STOP TRUMP’S ILLEGAL WAR AGAINST VENEZUELA

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Written By Barbara Isaacman

QUICK READ:   The US is now executing people on the high seas whom Trump’s labelled “enemy combatants” without a declaration of war, input from Congress, or evidence they pose a threat to the US. He is also positioning warships, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier, planes, and thousands of troops off Venezuela’s coast. Congress must put a stop to this illegal, unconstitutional behavior, that also violates international law—starting with passage of the pending War Powers Resolution.



CONTENTS:

BACKGROUND

Before Trump, the Coast Guard handled suspected maritime drug smuggling. Those found with drugs were arrested, tried, and, if convicted, imprisoned—but never executed.

Since September 2, however, on Trump’s orders, 14 small boat crews discovered off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia were summarily executed by our military without any proof of criminality. Monday’s bombings, killing 14 of the 15 aboard, raised the death toll to around 60, with only 3 survivors. 

Trump’s justified these murders by absurdly claiming those executed were enemy combatants at war with the US, making these killings lawful.

  • These cold-blooded murders of civilians violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice, US criminal law, the Geneva Convention, and the law of war;

  • Because selling a dangerous product is not an armed attack, gangs and drug cartels cannot be directly involved in hostilities, making them illegal targets of military actions;

  • Overdose deaths are from fentanyl comes overland from Mexico not by boat from the Caribbean;

  • Only Congress can declare war and it hasn’t;

  • Trump’s offered no evidence against the 60 summarily executed that  were gang members, carrying drugs, or traveling towards the US.

At the same time, Trump, not planning to seek Congressional approval, is heavily building up America’s military presence in the region with ships, aircraft, and troops and has authorized CIA covert operations in Venezuela—suggesting an imminent regime-change war.

Unless Congress stops these summary executions and unconstitutional hostilities toward Venezuela, we’ll soon be embroiled in another endless war. Passing S.J.Res. 90, to be voted on shortly, is a good first step.

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time Congress reasserted its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

SEN. WYDEN:

Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time Congress reasserted its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time Congress reasserted its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time for the House to reopen and Congress to reassert its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time for the House to reopen and Congress to reassert its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time for the House to reopen and Congress to reassert its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time for the House to reopen and Congress to reassert its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)

DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time for the House to reopen and Congress to reassert its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military strikes on civilian boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia and the possibility of a regime-change war in Venezuela. It’s time for the House to reopen and Congress to reassert its rightful governing role:

  • Immediately pass Joint Resolution 90 to prevent military action against Venezuela;
  • Hold hearings about Trump’s illegal actions in the region and their justification, what pots of money are paying for them, and why Admiral Allvin Holsey, the Naval Commander overseeing the region, resigned;
  • Seek Pete Hegseth’s and Marco Rubio’s resignations.

FURTHER READING

Barbara Isaacman
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