Hypothetical: Venezuela collapses. What should the the U.S. do to help, if anything?

[Adrahil]

So, to me, it seems like Venezuela may be about to collapse.

Obviously, that could lead to a tremendous amount of suffering, even more than what those folks are suffering now.

If that happens, should the U.S. help? If so, how?

As much as I think Maduro and his goons have ruined that country, I hate to see senseless suffering. I would advocate no-strings-attached humanitarian aid in the form of food, basic necessities, and medical supplies.

[Oneironaut]

1. Nothing.

Anything done in the country will be seen as meddling. This is a country the U.S. has done enough to already. Let them fend for themselves. Otherwise, we'll be accused of being imperialists who want to take over the country for their oil.

[bemildred]

2. Stay the fuck out of it. nt

[FrodosPet]

19. They don't need, and don't want, our dirty money

America needs to quit buying Venezuelan oil. They need it all there for themselves.

[bemildred]

20. It needs to stay in the ground. nt

[On the Road]

26. They Have Pleny of Oil

They need money. Oil price rise should help in that department.

[On the Road]

27. They Have Pleny of Oil

They need money. Oil price rise should help in that department.

[Nye Bevan]

3. Very tricky trying to help a hopelessly corrupt regime like that one.

Given half a chance the corrupt government officials would steal the food and/or resell the medical supplies to line their own pockets. Having said that, I would be all in favor of humanitarian aid where there are strict safeguards to ensure that it gets to the intended recipients.

[MADem]

4. We should provide help through our international alliances. We are members of the UN and the OAS.

Those agencies can take the lead, and we can provide cash and goods and logistical support as needed. Medical personnel interested in providing aid could volunteer to help as well under the rubric of, say, MSF or the International Red Cross.

Might as well fire up some of these agencies and get them to pitch in, if needs must.

[Adrahil]

12. That's a good idea. Thanks. NT

[malaise]

5. Who do you think formented this mess

[Nye Bevan]

7. Some DUers think that President Obama is behind the mess in Venezuela.

Just like Hugo Chavez claimed that the US had caused his cancer.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/29/hugo-chavez-us-cancer-plot

Unbelievable.

[AgerolanAmerican]

6. Why is this our business?

The only way you get a stable outcome is if Venezuelans decide for themselves, WITHOUT outside interference.

Any US moves in particular will be viewed with extreme suspicion, due to our odious history in the hemisphere.

[Adrahil]

10. I'm not talking about DECIDING.

I agree that any U.S. action is likely to be seem as suspicious among a certain set, but "no strings attached" aid? I dunno. I hate to see people starving and do nothing.

[AgerolanAmerican]

14. We don't give "no strings attached" aid

especially not to a major oil producer.

If that aid comes, it will come with attached demands.

If you want to provide aid with no strings attached, you'll have to do it yourself!

[TipTok]

8. Find folks sympathetic to American interests and support them as best we can...

.... as the country pulls itself out of the crapper.

[PufPuf23]

9. Bulk food, basic necessities, medical supplies as you suggest; humanitarian aid.

No strings attached too as you suggest.

Venezuela needs more than the USA can provide.

Venezuela has screwed up by over spending and crony corruption.

To intervene with a neo-liberal project is disaster capitalism and at best another bubble where some individual fortunes are made and trans-national corporations gain stressed assets and positions.

[Adrahil]

11. Absolutely. No "fixing."

Our "fixes" in that region tend to not be helpful.

Maybe provide aid to international organizations like the IRC?

[PufPuf23]

13. Red Cross sounds good to me. So would DWOB and there

may be some UN programs too.

[karadax]

15. My view is let the UN and the countries neighbors help.

We would end up playing a major role regardless due to proximity.

Neocons would say yes help because if we don't do it somebody else with a different motive will.

The country is rich in natural resources. Do the math.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

16. Wait until Maduro et al have fled to Cuba

Then help pick of the pieces.

[MADem]

17. Cuba? He's stashed enough millions away to hide in a better location than that.

He'll fart through silk for the rest of his life, and so will his family, if they land in the right place.
For the right price, extradition can remain problematic for decades.

If the place implodes, no one will have to tell him to run. If he gets rounded up and frogmarched, it will be due to his own laziness and indecisiveness--those qualities that got him in trouble in the first place.

[leeroysphitz]

18. Start a coup, steal the oil.

Oh, wait...

[FLPanhandle]

21. We don't even take care of our own underprivilaged and homeless

Why should we take care of other countries?

[Bacchus4.0]

22. Have their friends in Cuba, Iran, Russia, Bolivia, Nicaragua bail them out nt

[Rex]

25. I read China is already on the case. nt

nt

[Xolodno]

23. Humanatarian aid only and not direct.

Have it sent to and distributed by the UN and OAS.

As for the government, the people will see us as meddlers only.....and sadly, rightfully so. Either their allies (such as Cuba, Nicaragua, etc.) heads any civil war off at the pass and if they don't, let neighboring regional players stamp it down.

[Rex]

24. They will not take our help, it will come from China instead.

Venezuela has already collapsed.

[name not needed]

28. Humanitarian aid + UN Peacekeepers to keep Maduro's goons from selling said aid on the black market.

[elehhhhna]

29. put bill in charge so he can fuck it up like haiti?

[LanternWaste]

30. This is one of those conversations that really illustrates how invested we are in magical-thinking..

This is one of those conversations that really illustrates how invested we are in magical-thinking and faith the red and blue lines on a map are more real than the suffering of other people on this planet.