President Trump, his chief advisors, and many in Congress are threatening an invasion of the South American Country of Venezuela. I understand why some are concerned about the humanitarian aspects of people in a country with extremely high inflation, little food and medicine, and a starving population.

The origin of the crisis lies with Past-President Hugo Chavez. He was an extremely charismatic personality who became a leader by telling the poor he would give them the riches and economy they deserved. He nationalized foreign businesses causing the foreign business people to leave and started an exodus of the nation’s elites. Mismanagement rapidly grew when Chavez died and his Vice-President Nicolas Maduro replaced him. Maduro is a former taxi driver with no experience in government or economics. He has wrecked the economy. His election results were suspected to be fraudulent since the poor have suffered the most under him.

The question is should we do more than offer humanitarian aid. Our history of interference in Latin America goes back to the Monroe Doctrine where President Monroe banned European countries from becoming involved in Latin America and thus making them dependent on the United States. Now the Chinese are getting involved in our pond with the loans and businesses.

One of the first major intrusions into countries south of the border was our invasion of Mexico where we took our southwest states. Another was when we invaded Cuba during the Spanish-American War and made it and the Philippines colonies. We created a rebel group to cause a split in Columbia creating Panama so we could build a canal.

More recently we used the CIA to overthrow governments to put in leaders we want. We killed Chili’s President, supplied guns to the contras in Nicaragua, invaded Panama and captured the leader our CIA has trained and cultivated. We invaded the tiny island of Grenada. We trained and supported the rebels invading Cuba. The CIA has been involved in doing things in all Latin American countries.

The question still exists. Should we do more than give food and medicine to Venezuelans after we have interfered in Central and South American countries?

We have forced our will on them just so American companies can do business in their countries through overt and covert political, economic and subversive activities. Could it be the push to interfere in Venezuela is because the expropriated oil facilities and leases belonged to American oil companies? Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves and is our third largest supplier of oil. Is this to be like our involvement with other businesses in mineral resources and bananas? We know the former President of Panama, Noriega, was paid by the CIA to be involved in the drug trade by expediting the drugs.

The question is still should we get involved again or let other countries solve the problem. We are already the hated Yaquis who interfered in their countries so why not sit back and let the problem resolve itself.