Daniel Marans
@dmarans
It seems like countries that have been ostracized by the West are increasingly seeking American and Western hostages as bargaining chips. Frightening stuff. I would not visit Venezuela right now for a host of reasons. At the same time, what has the ostracism actually gotten us? Note even in this story, the Times reporter says some oppose engagement with Maduro because he's a dictator. Any self-awareness in that? The U.S. uses moralism against its enemies only. Friends can be as dictatorial as they want. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/world/americas/americans-hostages-venezuela-prison.html
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Zero
@bezero
This is dominance thru power not virtue. It makes sense if i look at it thru the lens of power. Virtue-dominance is no longer a thing for American foreign policy
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Daniel Marans
@dmarans
I support the U.S. deluding itself less about its own virtues in foreign affairs, even if I am less into the short-sighted might-makes-right attitude of Trump toward allies like Canada, Mexico, and the EU. At the same time, I think even the often hypocritical subscription to at least some set of values has at times exercised a needed check on our worst abuses (think accountability for torture etc). Regardless, in the Venezuela context, a pure power calculus would dictate for us to normalize relations, because it is in our interests.
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Zero
@bezero
I would add the power calculus is not for Venezuela but americans, and American white nationalists. Its a signal for things to come. Heavy handed approaches to these issues that conveniently also grants the executive more power (and illegal). Imo a nation state deluding itself in terms of its virtue is better than a might is right state. Mask on vs off.
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