Australia and the World Past and Present

When is a war not a war?

Apparently when the U.S. invades another country, shuts down part of the power grid, breaks in to the presidential compound and captures the President of Venezuela along with his wife.

The country has a new interim leader – Delcy Rodríguez. But Trump has insisted that the U.S. is now running the country.

Under Trump, the U.S. military had been blowing up alleged drug-trafficking boats. American armed forces have captured oil tankers sailing from Venezuela. The Trump administration has announced that it will sell the oil and use the proceeds for the benefit of the U.S. and Venezuela. It is unclear what the split will be and how it will be applied.

Some within the administration have labelled Maduro’s capture as a “law enforcement operation” rather than war.

Declaring war requires congressional approval. In 1973, the War Powers Resolution was adopted by Congress. It provides that the President must terminate the use of military force within 60 days unless Congress approves of extends it.

Trump’s foray into Venezuela reveals the impotence of the legislative branch relative to the power of a president.

The U.S. military has the ability to launch complex military operations almost anywhere in the world. It can get in and get out of target areas very quickly. This latest operation was over in a matter of hours, not months.

It is difficult to take seriously the Trump administration’s claim that Maduro’s capture was simply part of normal law enforcement.

Venezuela is another country. It is a sovereign state. U.S. officials would normally only have jurisdiction within the U.S.

The American legislature has a long history of trying to rein in the ability of a president to wage war. Presidents will argue that the world is a dangerous place, the the nation faces many serious threats and that immediate military action is often required to maintain security.

The legislature has previously attempted to strengthen its control over declaring war. This occurred during Vietnam and the Iran-Contra affair. But executive power has increased over time.

It is no small effort to reign in the most powerful person in the world, a person who is in charge of the most powerful military force the world has ever known.