| While Washington Cannot Choose The President Of Venezuela, It Can Make Life Impossible For Officials, Such As Alex Saab, Who Attempt To Defy Its Sanctions Regime On Wednesday, November 24, MintPress News Editor in Chief Mnar Adley sat down to speak with Camila Saab, the wife of imprisoned Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab. Saab was on a diplomatic mission to Iran in June 2020, where he was tasked with securing deals for food, medicine and personal protective equipment. His plane stopped off in Cabo Verde — a group of islands off the west coast of Africa — for a routine refueling. He would never finish his journey, as, on orders from the United States government, local authorities stormed the vehicle, forcing him off the plane — an event that would begin his 18-month detention. “I never imagined that Cabo Verde was going to kidnap a diplomat,” said the Italian-born former model and mother of two. American prosecutors have accused Saab of defrauding the Venezuelan government out of hundreds of millions of dollars meant for a social housing project, claiming he sent the money to U.S. banks. While most of the charges against him have already been dropped, the most important one remains, and he faces 20 years in federal prison if convicted. Whether or not the allegations are true, it is surprising indeed that the U.S. government suddenly cares about financial crimes hurting the Maduro administration. Washington has frozen assets belonging to the Venezuela-owned CITGO service station group and has previously seized and sold Iranian oil bound for Venezuela — an act some have labeled a flagrant case of international piracy. Saab is currently being held in Miami, where, according to Camila, he is not receiving any medical care. Saab is a cancer survivor, but is not receiving his medication. His wife is worried for his health but remains focused. “Alex is a fighter and he will never give up… He is a very resilient person and he is very strong,” she said. While much of the Western media has downplayed the affair, Saab’s case has become a cause celebre inside Venezuela, with walls everywhere festooned with posters and graffiti demanding the U.S. “Free Alex Saab.” “I really cannot express the gratitude of my family for the incredible support that the Venezuelan people and the government is showing to us. Alex is very grateful for all the support; it is amazing to see how the people are supporting me,” Camila Saab told MintPress. Saab’s case is another example of the U.S. government’s attempts to destabilize Venezuela. Quite apart from financing opposition political parties and supporting self-declared “Interim President” Juan Guaidó, the Biden administration also refused to recognize the legitimacy of last Sunday’s regional “mega elections” that saw President Nicolás Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela sweep to victory, winning 20 of the country’s 23 state governorships plus the Caracas capital district. With a turnout of 42%, a figure higher than equivalent midterm elections in the U.S., the result is certainly not one that people in Washington were hoping for, leaving the socialists in a position of power and Guaidó more isolated than ever. However, while Washington cannot choose the president of Venezuela, it can make life impossible for officials, such as Alex Saab, who attempt to defy its sanctions regime. Source URL |