Venezuela: U.S. Oil Sanctions Add Fuel to the Fire

The United States is going after Venezuela's state-run energy company. On Aug. 25, the White House directed the Treasury Department to ban U.S. individuals and companies from financial transactions that create new debt with the Venezuelan government or Venezuelan state energy company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). This new U.S. measure increases pressure on Venezuela to discourage the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) from fashioning the country into a one-party state....