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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
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Austin Sarat

Trump’s approach to Venezuela repeats the mistakes of the past

boats travel through the water
‘Whatever his motivation, the peace president is saber-rattling in the Caribbean, much like a bully picks on weaker opponents.’ Photograph: US Navy/Reuters

Donald Trump seems determined to have a military confrontation with Venezuela. He has deployed a massive military arsenal in and around the Caribbean Sea and taken a series of provocative actions off the Venezuelan coast, justifying it as necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

The Council on Foreign Relations says that deployment includes an “aircraft carrier, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious assault ships, and a special forces support ship. A variety of aircraft have also been active in the region, including bombers, fighters, drones, patrol planes, and support aircraft.” This is the largest display of American military might in the western hemisphere since we invaded Panama in 1989.

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