We Are The Baddies

This morning, the United States invaded another country and kidnapped its leader.

Why?

It’s not for “narcoterrorism”, which is the American regime’s official position. Of fentanyl seized by CBP over 2018-2024, 92% was seized at a port of entry and ~80% was smuggled by US citizens. Not Venezuelans riding fucking speedboats. In fact, the specific indictment cited by the American regime doesn’t even mention fentanyl.

It’s not for “democracy”, which is the spineless centrist position. The American Empire doesn’t give a shit about democracy. Maduro stole the 2024 election. But the American Empire has allied with half the authoritarian regimes on Earth, like Israel and Saudi Arabia, which oversee US-funded genocides. The current President tried to overthrow our 2020 election results via fake Electoral College voters and an autogolpe of the Capitol. The ruling Republican Party actively seeks to subvert democracy via gerrymandering (not “normal”, but one of the most undemocratic practices in the rich world) and unlimited donations from the rich.

It’s just for imperialist profit and control. It’s fucking obvious. "Either give the American Empire a cut of Venezuela’s oil profits, and control over your country, or else we’ll kill you." American leadership has said as much, over and over today:

• Trump at 10 this morning: “We’re going to be very strongly involved in [Venezuela’s oil industry]. We have the greatest oil companies in the world, the biggest, the greatest. And we’re going to be very much involved in it.“

• Hegseth at 1 this afternoon: “President Trump is [...] deadly serious about getting back the oil that was stolen from us, and deadly serious about re-establishing American deterrence and dominance in the Western Hemisphere. This is about the safety, security, and prosperity of the American people. This is America first.”

• Trump at 1 this afternoon: [Q: Why is running a country in South America, “America First”?] We want to surround ourself with good neighbors. We want to surround ourself with stability. We want to surround ourself with energy. We have tremendous energy in that country. It’s very important that we protect it. We need that for ourselves. We need that for the world. And we want to make sure we can protect it.

• Trump at 1 this afternoon: “The oil companies are going to go in. They’re going to spend money. We’re going to take back the oil that, frankly, we should have taken back a long time ago. A lot of money is coming out of the ground. We’re going to get reimbursed for all of that.“

We are the baddies.

The United States is ruled by an oligarchy of ultra-rich pedophiles. This gangster clique rejects international law, yearns for spheres of influence, and demands tribute from their subjects. They work every day to strip away what democratic power remains to oppose them.

America is the evil empire.

Get organized, before the Empire turns on you.