The Oil Ultimatum That Led to Maduro’s Capture

Throughout history, the United States has frequently intervened militarily to secure and protect its oil interests. What makes Saturday morning’s capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro different is that, this time, the stated motive was clear.  In 1953, after Iran’s Prime Minister, Mosaddegh, nationalized Anglo-Iranian oil interests, the U.S. and UK initiated Operation Ajax in order to oust him from power and regain control of the oil. It wasn’t until August 2013 that the CIA officially admitted to its role…