters: "U.S. declares Venezuela a threat, sanctions top officials".


Regime change ahoy? Regardless of the actual levels of corruption and undemocratic behavior or the history of diplomatic friction, labeling America's fourth largest oil supplier "a threat to national security" seems both foolish and an over-reaction. (Even the best case scenario - that Obama declared Venezuela a 'national security threat' only because that made it easy to get these targeted sanctions in place - doesn't seem to say anything good about his administration.)

The US doesn't need to do anything. "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." Also: it looks to be a response to the expelling of most US diplomats. His usual rantings are largely ignored.

[Independent voter]

That's what this order helps to do. It targets the assets of exactly seven people: The director of national intelligence, the director of the national police, the leader of the state-run mining firm, three military officers and a prosecutor. They were levied on allegations of trying to intimidate political opponents..

You're wasting your breath, they only want to hear how evil America is.