Who is Nicolás Maduro’s biggest ally? You, the American driver - Francisco Toro

[TomSea]

Excerpt:

Opinion | Who is Nicolás Maduro’s biggest ally? You, the American driver.
By Francisco Toro Francisco Toro Email Bio January 25 at 1:17 PM

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As Venezuela’s political crisis has deepened over the past few days, many pundits have gone into the familiar crouch, worrying about U.S. imperialism and fretting about the Trump administration’s instincts. Figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) worry about American overreach in pushing for regime change in a faraway land; others call for a hands-off approach.

But that’s not a luxury that Americans really have. American’s hands are inescapably on the Venezuelan crisis, because it’s American motorists who provide the vast bulk of the cash the regime relies on to survive.

Despite all the anti-imperialist rhetoric coming from the regime, the United States is the No. 1 buyer of Venezuelan oil, accounting for about half of Venezuelan exports. The oil that Venezuela sends to its second-biggest customer —China — goes to repay loans received during the oil boom years, before 2014. The original loan money was squandered or stolen ages ago, but Venezuela is still paying. Those barrels don’t generate fresh dollars Maduro can use to bankroll his regime today.

For that, he relies on you. Without the money you spend on Venezuelan oil, Maduro could never afford the patronage that’s kept the Venezuelan military commanders on his side. His cronies could never afford their lavish lifestyles. He could never keep the entire apparatus of Bolivarian socialism running. Maduro doesn’t need China, or Russia, or Iran. He needs you.

Read more at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/25/who-is-nicols-maduros-biggest-ally-you-american-driver/?utm_term=.5def8bbe5a71

Ever so often, something useful comes through the Washington Post, probably because it's from an outside source, because of lobbying or similar reasons.

[dfwgator]

Time to update the poster: