Two hostages were released by Venezuela. One hostage was a member of the Citgo Six, who were arrested in 2017 on a business trip and “endured hellish conditions in prison.” But why, asks the WSJ, weren’t the other five also released?

Rewarding a Rogue Regime?

Although State Department isn’t saying, one possibility is that Maduro is holding them back until the U.S. eases the oil sanction the U.S. imposed in 2019.

But the release coincides with U.S. diplomacy that seems aimed at easing U.S. sanctions so the country can increase oil production. This would reward a rogue regime for taking American hostages with little energy benefit.

Easing sanctions might be next. The Biden Administration is going hat in hand to oil producers everywhere except the U.S. to increase global supply amid sanctions on Russian oil.

Apparently begging Mr. Maduro, Iran and the Saudis is preferable to encouraging more oil production in the U.S. and Canada.

After canceling the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office, Joe Biden has gone begging to the Venezuelans for oil. Now, more than ever, energy independence is a national security issue.