Rand Paul says Venezuelan operation was ‘an act of war’
Sen. Rand Paul said he will vote for a bipartisan War Powers Resolution aimed at blocking further U.S. military action in Venezuela after a recent operation in which U.S. forces attacked Caracas and captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Appearing on fox Business, Paul called bombing a foreign capital and removing its leader “an act of war” and argued that the Constitution’s framers intended Congress-not a single person-too authorize the initiation of war. He added that while he favors limiting the president’s power to start wars, he supports broader commander-in-chief authority over how and when military operations are executed. The resolution,co-sponsored by Sens. Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine, has been developed since strikes on venezuelan vessels began last fall; dozens of strikes have occurred, and the White House has described the Maduro mission as a law-enforcement operation.
Rand Paul says Venezuelan operation was ‘an act of war’
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) promised on Tuesday that he would vote for a bill to curb President Donald Trump’s war powers in light of the recent operation in Venezuela.
Paul appeared on Fox Business’s Mornings With Maria Bartiromo days after U.S. troops attacked Caracas, Venezuela, and captured former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Before this attack, the Senate was gearing up to vote on a resolution to return war powers back to Congress, particularly when it came to groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
“The Senate will vote on a bipartisan war powers resolution to block the president from further military action in Venezuela. How are you planning to vote?” host Maria Bartiromo asked Paul.
“I’ll vote yes because the founding fathers debated this. They debated whether or not the initiation of war, the declaration of war, should begin with Congress, with the people, with the people’s representatives, or whether or not it should be left to one person,” Paul said.
“I think bombing another nation’s capital and removing their president is an act of war. Anybody who argues otherwise, I think, would have a very difficult argument,” he added.
Later in the segment, Paul clarified his opinion that the president’s war powers are less about the declaration of war and more about the execution of war.
According to the senator, even if Congress had voted to go to war with Venezuela, “no one would have had to have been told when” this mission would happen. The how and when would still be left up to Trump.
“So I am actually for more commander in chief power for the execution of the war, but less commander in chief power for the actual initiation of war,” Paul said.
WHY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING THE MADURO MISSION A ‘LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION’
Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) are the co-sponsors of the War Powers Resolution. It has been in the works since September, shortly after Trump launched his first strike against a Venezuelan ship that was alleged to be carrying drugs. Since then, over two dozen strikes have hit other Venezuelan ships. Another seven strikes hit Caracas the day the Army Delta Force invaded the city to detain Maduro and Flores.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House for comment.
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