4 ms·

Disclaimer: I'm not accusing you of (intentionally or unintentionally) doing this but your comment brought up the issue. For a lot of horrific events in the wo

by jmyeet 1y ago

Disclaimer: I'm not accusing you of (intentionally or unintentionally) doing this but your comment brought up the issue. For a lot of horrific events in the world, you will find a bias exposed by the use of active vs passive voice. Compare: - "100 children died". How? - "100 children killed". By whom? Why? How? - "100 children killed in conflict". Between who? How? Why? ' "100 children killed in air strike on refugee camp by X". Oh... The point is that a lot of people treat what is happening in Venezuela like it's some kind of unavoidable natural disaster like an earthquake. This reinforces the idea that nobody is responsible and, more improtantly, there's nothing we can do. Venezuelans are being intentionally starved to death by economic sanctions (that's what sactions are). Why? Because Maduro is bad. Sound familiar? It should. Castro was bad. Saddam Hussein was bad (despite being a US puppet for decades). The actual issue is that these people threaten the interests of Western companies. That's it. That's the only thing that matters.

throwawaymaths 1y ago
what interest does north korea threaten?
- VerminOctopus1 1y ago
  Is this a serious question? SK is a strong ally of the USA and along with Japan bolsters their presence in this part of Asia. China, a geopolitical enemy of the USA, is also lightly allied with NK.
  - ponector 1y ago
    Or rather was a strong ally? I bet you are not imposing 25% tariff to your strong ally.
  - throwawaymaths 1y ago
    > the interests of Western companies no companies listed. anyways, the beef has gone on longer than there were important south korean companied
danabrams 1y ago
Maduro, Castro, and Saddam Hussein are/were bad. Castro and Hussein, at least, committed murders to maintain power and Maduro pulled a coup after he lost an election. Whether they were worth removing is another question, but if you could flip a switch and magically replace them with something better (with no cost and a guarantee the replacement would not be a murderous authoritarian) you would of course do it.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- jmyeet 1y ago
  In 1988, Saddam Hussein dropped nerve gas on Kurds. Saddam was then a US ally and a foil against Iran. The US had propped up that war killing millions of Iraqis and Iranians for almost a decade for basically a net zero outcome. Why was Iran an enemy? Because the US deposed the democratically elected government in 1953 becasue they threatened to nationalize their own oil reserves. Do you see a pattern here? Like at all? The key point is that Saddam could drop nerve gas on Iraqi citizens and it still didn't change him being a US ally (and puppet). We don't care about someone being "bad". We never have. Saddam only ceased to become an ally when he invaded Kuwait and threatened our truly regional ally, Saudi Arabia. All Castro did was overthrow Batisa, another US ally, and nationalize Cuban assets. Hungary is a member of NATO and a US ally despite Viktor Orban essentially overthrowing democracy and genuinely being bad. We helped overthrow Basher Al-Asaad. The al-asaads were former US allies too by the way. Why? Because now they were bad. Who is the new Syrian president? A man by the name of Ahmed al-Sharaa. Who is that you might ask? A former al-Qaeda leader, you know the guys were the Big Bad [tm] for 9/11. But that's OK, he (allegedly) cut ties with al-Aqeda in 2016 so all is forgiven. Let's not look too deeply into 15 or the 19 9/11 hijackers being Saudi. Here's the lesson: whenever the US says someone is being punished, bombed, sanctioned, invaded or whatever because they're "bad" know that it's a lie. I mean they might be bad. But that's never the reason for whatever the latest punitive action is. Always, always, always the reason is become the interests of US foreign policy or Western companies is being threatened.
  - terio 1y ago
tim333 1y ago
It's debatable who's fault starvation is. Maduro might have something to do with it. I'm not sure how it threatens western companies.
- astrange 1y ago
  GenX leftists think every problem in the world is caused by "corporations" and if you think any given problem is not caused by "corporations" they will assume you're lying. It goes beyond believing in conspiracy theories; they're literally incapable of believing in something /unless/ it's a conspiracy theory. Most recent examples being "climate change is caused by 100 companies" and "housing prices are caused by BlackRock" which are both entirely fictional. (There is an obvious rightist equivalent of this which has historically caused a lot more problems.)
  - jmyeet 1y ago
    Letter from the President and Prime Minister Mossadegh on the Oil Situation and the Problem of Aid to Iran dated July 9, 1953 (emphasis added) [1]: > It was primarily because of that hope that the United States Government during the last two years has made earnest efforts to assist in eliminating certain differences between Iran and the United Kingdom which have arisen as a result of the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry. It has been the belief of the United States that the reaching of an agreement in the matter of compensation would strengthen confidence throughout the world in the determination of Iran fully to adhere to the principles which render possible a harmonious community of free nations; that it would contribute to the strengthening of the international credit standing of Iran; and that it would lead to the solution of some of the financial and economic problems at present facing Iran. Effect on National Security Interests in Latin America of Possible Anti-Trust Proceedings, June 1, 1953 [2]: > Elsewhere in Central America, institution of the action would greatly stimulate movements to nationalize the properties of the Company. Such nationalization is now threatened to some degree in all countries in which the Company operates, particularly in Costa Rica through the possible accession to the presidency of Jose Figueres, who is not a Communist but is openly speaking of nationalization. To the extent such nationalization is achieved, it would not only affect a private company, but would have direct and far-reaching repercussions on our strategic position. National Intelligent Estimate: CHILE: THE ALTERNATIVES FACING THE ALLENDE REGIME, June 29, 1972 [3]: > n the basis of the record so far, Chile’s future course remains to a large extent an open issue. To be sure, the regime carried out a substantial part of its program during its first year, particularly in the economic area. With little effective opposition—indeed, in many cases with a broad consensus—Allende nationalized key economic sectors, redistributed income in favor of the poorer classes, and accelerated land expropriation. [1]: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/exchange-messages-between-the-president-and-prime-minister-mossadegh-the-oil-situation-and https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/exchange-messages-... [2]: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v04/d45 https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v04... [3]: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve16/d116 https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve1...
ErneX 1y ago
Venezuelans are being starved by the sheer incompetency/corruption of its leaders. It’s a kleptocracy. The collapse started way earlier than the sanctions. It’s funny, but it’s even insulting that some people cannot comprehend that there is evil beyond their own frontiers. Not everything wrong that happens in the world is because an empire is meddling, we are also capable of being useless by ourselves!
- maxglute 1y ago
  > Not everything wrong that happens in the world is because an empire is meddling, we are also capable of being useless by ourselves! A petrostate kleptocracy can still trickle down enough scraps for it's people. An empire that controls global markets that sanctions an petrostate kleptocracy into just a kleptocracy, can't. The reality is no amount of competent governance is going to enable a petrostate like VZ to not be a shitshow if it's sanctioned from maintaining extractive infra (techstack controlled by empire) or sell in global markets. It's not about just being useless, but the inability to be useful no matter what you do. Yes, VZ got fucked from oil $100->$40 pre sanctions, but that's still a survivable/pivotable scenario than oil production going from 3 mbd to 400k mbd due to sanctions that prevents reconstitution of production. There's a reason economic freefall stabilized when Cheveron got license in 2022 that brought production back up to 1mbd. Now you can argue a "competent" government would have conceded to Monroe (like Machado) in the first place, or not pissed off US in backyard. Like, I get it, you're living through the shit, but don't be economically/geopolitically naive, US didn't sanction VZ because muh democracy decline under Muduro when US props up other petro authoritarian MENA states. The only difference is US meddle with those that align with US interests and not, and US meddling is what makes or breaks petro states.
  - ErneX 1y ago
    I think it’s you who is naive. Plus Maduro is even offering our riches to Trump if they leave him alone: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/world/americas/maduro-venezuela-us-oil.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/world/americas/maduro-ven... Seems he lost the anti imperialist mojo.
mobiledev2014 1y ago
When will this stop being controversial? All you need to do is look at past winners of this farcical prize
EasyMark 1y ago
I don't understand why don't deal with Maduro but Trump regards Putin as practically an old friend, while both treat their people equally shitty. Same with some other countries, what is the litmus test?

by jmyeet 1y ago

throwawaymaths 1y ago

what interest does north korea threaten?

VerminOctopus1 1y ago
Is this a serious question? SK is a strong ally of the USA and along with Japan bolsters their presence in this part of Asia. China, a geopolitical enemy of the USA, is also lightly allied with NK.
- ponector 1y ago
  Or rather was a strong ally? I bet you are not imposing 25% tariff to your strong ally.
- throwawaymaths 1y ago
  > the interests of Western companies no companies listed. anyways, the beef has gone on longer than there were important south korean companied

danabrams 1y ago

Maduro, Castro, and Saddam Hussein are/were bad. Castro and Hussein, at least, committed murders to maintain power and Maduro pulled a coup after he lost an election. Whether they were worth removing is another question, but if you could flip a switch and magically replace them with something better (with no cost and a guarantee the replacement would not be a murderous authoritarian) you would of course do it.

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
jmyeet 1y ago
In 1988, Saddam Hussein dropped nerve gas on Kurds. Saddam was then a US ally and a foil against Iran. The US had propped up that war killing millions of Iraqis and Iranians for almost a decade for basically a net zero outcome. Why was Iran an enemy? Because the US deposed the democratically elected government in 1953 becasue they threatened to nationalize their own oil reserves. Do you see a pattern here? Like at all? The key point is that Saddam could drop nerve gas on Iraqi citizens and it still didn't change him being a US ally (and puppet). We don't care about someone being "bad". We never have. Saddam only ceased to become an ally when he invaded Kuwait and threatened our truly regional ally, Saudi Arabia. All Castro did was overthrow Batisa, another US ally, and nationalize Cuban assets. Hungary is a member of NATO and a US ally despite Viktor Orban essentially overthrowing democracy and genuinely being bad. We helped overthrow Basher Al-Asaad. The al-asaads were former US allies too by the way. Why? Because now they were bad. Who is the new Syrian president? A man by the name of Ahmed al-Sharaa. Who is that you might ask? A former al-Qaeda leader, you know the guys were the Big Bad [tm] for 9/11. But that's OK, he (allegedly) cut ties with al-Aqeda in 2016 so all is forgiven. Let's not look too deeply into 15 or the 19 9/11 hijackers being Saudi. Here's the lesson: whenever the US says someone is being punished, bombed, sanctioned, invaded or whatever because they're "bad" know that it's a lie. I mean they might be bad. But that's never the reason for whatever the latest punitive action is. Always, always, always the reason is become the interests of US foreign policy or Western companies is being threatened.
- terio 1y ago

tim333 1y ago

It's debatable who's fault starvation is. Maduro might have something to do with it. I'm not sure how it threatens western companies.

astrange 1y ago
GenX leftists think every problem in the world is caused by "corporations" and if you think any given problem is not caused by "corporations" they will assume you're lying. It goes beyond believing in conspiracy theories; they're literally incapable of believing in something /unless/ it's a conspiracy theory. Most recent examples being "climate change is caused by 100 companies" and "housing prices are caused by BlackRock" which are both entirely fictional. (There is an obvious rightist equivalent of this which has historically caused a lot more problems.)
- jmyeet 1y ago
  Letter from the President and Prime Minister Mossadegh on the Oil Situation and the Problem of Aid to Iran dated July 9, 1953 (emphasis added) [1]: > It was primarily because of that hope that the United States Government during the last two years has made earnest efforts to assist in eliminating certain differences between Iran and the United Kingdom which have arisen as a result of the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry. It has been the belief of the United States that the reaching of an agreement in the matter of compensation would strengthen confidence throughout the world in the determination of Iran fully to adhere to the principles which render possible a harmonious community of free nations; that it would contribute to the strengthening of the international credit standing of Iran; and that it would lead to the solution of some of the financial and economic problems at present facing Iran. Effect on National Security Interests in Latin America of Possible Anti-Trust Proceedings, June 1, 1953 [2]: > Elsewhere in Central America, institution of the action would greatly stimulate movements to nationalize the properties of the Company. Such nationalization is now threatened to some degree in all countries in which the Company operates, particularly in Costa Rica through the possible accession to the presidency of Jose Figueres, who is not a Communist but is openly speaking of nationalization. To the extent such nationalization is achieved, it would not only affect a private company, but would have direct and far-reaching repercussions on our strategic position. National Intelligent Estimate: CHILE: THE ALTERNATIVES FACING THE ALLENDE REGIME, June 29, 1972 [3]: > n the basis of the record so far, Chile’s future course remains to a large extent an open issue. To be sure, the regime carried out a substantial part of its program during its first year, particularly in the economic area. With little effective opposition—indeed, in many cases with a broad consensus—Allende nationalized key economic sectors, redistributed income in favor of the poorer classes, and accelerated land expropriation. [1]: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/exchange-messages-between-the-president-and-prime-minister-mossadegh-the-oil-situation-and https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/exchange-messages-... [2]: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v04/d45 https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v04... [3]: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve16/d116 https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve1...

ErneX 1y ago

Venezuelans are being starved by the sheer incompetency/corruption of its leaders. It’s a kleptocracy. The collapse started way earlier than the sanctions. It’s funny, but it’s even insulting that some people cannot comprehend that there is evil beyond their own frontiers. Not everything wrong that happens in the world is because an empire is meddling, we are also capable of being useless by ourselves!

maxglute 1y ago
> Not everything wrong that happens in the world is because an empire is meddling, we are also capable of being useless by ourselves! A petrostate kleptocracy can still trickle down enough scraps for it's people. An empire that controls global markets that sanctions an petrostate kleptocracy into just a kleptocracy, can't. The reality is no amount of competent governance is going to enable a petrostate like VZ to not be a shitshow if it's sanctioned from maintaining extractive infra (techstack controlled by empire) or sell in global markets. It's not about just being useless, but the inability to be useful no matter what you do. Yes, VZ got fucked from oil $100->$40 pre sanctions, but that's still a survivable/pivotable scenario than oil production going from 3 mbd to 400k mbd due to sanctions that prevents reconstitution of production. There's a reason economic freefall stabilized when Cheveron got license in 2022 that brought production back up to 1mbd. Now you can argue a "competent" government would have conceded to Monroe (like Machado) in the first place, or not pissed off US in backyard. Like, I get it, you're living through the shit, but don't be economically/geopolitically naive, US didn't sanction VZ because muh democracy decline under Muduro when US props up other petro authoritarian MENA states. The only difference is US meddle with those that align with US interests and not, and US meddling is what makes or breaks petro states.
- ErneX 1y ago
  I think it’s you who is naive. Plus Maduro is even offering our riches to Trump if they leave him alone: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/world/americas/maduro-venezuela-us-oil.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/world/americas/maduro-ven... Seems he lost the anti imperialist mojo.

mobiledev2014 1y ago

When will this stop being controversial? All you need to do is look at past winners of this farcical prize

EasyMark 1y ago

I don't understand why don't deal with Maduro but Trump regards Putin as practically an old friend, while both treat their people equally shitty. Same with some other countries, what is the litmus test?