Brava. The recent chapter I would add is Venezuela: Maduro’s capture in January 2026, followed almost immediately by U.S. claims over oil access in the country with the world’s largest proven reserves.
And then there is the long ledger: Central America, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and all the smaller interventions people forget because they never received the full Hollywood-war treatment.
The United States has carried out more than 200 military interventions since 1945, with 114 since 1989 alone. So yes, the language changes from anti-communism to democracy to human rights to security. The pattern stays remarkably steady: trade routes, resource access, strategic control.
History lessons are too often “supplemental”, the lessons often never taught or discussed. That’s why it’s so important to have a voice with your experience, knowledge and intelligence, to school us on those things our teachers never told us. Great piece, well-defined message.
It's shifted from gold to tea to rum to opium to oil to rare minerals, but the story remains the same.
Excellent, well-crafted piece!
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment.
My pleasure!
Brava. The recent chapter I would add is Venezuela: Maduro’s capture in January 2026, followed almost immediately by U.S. claims over oil access in the country with the world’s largest proven reserves.
And then there is the long ledger: Central America, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and all the smaller interventions people forget because they never received the full Hollywood-war treatment.
The United States has carried out more than 200 military interventions since 1945, with 114 since 1989 alone. So yes, the language changes from anti-communism to democracy to human rights to security. The pattern stays remarkably steady: trade routes, resource access, strategic control.
Still counting.
Absolutely - thank you for reading the piece and for your considered addition!
I knew some of this but not all of it. Having all the dots connected is enlightening.
Thank you for your work.
PS: American Exceptionalism is really American Exploitation.
Thank you for reading!
History lessons are too often “supplemental”, the lessons often never taught or discussed. That’s why it’s so important to have a voice with your experience, knowledge and intelligence, to school us on those things our teachers never told us. Great piece, well-defined message.
🙏🏻