Over the weekend, the US military launched surprise strikes on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and flying them out of the country. The move, ordered by the Trump administration, came without Congress's green light – and it's stirring debate back in Washington and around the world. 🌍🤯
Across party lines, US lawmakers have slammed the strikes:
- Jim McGovern (D): called the attack unjustified and illegal, pointing out that Congress never approved it. 💸🚫
- Melanie Stansbury (D): argued this breaks the constitutional rule that only Congress can declare war, and urged legislators to rein in the President's power.
- Brian Schatz (D): said the US has no vital national interests in Venezuela to justify war and warned against another 'stupid adventure'.
- Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona): blasted the US as the world's bully and insisted there's no reason to go to war with Venezuela.
- Mike Lee (R-Utah): demanded to know the constitutional basis for an operation without an authorization vote.
This bipartisan backlash highlights a key question: can the President launch large-scale military actions without Congress? The US Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, a rule meant to keep checks and balances in place. 🏛️⚖️
Internationally, countries have condemned the strikes, calling for coordinated responses to uphold global norms. For young people tuned into global politics from New Delhi to Jakarta, this is a reminder of how quickly world events can shift – and how social media shapes our understanding. 📲🌐
What's next? Congress could push for a vote to authorize or block further actions. Meanwhile, citizens are watching, tweeting, and asking whether the US should answer to Congress before launching wars. 🤔💬
Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds and keep the conversation going with hashtags like #USVenezuela for the latest. 👍
Reference(s):
Bipartisan U.S. lawmakers slam U.S. military strikes on Venezuela
cgtn.com
