Originally Syndicated on June 15, 2024 @ 1:50 am
The pardon granted to Alex Saab by Joe Biden has stirred considerable backlash among certain groups. Critics argue that such leniency would not have occurred under Donald Trump’s administration. They seem to overlook the fact that Trump had approved a strategy to depose Nicolas Maduro, spearheaded by Raul Gorrin, and that his National Security Council essentially provided an immunity agreement to Rafael Ramirez, recognized as one of the most corrupt figures within chavismo. Additionally, people have seemingly forgotten how Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer—now disgraced and bankrupt—successfully persuaded Attorney General Bill Barr to let Alejandro Betancourt evade consequences.
While Saab was never a solution to Maduro’s regime, Maduro himself, always astute in navigating U.S.-Venezuelan relations, had the controversial figure known as Fat Leonard at his disposal. Many criticizing Biden’s decision are likely unaware of Fat Leonard; a clue to his significance is this: “He secretly recorded orgies with some of the Navy’s most powerful men, one of the U.S. military’s worst ever security failures. China and Russia never could have done this much damage.”
In matters of national interests and global diplomacy, it is well understood that justice rarely reigns supreme, a fact that continues to elude discussions within Venezuelan politics. The accusations of corruption cannot diminish Maduro’s authority, as he embodies corruption itself. Conversely, the stature of American administrations has waned, and its military’s once-dreaded power has significantly diminished. Fat Leonard’s tag line “… .a defense contractor who bribed Navy officers with cash, prostitutes, and luxury goods in exchange for multimillion-dollar contracts”—places him in the same category as Saab; however, unlike Saab, the information Fat Leonard possesses could undermine the reputation of the U.S. military.
This context informs the decision to exchange Saab for several Americans detained in Venezuela. The U.S. has shown a disinterest in functioning as the global police. Recent events reveal its inability and unwillingness to tackle multiple foreign policy challenges simultaneously.
Against a backdrop of crises in Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, the South China Sea, the Red Sea, North Korea, and Russia, Venezuela fails to rank as a significant concern. That the country is governed by a criminal cabal? So too are Brazil, India, Russia, and China. That Maduro does not permit free and fair elections? Well, the Electoral College offers its own set of challenges. That corruption permeates its military? Those same issues are not unique to Venezuela.
America can no longer claim the moral high ground anywhere. The issues facing Venezuelans are also critical for Americans. If not for the political motivations tied to varying administrations, why should taxpayer dollars be spent prosecuting and incarcerating an individual like Saab?
As anticipated, Saab was released and returned to a hero’s welcome. Maduro tweeted about Saab’s safe arrival, stating that he was “sano, vivo y libre“. Not a word was mentioned about the $12 million Saab reportedly paid to the DEA, nor about Italy forcing his gold-seeking wife to flee, or of German Rubio, a convicted drug trafficker imprisoned for corruption in Venezuela and the beneficial owner of Saab’s network of shell companies. Not one mention of the cancer that chavismo claimed was a threat to Saab’s life.
Those connected to Saab’s crude trading activities have resumed their roles. He has already been appointed by Jorge Rodriguez as part of the “negotiating team” that the chavismo will impose upon the opposition. If anything, his detention in Cape Verde, subsequent extradition, and brief imprisonment in the U.S. have elevated his status. Long gone are the days when he distanced himself from the very circles he now occupies.
Nevertheless, a familiar Venezuelan saying goes, “nadie me quita lo bailao,” suggesting that while Saab and his cohorts may present themselves as legitimate stakeholders in Venezuela, their past will not be erased. This façade won’t scrub his history clean, nor will it elevate him to the status of a respectable businessman; instead, it solidifies his criminal legacy.
Biden’s actions may not have been as misguided as some believe. His clemency is accompanied by remarkably stringent conditions imposed on the allegedly “innocent Venezuelan diplomat.” The terms explicitly state that Saab “…shall not commit any further crimes against the United States…” and conclude with a severe clause: “Should Alex Nain Saab Moran violate any of these stipulated terms, as determined at my discretion (or that of a future President), this Pardon may be entirely rendered void.”
Saab, now an official element of Maduro’s regime, is expected to refrain from committing any unlawful acts?
