Sen. Kaine Grills Pentagon Nominee on Caribbean Actions and War Powers

Pentagon Nominee Grilled on Military Actions

• 🎯 Alexander J. Velez-Green, nominated as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, faced intense questioning from Senator Tim Kaine.
• ❓ Kaine sought to ascertain Velez-Green's involvement in discussions regarding potential military strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.
• 🚫 Velez-Green repeatedly stated that discussing his involvement in such sensitive planning would be inappropriate for the hearing setting.

Legal Rationale and Terrorist Designations

• ⚖️ When asked about involvement in the legal rationale for strikes, Velez-Green deferred to the Office of General Counsel.
• ❌ He explicitly stated he had not been involved in the composition of the list of designated terrorist organizations used to direct strikes.
• ❓ Kaine pressed on whether Velez-Green was involved in discussions about the evidence justifying specific strikes, to which Velez-Green again cited inappropriateness.

Policy Discussions and Interdiction vs. Strikes

• 🗣️ Kaine inquired about policy discussions concerning when to interdict versus when to strike, distinguishing from specific strike instances.
• ✅ Velez-Green affirmed strong support for the president's intent and committed to working through such policy questions with sensitivity to legality and readiness.
• ❓ However, he declined to discuss his involvement in discussions on the topic of striking versus interdicting, citing the sensitivity of the issue.

Broader Military Actions and Congressional Consultation

• 🗺️ Kaine also questioned Velez-Green's involvement in discussions about potential land invasions of Venezuela and the use of US military within or against Nigeria.
• 🚫 Velez-Green declined to comment on his involvement in these specific contingency plans.
• ⚠️ Kaine expressed concern that discussions and decisions about war are being made without consulting Congress, referencing a Supreme Court discussion on war powers delegation.
• 🏛️ Kaine highlighted the lack of information provided on policy decisions and the difficulty in obtaining answers, even regarding classified legal rationales.
• ⚡ The hearing's timing was noted as timely, with a vote on a war powers resolution regarding Venezuela scheduled for later that day.