People of the United States: Listen to Maduro

In what CNN described as an exclusive conversation during a mass rally in Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a direct appeal to the working class of the United States.

Maduro called for an end to Washington’s foreign wars, saying: “No more endless wars. No more unjust wars. No more Libya. No more Afghanistan.”

When asked by CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon whether he had anything to say to U.S. President Donald Trump, Maduro answered simply: “Yes, peace. Yes, peace.”

These remarks come from a leader whom much of the U.S. corporate media regularly slanders as a dictator.

A dangerous escalation

According to CBS News, U.S. forces have carried out at least 20 strikes in international waters in the Caribbean since September, destroying 21 vessels and killing at least 80 people. A United Nations official has described these killings as extrajudicial assassinations.

This pattern echoes the kinds of interventions that brought catastrophe to Libya and Afghanistan. Maduro’s warning is a reminder of how quickly such escalations can deepen.

Why people in the U.S. should pay attention

Maduro’s message was aimed at people in the United States — especially working people, who are already struggling with rising costs, low wages, and economic insecurity.

Wars are always justified in the name of “national interest,” but it is working-class communities who bear the burden: through cuts to social programs, higher military spending, and the diversion of resources away from housing, health care, schools, and basic public needs.

People in the United States are one of the forces capable of pushing back against a new war drive. History shows that mass protests and organized antiwar movements have made a difference. Early, organized opposition has slowed or stopped interventions before — and it can make a difference again.

A call for peace

As the U.S. expands military operations in the Caribbean, the need for a broad, inclusive antiwar movement becomes more urgent.

Maduro’s appeal is a reminder that the path to peace depends on people acting before a new war takes deeper root.

There is still time to prevent the kind of destruction the U.S. brought to Libya and Afghanistan — but only if people in the United States say no to war and no to any escalation against Venezuela now.