Leave Venezuela alone

In response to Eli Lake’s opinion (Jan. 26) that Trump made right call on Venezuela, I believe Trump is making a terrible mistake - as have other administrations, both Republican and Democratic.

It has long been a policy of the U.S to force regime change on Latin American countries that stand in the way of corporate profits, regardless of the rights of sovereign nations. Cases in point: Chili, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Argentina, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and others.

Lake mentions sanctions against Venezuela, but fails to justify them or state the effects of those sanctions. Sanctions against Citgo, the American subsidiary of the Venezuelan oil industry, barred Citgo from remitting money back to Venezuela, depriving that government of over $1 billion. U.S. sanctions prevent Venezuela from working with international banks to restructure its foreign debt. Sanctions against 70 Venezuelan individuals keep foreign investment out of that country, effectively creating an embargo.

All of these sanctions against Venezuela while no sanctions against Russia and eliminating sanctions against Deripaska, when Russia has interfered with U.S. elections - an act of war. The U.S. is responsible for crippling the economy of Venezuela, not socialism.

Stop regime change, hands off Venezuela.

David Randall

Spokane