American Prestige Bonus - Venezuela, the Drug War, and U.S. Power in the Caribbean w/ Aileen Teague (Preview)
Dec 28, 2025
Aileen Teague, a historian specializing in drug history and Latin American politics, joins the hosts to discuss the U.S. focus on the War on Drugs in Latin America. She critiques the misleading 'narco-terror' rhetoric, explaining how it has fueled cartel violence and mobilized military responses. Aileen warns about the destabilization risks in Venezuela and the implications of U.S. interventions. The conversation also uncovers the geopolitical motives behind U.S. interests in oil, migration, and isolating Cuba.
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Narco‑Terror Is A Rhetorical Fusion
- 'Narco-terror' is largely rhetorical, blending two distinct phenomena to mobilize resources.
- Aileen Teague argues prohibitionist militarized drug policies helped create the extreme violence we now label as 'narco-terror'.
Briefings Reveal Confidence And Unprosecuted Captures
- Aileen Teague briefed conservative congressional staffers recently and found confidence in intelligence much higher than public reporting suggests.
- She notes rescued suspects handed to regional states often lacked prosecutable evidence and some were later freed.
Boat Strikes Are Legally And Operationally Fuzzy
- U.S. actions against drug boats can be vague and legally fuzzy, producing troubling outcomes.
- Teague highlights cases where people taken in strikes were later free, raising questions about purpose and oversight.