Posted on 10/25/2025 5:16:13 PM PDT by RandFan
There are a few reasons to doubt the American government's stated aim of wiping out these so-called "narco terrorist" gangs threatening the US from Venezuela, even after one takes out of the equation the sort of equipment the military is deploying - which isn't what they would need for effective drug smuggling interdiction.
While the president acknowledges that the synthetic opioid fentanyl is a huge killer in the US (which it is) and is supplied by drug gangs (which it is), to blame Venezuela for fentanyl production is simply incorrect.
Mexican cartels produce fentanyl with precursors largely supplied from China, and it is from Mexico - America's neighbour - that the fentanyl is smuggled directly into the United States across its southern border.
Venezuela isn't involved in this fentanyl business in any meaningful way, and I know this because I have reported from the Sinaloa cartel's fentanyl production labs in Mexico.
The Mexican cartels are very proud of their business, and from my experience covering this story over the years, when the drugs cartels are proud of something, and it makes them a lot of money - which fentanyl does - they don't share the market with anyone, and certainly not with Venezuela.
President Trump is right that Venezuela is now a large supplier of other illegal drugs, especially cocaine, but they come from countries like Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, which are the largest producers of the coca leaf in the world (the coca leaf is what cocaine is made from).
Venezuela, which borders Colombia, is largely a transit country to the Caribbean in the same way that Ecuador, which also borders Colombia, is a transit country to the Pacific.
Neither Venezuela nor Ecuador are significant drug producers.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...
The journalist is saying the most deadly stuff is from Mexico cartels
So this is a waste of time/resources
........
The border is closed to Mexico dangerous stuff thanks to Trump, so any stuff that normally makes it to Mexico from these other places are being isolated and dealt with now.
And the National Emergencies and Executive Orders regarding Venezuela that started under Obama are still current..
The US isn’t doing this by themselves.
It’s a global alliance.
And National Emergencies started under Obama has consequences.
So does a closed US border and declared invasion...
Transnational Organized Crime is on the endangered species list under a Trump Administration and they aren’t waiting to be next door...
They are blowing them up before they can even get close with the US Military because the US Military is at the US border.
A constitution is primarily a structural document, not a procedural document. The word constitution probably comes from the word constitute.
Congress can pass a bill prohibiting Trump from blowing up drug boats, as it has the ARTICLE I, SECTION 8 power to set rules for the government.
Earlier in my life, the Congress passed the War Powers Act.
Firstly, what has this got to do with present subject/topic?
Secondly the drone strike he “defended” was an attack in Afghanistan (I believe) duly authorized by the US Congress
This has not been and I wouldn’t have much of a case if it had now, would I?
It’s apples and oranges and it’s irrelevant
“Well you’d never know that from his years of posting here. Is it something he tries to hide?”
Are you saying that he has to think 100% exactly the way you and the herd want him to think? The herd tries to do that to me too and I have not yet found the rule that states that absolute purism is required to participate here.
“ My understanding is that you’re British, so this is the new normal over there.”
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Well it could be worse… he could be FRENCH!😊😊
2 MIN AGO: Massive ICE Raid Shakes Seattle - Cartel Leaders Arrested, Fentanyl & Weapons Seized utube 12:47
Now you can retire that lame straw man about not focusing on the Mexican cartels.
The Trump admin can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Congress is the supreme law making body not the president it’s also the body that can declare war and all that. They didn’t put the president in charge of declaring war it’s clear in the document.
He’s the CIC who prosecutes it only
Another thing the idiot fails to understand drugs will flow through the easiest cheapest channel possible. As the wall gets built the ease of land transport gets harder. More moves to sea transport. Sea transport now gets squeezed.
China primarily provides the precursors that gives them deniability. Plants for production are in Mexico, Venezuela, the US and elsewhere in Latin America. Where ever the locals can be corrupted to look the other way production will occur. The facilities are cheap, easy to set up, take down or destroy. They'll be put up where conditions allow and ease to market exists. Another thing its intimately connected to human trafficking all forms of it.
China will continue their revenge for the Opium Wars and the “400 years of shame*”. It's a cheap non-attributable munition to gain "hegemony" over the barbarian powers. In their minds the stupid Baizuo deserve it. Given our and Europe's consumption of the product maybe we do!
* Speech by a PLA general to a party Congress maybe 10-15 years ago.
Congress is the supreme law making body not the president it’s also the body that can declare war and all that. They didn’t put the president in charge of declaring war it’s clear in the document.
.........
Title 50 Chapter 33 Section §1550.
Look that up and read a little of what has been authorized by Congress Supreme law making body...
Here it is below in part:
TITLE 50 / CHAPTER 33 / § 1550
50 USC 1550: Reports and briefings on use of military force and support of partner forces
Text contains those laws in effect on October 24, 2025
From Title 50-WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CHAPTER 33-WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
§1550. Reports and briefings on use of military force and support of partner forces
(a) In general
Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, and every 180 days thereafter, the President shall submit to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on actions taken pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40) against those countries or organizations described in such law, as well as any actions taken to command, coordinate, participate in the movement of, or accompany the regular or irregular military forces of any foreign country or government when such forces are engaged in hostilities or in situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, during the preceding 180-day period.
(b) Matters to be included
The report required by subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the time period for which the report was submitted, the following:
(1) A list of each country or organization with respect to which force has been used pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force, including the legal and factual basis for the determination that authority under such law applies with respect to each such country or organization.
(2) An intelligence assessment of the risk to the United States posed by each such country or organization.
(3) A list of each country in which operations were conducted pursuant to such law and a description of the circumstances necessitating the use of force pursuant to such law, including whether the country is designated as an area of active hostilities.
(4) A general description of the status of operations conducted pursuant to such law as well as a description of the expected scope and duration of such operations.
(5) A list of each partner force and country with respect to which United States Armed Forces have commanded, coordinated, participated in the movement of, or accompanied the regular or irregular forces of any foreign country or government that have engaged in hostilities or there existed an imminent threat that such forces would become engaged in hostilities, including-
(A) a delineation of any such instances in which such United States Armed Forces were or were not operating under the Authorization for Use of Military Force; and
(B) a determination of whether the foreign forces, irregular forces, groups, or individuals against which such hostilities occurred are covered by such law.
(6) A description of the actual and proposed contributions, including financing, equipment, training, troops, and logistical support, provided by each foreign country that participates in any international coalition with the United States to combat a country or organization described in the Authorization for Use of Military Force.
(c) Form
The information required under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form.
(d) Other reports
If United States Armed Forces are introduced into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, against any country, organization, or person pursuant to statutory or constitutional authorities other than Authorization for Use of Military Force, the President shall comply with the reporting requirements under-
(1) this section to the same extent and in the same manner as if such actions had been taken under Authorization for Use of Military Force;
(2) the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); and
(3) any other applicable provision of law.
(e) Briefings
At least once during each 180-day period described in subsection (a), the President shall provide to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a briefing on the matters covered by the report required under this section for such period.
( Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XII, §1285, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1709 .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Authorization for Use of Military Force, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 107–40, Sept. 18, 2001, 115 Stat. 224 , which is set out as a note under section 1541 of this title.
The War Powers Resolution, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is Pub. L. 93–148, Nov. 7, 1973, 87 Stat. 555 , which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Resolution to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1541 of this title and Tables.
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, and not as part of the War Powers Resolution which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
“Congressional Defense Committees” Defined
Congressional defense committees means the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, see section 3 of Pub. L. 116–92, 133 Stat. 1231 . See note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Executive Documents
Delegation of Authority Under Section 1285 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
Memorandum of President of the United States, July 19, 2021, 86 F.R. 39939, provided:
Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Defense the authority and functions vested in the President by section 1285(a) through (e) of Public Law 116–92 [50 U.S.C. 1550(a) to (e)] on the use of military force and support of partner forces to the Congress.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
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It would look like endless operations are built into what Congress has given the Military and Commander in Chief.
Are you serious? You're posting crap from the rag Sky News claiming the attacks on the drug boats are wrong because none of those drugs are coming to the U.S.
Rand Paul has openly criticized President Trump multiple times for bombing those drug ships, yet he made excuses for Obama when he used drones and murdered Americans with them. If you can't see the connection, and are that clueless, maybe you better stop posting articles like this. Sorry you don't like comments that prove your man is a hypocrite. Handle it.
I’m not even bothering with that
You’re wrong in nearly every sentence
And he is prosecuting the numerous statutes that Congress has written in the last 50 years (and many much older) in support of the "drug war" with the creation of the DEA specifically (but not exclusively) to be the drug enforcement instruments at the disposal of the President.
Another straw man you can put back in your bag of false arguments.
Not on those boats. This is a carribean thing.
I think the founders would be appalled at what the US govt’ is or has become today. I dont think it was ever the intention this or many other things either
Of course, because you're either lazy, or you can't come up with anything. Tell your daddy Rand he's a hypocrite.
Congress has not abdicated their responsibility many have questions including half a dozen GOP Senators
You’ll see in the coming weeks if they keep up this policy they will get their wings clipped
It’s a bad policy and its unauthorized
I think it was one of the most notable Founders who created the USMC in order to put down piracy on the high seas and those seas weren’t even in this hemisphere.
Your personal opinion of what you think the Founders thought isn’t worth much.
They are free to fight back, but they already started their offense, many years ago.
Their deaths are a beautiful thing to see.
They are fun and healthy to destroy.
RandFan, these criminals are part of what are already in the US, creating crime.
Would you rather we invade Venezuela?
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