Skip to content
December 3, 2023
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Reddit
  • Telegram
  • TikTok
  • LinkedIn
  • Discord
Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond

Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond

From Venezuela and made by Venezuelan Chavistas

Primary Menu
  • News
  • Opinion
  • About us
    • About us
    • Who we are – Becoming a Volunteer
    • Editorial guidelines for contributors
    • Our Sources
      • Venezuelan Sources
      • International Sources
    • Contact us
  • Categories
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Security and Defense
    • International
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Europe
      • Oceania
      • US/Canada
    • Latin America and ALBA-TCP
      • South America
      • Central America and the Caribbean (+Mexico)
    • Ideology-Commune-Labor
    • Health-Education-Sport-Culture-Technology
    • Solidarity and Social Movements
    • OT Specials
  • Support Us
Light/Dark Button
YouTube Channel
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • Capitol Riot Brings US Foreign Policy Home
  • International
  • Opinion
  • US/Canada

Capitol Riot Brings US Foreign Policy Home

January 18, 2021

By Margaret Kimberley – Jan 13, 2021

There needs to be soul searching and truth telling about invasions, interventions, coups and sanctions that are far more destructive than the Trump lovers could ever be.

“The United States is not a ‘beacon of democracy’ or ‘shining city on a hill.’”

The attack on the United States Capitol was yet another trauma created by the election of Donald Trump to the presidency. The scenes of his supporters literally breaking down the doors and causing members of Congress to flee or seek shelter were not the images that Americans want to connect with their country. Of all the reactions created by the riot, defense of American exceptionalism is the most pervasive but unfortunately the most damaging. Many of the people and institutions now bemoaning the state of the republic have given Trump and his predecessors the green light to subvert democracy around the world.

Donald Trump has committed the unforgivable sin of making people here feel less proud of their country. Angry mobs storming seats of power are for “shithole” countries and “banana republics.” Of course, the United States undid the popular will in nations like Guatemala because the United Fruit Company didn’t want a government that would work on behalf of the people and not on behalf of their interests. Even the expression banana republic conveys acceptance of the imperialist narrative.

“Of all the reactions created by the riot, defense of American exceptionalism is the most pervasive but unfortunately the most damaging.”

Let us remember that Donald Trump has waged war using economic sanctions against Venezuela, Syria, Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua and other countries. Their citizens suffer from lack of food and medicine as a result of this aggression and the physical and economic infrastructure of these nations are severely impacted. Destruction is the goal after all.

RELATED CONTENT: Chaos Agent: Right-Wing Blames US Capitol Riot on Notorious Instigator Banished by Black Lives Matter

Yet millions of people are aghast that what happens in other countries might now happen to them. Just a few days before the Capitol riot, a recorded conversation between Trump and the Georgia Secretary of State was leaked to the media. Trump can be heard demanding to have an additional 11,780 votes counted on his behalf in order to win that state.

The bizarre effort wasn’t a new tactic for Trump. It was akin to what he did in Venezuela. His administration declared Juan Guaido the president of that country and connived with 50 other nations to recognize the unelected usurper as well.

“Millions of people are aghast that what happens in other countries might now happen to them.”

Not only do presidents undo democracy around the world, but they are supported in these efforts by corporate media and the political duopoly. When protesters instigated by the United States and surveillance state cut-outs like the National Endowment for Democracy ransacked the Hong Kong Legislative Council, they received words of praise from the same members of Congress who ran from the Trumpian mob. Even supposedly progressive members of Congress don’t step out of line when the U.S. decides who should govern far away places. When asked where she stood on the coup attempt against Venezuela, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, “I defer to caucus leadership on how we navigate this.”

A combination of right wing reactionary racism and political cynicism led to the debacle on Capitol Hill. Outrage is justified and so is any punishment that can be meted out to Trump before he leaves office on January 20, 2021. There also needs to be soul searching and truth telling about invasions, interventions, coups and sanctions that are far more destructive than the Trump lovers could ever be.

RELATED CONTENT: The Insurrection is Happening at State Capitols

media and the political duopoly. When protesters instigated by the United States and surveillance state cut-outs like the National Endowment for Democracy ransacked the Hong Kong Legislative Council, they received words of praise from the same members of Congress who ran from the Trumpian mob. Even supposedly progressive members of Congress don’t step out of line when the U.S. decides who should govern far away places. When asked where she stood on the coup attempt against Venezuela, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, “I defer to caucus leadership on how we navigate this.”

A combination of right wing reactionary racism and political cynicism led to the debacle on Capitol Hill. Outrage is justified and so is any punishment that can be meted out to Trump before he leaves office on January 20, 2021. There also needs to be soul searching and truth telling about invasions, interventions, coups and sanctions that are far more destructive than the Trump lovers could ever be.

“Even supposedly progressive members of Congress don’t step out of line when the U.S. decides who should govern far away places..”

All the living former presidents have made statements condemning Trump and his minions but none of them should escape scrutiny. George W. Bush should not be allowed to opine on the MAGA marchers’ vandalism without being questioned about his lies which led to the invasion of Iraq and the deaths of one million people or the kidnapping of Haitian president Aristide. Barack Obama destroyed Libya and tried to destroy Syria and created an ongoing humanitarian crisis. Bill Clinton supported Boris Yeltsin’s 1993 attack on the Russian parliament which resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. He intervened in Russia’s 1996 election to keep Yeltsin in office.

Nor should foreign leaders who act as U.S. puppets be allowed to point fingers. NATO is a proud member of America’s crime syndicate and Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and others gladly work with the U.S. to undermine other nations. They shouldn’t be permitted to wring their hands about damage to democracy when they act as junior partners in crime when Washington tells them to do so.

The United States is not a “beacon of democracy” or “shining city on a hill.” Euphemistic nonsense that hides criminality must be tossed out in favor of truth telling. This moment of crisis is not the time to sweep dirt under the rug. Scrutiny should begin at home and the acceptance of U.S. interventions in the rest of the world must end.

 

 

Featured image: File Photo

(Marxism-Leninism Today)

Don't want to be a victim of the Algorithm?

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR WEEKLY DIGEST WITH ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VENEZUELA AND BEYOND

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Margaret Kimberley
Website | + posts

Margaret Kimberley’s Freedom Rider column appears weekly in Black Agenda Report, and is widely reprinted elsewhere. She maintains a frequently updated blog as well at patreon.com/margaretkimberley and she regularly posts on Twitter @freedomrideblog. Ms. Kimberley lives in New York City, and can be reached via e-Mail at Margaret.Kimberley(at)BlackAgendaReport.com.

  • Margaret Kimberley
    #molongui-disabled-link
    Venezuela and the Caribbean region. Photo: Black Agenda Report.
    August 7, 2023
    The US Plot to Finalize the Theft of Venezuela's Oil
  • Margaret Kimberley
    #molongui-disabled-link
    Kamau Franklin of Community Movement Builders and other organizers announce a ballot referendum effort at a June 7 press conference in Atlanta. Photo: Twitter @Micahinatl.
    June 8, 2023
    State Repression Targets the Stop Cop City Movement
  • Margaret Kimberley
    #molongui-disabled-link
    June 2, 2023
    Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Sheepdogging and Liberal Fantasy
  • Margaret Kimberley
    #molongui-disabled-link
    US map showing the states where there is the most gun violence. Photo: gunviolencearchive.org.
    April 28, 2023
    Why Americans Are Shot at the 'Wrong House'
Tags: Blockade Capitol Riot coup d'etat foreign policy Intervention invasion sanctions US Imperialism

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Continue Reading

Previous Previous post:

Venezuela and Turkey to Strengthen Energy Cooperation

After the bilateral meeting, both authorities toured the José Antonio Anzoátegui Petrochemical Industrial Complex. Photo courtesy of PDVSA.
Next Next post:

Vice President of Venezuela Presents Anti-Blockade Law During her Visit to Cuba

Subscribe to Weekly Digest

We keep your data private and share your data only with third parties that make this service possible. Read our Privacy Policy.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

NEWS: MOST POPULAR

Calendar

December 2023
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Nov    

Categories

OPINION: MOST POPULAR

We are on Telegram


Receive our news directly in your cell phone or PC, join us on our TELEGRAM channel.

 

We are on Discord


Join our Discord server to check our content without algorithms and to interact directly with our team.

The original content by Orinoco Tribune is free to share and it is licensed under CC BY 4.0

We are on Reddit

If you are more into REDDIT, join our Orinoco Tribune subreddit.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Reddit
  • Telegram
  • TikTok
  • LinkedIn
  • Discord
Copyleft, No rights reserved.

Orinoco Tribune celebrates its 5th anniversary. We are not funded by ads, governments, think tanks, or large institutions. Our operations are entirely funded by readers like you.

We are urging our readers and supporters, especially those not currently doing so, to help us with small donations (such as US $5 or $10/month) via Patreon, via Paypal/Credit-Card/crypto or via paper checks.

Let us reach our anniversary goal of $750 in monthly Patreon donations. We are counting on you as our only source of financial support! You can also help us by volunteering with us or by helping us get much necessary equipment.