On Monday’s broadcast of NPR’s “Morning Edition,” Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) said there is a legal basis for stopping and boarding some oil tankers around Venezuela, but that is “beyond the issue.” and “We can cut funding for this type of operation”.
Smith said, “There is a legal basis for it… if you’re on one of these ships, if you’re flying under a false flag or without a flag, and if you’re engaged in illegal activities. This goes on all over the world. The Dark Fleet that you mentioned earlier, for example, no one operates more Dark Fleet ships than Russia. So it happens a lot. And there is a legal basis for boarding, stopping and inspecting. If you’re looking at property. When it comes to the issue of confiscation, it is highly questionable.”
He added, “But the legal basis is beside the point. The reason they are being targeted, among at least dozens, if not more, of these ships operating around the world is because President Maduro wants to be removed from power. This is about regime change and conflict with Venezuela, much more than trying to enforce international laws against false flag vessels or dark fleet vessels.”
Later, in response to a question about cutting funding for the campaign against Venezuela, Smith said that “We could cut funding for this kind of operation, a lot of the things we could do, if Republicans decide that their policy beliefs are bigger than their political fear of Donald Trump. And we’re not there yet at this point. We have to keep moving forward.”
to follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHunchet
