This article was first published on the 12th of September, 2019 by Patrick Carpen.
Last updated: September 13, 2019 at 7:30 am
Russian Roulette (pronounced roolay) is a torture technique in which a gun (revolver) loaded with only one round is aimed at the head of the victim and the trigger pulled. The chances that the round would be fired is 1 in 6. If the round doesn’t fire, the cylinder is spun and the process repeated. This is a “terrorizing” torture technique used to get the captive to talk and give up secrets. The technique probably originated from Russia, hence the term “Russian” Roulette.
The term “to play Russian Roulette” has taken on a metaphorical meaning to suggest that someone is involving in high-risk and dangerous behavior. And that is what Donald Trump and the United States government is doing right now when meddling in Venezuelan affairs.
It should be no secret by now that the U.S government is desperate to get control of Venezuela’s 300,000 million barrels of proven oil reserve. But what Mr. Trump doesn’t seem to understand (or is pretending not to) is that the fight is not simply between the United States and Venezuela, but between the United States and Russia, or the United States against Russia and China.
Using Colombia as a front door after failing to get Brazil’s backing for a military invasion, the Trump Administration seems to be “racing against the clock.” But what exactly is the clock?
The Clock: Venezuela’s New Cryptocurrency: The Petro
Maduro is in the process of launching a new cryptocurrency, the Petro, which will be backed by Venezuela’s oil, gold and other mineral wealth, and on which US Sanctions will have little effect. In other words, the Petro won’t be susceptible to hyperinflation under US Sanctions as the Bolivar which is now about 250,000 to 1 USD. In July 2019, the Bank of Venezuela has already started the process of making the Petro available to all Venezuelans. But whether this new cryptocurrency will lift Venezuela out of the economic rubble or not is a subject of great debate and economists are divided on the subject. One thing however is sure: the Trump Administration can’t affort to wait to see if the Petro will work as planned. Because if it does, there goes all hope and excuses for ousting Maduro.
Russia’s Superior Weapons
At present, Russia and China are literally “milking” Venezuela of its oil, gold and other resources. And if the world’s most powerful person, Vladimir Putin (according to Forbes), has his way, things will stay the same.
Earlier this year, Donald Trump admitted that Russia has “superior” weapons and Putin has already put up a show demonstrating how Russian missiles can bypass US defense systems. Then there’s the Russian Doomsday Device: a nuclear submarine which can trigger tsunamis off US Coasts and wipe out major US Cities.
Yet, Donald Trump seems hellbent on wringing Venezuela from the grips of Maduro and Putin. What he doesn’t understand is the kind of danger he is playing with: and the risk is not just for the United States, but for humanity and the world.
