Trump Announces Plan to Bypass Congress for Military Campaign Against Drug Traffickers

Strategic Insights -

President Trump on Thursday vowed to continue his military campaign against drug traffickers, even if it means bypassing Congress, despite a bipartisan resolution to bar the US from engaging in hostilities inside Venezuela without explicit authorization.

The president's remarks came as the Senate is expected to vote next week on a resolution that would bar the US from engaging in hostilities inside Venezuela without explicit authorization by Congress. Trump, however, seems undeterred, stating that he would "kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? We are going to kill them, you know? They are going to be, like, dead."

Key Takeaways:

  • President Trump announced plans to expand his military campaign against drug traffickers to land strikes, bypassing Congress in the process.
  • The operation, which has resulted in 37 acknowledged deaths in nine airstrikes at sea, would target drug cartels that traffic narcotics to the US.
  • Trump stated that he would not seek formal approval from lawmakers to continue striking boats or expand the operation to include airstrikes against countries like Venezuela.
  • The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, but formal declarations are rare and have not been issued since World War II.
  • Lawmakers more often pass authorizations for the use of military force to grant the president permission to use force against specific targets.
  • The last time a president sought such a resolution was in October 2002, when President George W. Bush asked for authorization to use military force against Iraq.
  • Trump's plan has raised concerns about the potential for military intervention in countries like Venezuela without proper authorization.

Statistics:

  • 37 deaths acknowledged in nine airstrikes at sea as part of the military campaign against drug traffickers.
  • 300,000 people killed annually by drug trafficking.
  • 9 airstrikes at sea conducted by the US as part of the military campaign.

* Venezuela and Colombia being targeted countries for the operations.

  • 1962: The last time the US Congress formally declared war, against North Vietnam.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, "Trump Vows to Kill Drug Traffickers, but Says He May Bypass Congress"