Subject: Re: Venezuela - Who and How
So you think oppressing their own people, operating as a giant drug cartel and smuggling oil/laundering money for the likes of Iran/China/Cuba/Russia is in Venezuela’s best interest?

This isn't a question of whether the individual things that Venezuela's government does or doesn't do is in the best interests of Venezuela, but whether allowing a foreign power to make those decisions for Venezuela is in their best interests. And the answer to that higher-level question is almost certainly "no."

As for the above policies, it's not in Venezuela's best interests to oppress their own people - but the demands on the other end of that phone call aren't about stopping that oppression or requiring the country to abide by elections (else Machado, not Rodriguez, would be taking the call). As for smuggling oil, that could very well be in Venezuela's best interests - it's economically valuable for them, and just like America First doesn't abide subordinating the needs of Americans to any global rules-based system, it's no shock that "Venezuela First" might take the same approach.

And Venezuela isn't really operating as a giant drug cartel - it's mostly a trans-shipment country, with the real cartels being in Colombia and Mexico. Venezuela has decided not to undertake the massive expense (in money and blood) necessary to clamp down on the illegal trafficking - and that might very well be in the best interests of Venezuela, who is under no obligation (unless they assume it) to help the U.S. solve the drug problem that stems from our demand. Since we also are unwilling to undertake the massive expense (in money and blood) that would be necessary to clamp down on our illegal demand, or the illegal drug activity that takes place within our borders - because we have other priorities.