Responsible Statecraft: US non-profits 'in the tank' for Exxon, Chevron over Venezuela oil

By Joseph Bouchard & Nick Cleveland-Stout

As US sends warships to the region it's important to note that lobbyists and think tanks that get big bucks have been fanning the flames right here in DC.

On Friday, as three U.S. destroyers headed towards waters off of Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro mobilized 4.5 million militiamen in response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted a one-word tweet: “#Guyana.”

The post included a screenshot of a statement from the Guyanese government, which echoed concerns from Washington about Venezuelan transnational organized crime, all but offering support for the military escalation. Those concerns are based on the debunked assertion that Maduro is the head of the “Cartel of the Suns,” using drugs and gang violence as a weapon of war against the U.S.