The Trump administration has stirred controversy this week by providing a select group of Senate Republicans with exclusive access to a secret target list related to its ongoing military operations in the Caribbean Sea.
This disclosure included a detailed legal rationale for the attacks, prompting frustration among Democrats, who were not invited to the briefing.
The information was shared as military operations against drug cartels extend into their second month, indicating the administration’s intention to escalate its campaign.
Interestingly, the administration’s move to include only certain Republicans has raised questions about its motivations, with speculation suggesting that the strategy may be aimed at influencing lawmakers amid a growing congressional debate regarding the War Powers Act.
Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, criticized the decision to exclude Democrats.
“When an administration decides it can pick and choose which elected representatives get the understanding of their legal argument of why drug cartels need military force, and only chooses a particular party, it ignores all the checks and balances,” he stated.
Warner emphasized the importance of Congress’s oversight role, asserting, “this is US Government 101.”
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump officially designated certain drug cartels as “terrorist organizations,” a legal classification that he claims gives him the authority to target anyone suspected of drug trafficking aimed at the United States.
Trump’s legal team recently notified Congress that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with the cartels, further complicating the legal framework surrounding these military actions.
However, legal experts are questioning the administration’s rationale, particularly the comparison of drug smuggling operations to armed militant groups such as al-Qaida, which might not pose an immediate threat to Americans.
Since the onset of these military strikes on September 2, the administration has conducted 14 attacks, resulting in 61 deaths, accompanied by disturbing imagery of exploding boats.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked on social media, “The Western Hemisphere is no longer a safe haven for narco-terrorists bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans.”
Prior to this week, the administration had conducted two bipartisan briefings for the Senate, neither of which provided the detailed legal rationale now under scrutiny.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson has refrained from addressing questions regarding the specifics of the recent briefing or the rationale behind excluding Democrats.
She stated, “Department of War has briefed the appropriate committees of jurisdiction, including the Senate Intelligence Committee, numerous times throughout the operations targeting narco-terrorists. These have occurred on a bipartisan basis, and will continue as such.”
However, Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota expressed discomfort with the decision to limit the invitation to Republicans.
He conveyed his concern in conversations with the White House about ensuring future briefings are inclusive of both parties.
“This is an unfortunate situation, and I wish it wouldn’t have happened this way,” Rounds said, echoing sentiments from other colleagues who agreed that such meetings should be bipartisan.
In contrast, Republican Senator James Risch of Idaho defended the handling of the briefing, expressing satisfaction with the answers provided during the session.
Risch articulated, “I left there convinced as I was when I went in that the president has absolute authority—not only authority, the duty—to protect the American people when somebody is sending something to the United States to attack and kill Americans.”
On the House side, Democratic and Republican representatives were briefed by the administration on Thursday, although legal advisors were not present to discuss the legal framework surrounding the military strikes.
According to House Democrat Sara Jacobs, lawmakers were informed that the narcotics targeted in the military actions were exclusively cocaine, with the connection between cocaine and fentanyl discussed minimally.
Jacobs also highlighted a troubling detail from the briefing: the government does not need to identify individuals aboard vessels targeted for strikes but only needs to demonstrate a connection to any smuggling activities.
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