Trading In Evil Has A Long History In This World, And It Won't Be Ending Any Time Soon

Francis Fukuyama wrote a then important 1992 book called The End of History and the Last Man, in which he argues that the arc of history inevitably leads to liberal democracy. Obviously the catalyst for this idea was the fall of the Soviet Union, ably assisted by the magnificent triumvirate of Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and an unassuming Polish shipyard worker named Lech Wałęsa.

But Evil is not so easily defeated, and the desire for power and dominion over others is alive and well. The Soviets exported their political philosophy all over the world, but their fall simply created opportunities for other actors in this never-ending play.

Southern Command eyes Venezuela's illicit connections and Iranian patronage

Putting aside the insanity of Iran exporting fuel to Venezuela (they have the largest petroleum reserves on earth)...

Maduro has reportedly transferred $500 million in gold bullion to Tehran as secret payment for unknown services.

In recent days, Venezuelan-bound tankers carrying gasoline from Iran were diverted to Houston by American authorities.

Gunson said the fuel is badly needed in Venezuela, which has seen mismanagement, corruption, and international sanctions strangle its petroleum industry, which has shrunk from 3 million barrels per day during the days of Hugo Chavez a decade ago to some 350,000 barrels a day.

But what should we do about it? I am a firm believer in the "Monroe Doctrine," or at least part of it. So interfering in Iranian expansionism in our hemisphere is an appropriate an necessary function of our federal government. That doesn't mean invading Venezuela or Iran...we have done far too much of that sort of thing in the last 20 years! Confiscating fuel shipments and disrupting other activities, covertly and overtly however is a fine thing, and something that has minimal risk for maximum reward.

posted by CBD at 12:00 PM

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