Senator Mike Rounds on US Military Action in Venezuela and International Waters

US Military Presence and Venezuela

• 🇺🇸 The U.S. has a significant military presence in the Caribbean, with the USS Gerald Ford set to arrive, leading to speculation about potential actions regarding Venezuela.
• 🎯 While President Trump has stated a desire to remove Maduro and secure U.S. borders, the primary stated focus for current military operations appears to be on drug runners.

Authority for Military Action

• 🏛️ Senator Rounds believes the President has the authority for clandestine operations and to project force, citing historical precedents like Grenada and Panama.
• ⚖️ However, there's a debate, particularly among those on the left, about whether congressional approval is needed for significant military action, especially if it involves extensive bombing.
• 📄 The Senator notes that Congress is working on appropriations and has requested specific legal analysis from the administration regarding operations in international waters.

Drug War and International Waters

• 🚢 The U.S. has been conducting missile strikes on drug runners in international waters, with four boats recently obliterated in the Pacific.
• 🗺️ The transcript questions the legal standing of the U.S. to conduct these attacks in international waters, with Congress specifically requesting information on this.
• 🌐 Operations are also expanding to include cyber operations against drug cartels, with congressional authorization already provided for research and surveillance.

Checks and Balances

• 🤝 Senator Rounds acknowledges that Congress needs to act in unison and that the executive branch is a unitary body.
• 📜 He references the Chevron case, suggesting that Congress needs to write clearer laws and that the executive branch cannot unilaterally interpret laws without scrutiny.
• ⚠️ While acknowledging the potential for overreach, Rounds does not believe the U.S. is heading towards more 'forever wars' but emphasizes the expectation for the President to notify Congress of significant actions.