We are the oldest continuous democracy in the modern world. In large part, this is because our founders were the products of the Enlightenment who fashioned a written Constitution, which provides both freedom to citizens and checks and balances to restrain those in power. Massive celebrations are called for, with big ships, flyovers, and the largest ever fireworks display in the cleaned-up National Mall. It’s extremely hot, but that doesn’t seem to have dampened enthusiasm, and crowds have been large at scheduled events.

Advertisement

Just as they denigrated the effort to clean up the Tidal Basin, and initially denied it had been sabotaged, they made efforts to keep the celebration small. Mainstream media initially were reporting scarce crowds when they appeared with cameras hours before the events were scheduled. The latest effort to claim disinterest is the report that all these pyrotechnics will create dangerous air pollution. I’ve lived in Washington since 1969, in years when we had temperature inversions with leaded gasoline polluting the already dirty air, and yet the fireworks displays managed to go off without scores of people perishing from poisoned air. I expect this year will be no different. I don’t recall alarms in the press then, but Trump was not then in the White House.

As happy as we are to celebrate this national holiday, we have been mesmerized by events in Venezuela, which show the best and worst of humanity. Thousands of Caracas residents living in an earthquake zone were trapped in collapsed residences. Many apartments were in cheap government-built housing which lacked reinforcing steel and were finished in abysmal masonry -- some plastic foam with thin layers on concrete disguising the flimsy underpinnings.

Advertisement

Ordinary Caracans, without even shovels, wheelbarrows, or any other useful equipment, used their bare hands to peel away the debris and rescue those trapped. In fact, countless videos on X taken by passersby show that officials were not helping, instead, were preventing people from doing so. One shirtless man, “Topo de La Guaira” rescued many with his bare hands. The government responded by arresting him because he openly decried its failures. The response was immediate -- from around the world, people demanded his release, and the government relented by setting him free, after which he returned to the rubble to help rescue more people.

Although the government provided no equipment to the rescuers, the drug lord Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, did provide motorized machinery and cranes to extract a mysterious vault in La Guaira, the hardest-hit part of Caracas. Some videos showed stacks and stacks of dollar bills pouring out of the collapsed buildings there, where reports say millions of dollars and drugs had been hidden.

Advertisement

It was wonderful to see the aid that poured in from around the world. The first on the scene was Bukele’s El Salvador, and while most, if not all, of the foreign aid missions have now departed, his corps -- overseen personally by Bukele through video conferencing -- is remaining to address the needs of the vulnerable population with food, necessities of life, and medical care. The New York Times listed the countries which sent aid, somehow leaving out Israel, which had quickly sent the most technologically advanced search team even though Venezuela has not recognized her for almost two decades.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday became the first leader of the South American country since Hugo Chávez to publicly praise Israel, after an Israeli aid delegation arrived in Venezuela following the devastating earthquake disaster.

Advertisement

Although many countries sent aid missions, Rodríguez chose to single out Israel’s unique expertise. “I would like to report that yesterday we received a highly professional and skilled group from Israel, which arrived following contact made through the Jewish community in Venezuela,” Rodríguez said at a press conference Thursday night.

Here’s what makes the story so amazing: even on July 4, ten days after the earthquake, live survivors were being located and extricated from the scene. I cannot imagine how people survived and maintained hope for so long while being buried alive. The death toll was estimated to be in the tens of thousands. So far it has risen to 2,645, with 12,666 having been reported as injured. How many are still buried is unknown.

Advertisement

Interim president Delcy Rodriguez’ term has expired under Venezuelan law. Whether the popular leader Marta Cortina Machado will step in is unclear. She insists she wants to, but there are reports the Department of State wants her to wait because the country, in its view, is not prepared yet for new tensions her return will unleash. Maybe. I think everyone not on the take in that country would be happy quickly to get rid of the present regime.

It has long been believed that Mojtaba Khamenei, in whose name the Iranian negotiators claim to be acting, died with his father in the initial strike on Iran’s leadership. His father was buried Friday, and he didn’t, as expected, show up. Neither did any member of Khamenei’s family, all of whom had been believed to be with him when he was killed. The New York Times brushed his absence off as a sign that he had security concerns. Apparently neither he nor the Times know about video conferencing. He’s dead, and the claim the negotiators are acting with his approval is obviously pure fiction.

Advertisement

While many reasonable commentators wish we were acting more swiftly and forcibly against Iran, that country is slowly bleeding out.

Jack Prandelli (@jackprandelli) on X:

Iran has a big oil problem

Over 58 million barrels of Iranian crude are floating at sea, more than 90% without a confirmed buyer

China, Iran's largest customer, is running refiners at the lowest utilization in 9 years, Iranian imports have more than halved

India is locked into Russian barrels, Europe won't touch it over insurance risk and fears US sanctions snap back

Iran rushed millions of barrels onto the market the moment access reopened.

The demand side never showed up.

Iran got its market access back. It didn't get its market back.

Here’s to the next 250 years, America -- L’Chaim!