Sen. Lindsey Graham says land strikes in Venezuela are a "real possibility" amid rising tensions

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Sunday that land strikes in Venezuela are a “real possibility” because the U.S. has been bombing Venezuelan and Colombian ships in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean that the Trump administration says are carrying drugs and cartel members.

On “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday, Graham said, “I think President Trump has made a decision that [Nicolas] Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, is an indicted drug trafficker and that it’s time for him to go. Venezuela and Colombia have been safe havens for narco-terrorists for too long. President Trump told me yesterday that he plans to brief members of Congress when he gets back from Asia about future potential military operations against Venezuela and Colombia.”

Last week, Mr. Trump said that land strikes would be “next.” On Thursday, he said that “the drugs coming in by sea are like 5% of what they were a year ago” because of the attacks. Mr. Trump didn’t give any proof to back up this claim, and members of Congress have also complained that the administration hasn’t given enough proof that the ships in question are transporting drugs.

Since September 2, there have been strikes by the U.S. in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific on 10 ships, killing at least 43 people. Last Monday, the Colombian government asked the U.S. to “respect the norms dictated by international law” and stop the strikes.

Graham indicated on Sunday that there would be a Congressional briefing on land strikes, not an invasion. He also urged for the ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Graham brought up the 1989 invasion of Panama by former President George H.W. Bush many times, arguing that the Bush administration did not get permission from Congress for that mission.

Graham said, “Bush 41 went to Panama to change the leadership there because the Panamanian leadership was working with drug cartels to threaten our country.”

Graham claimed many times that he is sure the Trump administration has the power to carry out the strikes, even though the U.S. Constitution says that only Congress can declare war. The White House’s action has been assailed by Democrats and some Republicans.

Graham added, “You senators need to know more, and you will get more, but Congress doesn’t have to declare war before the commander-in-chief can use force.” “Panama and Grenada are two examples close to home where Republican presidents went after leaders and countries that were threatening our people.”

On NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego from Arizona warned that the Trump administration’s actions in the Caribbean are “murder.”

Gallego stated, “If this president thinks they’re doing something illegal, he should be using the Coast Guard.” “You employ our military if it’s an act of war, and then you come talk to us first. But this is killing. He is committing murder with the blessing of the law.

Graham disagreed with what Gallego said on Sunday, stating, “This is not murder.” This stops narco-terrorists from Venezuela and Colombia from poisoning America.

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lindsey-graham-venezuela-land-strikes-face-the-nation/

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