‘could be a little bit’
Page A6From§Eachthe early bird edition — 1 September 2026
Pentagon will own 35% of Venezuela oil venture as Gaza runs dry on engine oil
The Pentagon secures a 35% stake in a Venezuelan oil venture, a move celebrated in the receipts as advancing US interests. In the same news cycle, Gaza faces restrictions on engine oil, threatening its ability to generate electricity. The juxtaposition is striking: one government hand fills the tank from South America, the other leaves the generators dry in the Middle East. The receipts are not subtle—energy flows where the Pentagon holds the share, and stalls where the policy blocks the barrel. The beneficiaries are the institutions with leverage; the cost is paid by civilians where the flow is cut. The mechanism is simple: energy as a tool, oil as a lever, and the ledger is balanced by policy, not need. The fix is not in the pipeline; it's in the paperwork, and the paperwork says who gets to turn the lights on. In lieu of flowers, the column asks: who holds the barrel, and who holds the bill?
“The Pentagon gets a cut of Venezuela's oil while Gaza can't even get engine oil for generators. One hand fills the tank, the other leaves the lights off.”
“It's important for US interests to secure energy partnerships abroad, and restrictions are necessary in conflict zones. Did I say 'necessary'? Well, some places need more help than others, but that's just the reality of geopolitics.”
The receipts
As Israel continues to restrict the entry of engine oil and spare parts, Gaza’s strained network of generators, now its main source of electricity, is collapsing.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.